Comparison

Koder Code Editor vs Runestone Text Editor

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

Head to head
About

Koder Code Editor

A powerful code editor for mobile devices, offering syntax highlighting for over 80 languages, remote file access, and a built-in terminal. Perfect for developers who need to code on the go with a well-designed interface.

Highlights
  • Syntax highlighting for 80+ languages
  • Remote file access (SFTP, Dropbox, WebDAV)
  • Built-in SSH client
  • Tabbed editing
  • Code autocomplete
  • Snippet manager
  • Editor themes
Features
Read full description

"Koder for iPad: Nerds Rejoice! You Can Code on Your iPad" -- GIZMODO / App of the day -- "Koder’s simple yet efficient interface is designed for touch editing. At just $5.99, you get an editor with a well-designed interface at a great price. If you want to code with your trusty iPad, then Koder is for you." -- AppAdvice -- "An accomplished code editor for many programming languages" -- 148Apps -- "Editing code on your iPad should never be that difficult again" --KillerStartups-- "The developers at iCodeLabs have done a great job optimizing the iPad’s real estate for code editing" --theiphoneappreview-- "The app for instant project creation and code editing, perfect for developers and programmers on the go." --tipsfortablets-- -- Koder was listed on the App Store as a 'Staff Favorites' in 82 countries -- Koder is a code editor for iPad and iPhone. It does have many features including syntax highlighting, snippet manager, tabbed editing, find and replace code, editor theme, remote and local files connections, and many more. With Koder you can code anytime and anywhere, no matter if you're at your desk or while on the go Features: - Syntax Highlighting ( Supports more than 80 languages : actionscript, actionscript3, active4d, ada, ampl, apache, applescript, asm-mips, asm-x86, asp-js, asp-vb, aspdotnet-cs, aspdotnet-vb, awk, batch, c, cobol, coffeescript, coldfusion, cpp, csharp, csound, css, d, dylan, eiffel, erl, eztpl, elixir, fortran, freefem, gedcom, gnuassembler, haskell, header, html, idl, java, javafx, javascript, jsp, latex, less, lilypond, lisp, logtalk, lsl, lua, markdown, matlab, mel, metapost, metaslang, mysql, nemerle, none, nrnhoc, objectivec, objectivecaml, ox, pascal, pdf, perl, php, plist, postscript, powershell, prolog, python, r, rhtml, ruby, sass, scala, sgml, shell, sml, sql, standard, stata, supercollider, tcltk, torquescript, udo, vb, verilog, vhdl, xml ) - Code Autocomplete - Code Function list - Access and Manage your Dropbox, (S)FTP, webdav and local files easily - Built In Terminal (SSH Client) - Tabbed editing - Extra Keyboard with Custom Key (Snippet) - Document Picker Support to open/import/export other app files from/to Koder - Find and replace code - Previewer Browser with View Source function - Editor theme with Custom Theme Editor - Extra Key / Additional Keys on Virtual Keyboard with open+close brackets keys - Screen-Lock, Manual and Auto Lock - Extracting Zip File on Local project - Sophisticated File Browser - iOS "Open In" support, from Koder to other app - vice versa - Change file/folder permission (CHMOD) on FTP/SFTP projects - Folder Synchronization between Local Project and FTP Project - Uploading files from desktop from browser or iTunes sharing - Expandable editing space - Bluetooth Keyboard Support - and many more … - Support multitasking for iPad - Support editing files from Working Copy using drag and drop NEWEST - Support Dark Theme - Compatibility with iOS 13 BUG REPORT/ PROBLEMS/ IDEAS : If you have any problems when using Koder, or you have ideas for Koder improvement, please mention us or message us directly at twiter @koderapp

About

Runestone Text Editor

A powerful plain text and code editor for iPhone and iPad. Offers syntax highlighting, line numbers, find and replace, and extensive customization options for developers and writers.

Highlights
  • Syntax highlighting for many languages
  • Customizable themes and fonts
  • Advanced find and replace
  • Line numbers and cursor location
  • Code formatting with Prettier.js
  • Multiple windows on iPad
Features
Read full description

A plain text editor with syntax highlighting, line numbers, search and replace, page guide, and much more. It's like TextEdit but more powerful and optimised for iPhone and iPad. Runestone is made by a single person with a love for text editors and a vision of building the most lightweight text editor for iPhone and iPad that still has the core features for editing code. Features: - Syntax highlighting of many languages including HTML, JavaScript, JSON, Markdown, Swift, Python, PHP, YAML, and many more. - Select one of the twelve standard themes including popular themes like Tomorrow, Dracula, Solarized, and One Dark Pro. - Innovative find and replace for searching and modifying text while still viewing your file. - Choose font and font size, including support for custom fonts imported using another third-party app. - Show the line and column the cursor is located on. - Uses the standard document browser for an experience similar to the Files app. - Quickly navigate to a specific line. - Automatically close opening brackets and quotes. - Multiple windows on the iPad. - Format code using Prettier.js. Supported languages include CSS,HTML, JavaScript, JSON, PHP and more. - Choose text encoding between popular encodings like UTF-8, UTF-16, ISO Latin 1, and many more. - Enable or disable autocorrection, autocapitalization, and smart punctuation. - Set default file extension of new files. - Open files in Runestone from the Share Sheet. - Print documents. Premium features: - Choose between eight app icons. - Show line numbers. - Highlight the selected line. - Increase line height and letter spacing. - Disable line wrapping to allow horizontal scrolling. - Show tabs, spaces, and line breaks using a selected symbol. - Enable page guide at a specific column to easily tell when lines are getting too long. - Add vertical and horizontal overscroll. - Remember the selected language per file. - Save file extensions and filenames that should always be treated as plain text files. - Enable soft tabs and choose the width of the tab character. - Specify whether pressing the tab key should insert a tab or indent the line. - Adjust the scaling of Markdown headings and disable highlighting of code blocks in Markdown. Runestone was built on the open-source framework with the same name. Find more information on the Runestone framework at github.com/simonbs/runestone

Screenshots

Koder Code Editor4 screens
Runestone Text Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Koder Code Editor at none against Runestone Text Editor's 1. Koder Code Editor also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 2K) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Runestone Text Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Runestone Text Editor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Koder Code Editor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Koder Code Editor against 4.7 for Runestone Text Editor. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koder Code Editor has 12K ratings behind it against 2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Koder Code Editor's written reviews are positive against 76% of Runestone Text Editor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Koder Code Editor ships an update every 3 weeks, Runestone Text Editor every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Koder Code Editor versus Runestone Text Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKoder Code EditorRunestone Text Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (12K ratings)4.7 (2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.8% of reviews76.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12K — better2K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#25 — better#41
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB64 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReny MustikaSimon B. Støvring

Customer experience

Koder Code Editor

All ratings11,603 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral3.6%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews1,165 reviews
Positive71.8%
Neutral10.5%
Negative17.8%

Runestone Text Editor

All ratings1,962 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews351 reviews
Positive76.1%
Neutral9.7%
Negative14.2%

User reviews

Koder Code Editor

From 12K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for coding on the go
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive UI
  • 🚀 Efficient file management
  • 🚀 Supports multiple file formats
  • 🚀 Seamless cloud integration

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
  • 🐛 Bugs when switching between apps
  • 🐛 File corruption and data loss
  • 🐛 Unreliable SFTP/SSH connections
  • 🐛 Lack of customization options

Runestone Text Editor

From 2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💎 Excellent text editor
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive
  • 🎨 Customizable themes and appearance
  • 🔒 Secure file storage and sync
  • 👍 Clean and intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 🔍 Difficulty navigating files/folders
  • 📝 Limited functionality without premium
  • 🔌 Performance issues on older devices
  • 🔒 Difficulty accessing files in cloud storage

Bugs and requests

Koder Code Editor

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Crashes when opening certain file types
  • Inability to rename or delete files
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
  • Sync issues with cloud storage providers
  • Performance degradation on larger files

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved Git integration
  • Terminal/console functionality
  • Support for more programming languages
  • Ability to disable line wrapping

Runestone Text Editor

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Disappearing files
  • Difficulty pasting text
  • Scroll position not saved
  • Hangs on startup
  • Trouble opening large files
Show 1 more
  • Issues after iOS updates

Requested features

6 requests
  • Markdown preview
  • Code folding
  • Syntax highlighting for more languages
  • Ability to run/execute code
  • Multiple file/window support
Show 1 more
  • Improved undo/redo functionality

In-app purchases

None

Koder Code Editor

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Runestone Text Editor

One-time1
  • Premium$9.99

Questions

Is Koder Code Editor free?
Koder Code Editor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Runestone Text Editor free?
Runestone Text Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Koder Code Editor or Runestone Text Editor?
Runestone Text Editor is rated higher. Koder Code Editor averages 4.6 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Runestone Text Editor averages 4.7 from 2K ratings.
Do Koder Code Editor or Runestone Text Editor have ads?
Neither Koder Code Editor nor Runestone Text Editor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Koder Code Editor or Runestone Text Editor?
Koder Code Editor ships an update every 3 weeks, and Runestone Text Editor every 2 weeks. Most recently, Koder Code Editor was updated on September 24, 2026 and Runestone Text Editor on September 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, Koder Code Editor or Runestone Text Editor?
Koder Code Editor currently peaks at #25 in the App Store charts, and Runestone Text Editor at #41. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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