CraftOS vs ShortWeb
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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!
ShortWeb
Record and automate repetitive web page actions. Execute these automations in the background using custom inputs and extract specific content from web pages.
- Record web page actions
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Background execution
- Custom input support
- Extract web page content
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ShortWeb lets you record actions on web pages to execute them later. Run your automations in background from Shortcuts with custom input and retrieve the content of some elements in the web page.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: CraftOS at 4.8 against ShortWeb's 3.6. CraftOS also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 50%) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). ShortWeb's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 and ShortWeb sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CraftOS holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of CraftOS's written reviews are positive against 50% of ShortWeb's.
CraftOS ships an update every 4 months, ShortWeb every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CraftOS | ShortWeb |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (17 ratings) — better | 3.6 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 88.2% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Jack Bruienne | Develobile S.p.A. |
Customer experience
CraftOS
ShortWeb
In-app purchases
CraftOS
- Plugin Collection 1$0.99
ShortWeb
- 3-Day TrialFree
- Full Access$3.99









