# luai5.2.1$ vs Lua IDE

The clearest difference is price: Lua IDE at Free against luai5.2.1$'s $2.99. Lua IDE also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). luai5.2.1$'s advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 50%) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Lua IDE is free to download; luai5.2.1$ costs $2.99 up front. Lua IDE sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. luai5.2.1$ asks for nothing beyond the download.

luai5.2.1$ ships an update every 3 months, Lua IDE every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | luai5.2.1$ | Lua IDE |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[3.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lua-ide-learn-lua-coding/id638219114/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **11** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | **#195** | — |
| Size | 24 MB | 95 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [小文 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/490328393) | [盼军 崔](https://appshunter.io/developer/567286451) |

## What reviewers say

### luai5.2.1$

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luai521/id593466127)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Paid · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Learn, run, and share Lua 5.2.1 scripts on iOS. Features include autocompletion, code coloring, and a built-in browser for learning materials. Customize the interface and generate QR codes for easy sharing.

**Highlights:** Autocompletion and auto-indent, Code coloring and font size adjustment, Built-in browser for learning materials, File system support for various formats, Customizable interface and execution voice, QR code generation for sharing, Share code via email and social media

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lua IDE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lua-ide-learn-lua-coding/id638219114)

This app provides a comprehensive environment for learning and coding in Lua. It features a code editor, file manager, and an integrated interpreter for testing and running scripts.

**Highlights:** Standalone Lua interpreter, Feature-rich code editor, Intuitive file manager, Interactive learning environment, Multi-file project support, Terminal integration, ANSI escape code support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Buy me a coffee | $2.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is luai5.2.1$ free?

luai5.2.1$ costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lua IDE free?

Lua IDE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do luai5.2.1$ or Lua IDE have ads?

Neither luai5.2.1$ nor Lua IDE shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, luai5.2.1$ or Lua IDE?

luai5.2.1$ ships an update every 3 months, and Lua IDE every 6 weeks. Most recently, luai5.2.1$ was updated on October 12, 2026 and Lua IDE on October 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*