Comparison

luai5.2.1$ vs Mdly

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

Head to head
About

luai5.2.1$

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
Read full description

This is an ios lua5.2.1 app,you can learn,run,share lua5.2.1 script. Features : Autocomplate. Auto Indent. Code color. In(the built-in browser or the txt editor),Select the text to run. Horizontal screen development. Code templates,the contents of the new file is copy from contents of the template file. *You can enter lua code by keyboard, then you can execut the lua code,support the io.read() function. *You can use the file system to supports txt, pdf, chm, mp3,m4v,zip, gif, png, html, lua ,doc... *You can adjust the code color and font size , and support to move the cursor left and right and up and down , easy to read and write. *You can find learning materials by the built-in browser . *You can save lua code and learning materials, and can be modified to the save file and delete the save file . *You can control the background image and color, and execution voice , background animation, text color and shadow, switch interface animation , the number and the order of the main interface of the tab bar to create your learning software. *You can Learn lua knowledge , the system provides some basic learning materials . *You can use lua code or learning materials to generate two-dimensional code , for easy sharing . *You can share code by Email,Weibo,Twitter,Facebook. *You can use the counter,light in the Setting tab.

About

Mdly

This app provides a fast, read-only experience for viewing Markdown and Mermaid files across Apple devices. It offers seamless iCloud synchronization, powerful rendering of modern Markdown features, and inline support for various Mermaid diagrams, all within a distraction-free interface.

Highlights
  • Read-only Markdown viewing
  • Mermaid diagram rendering
  • iCloud Drive integration
  • Full-text search
  • Table of Contents navigation
  • Dark and light themes
Features
Read full description

Mdly is a fast, read-only Markdown viewer designed for effortless reading across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Open your .md files directly from iCloud Drive or local folders and enjoy clean, distraction-free rendering anywhere. Built for developers, writers, and anyone who keeps documentation in Markdown, Mdly focuses on one thing: reading Markdown comfortably. Seamless iCloud Experience Access the same Markdown files across all your Apple devices. Files created on your Mac appear instantly on iPhone and iPad through iCloud sync. Powerful Markdown Rendering Mdly fully supports modern Markdown features: - Headings, lists, tables, blockquotes - Syntax-highlighted code blocks - GitHub-style Markdown rendering Mermaid Diagram Support Render Mermaid diagrams inline, including: - Flowcharts - Sequence diagram - Timelines and more Perfect for viewing technical documentation on the go. Designed for Reading Mdly is intentionally read-only โ€” no editing distractions. - Slide-up Table of Contents navigation - Full-text search across files - Recent files access - Dark and light themes - Clean typography optimized for long reading

Screenshots

luai5.2.1$4 screens
Mdly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: luai5.2.1$ at 88% against Mdly's 0%. luai5.2.1$ also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). Mdly's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

luai5.2.1$ costs $2.99 and Mdly $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

luai5.2.1$ ships an update every 3 months, Mdly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences ยท 5 level
luai5.2.1$ versus Mdly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterluai5.2.1$Mdly
Price$2.99$1.99 โ€” better
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews โ€” better0.0% of reviews
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#198#158 โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch โ€” betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size24 MB16 MB
Age rating17+4+
Developerๅฐๆ–‡ ้ป„Yuta Hoshina

Customer experience

luai5.2.1$

Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

Mdly

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

luai5.2.1$

No in-app purchases

None

Mdly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is luai5.2.1$ free?
luai5.2.1$ costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mdly free?
Mdly costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do luai5.2.1$ or Mdly have ads?
Neither luai5.2.1$ nor Mdly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, luai5.2.1$ or Mdly?
luai5.2.1$ ships an update every 3 months, and Mdly every 2 weeks. Most recently, luai5.2.1$ was updated on October 12, 2026 and Mdly on October 16, 2026.
Which is more popular, luai5.2.1$ or Mdly?
luai5.2.1$ currently peaks at #198 in the App Store charts, and Mdly at #158. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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