# Rubyist vs CraftOS

The clearest difference is monetization model: CraftOS at free against Rubyist's free with in-app purchases. CraftOS also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Rubyist's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (93 vs 17). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Rubyist sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and CraftOS sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CraftOS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rubyist has 93 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Rubyist's written reviews are positive against 88% of CraftOS's.

Rubyist ships an update every 3 weeks, CraftOS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Rubyist | CraftOS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rubyist-ruby-scripting/id1539089868/reviews) | **[4.8 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/craftos-pc/id1565893014/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **93** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **88.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 26 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TSUBASA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1539089870) | [Jack Bruienne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1542538425) |

## What reviewers say

### Rubyist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rubyist-ruby-scripting/id1539089868)

Execute and automate Ruby scripts directly on your iPhone and iPad. This app utilizes the MRuby VM to run code, integrate with Shortcuts and Siri, and offers a robust editor with syntax highlighting and autocomplete.

**Highlights:** Run Ruby code on device, Editor with syntax highlighting, Code autocomplete, Shortcuts app integration, Siri command creation, Native alerts and inputs, HTTP requests, Clipboard access

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


### CraftOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/craftos-pc/id1565893014)

This app emulates a classic text-based computer environment, allowing you to write and run Lua programs. It's perfect for learning to code or exploring existing programs from a popular Minecraft mod, all within a retro terminal interface.

**Highlights:** Lua 5.2+ scripting environment, 16-color text-based terminal, Virtual filesystem, Built-in shell, Extensive APIs, Compatibility with ComputerCraft programs, Exclusive graphics mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plugin Collection 1 | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Rubyist free?

Rubyist is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CraftOS free?

CraftOS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Rubyist or CraftOS?

CraftOS is rated higher. Rubyist averages 4.6 out of 5 from 93 ratings, while CraftOS averages 4.8 from 17 ratings.

### Do Rubyist or CraftOS have ads?

Neither Rubyist nor CraftOS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Rubyist or CraftOS?

Rubyist ships an update every 3 weeks, and CraftOS every 4 months. Most recently, Rubyist was updated on September 20, 2026 and CraftOS on September 18, 2026.

---

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