Lua IDE vs CraftOS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lua IDE
A mobile integrated development environment for writing and running Lua code. It offers syntax highlighting, module support, and an offline reference manual. Cloud storage integration is also available.
- Syntax highlighting
- Module support
- Offline reference manual
- Works offline
- Cloud storage support
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• Lua IDE with syntax highlighting • Support requiring modules • Reference manual • Works completely offline • Cloud storage support, including iCloud
CraftOS
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.
- Lua 5.2+ scripting environment
- 16-color text-based terminal
- Virtual filesystem
- Built-in shell
- Extensive APIs
- Compatibility with ComputerCraft programs
- Exclusive graphics mode
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CraftOS-PC is a fantasy terminal that allows you to write and run programs inside an ‘80s-style text console. CraftOS-PC emulates the popular Minecraft mod "ComputerCraft", which adds programmable computers to Minecraft using the Lua programming language. CraftOS-PC takes this experience outside Minecraft to allow you to run the same programs anywhere you go. CraftOS-PC provides a set of functions (called APIs) that make it super easy to do simple tasks such as write text to the screen, read files, and more. The simplicity of these functions makes CraftOS-PC great for new programmers, but their power makes it possible to write all sorts of complex programs with less code. If you aren’t ready to write programs yet, there’s already a large number of programs for ComputerCraft that will work in CraftOS-PC, ranging from simple games to whole graphical operating systems. These can be downloaded through the built-in Pastebin and GitHub Gist clients. • Full Lua 5.2+ scripting environment and command-line REPL • 16-color text-based terminal display • Expansive virtual filesystem for program and data storage • Built-in shell with syntax similar to most desktop shells • APIs to easily access terminal, filesystem, Internet, event queue, and more • Built-in programs make it easy to navigate & edit files without a single line of code • Plenty of help documents to assist programmers • Compatibility with thousands of existing ComputerCraft programs • Over 3x faster than Minecraft mod and comparable emulators • Emulation of all peripherals available in ComputerCraft • Easily access configuration from inside CraftOS • Exclusive graphics mode providing up to 256-color, pixel-based screen manipulation • Edit Lua scripts from CraftOS or other code editing apps • Open-source app makes it easy to suggest and contribute changes Documentation on all of the APIs that ComputerCraft provides are available at https://tweaked.cc, and CraftOS-PC’s unique APIs are described at https://www.craftos-pc.cc/docs/. Join the CraftOS-PC community at https://www.craftos-pc.cc/discord!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CraftOS at 4.8 against Lua IDE's 3.4. CraftOS also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 59%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Lua IDE's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. CraftOS sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lua IDE asks for nothing beyond the download.
CraftOS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Lua IDE's written reviews are positive against 88% of CraftOS's.
Lua IDE ships an update every 7 months, CraftOS every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lua IDE | CraftOS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (22 ratings) | 4.8 (17 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 59.3% of reviews | 88.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 22 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 11 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wenhuan Li | Jack Bruienne |
Customer experience
Lua IDE
CraftOS
In-app purchases
Lua IDE
No in-app purchases
CraftOS
- Plugin Collection 1$0.99









