Touch Lua vs BASIC Programming Compiler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Touch Lua
Learn and program using Lua, a powerful yet simple scripting language, directly on your iPhone. Features include a robust editor, multi-program support, and libraries for graphics, audio, and networking. Ideal for learning, prototyping, and advanced calculations.
- Lua programming environment
- Powerful editor with syntax highlighting
- Graphics, audio, database, and network support
- Multi-program and directory management
- Built-in tutorials and reference
- In-app purchase for advanced libraries
Read full descriptionHide full description
Program with Lua, a simple and modern programming language. Lua’s syntax is simple as BASIC but Lua is faster and more powerful. Which make it just perfect for iPhone platform. *** TouchLua+ (iPad version of TouchLua) is now available at App Store *** Touch Lua Features: + Two modes: program/console (command line) + Multi program and directories support + Export/email programs and results + Powerful editor with Syntax highlighting + Graphics, audio, database and network programming support + Text screen: stylized text printing + Built in help: Tutorials (hands on), Wiki, Reference + Sample programs provided Use Touch Lua: + Learn programming and modern scripting + Apply your programming skills + Rapid prototyping + Use it as advanced calculator + Graphing Tool Now available through In-App Purchase: Nitro Graphics Library: Create 2D & 3D Graphics with the power of your GPU. Draw Library: Empowers you to create complex graphics from simple graphic objects Features: + Draw simple graphic objects: lines, rectangles, circles, text, ... + Draw at the super speed of your device + Make animations + Access Gyroscope and Accelerometers + Draw and create images + Enables you to run included Graphic Sample Programs Audio Library : enables to play music and sound effects. Features: - Play one music track at once - Play multiple sound effects synchronously - Create and play your own sounds and save them as files Socket Library: network support Turtle Library: Logo like graphic commands designed to encourage logical thinking Examples are provided for absolute Beginners To start learning Lua choose Console from main menu then select Tutorials (first aid kit icon). Now read & apply and you will learn Lua basic’s in no time! Kindly Note: Touch Lua uses Lua 5.2 standard, so if you hit into undefined function see the alternative for it from the reference. some examples: unpack() now is table.unpack(), loadstring() is now load() Make sure to take a look at other free App’s from Hawwash-Soft
BASIC Programming Compiler
Learn and test code snippets in BASIC on your iOS device. This app features a source code editor with syntax highlighting, a custom keyboard for easy input, and the ability to compile and run your programs. It utilizes the FreeBASIC compiler for a powerful coding experience.
- Compile and run BASIC programs
- View program output and errors
- Select and run code chunks
- Custom keyboard for easy input
- Advanced source code editor
- Open, save, import, and share files
- Language reference included
Read full descriptionHide full description
Write BASIC code directly on your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch! This app is ideal for learning and testing code snippets! BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use. This app uses the free/open source (GPL) FreeBASIC compiler (https://www.freebasic.net) as backend. FreeBASIC is a high-level programming language supporting procedural, object-orientated and meta-programming paradigms, with a syntax compatible to Microsoft QuickBASIC. Features: - Compile and run your program - View program output or detailed error - Select and run chunk of codes - Custom keyboard for easy input of frequently used characters - Optimized for connecting with external physical/bluetooth keyboard - Advanced source code editor with syntax highlighting and line numbers - Open, save, import and share bas files. - Language reference - Install packages Limitations: - Internet connection is required for compilation - Maximum program running time is 20s - Some file system, network and graphics functions may be limited - Only 1 file can be run at a time - This is a batch compiler; interactive programs are not supported. If your program provides an input prompt, enter the input in the Input tab prior to compilation. See the Reference tab in the app for code examples
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Touch Lua at 83% against BASIC Programming Compiler's 0%. Touch Lua also leads on rating (3.7 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Touch Lua sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and BASIC Programming Compiler sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Touch Lua holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Touch Lua's written reviews are positive against 0% of BASIC Programming Compiler's.
Touch Lua ships an update every 2 months, BASIC Programming Compiler every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and August 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Touch Lua | BASIC Programming Compiler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (15 ratings) — better | 3.1 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ahmad Hawwash | Ketan Appa |
Customer experience
Touch Lua
BASIC Programming Compiler
Bugs and requests
Touch Lua
Reported bugs
15 issues- App crashes on startup after device transfer
- White screen when running programs with functions
- Crashes when saving files on iOS 8
- Crashes when entering 100+ lines of code
- Crashes with large inputs or pasted code
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- File viewer cannot access directories created after app restart
- Auto-tab fails with inline if statements and arrays
- Graphics library rendering issues
- Audio library errors
- Coroutines don't execute as separate threads
- App crashes after 1000+ lines of code
- DONE button missing with external keyboard
- Return key creates double line breaks
- Code color coding stops working with large programs
- Typing becomes slow with programs over 300 lines
Requested features
17 requests- Ability to disable auto-indentation
- Increase code storage limit per script
- Function collapsing/minimizing for large programs
- Undo button functionality
- Copyable console output
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- Line numbers in editor
- iPad version with universal app support
- Pastebin integration
- Hardware access (camera, gyroscope, accelerometer)
- Touch input and screen output options
- Persistent data storage for programs
- Export to home screen
- JavaScript version of the app
- Event listeners for accelerometer and microphone
- Community sharing platform for programs
- Loadstring support
- Fixed-width font option
BASIC Programming Compiler
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Touch Lua
- Turtle Library$0.99
- Socket Library$0.99
- Audio Library$1.99
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Draw Library$4.99
- Nitro Library$5.99
BASIC Programming Compiler
- Upgrade$2.99
Questions
Is Touch Lua free?
Is BASIC Programming Compiler free?
Which has better reviews, Touch Lua or BASIC Programming Compiler?
Do Touch Lua or BASIC Programming Compiler have ads?
Which is updated more often, Touch Lua or BASIC Programming Compiler?
Other comparisons















