RubySketch vs Pythonica
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
RubySketch
This app provides a Ruby interpreter and text editor, allowing users to write and run Ruby scripts. It also features a graphics API compatible with Processing for creative coding on mobile devices.
- Built-in Ruby interpreter (CRuby/MRI)
- Processing-compatible graphics API
- Text editor with easy cursor movement
- Physics-capable sprites
- Image input from camera
- Sound playback
- Sample scripts and games
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This app includes Ruby language interpreter known as CRuby or MRI (Matz Ruby Implementation) and a simple text editor. So you can edit and run a ruby script. It also has an API that is almost compatible with Processing that is well known as a Creative Coding framework. So you can enjoy graphics programming on your iPhone or iPad. Key Features - Built-in Ruby interpreter (CRuby / MRI) - Processing-compatible graphics API with shaders available - Built-in text editor that makes moving the cursor painless - Physics-capable sprites - Image input from camera - Sound playback - Includes many sample scripts, including simple games This is a list of functions implemented to be compatible with the Processing API. --- abs, acos, alpha, angleMode, applyMatrix, arc, asin, atan, atan2, background, beginContour, beginShape, bezier, bezierDetail, bezierPoint, bezierTangent, bezierVertex, blend, blendMode, blue, brightness, ceil, circle, clear, clip, color, colorMode, constrain, copy, cos, createCanvas, createCapture, createFont, createGraphics, createImage, createShader, createShape, createVector, curve, curveDetail, curvePoint, curveTangent, curveTightness, curveVertex, degrees, deltaTime, displayDensity, displayHeight, displayWidth, dist, doubleClicked, draw, ellipse, ellipseMode, endContour, endShape, exp, fill, filter, floor, focused, frameCount, frameRate, fullScreen, fullscreen, green, height, hue, image, imageMode, key, keyCode, keyIsDown, keyIsPressed, keyPressed, keyReleased, keyTyped, lerp, lerpColor, line, loadFont, loadImage, loadPixels, loadShader, log, loop, mag, map, max, min, motion, motionGravity, mouseButton, mouseClicked, mouseDragged, mouseMoved, mousePressed, mouseReleased, mouseWheel, mouseX, mouseY, noClip, noFill, noLoop, noSmooth, noStroke, noTint, noise, noiseDetail, noiseSeed, norm, pixelDensity, pixelHeight, pixelWidth, pixels, pmouseX, pmouseY, point, pop, popMatrix, popStyle, pow, printMatrix, push, pushMatrix, pushStyle, quad, quadraticVertex, radians, random, randomGaussian, randomSeed, rect, rectMode, red, redraw, renderMode, requestImage, resetMatrix, resetShader, rotate, rotateX, rotateY, rotateZ, round, saturation, save, scale, setTitle, setup, shader, shape, shapeMode, shearX, shearY, sin, size, smooth, sq, sqrt, square, stroke, strokeCap, strokeJoin, strokeWeight, tan, text, textAlign, textAscent, textDescent, textFont, textLeading, textSize, textWidth, texture, textureMode, textureWrap, tint, touchEnded, touchMoved, touchStarted, touches, translate, triangle, updatePixels, vertex, width, windowHeight, windowMove, windowMoved, windowOrientation, windowResizable, windowResize, windowResized, windowWidth, windowX, windowY
Pythonica
Develop and debug Python web applications directly on your iOS device. This app provides a full Python environment with PIP support, a script editor with advanced features, and a built-in Git client. It also allows you to run your applications as standalone web apps.
- Full Python environment with PIP
- Integrated Git client
- Multi-tabbed script editor
- Auto-complete and syntax validation
- Standalone web app functionality
- Remote file management (FTP/SFTP/FTPS/iCloud)
- Offline Python documentation
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Full-fledged Python on iOS with PIP support. Pythonica is designed for Python developers. With Pythonica, you can build, modify, run and debug web applications using Python and Webkit on your iOS device or any other device on the same network. Pythonica also turns your device into a complete standalone web application with Python support to run on startup. App features: - Full Python without internet connection - Git client - Script editor - html/js/css/json beautifiers in script editor - Auto-Complete - Image editor - Multi-tabbed script/image editor - PIP - Panel to capture logs - Supports in-app browser / in-app Safari - Multi-tabbed file manager - Set as standalone web application - Remote file manager (access app's files from another device) - FTP/SFTP/FTPS/iCloud managers - phpLiteAdmin to edit sqlite files - Firebug Lite - Syntax validator for HTML, JS & CSS - Offline Python documentation - Enable/Disable sharing with Files app - Split screen on iPad - Multitasking on iPad Note: Pythonica does not support c extensions. For more information & inquiries please contact us.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pythonica at 5.0 against RubySketch's 4.7. Pythonica also leads on iOS requirement (13.4 vs 16.0). RubySketch's advantage is ratings volume (24 vs 2) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. RubySketch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Pythonica sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Pythonica holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RubySketch has 24 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
RubySketch ships an update every 5 weeks, Pythonica every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | RubySketch | Pythonica |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (24 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 24 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 82 MB | 237 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Noritaka Suzuki | Firas Moussa |
Customer experience
RubySketch
Pythonica
In-app purchases
RubySketch
- Remove Ads$9.99
Pythonica
- Unlock all features$4.99
- Standalone Web Application$9.99









