Comparison

LispPad Go vs Classic BASIC

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

Head to head
About

LispPad Go

This app is a lightweight development environment for writing and running Scheme code on iOS. It features a Scheme interpreter, a console for interaction, and a text editor with syntax highlighting and smart indentation. It supports R7RS standard Scheme with a wide range of libraries, including iOS-specific ones.

Highlights
  • Integrated Scheme interpreter
  • Read-eval-print loop console
  • Syntax highlighting text editor
  • R7RS standard Scheme support
  • iOS-specific libraries
  • Hygienic macros
  • Full numerical tower support
Features
Read full description

LispPad Go is a simple, lightweight, integrated development environment for developing and running Scheme code on iOS. The language supported by LispPad Go is based on the R7RS standard of the Scheme programming language. LispPad Go provides the following components: • A fully integrated Scheme interpreter • A console with a read-eval-print loop to interact with the interpreter • A text editor for writing Scheme code, supporting syntax highlighting, smart indentation, parenthesis matching, etc. • A large range of libraries, including iOS-specific libraries e.g. for networking, graphics, audio, databases, archival, text processing, etc. • Support for the Shortcuts app, allowing the execution of LispPad programs as standalone applications The Scheme dialect supported by LispPad Go provides the following features: • R7RS-compliant libraries • Hygienic macros based on syntax-rules • First-class environments • call/cc, dynamic-wind and exceptions • Dynamically-scoped parameters • Multiple return values • Delayed execution via promises and streams • Support for the full numerical tower consisting of arbitrary size integers, rationals, real numbers, and inexact complex numbers. • Unicode strings and characters • Vectors and bytevectors • Text and binary ports • R7RS-compliant extensible records • R6RS-compliant hashtables and enumerations • Threads

About

Classic BASIC

A retro-inspired BASIC programming environment for modern devices. Write, run, and save line-numbered programs with classic commands and graphics. Includes built-in examples, games, and a programming guide for an approachable learning experience.

Highlights
  • Line-numbered BASIC programming
  • Built-in program catalog
  • Classic BASIC commands
  • Graphics commands
  • Built-in games
  • Programming guidebook
Features
Read full description

Classic BASIC is a retro-inspired BASIC programming environment designed for modern devices. Write line-numbered BASIC programs, run them instantly, save your work, load built-in examples, explore graphics commands, and learn programming with the included guidebook. Classic BASIC preserves the familiar feel of classic home computers while providing a clean, touch-friendly experience for today's users. Features include: • Traditional line-numbered BASIC programming • Built-in program catalog • Classic commands such as LIST, RUN, SAVE, LOAD, NEW, and CATALOG • Graphics commands for drawing lines, circles, boxes, and screen output • Built-in games including Block Drop and Astro Blaster • Touch game keyboard support for interactive games • External keyboard support with ESC and CTRL+C break commands • Display modes including Green, Amber, and DOS-style color • Built-in programming guide • File support for saving and loading your own programs Classic BASIC is designed for beginners, hobbyists, retro-computing enthusiasts, students, and anyone who wants a simple programming environment that feels immediate, approachable, and fun. Type a line. Run it. Change it. Learn by doing.

Screenshots

LispPad Go4 screens
Classic BASIC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: LispPad Go at Free against Classic BASIC's $2.99. LispPad Go also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (37 vs 2). Classic BASIC's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#33 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

LispPad Go is free to download; Classic BASIC costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LispPad Go holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LispPad Go has 37 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LispPad Go ships an update every 2 months, Classic BASIC weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
LispPad Go versus Classic BASIC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLispPad GoClassic BASIC
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.9 (37 ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews96.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings37 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#33 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthias ZengerNathan Baughman

Customer experience

LispPad Go

All ratings37 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive96.3%
Neutral3.7%
Negative0.0%

Classic BASIC

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

LispPad Go

No in-app purchases

None

Classic BASIC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LispPad Go free?
LispPad Go is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Classic BASIC free?
Classic BASIC costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LispPad Go or Classic BASIC?
LispPad Go is rated higher. LispPad Go averages 4.9 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while Classic BASIC averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do LispPad Go or Classic BASIC have ads?
Neither LispPad Go nor Classic BASIC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LispPad Go or Classic BASIC?
LispPad Go ships an update every 2 months, and Classic BASIC weekly. Most recently, LispPad Go was updated on October 13, 2026 and Classic BASIC on October 1, 2026.

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