Trace vs BallerCam: every player's highlights or one view from your iPhone (2026)
Trace is the better pick for families and coaches, and it costs less to start: $180 for the first year with the camera, cloud and AI included. Every player gets their own highlights, and goal clips reach your phone during the game.
BallerCam is a $299 case and lens that turns your own iPhone into the camera. The soccer bundle with a tripod is $469, and you need an iPhone 13 Pro or newer. It only follows the ball, not each player.
Trace vs BallerCam at a glance
| Trace | BallerCam | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera and hardware cost | Yes.$0. Camera, 16 ft tripod and cases are leased. Free to renew. | $299 case and lens for your own iPhone (13 Pro or newer). Soccer bundle with tripod $469. |
| Annual subscription | $180 Basic or $300 Pro. Camera included. | Free base plan with 20 hrs storage. Starter $99, Pro $199 for more storage. |
| Monthly subscription | $25 Basic or $35 Pro, plus $99 one-time lease fee. | Storage plans are sold yearly. |
| What is included | Recording, cloud storage, AI highlights, GameCam, PlayerCam, MultiCam, player profiles. Pro adds every game, editor, analytics, downloads. | Recording, 720p livestreaming, downloads, 20 hrs cloud. YouTube and Facebook streaming on Pro. |
| Individual player highlights | Yes.Automatic for every player. No tagging. | No.No. Follows the ball, not each player. |
| Team-wide footage | Yes.Full game plus tactical highlights. | Partly.Follows the ball from a 180° lens. Off-ball play is cropped out. |
| Livestreaming | Yes.Included, no extra cost. Fixed wide view. In beta. | Yes.Included, 720p. Viewers watch free. |
| Live moments pushed to phones | Yes.Video highlights, texts and photos during the game. | No.No live updates. Score alerts need someone logging goals live on a second phone. |
| Coach tools | Yes.Coach playlist, tactical plays, player profiles. Editor and analytics on Pro. | Partly.Manual live scoring, rosters and play tagging on a second device. |
| College recruiting and sharing | Yes.Trace iD: one link that updates itself. | Partly.Share clips. Athlete profiles coming soon. |
| Camera setup effort | About 5 minutes. | Under 2 minutes after the first time. Your iPhone stays in the case all game. |
| Video review effort | Yes.Automatic player and tactical highlights. Editor available but not required. | Manual: someone logs goals live on a second phone, or you clip later. |
| Built for | Families and coaches. Every player's highlights, no editing. | Parents filming on their own iPhone. |
Last verified: October 19, 2026. USD before tax, list prices from each company's site. Sources at the end of the page.
Pricing compared: Trace vs BallerCam
Trace costs less to start and brings its own camera, so your phone stays in your pocket. See Trace pricing.
Who should pick Trace, and who BallerCam is built for
Who should pick Trace?
- Parents who want their own player's moments, fast.
- Coaches who want every player covered from one recording.
- Families who want their phone in their pocket.
Who BallerCam is built for
- Parents with an iPhone 13 Pro or newer to dedicate to the game.
- Families who want one view that follows the ball.
- Teams with someone free to log goals live on a second phone.
Features compared: what you get with Trace vs BallerCam
Every player, every play, on film
The Trace camera captures the entire field, so you can watch the game from any player's perspective without missing a moment.
Follows the ball and general game action from a 180° lens, cropped to one view.
Every player gets their own highlights
PlayerFocus finds each player, circles them, and cuts their moments. PlayerCam keeps them centered at up to 4x zoom.
No player highlights. BallerCam follows the ball, and its own FAQ says individual player tracking is still in development.
Goals land on your phone mid-game
Video and text of goals and key plays, shared team photos, and more sent while the game is on. (Soccer and basketball, with the livestream running.)
No live updates. Goal alerts only work if someone logs scoring live on a second device.
Stream from the same camera
Included at no extra cost. A fixed, wide view of the field from the Trace camera. Viewers watch free by link. In beta.
Livestreaming is included at 720p. YouTube and Facebook streaming needs the Pro plan.
From setup to highlights
1. Set up at midfield
Raise the 16 ft tripod 4 to 5 steps off the midfield line. Add sandbags.
2. Start recording
Open the Trace Teams app and start your game 15 to 20 minutes before kickoff.
3. Upload your game
After the game, connect your camera to the internet to upload the footage.
4. Highlights, handled
Trace automatically finds and edits highlights for every player. No tagging or editing needed.
BallerCam needs your iPhone in the case all game, plus the external battery and cooling fan. Highlights depend on someone logging goals and moments live on a second device, or clipping after the game, rather than automatic, ready-to-watch player reels.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trace or BallerCam better for youth soccer?
Trace. It films the whole field with its own camera, gives every player their own highlights, and costs $180 for the first year with the camera included. BallerCam is $469 with a tripod, needs your iPhone, and only follows the ball.
How much does BallerCam cost?
BallerCam is $299, or $469 for the soccer bundle with a 15 ft tripod and cooling fan. You also need an iPhone 13 Pro or newer. Paid storage plans are $99 or $199 a year.
Does BallerCam use my phone?
Yes. BallerCam is a case and lens for your own iPhone, which stays in it all game. Trace uses its own camera, so your phone stays free.
Does BallerCam make highlights for every player?
No. BallerCam follows the ball and does not track each player. Trace creates highlights for every player on every plan, with no tagging.
Does BallerCam send goal clips to my phone during the game?
No live updates. BallerCam alerts depend on someone logging goals live on a second phone. Trace sends video and text of goals and key plays, shared team photos, and more while the game is on.
Does BallerCam livestream?
Yes, at 720p, and YouTube or Facebook streaming needs the Pro plan. Trace livestreaming is included at no extra cost and is in beta.
Keep comparing
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Best soccer cameras for youth teamsSix cameras ranked by who they fit.
Best soccer livestreaming for clubsWhat streaming really costs.
How automated game analysis worksKickoff to clips, step by step.Sources and how we check
Show all sources
Competitor prices and features come from each company's own site, plus a review by the Trace team, which confirmed details the sites do not spell out (such as setup time and live alerts). "Not published" means we could not find it there. We re-check at least every 30 days. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
- Trace: Pricing and plans. https://traceup.com/pricing
- Trace: Live updates during the game. https://traceup.com/product-features/live-updates
- Trace: PlayerCam, ready within hours. https://traceup.com/product-features/playercam
- Trace: Livestreaming (beta) FAQ. https://support.traceup.com/content/livestreaming-beta-faq
- Trace: Trace iD FAQ. https://support.traceup.com/content/trace-id-faqs
- Trace: Coach and tactical playlists. https://support.traceup.com/content/playerfocus-coach-and-tactical-playlists
- BallerCam: BallerCam product page. https://ballercam.com/products/ballercam
- BallerCam: Plans and pricing. https://ballercam.com/pages/pricing
- BallerCam: All-sports bundles (soccer bundle). https://ballercam.com/pages/all-sports-bundles
- BallerCam: BallerCam shop. https://ballercam.com/collections/all
- BallerCam: 25 most common BallerCam questions answered. https://ballercam.com/blogs/posts/25-most-common-ballercam-questions-answered
- BallerCam: Scoring moments from a second device. https://ballercam.com/blogs/updates/starting-scoring-moments-from-a-second-device
