# iDeal vs Codex by Lloyd Barnes

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | iDeal | Codex by Lloyd Barnes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$24.99** | $49.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ideal/id1537996792/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codex-by-lloyd-barnes/id6759010874/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 29 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 29 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Magic Media Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527541763) | [Lloyd Barnes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876359952) |

## What reviewers say

### iDeal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ideal/id1537996792)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Codex by Lloyd Barnes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codex-by-lloyd-barnes/id6759010874)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*