Comparison

DevSnippets vs PhraseExpress

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

Head to head
About

DevSnippets

This note-taking application is designed for developers, offering a robust Markdown editor with syntax highlighting for code. It allows for easy export of notes and includes an online code playground for testing. Users can organize notes with folders and customize the appearance with various themes.

Highlights
  • Markdown editor with syntax highlighting
  • Online code playground
  • Export notes to multiple formats (TXT, MD, HTML, PDF)
  • Folder organization
  • Favorites section
  • Customizable color themes and dark mode
Features
Read full description

A notes app for developers! Markdown notes with code snippets and online code compilation. Features: - Markdown Editor with coloured code support, links, images, etc - Export snippets to plain text, Markdown, HTML or PDF - Folders - Code playground (online) - Favorites section - Multilanguage (English, Spanish) - Color Themes - Dark mode and light mode

About

PhraseExpress

This app eliminates tedious typing by expanding abbreviations into longer text snippets. Organize and access frequently used phrases through a descriptive menu, syncing them across devices. It offers advanced macro features for customization and automation.

Highlights
  • Text expansion from abbreviations
  • Snippet organization and access
  • Sync snippets across devices
  • Descriptive phrase menus
  • Customizable keyboard with swipe gestures
  • Advanced macro features (fill-ins, date calculations, translation)
Read full description

PhraseExpress Autotext is a text expander program and puts an end to tedious touch-typing. The App is completely free without feature or time restrictions as a free gift. There is no in-app purchase and the app does not expire. ● Organize & access frequently used text from a handy snippet menu. ● Expand autotext abbreviations into longer phrases. ● Sync snippets with other iOS devices or computers. THE PHRASEEXPRESS ADVANTAGE The unique phrase menu saves you from memorizing autotext abbreviations: ● Access over 600 phrases with just five taps! ● Descriptive menus instead cryptic shortcuts ● No more autotext cheat-sheets ● Fat-finger compatible large menus CUSTOM KEYBOARD FEATURES ● Swipe-up keys for upper case letters ● Swipe down keys for numbers or symbols ● Dedicated phrase menu for instant access ● Smart bar with auto-complete suggestions ADDITIONAL FEATURES Following macro features are also completely free: ● Fill-ins and input forms (without grid/dynamic forms) ● Custom time/date stamps ● Date/math calculations ● Nest & link phrases ● Multiple choice phrases ● Conditional phrases, random text variation ● Clipboard operations, counters and variables ● Phrase customization with user input ● Grid form input ● Dynamic form inputs ● Support for "DeepL" language translation service Important Limitations: ● Above macros are entered in the separate PhraseExpress Mac/Windows desktop version and can then be used on iOS. You cannot create macros in the iOS App! ● The PhraseExpress App does not support external hardware keyboards. ● The PhraseExpress iOS App does not support bitmaps in the text. ● This App is compatible with PhraseExpress for Windows v17 and compatible with PhraseExpress for Mac v6. ● The App is offered as a demonstration of our programming capabilities without any warranty/guarantee/support. Please use "as-is". We do not provide any support for this complimentary free software. Privacy Policy: Our App NEVER transmits any keyboard input, personal information and/or stored phrases to us. We are based in Germany, a country with one of the strictest privacy laws. Disclaimer: This App is not to be confused and not affiliated with the TextExpander App. TextExpander is a registered trademark of SmileOnMyMac, LLC.

Screenshots

DevSnippets4 screens
PhraseExpress4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DevSnippets at 50% against PhraseExpress's 14%. DevSnippets also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). PhraseExpress's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (55 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PhraseExpress holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PhraseExpress has 55 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of DevSnippets's written reviews are positive against 14% of PhraseExpress's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DevSnippets ships an update every 4 days, PhraseExpress every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DevSnippets versus PhraseExpress: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDevSnippetsPhraseExpress
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (55 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings155 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel ILLESCAS ROMEROBartels Media GmbH

Customer experience

DevSnippets

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

PhraseExpress

All ratings55 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative71.4%

In-app purchases

None

DevSnippets

No in-app purchases

None

PhraseExpress

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DevSnippets free?
DevSnippets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PhraseExpress free?
PhraseExpress is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DevSnippets or PhraseExpress?
PhraseExpress is rated higher. DevSnippets averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while PhraseExpress averages 4.5 from 55 ratings.
Do DevSnippets or PhraseExpress have ads?
Neither DevSnippets nor PhraseExpress shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DevSnippets or PhraseExpress?
DevSnippets ships an update every 4 days, and PhraseExpress every 4 months. Most recently, DevSnippets was updated on September 23, 2026 and PhraseExpress on October 6, 2026.

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