Trackd is a Trace alternative for clubs and parents who want hands-free game film without the wearable-tag workflow. Trace is built around a per-player BLE beacon — players strap a tag on before every match, and the camera follows the wearer. Trackd skips the tags entirely: it tracks the ball with computer vision, no beacon to distribute, no subscription, and the hardware is a one-off A$199.
Trackd vs Trace at a glance
| Spec | Trackd | Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware price | A$199 | Leased with subscription |
| Subscription | None | A$450/yr |
| Form factor | Motorised pan-tilt mount + your iPhone | Standalone wide-angle camera + per-player wearable tag |
| Tracking method | Ball + AI player re-ID (YOLOv11n + OC-SORT + OSNet-AIN) | Wearable tag (each player carries one) drives a digital crop |
| Made in | Australia | United States |
| Best for | Grassroots clubs, parents and coaches who want pro framing without subscriptions | Clubs that want to highlight individual players and can manage tag distribution every match |
The wearable-tag friction is real
Trace's model depends on every tracked player wearing a charged, paired tag at kickoff. In a club with 20 players, the team manager becomes responsible for distributing tags, collecting them after the match and making sure they're charged before the next game. For an organised academy with a kit manager, this is fine; for a Saturday-morning under-12 team, it's a real ongoing operations cost.
Where Trace is actually better
- Per-player highlight reels. Trace's whole product is built around following individuals — if your goal is recruiting tape for one specific player, Trace's tag is purpose-built for that.
- US college recruiting workflow. Trace has strong partnerships with US recruiting platforms and a mature ecosystem there.
- Hands-off filming. The camera is fixed; players carry the tracking. Once setup is done, no one touches the camera.
Where Trackd is the better fit
- No tags to distribute, charge, or replace.
- No subscription. Trace's annual fee is approximately A$450/yr; Trackd is a one-off A$199 purchase.
- Tracks the ball, not a player. For team game film, the ball is what you want centred.
- Works for sports where wearable tags are impractical or banned. Many youth leagues don't allow on-field electronics.
- Buy outright. Trace's hardware is leased — you don't own it. Trackd is yours forever.
Cost comparison over 3 years
| Camera | Hardware | Subscription × 3 yr | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trackd | A$199 | None | A$199cheapest |
| Trace | Included with sub | A$1,350 (A$450/yr) | A$1,350 |
What about recruiting reels?
Trace's individual-player tracking is genuinely good for highlight reels — that's its core market. If college recruiting is the only reason you'd consider it, /best-camera-soccer-recruiting walks through how to produce comparable recruiting tape with Trackd. The short version: Trackd records full-game footage, you clip the player's touches in the app, and export as a highlight reel. It takes a bit more manual work than Trace's automatic per-player edits but costs ~A$450/year less.
Skip the tag distribution
Trackd films the ball, not a beacon. A$199 hardware, no subscription. Free shipping worldwide.