Rubyist vs Pythonica
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Rubyist
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide full description
Rubyist allows you to run Ruby code on your iPhone and iPad using the MRuby VM. Run code directly in the app or via the Shortcuts app or Siri commands. Features: - Run Ruby code directly on your device - Built-in documentation viewer - Editor with ruby syntax highlighting - Code Autocomplete - Run Ruby directly in Shortcuts - Build your own Siri commands in Ruby. - Display native alerts and inputs using exclusive APIs - Make http requests from your code. - Write and read your clipboard from code
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
Read full descriptionHide full description
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 ads: Rubyist at none against Pythonica's shown. Rubyist also leads on ratings volume (93 vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Pythonica's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Rubyist sells 3 one-off in-app purchases 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 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rubyist has 93 ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of Pythonica's.
Rubyist ships an update every 3 weeks, Pythonica every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Rubyist | Pythonica |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (93 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 93 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No — better | 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 | 17.0 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 237 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | TSUBASA TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY | Firas Moussa |
Customer experience
Rubyist
Pythonica
In-app purchases
Rubyist
- Small Tip$0.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
Pythonica
- Unlock all features$4.99
- Standalone Web Application$9.99
