# Textastic Code Editor vs Packet Sender

The clearest difference is price: Textastic Code Editor at Free against Packet Sender's $1.99. Textastic Code Editor also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (69% vs 43%). Packet Sender's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On rating, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Textastic Code Editor is free to download; Packet Sender costs $1.99 up front. Textastic Code Editor sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Packet Sender asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Textastic Code Editor against 4.8 for Packet Sender. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Textastic Code Editor has 2.5K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Textastic Code Editor's written reviews are positive against 43% of Packet Sender's.

Textastic Code Editor ships an update every 3 weeks, Packet Sender every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Textastic Code Editor | Packet Sender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textastic-code-editor/id1049254261/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-sender-udp-tcp-ssl/id1558236648/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **68.9% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Paid** |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | #12 |
| Size | 26 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Blach](https://appshunter.io/developer/303486870) | [NagleCode, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1338199853) |

## What reviewers say

### Textastic Code Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textastic-code-editor/id1049254261)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #42 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

A powerful text and code editor for mobile devices, offering syntax highlighting for over 80 languages, code completion, and formatting tools. It allows connection to various servers and cloud storage for seamless file management and editing.

**Highlights:** Syntax highlighting for 80+ languages, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, and Dropbox client, Built-in SSH terminal, Code completion and formatting, External keyboard and trackpad support, Split View and Slide Over multitasking

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Textastic Pro (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Textastic Pro (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Textastic Pro (One-Time) | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Highly performant
- 👍 Versatile and feature-rich
- 💡 Excellent integration with other apps (e.g. Working Copy)
- 👍 Customizable and intuitive UI
- 👍 Reliable and stable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔒 Restrictive paywall for basic functionality
- 👎 Confusing file management and upload/download workflow
- 👎 Lack of modern code editing features (e.g. auto-indent, code folding)

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with SSH/SFTP connectivity and authentication
- Problems with handling large files or files with certain extensions
- Inconsistent text selection and editing behavior

**Requested features**

- Add support for more cloud storage providers (e.g. Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Implement a more seamless remote file editing and syncing workflow
- Improve code editing features like code folding, multi-cursor support, and code beautification
- Add a built-in terminal or ability to run code directly within the app


### Packet Sender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/packet-sender-udp-tcp-ssl/id1558236648)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Paid · Developer Tools, #179 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This network utility allows users to send UDP, TCP, and SSL packets with mixed ASCII or HEX input. It also supports sending HTTP GET/POST requests and receiving unsolicited packets on chosen ports. Data can be copied and pasted in various formats, and desktop packets can be transferred via cloud.

**Highlights:** Send UDP, TCP, SSL packets, Mixed ASCII or HEX input, Send HTTP GET/POST requests, Receive unsolicited packets, Copy/Paste data in ASCII/HEX/RAW, Transfer desktop packets via cloud

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Textastic Code Editor free?

Textastic Code Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Packet Sender free?

Packet Sender costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Textastic Code Editor or Packet Sender?

Packet Sender is rated higher. Textastic Code Editor averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Packet Sender averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Textastic Code Editor or Packet Sender have ads?

Neither Textastic Code Editor nor Packet Sender shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Textastic Code Editor or Packet Sender?

Textastic Code Editor ships an update every 3 weeks, and Packet Sender every 4 months. Most recently, Textastic Code Editor was updated on October 15, 2026 and Packet Sender on October 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Textastic Code Editor or Packet Sender?

Textastic Code Editor currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and Packet Sender at #12. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*