# luai5.2.1$ vs Mdly

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | luai5.2.1$ | Mdly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #199 | **#156** |
| Size | 24 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [小文 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/490328393) | [Yuta Hoshina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822046671) |

## What reviewers say

### luai5.2.1$

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

**Currently charting:** #199 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


### Mdly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mdly-markdown-viewer/id6759057599)

**Currently charting:** #156 Top Paid · Developer Tools (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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 #199 in the App Store charts, and Mdly at #156. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*