# Kodex vs U Game Engine + xLua

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Kodex at 63% against U Game Engine + xLua's 0%. Kodex also leads on price (Free vs $19.99) and ratings volume (207 vs 2). U Game Engine + xLua's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Kodex is free to download; U Game Engine + xLua costs $19.99 up front. Kodex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and U Game Engine + xLua sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

U Game Engine + xLua holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kodex has 207 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Kodex's written reviews are positive against 0% of U Game Engine + xLua's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Kodex ships an update monthly, U Game Engine + xLua fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kodex | U Game Engine + xLua |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $19.99 |
| Rating | [4.2 (207 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodex/id1038574481/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-game-engine-plus-xlua/id6743805852/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **207** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **63.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#66** | — |
| Size | 14 MB | 599 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bruno Philipe Resende Silva](https://appshunter.io/developer/605892017) | [盼军 崔](https://appshunter.io/developer/567286451) |

## What reviewers say

### Kodex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodex/id1038574481)

**Currently charting:** #66 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

An advanced code editor for iOS devices, offering desktop-class features like multi-caret editing, regex search, and syntax highlighting for over 150 languages. It integrates with the Files app and supports external keyboards for a seamless coding experience.

**Highlights:** Multi-caret editing, Regex search and replace, Minimap for navigation, Syntax highlighting (150+ languages), External keyboard support, Files app integration, Customizable themes and fonts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful code editor
- 👍 Well-integrated with iPad features
- 🎨 Excellent syntax highlighting and theming
- 📁 Broad file format support
- 💡 Useful QuickEdit mode

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Lack of search and replace functionality
- 🔀 Difficulty navigating between files
- 🚫 No option to run/compile code
- 📏 Forced word wrapping with no toggle

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when opening certain file types
- Loses data after copy/paste and undo/redo
- Compatibility issues with latest iOS versions
- Overlapping UI elements in search/replace

**Requested features**

- Add search and replace feature
- Implement code execution/compilation
- Improve file management and navigation
- Provide option to disable word wrapping
- Introduce more keyboard shortcuts


### U Game Engine + xLua

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/u-game-engine-plus-xlua/id6743805852)

Create and run 2D and 3D games directly on your mobile device. Script gameplay using Lua, import assets, and test instantly. This app provides professional-grade game development tools in a pocket-sized format.

**Highlights:** Build 2D/3D games on iOS, Script with Lua, Real-time testing, Import assets, Integrated development environment, Lua tutorials

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buy me a coffee | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kodex free?

Kodex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is U Game Engine + xLua free?

U Game Engine + xLua costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Kodex or U Game Engine + xLua?

U Game Engine + xLua is rated higher. Kodex averages 4.2 out of 5 from 207 ratings, while U Game Engine + xLua averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Kodex or U Game Engine + xLua have ads?

Neither Kodex nor U Game Engine + xLua shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kodex or U Game Engine + xLua?

Kodex ships an update monthly, and U Game Engine + xLua fortnightly. Most recently, Kodex was updated on October 12, 2026 and U Game Engine + xLua on October 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*