Subtext vs QuackBASIC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Subtext
A straightforward text editor for iPhone and iPad, allowing direct creation and editing of files within iCloud. It offers advanced controls for line endings and character encoding, ideal for on-the-go code or data file modifications.
- Direct iCloud file editing
- No import/export required
- Line ending control
- Character set encoding control
- Quick edits for code and data
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Subtext is a simple, no-frills text editor for iPhone and iPad. Create or edit files directly on your device or in iCloud, with no need to import or export. Includes advanced features such as line ending and character set encoding control. Perfect for making quick edits to code or data files on the go!
QuackBASIC
Learn and code in BASIC programming with a user-friendly interpreter. Write, execute, and debug programs on your device, with full language support and preloaded examples. Relive the charm of classic programming with a retro design.
- Write and execute BASIC code
- Full language support
- Interactive library with explanations
- Preloaded example programs
- Retro-inspired design
- Save and load projects
- Customizable settings
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Learn, Code, and Relive the Golden Era of Programming! Bring the nostalgic experience of BASIC programming to your fingertips with this powerful yet easy-to-use BASIC interpreter! Whether you're a beginner diving into the fundamentals of programming or a seasoned developer looking for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, QuackBASIC is the perfect playground for all coding enthusiasts. • Write and Execute Code On-the-Go: Type, run, and debug BASIC programs directly on your device with a sleek and intuitive interface. • Full Language Support: Includes essential commands like PRINT, GOTO, INPUT, and advanced constructs like CASE OF, loops (FOR, DO, WHILE), and mathematical functions (SIN, COS, TAN, etc.). • Interactive Library: Browse through built-in functions with detailed explanations and load example programs to get started quickly. • Preloaded Examples: Explore classic programming examples like Hangman, Fibonacci, Prime Numbers, and more, to learn by example or inspire your own creations. • Retro-Inspired Design: Relive the charm of classic BASIC editors with a clean, minimalist, and functional design. • Save & Load Projects: Save your progress and load your favourite .BAS programs with ease. Share your creations with the community! • Customisable Settings: Tweak the interface to your liking with handy configuration options. BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a high-level programming language designed for ease of use & learning.
Screenshots
Verdict
Subtext and QuackBASIC both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Subtext's written reviews are positive against 0% of QuackBASIC's. Subtext also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). QuackBASIC's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.4). On price, rating, update cadence 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. QuackBASIC sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Subtext asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Subtext against 4.4 for QuackBASIC. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subtext has 79 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Subtext's written reviews are positive against 0% of QuackBASIC's.
Subtext ships an update every 3 weeks, QuackBASIC every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Subtext | QuackBASIC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (79 ratings) — better | 4.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.2% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 79 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #94 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.4 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Charcoal Design | Ammonite Design Studios Ltd |
Customer experience
Subtext
QuackBASIC
Bugs and requests
Subtext
Reported bugs
11 issues- Fails to save work
- Jumps to top of document on blank lines
- Poor network behavior leading to data corruption
- Cannot open or create new text files
- Error when saving to network drive
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- Cannot edit .tex files without renaming
- Chinese input method errors
- Random capitalization after paste
- Large text files cause errors
- File saving issues, creates extra copies
- Bug when using Chinese input method with delete key
Requested features
20 requests- Add 'Unselect all' option
- Add 'Replace all' function
- Add font size settings
- Add tab key
- Allow editing of non-text files
Show 15 moreShow fewer
- Improve network drive handling
- Option to disable auto-save
- Add highlighter
- Add character count
- Add JetBrains Mono font
- Add 'reopen last file' option
- Add widget support
- Add highlighting
- Add font and background color settings
- Add distraction-free mode
- Add swipe to close gesture
- Option to release focus for collapsing skb
- Fix Chinese input method bugs
- Allow editing of files with arbitrary extensions
- Add Chinese input method bug fixes
QuackBASIC
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Subtext
No in-app purchases
QuackBASIC
- Pro$4.99
