Comparison

Kodex vs DevBox

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Kodex

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
Read full description

Kodex is an advanced code editor which brings powerful and desktop-class editor features to your iPad or iPhone: * Multi-caret editing, to quickly transform code selections. * Regex search and replace, with template matching and replace-all-matches. * Minimap which allows quick scroll navigation though the document. * Multiple window support * Syntax highlighting for over 150 languages. * Trackpad support with custom gestures to add cursors (ctrl+shift+click). * Auto complete feature (currently only for HTML). * Add as many guide columns as you wish (default 80 and 120 characters). * Configurable tab size (default 4 spaces), or insert spaces when pressing tab. * Draw hints for invisible characters such as new lines, tabs, and spaces. * Customizable key bindings, so you can configure Kodex to use the same key combos you are already used to. * Kodex smartly preserves your open documents so that your work stays as you left it between launches. * Light and Dark modes. Kodex is integrated with the Files app, so you can easily open files from any other app, and from your iCloud documents folder. You can launch Kodex QuickEdit from any file sharing view in any app to edit its contents without launching the main Kodex App (be aware this functionality depends on the host app implementing the sharing activity properly). Included are 10 editor themes, and several monospaced fonts for code editing (you can install your own preferred fonts using system profiles). Font size and line spacing are adjustable, so you can configure Kodex to best fit your preferred screen size, arrangement, and orientation. Kodex is not a compiler, and you can not build or run the code you edit from it. Think of Kodex as a NotePad++ or Sublime Text substitute for iPhone and iPad. Kodex is currently optimized for external keyboards, such as Apple's Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro, or any bluetooth/USB keyboard. More virtual keyboard features will be added in a future version.

About

DevBox

Features
Read full description

Run a React or Svelte dev server on your iPhone. Write Node, Python and PHP, and run it on the device. npm install and npm run dev work. React, Angular, Svelte and Vue build and run. Editor with syntax highlighting for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python and PHP, find and replace, and a key row for brackets and quotes. Terminal with command history and scrollback. Node, Python and PHP dev servers on a local port, with stdout and request logs. WebKit preview pointed at localhost. MariaDB on device, MySQL-compatible, phpMyAdmin included. npm, pip and composer. Git over HTTPS or SSH. GitHub, GitLab, self-hosted. Files app, iCloud Drive, FTP and SSH providers. Optional AI assistant. Works offline. Package installs, git remotes and the AI assistant need a connection. Runs on iPhone, iPad and Apple silicon Macs. Free to download. --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://devbox.porizm.com/privacy?lang=en

Screenshots

Kodex4 screens
DevBox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: DevBox at every 5 days against Kodex's monthly. Kodex's advantage is chart position (#74 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Kodex sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and DevBox sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kodex ships an update monthly, DevBox every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Kodex versus DevBox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKodexDevBox
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (208 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews63.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings208 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#74 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.4 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB412 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBruno Philipe Resende SilvaFiras Moussa

Bugs and requests

Kodex

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

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

DevBox

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Kodex

One-time1
  • Tip$4.99
3 purchases

DevBox

Subscriptions1
  • DevBox Pro$2.991 Month
One-time2
  • MariaDB Server$4.99
  • Integrated Terminal$9.99

Questions

Is Kodex free?
Kodex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DevBox free?
DevBox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kodex or DevBox have ads?
Neither Kodex nor DevBox shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kodex or DevBox?
Kodex ships an update monthly, and DevBox every 5 days. Most recently, Kodex was updated on October 29, 2026 and DevBox on October 28, 2026.

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