Touch Lua vs PockEmul
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
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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
PockEmul
This app emulates vintage pocket computers and scientific calculators from the late 70s and 80s. It offers a wide range of fully emulated models, adapting to different screen sizes for use on iPhones and iPads. Access all functionalities and models with a single subscription fee.
- Emulates vintage pocket computers
- Emulates scientific calculators
- Supports iPhone and iPad
- Wide range of emulated models
- Adaptive screen size behavior
- Subscription for full access
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PockEmul is an emulator of vintage pocket computers and scientific calculators from late 70s' to end 80s'. It adapts its behavior depending on the screen size. it is usable both on iPhone and iPad. PockEmul comes with 8 models fully emulated: - The scientific calculator HP-35, HP41C (HP41CX model), HP-48GX, FX 8000G, TI 57. - The pocket computer Sharp PC 1245, Sharp PC 1350, Sharp PC 1500 and Tandy PC-2. A single subscription fee give access to all functionalities and emulated models. Current available models are : - Casio PB-100, PB-300 - Casio PB-1000, PB-1000C - Casio PB-2000C, AI-1000 - Casio VX-3, VX-4, FX-870p - Casio FX-890p, Z-1, Z-1GR - Casio FP-200, FP-200Jap - Casio FX-9000p - Sharp PC-1211 Simulator - Sharp PC 1250, PC 1251, PC 1251H, PC 1255 - Sharp PC 1260, PC 1261, PC 1262 - Sharp PC-1280, PC-1280Jap - Sharp PC 1360, PC 2500 - Sharp PC 1401, PC 1402, PC 1403, PC 1403H, PC 1421, PC 1445 - Sharp PC-1425, PC-1425Jap, PC-1450, PC-1450Jap, PC-1475, PC-1475Jap - Sharp PC 1500, PC 1500jap, PC 1500A, PC 1501,CE 150 - Sharp PC 1600, CE 1600p - Sharp PC-E500, PC-E500jap, PC-E500-BL, PC-E550, PC-E500S, PC-U6000, PC-E220, PC-G850V - Sharp Printer CE-126P - HP 41C Printer (non-HP-IL) 82143A - HP 71b - HP-335, HP-10c, HP 11c, HP 12c, HP 15c and HP 16c which are RPN calculators. - TI-74, TI-95, CC-40, TI-42, TI-55 and TI-58 calculators. PC-100 Printer - Nec PC-2001, General LBC-1100, Sanco TPC-8300, National JR-800, Canon X-07, Epson HX-20 - Elektronika MK-85 , MK-85M , MK-90 - Panasonic HHC Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PockEmul at 4.3 against Touch Lua's 3.7. Touch Lua's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 PockEmul sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PockEmul holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Touch Lua's written reviews are positive against 77% of PockEmul's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Touch Lua ships an update every 2 months, PockEmul monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Touch Lua | PockEmul |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (15 ratings) | 4.3 (11 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.9% of reviews — better | 76.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | 11 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 104 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ahmad Hawwash | Myrio Conseils |
Customer experience
Touch Lua
PockEmul
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
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- 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
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- 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
PockEmul
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
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- Draw Library$4.99
- Nitro Library$5.99
PockEmul
- Monthly Subscription3 Days trial$1.491 Month
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Monthly Subs. First year offer1 Year trial$2.991 Month
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- Yearly Subscription1 Year trial$23.991 Year









