Codea vs Spec.md
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 2D and 3D renderer
- Touch-based visual editors
- Lua programming language
- Export to Xcode
- Physics engines
- GLSL shader editor
- Import assets from Dropbox
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"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.
Spec.md
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Spec.md is an app for saving and managing prompts, specs, and Markdown documents created with AI tools. Capture text quickly, keep it organized, and bring it back when you need it. Key Features - Clipboard Detection: Detects copied text and suggests saving. - Share Extension: Save from Safari and other apps from the Share sheet. - Markdown Rendering: Supports headings, tables, code blocks, task lists, and images. - Folders, Tags, and Search: Keep documents organized and easy to find. - File Import: Import .md and .txt files. - One-Tap Copy All: Copy full content back to your clipboard. Built for developers, PMs, and designers who work with AI content every day. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://bow-frog-cb1.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-for-Spec-md-3033305ae1cd80d89cc2e947e77082e2?pvs=74 Contact: sozohoy@gmail.com
Screenshots
Verdict
Codea and Spec.md are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Codea sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Spec.md sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Codea | Spec.md |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (126 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 89.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 126 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 217 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Two Lives Left | Jiseok Han |
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
Spec.md
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Codea
- Codea Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
- Codea Pro (Yearly)$29.991 Year
- Codea Pro Lifetime$99.99
Spec.md
- Spec.md Pro 1 Week$1.997 Days
- Spec.md Pro Plans$3.991 Month
- Spec.md Pro 1 Year$19.991 Year









