# Subtext vs QuackBASIC

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Subtext | QuackBASIC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtext/id1606625287/reviews)** | [4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quackbasic-code-in-basic/id6739161698/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **79** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **83.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#89** | — |
| Size | 3 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.4 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charcoal Design](https://appshunter.io/developer/325046949) | [Ammonite Design Studios Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/460176444) |

## What reviewers say

### Subtext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtext/id1606625287)

**Currently charting:** #89 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Direct iCloud file editing, No import/export required, Line ending control, Character set encoding control, Quick edits for code and data

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and efficient
- 🚀 Fast and lightweight
- 🆓 Free and no ads
- ✨ Clean and intuitive UI
- 📂 Seamless Files app integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Fails on network drives
- 🐛 Data corruption risk
- 🐛 Difficulty unselecting text
- 🐛 Buggy Chinese input method
- 🐛 Random capitalization issues

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Add 'Unselect all' option
- Add 'Replace all' function
- Add font size settings
- Add tab key
- Allow editing of non-text files


### QuackBASIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quackbasic-code-in-basic/id6739161698)

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.

**Highlights:** Write and execute BASIC code, Full language support, Interactive library with explanations, Preloaded example programs, Retro-inspired design, Save and load projects, Customizable settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Subtext free?

Subtext is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is QuackBASIC free?

QuackBASIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Subtext or QuackBASIC?

Subtext is rated higher. Subtext averages 4.5 out of 5 from 79 ratings, while QuackBASIC averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.

### Do Subtext or QuackBASIC have ads?

QuackBASIC shows ads; Subtext does not.

### Which is updated more often, Subtext or QuackBASIC?

Subtext ships an update every 3 weeks, and QuackBASIC every 4 weeks. Most recently, Subtext was updated on October 10, 2026 and QuackBASIC on September 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*