Comparison

Codea vs CodeBrew

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

CodeBrew

This mobile application provides a full Java Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for iOS devices. It features intelligent code completion, live issue highlighting, and includes the Java 21 JDK for offline use. Users can also explore game development with a custom graphics framework and learn from example projects.

Highlights
  • Java 21 JDK included
  • Offline coding support
  • Intelligent code completion
  • Live issue highlighting
  • Custom graphics framework for games
  • Example projects library
Features
Read full description

Introducing CodeBrew: Your Java IDE for iPad & iPhone! Unleash the power of Java coding on your iPhone or iPad with CodeBrew - the ultimate Java Integrated Development Environment designed for developers on the go. Dive into the world of seamless coding, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your programming journey. What sets CodeBrew apart? CodeBrew is not just an IDE; it's your complete coding sanctuary on your iPad & iPhone. The powerful code editor comes equipped with intelligent code completions and live issue highlighting, ensuring your code is not just written but crafted to perfection. Java 21 JDK On-The-Go! CodeBrew comes bundled with OpenJ9 Java 21 JDK, running entirely on your iPad or iPhone - no internet connection required. Empower your coding journey without limitations, anytime, anywhere. Craft Simple Games with Ease! Unleash your creativity! CodeBrew boasts a custom graphics framework that simplifies game development. Whether you're building the next viral sensation or just tinkering for fun, CodeBrew makes coding games a breeze. Explore with Example Projects! Not sure where to start? CodeBrew includes a library of example projects to guide you. Learn from real-world scenarios, kickstart your projects, and elevate your coding prowess. Who is CodeBrew for? CodeBrew is tailor-made for developers seeking a powerful, portable Java 17 IDE. Whether you're a student learning the ropes, a professional crafting intricate solutions, or a hobbyist exploring the world of coding, CodeBrew is your ideal companion. Embark on a coding adventure like never before with CodeBrew. Download now and revolutionize your Java development experience on your iPad! Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates The Terms of Service apply: https://astrobeats.net/tos.html

Screenshots

Codea4 screens
CodeBrew4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Codea at 4.5 against CodeBrew's 3.8. Codea also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (90% vs 69%). CodeBrew's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and CodeBrew sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Codea holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codea has 126 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Codea's written reviews are positive against 69% of CodeBrew's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codea ships an update every 2 weeks, CodeBrew every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Codea versus CodeBrew: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodeaCodeBrew
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (126 ratings) — better3.8 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews89.7% of reviews — better68.8% of reviews
Number of ratings126 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size230 MB379 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTwo Lives LeftJulius Naeumann

Customer experience

Codea

All ratings126 ratings
Positive86.5%
Neutral4.0%
Negative9.5%
Written reviews310 reviews
Positive89.7%
Neutral4.8%
Negative5.5%

CodeBrew

All ratings9 ratings
Positive55.6%
Neutral22.2%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive68.8%
Neutral18.8%
Negative12.5%

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

CodeBrew

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
1 purchases

CodeBrew

One-time1
  • CodeBrew Pro$17.99

Questions

Is Codea free?
Codea is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CodeBrew free?
CodeBrew is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Codea or CodeBrew?
Codea is rated higher. Codea averages 4.5 out of 5 from 126 ratings, while CodeBrew averages 3.8 from 9 ratings.
Do Codea or CodeBrew have ads?
Neither Codea nor CodeBrew shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codea or CodeBrew?
Codea ships an update every 2 weeks, and CodeBrew every 3 months. Most recently, Codea was updated on October 21, 2026 and CodeBrew on October 16, 2026.

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