Comparison

Jupiter ACE vs Touch Lua +

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

Head to head
About

Jupiter ACE

Explore the history of computing by learning the Forth programming language on a simulated 1982 home computer. This educational tool provides an authentic experience for aspiring programmers interested in retro technology.

Highlights
  • Forth programming language simulation
  • 1982 home computer emulation
  • Educational retro computing experience
  • Freely available source code
  • iPad compatible
Features
Read full description

Go back in time and learn to program Forth with this Jupiter ACE on your iPad. The Jupiter ACE was a home computer released back in 1982. While all other home computers at the time used BASIC as the built in programming language, the Jupiter ACE used Forth. This emulator is built with freely available documents and source code. Project files are available on github. Jupiter ACE is trademark of Andrews UK Ltd.

About

Touch Lua +

Learn and practice programming with Lua, a powerful yet lightweight scripting language. This app offers a robust editor, built-in tutorials, and support for graphics, audio, and databases through optional libraries.

Highlights
  • Lua programming environment
  • Built-in help and tutorials
  • Powerful editor with syntax highlighting
  • Support for graphics and audio libraries
  • Multi-program functionality
  • Sample programs included
Features
Read 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. *** This is the iPad version of TouchLua Free App *** What is Lua? Lua is a powerful, fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language. Touch Lua + Features: + Two modes: program/console (command line) + Built in help: Tutorials (hands on), Wiki, Reference + Multi program + Powerful editor + Syntax highlighting + Support graphics, audio, and database through Extension Libraries (paid and free) + Sample programs provided Use Touch Lua +: + Learn programming + Learn modern scripting + Apply your programming skills + Rapid prototyping + Use it as advanced calculator Available through In-App Purchase: 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 + Define your colors with alpha channel (32bit color with transparency) + Select your drawn text font face and size + 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 Turtle Library Logo like graphic commands designed to encourage logical thinking Examples are provided for absolute Beginners TouchLua+ includes other free libraries + Lua File System + Lua Database + Lua Matrix 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 the free App’s from Hawwash-Soft

Screenshots

Jupiter ACE3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Touch Lua + at 5.0 against Jupiter ACE's 4.0. Touch Lua + also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 63 months) and review sentiment (75% vs 67%). Jupiter ACE's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (8 vs 2). On price and ads 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. Touch Lua + sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Jupiter ACE asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Touch Lua + holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Jupiter ACE's written reviews are positive against 75% of Touch Lua +'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Jupiter ACE ships an update every 63 months, Touch Lua + every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Jupiter ACE versus Touch Lua +: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJupiter ACETouch Lua +
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (8 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 63 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS15.07.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMemention Holding ABAhmad Hawwash

Customer experience

Jupiter ACE

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral11.1%
Negative22.2%

Touch Lua +

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative5.0%

In-app purchases

None

Jupiter ACE

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Touch Lua +

One-time3
  • Audio Library$0.99
  • Turtle Library$0.99
  • Draw Library$4.99

Questions

Is Jupiter ACE free?
Jupiter ACE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Touch Lua + free?
Touch Lua + is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Jupiter ACE or Touch Lua +?
Touch Lua + is rated higher. Jupiter ACE averages 4.0 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Touch Lua + averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Jupiter ACE or Touch Lua + have ads?
Neither Jupiter ACE nor Touch Lua + shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Jupiter ACE or Touch Lua +?
Jupiter ACE ships an update every 63 months, and Touch Lua + every 5 months. Most recently, Jupiter ACE was updated on October 2, 2026 and Touch Lua + on October 5, 2026.

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