Comparison

iDeal vs Codex by Lloyd Barnes

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

Head to head
About

iDeal

This app allows magicians to perform card tricks by predicting or forcing cards. It enables users to know a card thought of by an audience member without a physical deck and practice card stacks. Customize the app with your own name and card stacks for unique performances.

Highlights
  • Predict random cards
  • Force cards at random numbers
  • Know audience's thought-of card
  • Practice card stacks
  • Customizable app name
  • Create custom card stacks
  • Peek chosen card on Apple Watch/PeekSmith
Read full description

iDeal - Stack it, Predict it, Force it, Peek it! Want to read the minds of your audience who is thinking of a 'Random' Card? Want to predict a randomly chosen card? Want to force a card at a random number? Want to a know the card your audience member is thinking of without a deck of cards? Want to practice your favourite card stack? iDeal is for magicians of all ages to fool their audience with this diabolically simple app. Customise your app with a name of your choice, choose a card to force from a preselected stack, or create your own card stack to force. Peek the chosen card on any Apple Watch or a PeekSmith, and know the position of it instantly in a chosen stack. iDeal can be used for any live or online magic show.

About

Codex by Lloyd Barnes

This app offers a rapid day-of-week calculation and a reference tool for various card stacks. It's designed for practice and quick lookups with customizable feedback options for different environments.

Highlights
  • Day of week calculator
  • Speak dates for weekday display
  • Optional haptic feedback
  • Customizable tones and volume
  • Reference for common card stacks
  • High-contrast interface
Features
Read full description

Codex is a fast day-of-week calculator and card-stack reference tool designed for practice, rehearsal, and quick lookup. It provides accurate results with flexible output options so you can use it in different environments. Day of Week Calculator - Enter or speak a date and Codex displays the correct weekday. - Optional haptic feedback and optional sounds can be enabled for hands-free or silent operation. Customisation - Configure haptic strength, timing, and patterns. - Choose optional tones and volume. Card & Stack Tools - Quick reference and practice utilities for common stacks and arrangements (e.g., Mnemonica, Aronson, Si Stebbins, Eight Kings, and more). - High-contrast, readable interface for rapid lookup. Codex is built to be quick, reliable, and easy to use—whether you’re practicing at home or reviewing information on the go.

Screenshots

iDeal4 screens
Codex by Lloyd Barnes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iDeal at $24.99 against Codex by Lloyd Barnes's $49.99. iDeal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and device support (3 vs 1). Codex by Lloyd Barnes's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 29 months). On review sentiment, 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

iDeal costs $24.99 and Codex by Lloyd Barnes $49.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iDeal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iDeal ships an update every 29 months, Codex by Lloyd Barnes every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
iDeal versus Codex by Lloyd Barnes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriDealCodex by Lloyd Barnes
Price$24.99 — better$49.99
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 29 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMagic Media LtdLloyd Barnes

Customer experience

iDeal

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Codex by Lloyd Barnes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iDeal

No in-app purchases

None

Codex by Lloyd Barnes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iDeal free?
iDeal costs $24.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Codex by Lloyd Barnes free?
Codex by Lloyd Barnes costs $49.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iDeal or Codex by Lloyd Barnes?
iDeal is rated higher. iDeal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Codex by Lloyd Barnes averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do iDeal or Codex by Lloyd Barnes have ads?
Neither iDeal nor Codex by Lloyd Barnes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iDeal or Codex by Lloyd Barnes?
iDeal ships an update every 29 months, and Codex by Lloyd Barnes every 9 days. Most recently, iDeal was updated on September 5, 2026 and Codex by Lloyd Barnes on September 19, 2026.

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