Lua IDE Fresh Edition vs CraftOS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lua IDE Fresh Edition
Learn and code Lua with this comprehensive application. It features grammar highlighting, direct code execution for testing, and a suite of practical functions to enhance your coding experience. Share your code and master Lua efficiently.
- Grammar highlighting
- Direct code execution
- Code sharing
- Practical functions
- Efficient learning
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* * * * * Grammar highlights the learning materials to make learning easier. * * * * * Directly run code examples make it easier for you to test. * * * * * Rich and practical functions make it easier for you to use. This is our Lua learning application. Set learning, coding, compiling, sharing code in one. Efficient learning, happy test, easy operation. Everything is in the mastery... Come and try it!!!!!!!
CraftOS
This app emulates a classic text-based computer environment, allowing you to write and run Lua programs. It's perfect for learning to code or exploring existing programs from a popular Minecraft mod, all within a retro terminal interface.
- Lua 5.2+ scripting environment
- 16-color text-based terminal
- Virtual filesystem
- Built-in shell
- Extensive APIs
- Compatibility with ComputerCraft programs
- Exclusive graphics mode
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CraftOS-PC is a fantasy terminal that allows you to write and run programs inside an ‘80s-style text console. CraftOS-PC emulates the popular Minecraft mod "ComputerCraft", which adds programmable computers to Minecraft using the Lua programming language. CraftOS-PC takes this experience outside Minecraft to allow you to run the same programs anywhere you go. CraftOS-PC provides a set of functions (called APIs) that make it super easy to do simple tasks such as write text to the screen, read files, and more. The simplicity of these functions makes CraftOS-PC great for new programmers, but their power makes it possible to write all sorts of complex programs with less code. If you aren’t ready to write programs yet, there’s already a large number of programs for ComputerCraft that will work in CraftOS-PC, ranging from simple games to whole graphical operating systems. These can be downloaded through the built-in Pastebin and GitHub Gist clients. • Full Lua 5.2+ scripting environment and command-line REPL • 16-color text-based terminal display • Expansive virtual filesystem for program and data storage • Built-in shell with syntax similar to most desktop shells • APIs to easily access terminal, filesystem, Internet, event queue, and more • Built-in programs make it easy to navigate & edit files without a single line of code • Plenty of help documents to assist programmers • Compatibility with thousands of existing ComputerCraft programs • Over 3x faster than Minecraft mod and comparable emulators • Emulation of all peripherals available in ComputerCraft • Easily access configuration from inside CraftOS • Exclusive graphics mode providing up to 256-color, pixel-based screen manipulation • Edit Lua scripts from CraftOS or other code editing apps • Open-source app makes it easy to suggest and contribute changes Documentation on all of the APIs that ComputerCraft provides are available at https://tweaked.cc, and CraftOS-PC’s unique APIs are described at https://www.craftos-pc.cc/docs/. Join the CraftOS-PC community at https://www.craftos-pc.cc/discord!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: CraftOS at free against Lua IDE Fresh Edition's free with in-app purchases. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Lua IDE Fresh Edition sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and CraftOS sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Lua IDE Fresh Edition against 4.8 for CraftOS. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 17 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Lua IDE Fresh Edition's written reviews are positive against 88% of CraftOS's.
Lua IDE Fresh Edition ships an update every 8 months, CraftOS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lua IDE Fresh Edition | CraftOS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (20 ratings) | 4.8 (17 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 94.7% of reviews — better | 88.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 20 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 小文 黄 | Jack Bruienne |
Customer experience
Lua IDE Fresh Edition
CraftOS
In-app purchases
Lua IDE Fresh Edition
- Convenient functions$2.99
CraftOS
- Plugin Collection 1$0.99
Questions
Is Lua IDE Fresh Edition free?
Is CraftOS free?
Which has better reviews, Lua IDE Fresh Edition or CraftOS?
Do Lua IDE Fresh Edition or CraftOS have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lua IDE Fresh Edition or CraftOS?
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