Comparison

Codea vs HTML ColorCode

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

Head to head
About

Codea

Create interactive games and visual ideas using a touch-friendly code editor. Build projects with 2D/3D rendering, physics, and export them to create real apps. Supports Lua and GLSL.

Highlights
  • 2D and 3D renderer
  • Touch-based visual editors
  • Lua programming language
  • Export to Xcode
  • Physics engines
  • GLSL shader editor
  • Import assets from Dropbox
Features
Read full description

"It’s kind of like the Garage Band of coding." – Wired "Codea for iPad is a super slick way to write and run programs on your iPad." – Gizmodo Codea lets you create games and simulations — or just about any visual idea you have. Turn your thoughts into interactive creations that make use of iPad features like Multi-Touch and the accelerometer. We think Codea is the most beautiful code editor you'll use, and it's easy. Codea is designed to let you touch your code. Want to change a color, or an image? Tapping will bring up visual editors that let you choose exactly what you want. Codea is built on the Lua programming language. A simple, elegant language that doesn't rely too much on symbols — a perfect match for iPad. Here's how you use it: type your code. Press play to watch it run. Interact with it. Get creative. FEATURES • A fully featured 2D and 3D renderer • Lots of great example projects to learn from, including games • Touch your code: tap colors, images and sounds to adjust them • Export your finished projects to Xcode to produce real apps • Complete in-line reference documentation accessible from keyboard • Intelligent syntax highlighting and auto-completing code editor • Import your own assets from Dropbox • Full 2D and 3D physics engines for complex motion • Add parameters so you can tweak variables at runtime • Interact with accelerometer and multi-touch on your device • Generate retro-game sound effects • GLSL Shader Language support with live shader editor • Bluetooth keyboard support and keyboard shortcuts • Air Code: code live from your PC using WiFi • Much, much more IMPORTANT INFORMATION • Join the forums at https://talk.codea.io to ask questions, share ideas and get help when you need it • If you need help or wish to get in contact with us, please use the support link on this page • Privacy policy https://codea.io/privacy • Terms https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ SUBSCRIPTION • Codea is free to use for projects up to 500 lines, after which you can subscribe to Codea Pro for access to advanced features and unlimited project size • Monthly and yearly plans available • Lifetime one-time purchase also available • Pricing may vary by region. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings.

About

HTML ColorCode

Find color codes easily with this tool. Select colors from a list, adjust them to your preferences, and get numerical values for use in development. Streamline your workflow for web and app design.

Highlights
  • Select colors from a list
  • Adjust favorite colors
  • Display numerical values
  • Supports web development
  • Supports Xcode development
Features
Read full description

Simple tool for finding the color code! Every time that put search every time the code in the Web has created cumbersome. - The color of the code you want to use you can select from a list. - Chose the color can be adjusted to favorite colors to the base. - Is also displayed numerical value for use in Xcode.

Screenshots

Codea4 screens
HTML ColorCode2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HTML ColorCode at none against Codea's 3. HTML ColorCode also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.6). Codea's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. Codea sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HTML ColorCode asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HTML ColorCode holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 126 and 92 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 90% and 90% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codea ships an update every 2 weeks, HTML ColorCode every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Codea versus HTML ColorCode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodeaHTML ColorCode
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (126 ratings)4.8 (92 ratings) — better
Positive reviews89.6% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings126 — better92
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size217 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTwo Lives Leftmasashi012

Customer experience

Codea

All ratings126 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral4.0%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews309 reviews
Positive89.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative5.5%

HTML ColorCode

All ratings92 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

Bugs and requests

Codea

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when switching between documents
  • Xcode export not working with latest version of Xcode
  • Keyboard and cursor issues when using Bluetooth keyboard

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add ability to import sounds and 3D models
  • Improve documentation and provide more tutorials
  • Add support for more programming languages beyond Lua

HTML ColorCode

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Codea

Subscriptions2
  • Codea Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Codea Pro (Yearly)$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Codea Pro Lifetime$99.99
None

HTML ColorCode

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Codea free?
Codea is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HTML ColorCode free?
HTML ColorCode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Codea or HTML ColorCode?
HTML ColorCode is rated higher. Codea averages 4.5 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while HTML ColorCode averages 4.8 from 92 ratings.
Do Codea or HTML ColorCode have ads?
HTML ColorCode shows ads; Codea does not.
Which is updated more often, Codea or HTML ColorCode?
Codea ships an update every 2 weeks, and HTML ColorCode every 5 weeks. Most recently, Codea was updated on October 6, 2026 and HTML ColorCode on September 26, 2026.

Other comparisons