Comparison

App Designer vs DesignToCode for SwiftUI

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

Head to head
About

App Designer

Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone, iPad or Mac into a powerful Swift development environment. App Designer lets you write, run, preview, organize, and debug Swift code directly on your device — completely offline and without Xcode. Build SwiftUI, UIKit, and RealityKit projects with live code execution, a built-in canvas preview, professional editing tools, Xcode project import/export, and an integrated AI assistant that can work offline or with your own online provider. Write Swift Anywhere Run Swift code instantly and see real-time output while you build. Preview SwiftUI and UIKit interfaces side by side with your code and bring your ideas to life directly on your device. Professional Code Editor Enjoy syntax highlighting with 89 color themes, smart autocomplete for Swift, SwiftUI, and UIKit, adjustable font size, line wrap, bracket matching, and automatic bracket insertion. Built-in Debugging Tools Set breakpoints, step through your code, highlight the current execution line, and view inline errors and warnings directly in the editor. SwiftUI, UIKit & RealityKit Create modern SwiftUI interfaces with VStack, HStack, NavigationStack, @State, gestures, animations, and more. Build UIKit views with buttons, labels, Auto Layout, and Core Animation. Explore 3D content with RealityKit, including RealityView, MeshResource, and Entity loading. Xcode Project Import & Export Import existing Xcode projects, continue working on the go, and export them back to Xcode when you're ready to keep building on your Mac. Project & Asset Management Manage your growing app gallery with folders, multiple pages, sorting options, Spotlight-style search, and an “Only Active” filter. Browse resources with a built-in file explorer, import images and files, add custom app icons, personalize your gallery with wallpapers, and duplicate, rename, or delete projects with ease. Learn by Example Start quickly with built-in example projects covering SwiftUI animations, UIKit layouts, file handling, image manipulation, and more. 100% Offline No internet connection required. App Designer gives you the tools to build real Swift apps right from your pocket. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

DesignToCode for SwiftUI

Visually design and build SwiftUI interfaces on iPad. This app allows you to add Views, adjust Modifiers, and preview layouts in real time, generating SwiftUI code directly. Ideal for developers, designers, and learners.

Highlights
  • SwiftUI View Support
  • Modifier Control
  • Instant Preview
  • SwiftUI Code Generator
  • Liquid Glass Support
Features
Read full description

DesignToCode is a powerful yet lightweight ipadOS app for SwiftUI interface design. It helps you build user interfaces visually while following the exact logic of Apple’s SwiftUI framework. With its clear editor, you can add Views, adjust Modifiers, and preview layouts in real time—ideal for developers, designers, and anyone learning SwiftUI. Key Features: - SwiftUI View Support – Create layouts with VStack, HStack, ZStack, Text, Shape (Circle, Rectangle, RoundedRectangle, Capsule, Ellipse), Color, GlassEffectContainer and Spacer. - Modifier Control – Apply Frame, FixedSize, ForegroundStyle, Background, Mask, Overlay, Font, and more—just like you would in SwiftUI code. - Instant Preview – See your interface update immediately after each change. Perfect for experimenting with layout, color, and typography. - SwiftUI Code Generator – Copy the SwiftUI code of your design directly to the clipboard. Save time by skipping the manual step of translating design ideas into code. - Supports Liquid Glass - compatible with iOS 26. For macOS Developers – Whether you’re prototyping, teaching, or building production-ready apps, DesignToCode accelerates your SwiftUI workflow. I created DesignToCode for my own daily development work, and I use it constantly. More Views, Modifiers, and advanced tools will be added in future updates. If you’re looking for a SwiftUI visual editor, an interface builder for ipadOS, or a fast way to generate SwiftUI code, DesignToCode will help you design and develop apps more efficiently.

Screenshots

App Designer4 screens
DesignToCode for SwiftUI4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DesignToCode for SwiftUI at Free against App Designer's $2.99. App Designer's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

DesignToCode for SwiftUI is free to download; App Designer costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Designer ships an update weekly, DesignToCode for SwiftUI every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
App Designer versus DesignToCode for SwiftUI: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp DesignerDesignToCode for SwiftUI
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating—2.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.0 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNorbert Grieger浩 王

In-app purchases

None

App Designer

No in-app purchases

None

DesignToCode for SwiftUI

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is App Designer free?
App Designer costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is DesignToCode for SwiftUI free?
DesignToCode for SwiftUI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do App Designer or DesignToCode for SwiftUI have ads?
Neither App Designer nor DesignToCode for SwiftUI shows ads.
Which is updated more often, App Designer or DesignToCode for SwiftUI?
App Designer ships an update weekly, and DesignToCode for SwiftUI every 3 months. Most recently, App Designer was updated on November 2, 2026 and DesignToCode for SwiftUI on October 22, 2026.

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