Comparison

App Designer vs GizmoSQL

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

GizmoSQL

Transform your mobile device into a powerful SQL database server. Connect from any device on your network using the Arrow Flight SQL protocol. Explore and query your data with built-in tools.

Highlights
  • DuckDB and SQLite backends
  • Arrow Flight SQL protocol
  • Built-in SQL client
  • Data browser
  • Network connectivity
  • TLS encryption
  • Username/password authentication
Features
Read full description

The GizmoSQL app turns your iPhone or iPad into a high-performance SQL database server using the Arrow Flight SQL protocol — the same columnar data transfer standard used in enterprise analytics. START A SERVER IN SECONDS Choose DuckDB or SQLite as your backend, tap Start, and you have a fully functional database server running on your device. Connect from laptops, desktops, or other devices on your network using any Arrow Flight SQL client — including JDBC, ADBC (Go, Python, C++), ODBC, and Node.js drivers. DUCKLAKE COMPATIBLE Access your DuckLake using your GizmoSQL mobile server. The PostgreSQL and httpfs extensions are pre-loaded so you can connect to and query your data lake seamlessly. BUILT-IN SQL CLIENT Write and execute SQL queries directly on your device with a terminal-style interface. Features include syntax highlighting, box-drawing table output, query timing, and automatic result pagination for large datasets. DATA BROWSER Explore your database visually. Navigate catalogs, schemas, and tables. View column names, types, and constraints. Preview data and manage tables — all without writing a query. KEY FEATURES - DuckDB and SQLite database backends - Arrow Flight SQL protocol for high-performance columnar data transfer - Automatic TLS encryption with self-signed certificates - Username/password authentication with JWT session tokens - Configurable query timeout, logging, and init SQL commands - Export database files via the Files app — copy to iCloud Drive, AirDrop, or any sharing method - Real-time server logs with color-coded severity levels - Active session monitoring BUILT FOR ANALYTICS DuckDB is an analytical database engine optimized for complex queries over large datasets. Combined with Arrow Flight SQL's columnar transport, GizmoSQL delivers fast query results whether you're running TPC-H benchmarks or exploring real-world data on the go. CONNECT FROM ANYWHERE ON YOUR NETWORK Once the server is running, any device on the same Wi-Fi network can connect using the displayed connection string. GizmoSQL supports the full Arrow Flight SQL protocol including prepared statements, transactions, catalog metadata, and bulk data ingest. See: https://gizmodata.com/gizmosql for more details. View the source code at: https://github.com/gizmodata/gizmosql

Screenshots

App Designer4 screens
GizmoSQL4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GizmoSQL at none against App Designer's 3. GizmoSQL also leads on price ($0.99 vs $2.99). On update cadence, ads, 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

App Designer costs $2.99 and GizmoSQL $0.99 up front. App Designer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. GizmoSQL asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

App Designer ships an update weekly, GizmoSQL every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
App Designer versus GizmoSQL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterApp DesignerGizmoSQL
Price$2.99$0.99 — better
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB67 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNorbert GriegerGizmo Data LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

App Designer

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$49.99
None

GizmoSQL

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is App Designer free?
App Designer costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is GizmoSQL free?
GizmoSQL costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do App Designer or GizmoSQL have ads?
Neither App Designer nor GizmoSQL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, App Designer or GizmoSQL?
App Designer ships an update weekly, and GizmoSQL every 2 weeks. Most recently, App Designer was updated on October 29, 2026 and GizmoSQL on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons