# DraftCode for PHP IDE — user reviews

> 155 indexed App Store user reviews of DraftCode for PHP IDE by Solesignal Limited, rated 4.50/5 from 88 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/draftcode-for-php-ide/id593757593/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/draftcode-for-php-ide/id593757593.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 66 · 4★ 13 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 4

## What do users think of DraftCode for PHP IDE?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Full PHP runtime on iOS device
- 👍 Intuitive and simple user interface
- 💻 Ability to run WordPress locally on iPad
- 🔌 Works offline without internet connection
- 📱 Enables mobile web development workflow
- ✨ SQLite database support included
- 🎯 Great for learning PHP on the go
- ⚡ Fast execution and performance
- 🛠️ Responsive developer support
- 📦 No subscriptions or hidden fees
- 🎨 Professional design and appearance

**Cons**

- 🐛 Scrolling snaps back to starting position
- 🐛 Undo function jumps arbitrary steps
- 🐛 Text editor lacks modern features
- ❌ Cannot access served content from Safari
- ❌ No FTP or cloud storage integration
- ❌ Limited file import/export capabilities
- ❌ Keyboard gets in way of scrolling
- ❌ No search/find functionality
- ❌ Cannot edit files while server runs
- ❌ Outdated PHP versions in base app
- ⚠️ Limited documentation and tutorials
- ⚠️ Expensive for feature set ($10-14)
- ⚠️ iCloud sync not fully supported

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Scrolling snaps back to original position
- Undo function deletes arbitrary number of steps
- App freezes after entering characters
- Crashes on iOS 9 and older versions
- JavaScript console viewer always empty
- Cannot navigate to specific lines efficiently
- Scroll position jumps when switching files
- File deletion is buggy when deleting multiple files
- Dropbox conflicted copy files created by autosave
- iCloud file sync not automatic
- Keyboard layout makes coding difficult
- App loses work after tapping run
- Address bar shows 'about:blank' and 'Not Found'
- Cannot paste projects from Dropbox (helper app error)
- Syntax highlighting slow on large files

**Most requested features**

- Search and find/replace functionality
- FTP and Dropbox integration
- Updated PHP versions
- Multiple syntax highlighting themes
- Git/GitHub integration
- Ability to access localhost from external browsers
- Font size adjustment controls
- Code completion and snippets
- Multi-project support
- Drupal and CraftCMS support
- MySQL full support
- SSH/SFTP access
- Swipe gestures throughout UI
- Light theme option
- Extended keyboard with more shortcuts
- Undo/redo improvements
- Split-screen multitasking support
- phpMyAdmin updates
- Manual save option instead of autosave
- GD library support

## Newest reviews (17 of 155)

### 2/5 — more

*2026-07-12*

needs lots like back cancel ect...

**Developer response:** Maybe I misunderstand - but where it would make sense to ask for "back" and "cancel", I believe it has those features.

### 4/5 — Finally a decent web programming option for mobile

*2024-12-31, version 1.14.1*

I frequently find myself on the road and wanting to tweek some of my code or try out an idea or concept, and usually I don't have time or ability to set up my laptop. I've been trying to find a good ios option for a while and this program fits the bill.
I've even been able to set it up so that it uses the Dropbox folder that I typically run my localhost from!
The only (small) issue I've run into is with the autosave feature causing issues with Dropbox where it creates a "conflicted copy" every few lines of code. I've been able to deal with this by deleting the extra files every now and then (it's a lot of files).
Maybe an option could be added to only save manually or when the "Run" button is pressed? Otherwise a great app!

### 2/5 — Developer seems challenged

*2023-11-30*

I want yo love this app. However , two things make it nearly unusable: 1) Scrolling: When scrolling, the screen snaps back to where you started and you must find your place again. I can't express how frustrating this is when you're trying to flow... This behavior occurs consistently doesn't happen system wide. You have to scroll twice after any change made because of the maddening "SNAP!" 2) Undo I rarely use this function because it's more destructive than helpful. It doesn't undo one step at a time, it jumps back a seemingly arbitrary number of steps so you have no idea what was undone. If you've just squashed a bug and then hit undo a few lines later, you have my sympathies…

The developer claims to fix things, but doesn't. NOTHING that we're complaining about in the reviews has been fixed after 2+ years.

**Developer response:** Thanks for your review. I am afraid we cannot reproduce this bug you describe. Reviews are not ideal places to file bugreports because we cannot follow them up. Please get in touch via support, thanks.

### 4/5 — Great but can’t figure out how to see server from the native browser

*2023-04-02*

Using this to run WordPress and works well if in the app BUT I’ve yet to figure out a way to actually use the iOS Safari browser to see the site. Hoping there’s some way I’ve just overlooked. Documentation doesn’t mention anything.

### 2/5 — Anders als erwartet

*2022-11-10*

Kein Syntax-Highlighting für html, css,… kein erstellen von css Dateien möglich, wie benennt man Dateien und Ordner um? Mir fehlt einiges

**Developer response:** Alle diese Funktionen stehen zur Verfuegung. Wenn Sie Hilfe benoetigen, hier ist ein Link zur Help Page: 

https://solesignal.com/draftcode/help/

### 3/5 — Great start, but has some severe problems

*2022-10-27*

While the app does exactly what it says, there's some things you should know before dropping the 10 bucks:
- The Javascript messages viewer is always empty no matter how many times you try to print through the console.
- You can't Cmd+F or Cmd+G to quickly find strings or lines. This is a huge blow to working on larger documents.
- You can't quickly navigate lines because tapping any line only brings you to the front, and Home/End don't work.
- Scroll position jumps to either the top or bottom of the document every time you switch between files.
- You can't work from an existing workspace folder; you MUST copy a folder into the program's folder in order to work on it, or manually import individual files. That means if you're working on a number of files you have on Dropbox, every edit you make must be manually saved, file by file, back into the original folder.
- And this is made doubly difficult by the fact that copying between the two locations is a nightmare on iOS. I can't even paste my project into the DraftCode folder anymore because I just get an error saying "Couldn't communicate with a helper application". This is actually a Dropbox problem, but it's one that you have to be aware of since you can't work straight from the Dropbox folder.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the detailed feedback. v1.12 should address some of those issues you have raised. If you can spare some time for testing and additional feedback, please get in touch with support.

### 3/5 — Working Copyとの連携方法を改善してほしい

*2021-11-27*

PHPが動くのは素晴らしい！
ただ、Working Copyとの連携はあまり実用的ではない

- For Developer

The way to work with Working Copy is not very good.
I would like you to cooperate with Working Copy such as GoCoEdit.
GoCoEdit can mount Volume by D & D from Working Copy.

### 2/5 — Schade

*2021-06-08*

Die App tut zwar was sie soll, aber für den Preis fühle ich mich betrogen.

Für ~6 € bekommt man nur PHP 5.6. Will man eine zeitgemäßere Version von PHP haben, muss man das gleiche nochmal per InApp Purchase drauf legen. 

Kompatibilität zur "Inspect" App (eine JS-Console,Netzwerk- und DOM-Inspector) gibt es auch nicht.

Mein Tipp "phpwin" kommt mit PHP 7.3, allen Modulen von DraftCode, hat Kompatibilität zu anderen Apps (im Multitasking Float Mode) und kostet nix.

### 5/5 — TOP

*2021-04-04*

Это действительно самая лучшая IDE для iPhone/iPad. Возможно, она не такая технологичная как desktop версии известных компаний, но весь минимальный функционал для разработки есть! Выражаю огромную благодарность разработчику, вы молодец! Покупайте, не пожалеете.

### 5/5 — A Top Player!

*2021-01-11*

I find this mobile IDE to be becoming a trusty tool in my workflow belt. While, there are bugs (especially the undo roulette, lol), I will say, at this moment, this is the best of its kind of app on the market, in my opinion. I look forward to following the developers as you all continue to enhance this wonderful application.

### 3/5 — 拡張キーボードが消える

*2021-01-03*

iPadで表示されません。

### 5/5 — Great tool

*2020-12-14*

Fantastic tool that allows me to build and maintain WordPress plugins while on the move without having to take my laptop.  

Only gripe is not being able to access the site from Chrome or other tools outside of the app. Add that and it would be perfect, even as a paid add on😁

### 4/5 — Works really well!

*2020-11-08*

I hope this app keeps being updated.  It’s really useful and can’t believe I’m running dev copies of WordPress on my iPad Pro.  Excellent job.

### 2/5 — Was good

*2020-10-21*

Has huge issues and cant be relied upon. Too many issues to work around or even mention here. Dont expect this to work well. I hope that they fix it.

### 5/5 — Overall great

*2020-07-15*

Great app to code with. Brilliant interface. 

If only it had more functionality to connect a server via FTP.

### 4/5 — Incredible Possibilities

*2020-06-26, version 1.9.5*

I love (LOVE) this app. 

Only two things prevents a 5-Star review:

1) Scrolling: 

When scrolling, the screen snaps back to where you started and you must find your place again. I can't express how frustrating this is when you're trying to flow... This behavior occurs consistently doesn't happen system wide. You have to scroll twice after any change made because of the maddening "SNAP!"

2) Undo

I rarely use this function because it's more destructive than helpful. It doesn't undo one step at a time, it jumps back a seemingly arbitrary number of steps so you have no idea what was undone.

If you've just squashed a bug and then hit undo a few lines later, you have my sympathies…

Fix these and it's practically perfect (and probably one of the most valuable apps in the store)!

[ iPhone 8 • iOS 13.3.1 ]

**Developer response:** Thanks for your review. I am afraid we cannot reproduce this bug you describe. Reviews are not ideal places to file bugreports because we cannot follow them up. Please get in touch via support, thanks.

### 5/5 — 挺好的

*2020-06-11*

移动端练手不错，php用这个可以，python用pythonista。

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Outdated

*2026-03-30*

Pls add PHP 8.3, 8.4, 8.5. Last stable version now is 8.5. Minimum recommended version for WordPress 7.0 is 8.4. I think this app very good, but outdated. And I don’t want to buy 8.2 support, because actual version is 8.5.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback. 8.1 and 8.2 IAP's are now free. 
Stay tuned for an update with additional runtime soon ;-)

### 1/5 — i wanna use gd for default

*2021-09-18*

why don't contain gd in default version of PHP 
so i have to purchase additional PHP

### 1/5 — Запрос в тех поддержку

*2021-08-06*

Приложение не соответствует требованиям и не является редактором кода. Проша вернуть деньги.

### 1/5 — Unbrauchbar

*2020-02-26*

htacces funktioniert nicht, fehlen einige php classes usw. Ist nur für Anfänger. Zu teuer für so wenig Funktionen.

**Developer response:** Danke fuer das Feedback. Es stimmt zwar, dass (wie in der App Beschreibung und auf der Website erwähnt) htaccess derzeit nicht unterstützt wird, Draftcode bietet aber mit Sicherheit das normale Standard-Set von PHP Erweiterungen (in PHP 7 sogar GD). WordPress (inkludiert) läuft ja zum Beispiel ohne Probleme, und das ist nach unserem Verständnis keine "Anfänger" App ;-)

### 1/5 — Good app but rubbish keyboard layout

*2016-06-17, version 1.5.3*

They app is good but keyboard layout makes impossible to write even 1 line of code.

### 1/5 — Rückgängigfunktion fehlt

*2015-12-22*

Einmal was gelöscht, heißt für immer weg.
Es gibt kein Rückgängig. Ansonsten gute App, wegen der fehlenden Funktion jedoch mit hohen Risiko verbunden.

### 1/5 — Great program, BAD APPLE!!!

*2015-11-11, version 1.4.1*

Ive bought and used this for 30 seconds before I found out that Apple put an upload restriction on the app!  What good is a webserver if you cannot upload files to it and use it?!?  The program itself works very well but this restriction renders this program absolutely useless to me... And probably most other web developers.

### 1/5 — Crash sous ios9

*2015-10-22*

L'app semble convenir à ce que je cherchais, hélas, elle plante tout le temps. Peut-être un problème de compatibilité avec IOS9 (1 de plus). Je vais me faire rembourser et réessayerai plus tard. Dommage.

### 1/5 — Very disapointed

*2015-04-03, version 1.4*

Perhaps I missed it, but I can't find anywhere in the description that tells me that I can't upload/download scripts to/from my web server.
Had it been clear that there was no easy way to get my existing scripts loaded, I would not have purchased it.  What's the point of developing code that can't be (easily) uploaded to my website.  While the built in ability to run and test scripts is a plus, But that still doesn't mean that I won't have to test/debug it again once I get it loaded on my website.

I know (by reading the faqs on their website) that apple does not allow FTP on applications that execute code. But it should really be made clear in the description of this app that this functionality is disabled.

### 1/5 — Loses your work

*2015-03-20, version 1.4*

You've already worked exceptionally hard typing code on a iOS device. It becomes more frustrating when the app deletes all your code after tapping 'run'.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Amazing!

*2025-02-06*

I purchased this specifically for phpLiteAdmin to have a solid database on my iPad at all times, and for that it’s been incredible. Proper SQLite at the touch of a button, no subscriptions, no hidden fees etc. I have tried every database app on the AppStore before stumbling across this by chance and I’m so glad I did. 5 Stars!

**Developer response:** Thanks for sharing this - great to know what users get up to with DraftCode! :-)

### 5/5 — great developer option

*2024-06-22*

Great to finally have a way to edit and run php, javascript, html on an ipad whether connected or not to the internet.

### 5/5 — Update please

*2024-05-18*

I think this app could be the best on the market for coding.

Could you update the Phpmyadmin as there’s some errors.

Could you also make it run on the latest php version as I bought it and if it doesn’t run on it, then it’s a waste of money.

I will happily advertise this app to my followers if you keep it updated and make it even more better

### 5/5 — Great app

*2024-04-22*

I snagged this app to allow me to work on WordPress sites from my iPad while traveling / flying. Out the gate I ran into an issue as I think there was a WP update at the same time. Thomas was responsive and helped me through the issue as well as updated the app. Great responsiveness and I’m thrilled with the app!

**Developer response:** Thanks for making the time to write a review. Glad it all worked out!

### 5/5 — Sehr guter Code-Editor

*2023-08-26*

Benutze DraftCode seit mehreren Jahren. Super nützlich! Syntax-Highlighting funktioniert tadelos und ist sehr gut. Perfekt ist dass man PHP, HTML, CSS und JS editieren kann und dann das Ganze laufen lassen kann als ob man einen vollen XAMPP Stack hätte. Und das lokal! Genial!
Update (2023-08-25): JS-console funktioniert immer noch nicht. Es gibt aber einen weiteren bug: manchmal (nicht immer), wenn man ein PHP-Script editiert hat und dann in die Dateiliste zurückgeht und danach wieder ins Skript, dann scrollt der Editor ganz bis zum Ende des Skripts, egal wo der Cursor vorher war. Das ist ziemlich nervig. Ansonsten aber funktioniert alles sehr gut und für mich nicht mehr wegzudenken.

**Developer response:** Danke fuer das Feedback. Wir arbeiten daran die JS Console wieder funktionsfaehig in die App zurueck zu bringen.

### 5/5 — Good app

*2023-08-18*

Dear support, please add composer for php 8, thanks 🙏

### 5/5 — A great tool

*2022-05-23, version 1.11*

This is a great tool in combination with version control to get an existing code base to run locally, make a few changes locally, and upload to test/deploy.

Do not expect this to be a robust development platform like on a desktop.  It is amazing enough I can run a full install of WP and make specific changes, see them, then deploy them.  

Major win!

### 5/5 — Genau DAS habe ich gesucht 👍

*2022-04-03*

Mal kurz eine Idee in PHP umsetzen und gleich testen, um den Code dann später in das Projekt einzubauen. Das ist sogar offline auf dem iPad möglich. 
So kann ich ohne Ablenkung auf dem iPad arbeiten, anstatt mich am Arbeitsplatz mit anderen Arbeiten abzulenken und bin sofort nach dem ersten Einsatz von Draft Code produktiver.
Danke dafür 😀

### 5/5 — 初心者の質問

*2021-11-14*

ごめんなさい調べればいいだけだと思うのですが一様ここで質問させていただきます。Word Pressをインストールとあるのですがこれは何をするものなのですか？

### 5/5 — Perfect php app

*2021-11-09*

I can confirm that the app description matches. What I really like about this app is its ease of use, its comfort, its design !! (really this is exceptional)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*