Comparison

Lua IDE vs Love2D Launcher

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Module support
  • Offline reference manual
  • Works offline
  • Cloud storage support
Features
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• Lua IDE with syntax highlighting • Support requiring modules • Reference manual • Works completely offline • Cloud storage support, including iCloud

About

Love2D Launcher

Run Love2D Lua game projects directly on your iPhone or iPad. Features an integrated Lua editor, Git integration, and an on-device AI assistant for coding and debugging.

Highlights
  • Love2D 11.x engine on iOS
  • Integrated Lua code editor
  • Git repository cloning
  • On-device AI code assistant
  • Real-time syntax checking
  • Console log output
  • Export projects as ZIP
Features
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Love2D Launcher runs real LÖVE 2D projects on iPhone and iPad. Import your Lua game from the Files app or clone it from Git, edit it in a proper code editor, and ask an AI assistant about it — one that runs on your device, with the network off. REAL LÖVE 2D, NOT AN EMULATION The LÖVE 11.x engine, compiled natively for iOS. Physics, audio, graphics, shaders, fonts — what you wrote on desktop runs here, and when it doesn't you get the full Lua stack trace instead of a shrug. AN AI ASSISTANT THAT NEVER LEAVES YOUR DEVICE Ask about your own code and get answers from a model running on your device. Where Apple Intelligence is available it works straight away, with nothing to download. Or pick from a curated catalog of open models — Qwen, Llama, Gemma, Phi, SmolLM and more — sized for your device and run locally through Apple MLX, or import your own. On a plane, on the subway, with Wi-Fi off — it still answers. No account, no subscription, no token counter, nothing uploaded and nothing logged. Free for 14 days. A LUA EDITOR THAT KEEPS UP Syntax highlighting, LÖVE API autocomplete, real-time syntax checking through the Lua C API, multiple tabs, find and replace across the whole project, and a code toolbar that puts brackets and indentation a tap away. Five editor themes, light and dark. GIT, WHEREVER YOUR CODE LIVES GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Codeberg, and any self-hosted Forgejo instance. Clone, switch branch, pull, commit and push without leaving the app. Access tokens stay in the Keychain and never leave your device. BUILT FOR PEOPLE WHO SHIP • Full Lua stack traces, with the failing line marked in the editor • Console output from print() while the game is running • Record your gameplay and share the clip • Export any project as a ZIP • Import from Files, iCloud Drive, or any document provider • iPhone and iPad, portrait and landscape WHAT'S FREE Importing and running your projects is free, with no limits and no ads. The editor, Git and the AI assistant are one-off purchases — take only the one you need, or the bundle. The editor and the AI assistant are free for 14 days, and the countdown only starts the first time you open a project in the editor. Git gives you one free clone from a public repository before you decide. LÖVE 2D is an open-source framework (love2d.org). Love2D Launcher is an independent app, not affiliated with or endorsed by the LÖVE Development Team.

Screenshots

Lua IDE3 screens
Love2D Launcher4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lua IDE at 59% against Love2D Launcher's 0%. Lua IDE also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and rating (3.4 vs 3.0). Love2D Launcher's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 7 months). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Love2D Launcher sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Lua IDE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lua IDE holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lua IDE has 22 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Lua IDE's written reviews are positive against 0% of Love2D Launcher's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lua IDE ships an update every 7 months, Love2D Launcher every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Lua IDE versus Love2D Launcher: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLua IDELove2D Launcher
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (22 ratings) — better3.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews59.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWenhuan LiMercurio Solutions

Customer experience

Lua IDE

All ratings22 ratings
Positive59.1%
Neutral9.1%
Negative31.8%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive59.3%
Neutral14.8%
Negative25.9%

Love2D Launcher

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Lua IDE

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Love2D Launcher

One-time4
  • Git Operations$2.99
  • Code Editor$2.99
  • AI Assistant$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Pro Bundle$8.99

Questions

Is Lua IDE free?
Lua IDE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Love2D Launcher free?
Love2D Launcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lua IDE or Love2D Launcher?
Lua IDE is rated higher. Lua IDE averages 3.4 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Love2D Launcher averages 3.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Lua IDE or Love2D Launcher have ads?
Neither Lua IDE nor Love2D Launcher shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lua IDE or Love2D Launcher?
Lua IDE ships an update every 7 months, and Love2D Launcher every 9 days. Most recently, Lua IDE was updated on October 18, 2026 and Love2D Launcher on October 13, 2026.

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