# DraftCode for PHP IDE vs Textastic Code Editor

The clearest difference is price: Textastic Code Editor at Free against DraftCode for PHP IDE's $4.99. Textastic Code Editor also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 88). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Textastic Code Editor is free to download; DraftCode for PHP IDE costs $4.99 up front. DraftCode for PHP IDE sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Textastic Code Editor sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Textastic Code Editor holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Textastic Code Editor has 2.5K ratings behind it against 88, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of DraftCode for PHP IDE's written reviews are positive against 69% of Textastic Code Editor's.

DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, Textastic Code Editor every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DraftCode for PHP IDE | Textastic Code Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/draftcode-for-php-ide/id593757593/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textastic-code-editor/id1049254261/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **2.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 65.8% of reviews | **68.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #72 | **#19** |
| Size | 184 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solesignal Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/402984346) | [Alexander Blach](https://appshunter.io/developer/303486870) |

## What reviewers say

### DraftCode for PHP IDE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/draftcode-for-php-ide/id593757593)

**Currently charting:** #72 Top Paid · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Develop and run PHP, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS locally on your mobile device or Mac without an internet connection. Supports complex applications like WordPress and phpMyAdmin, with flexible workspace options and a comprehensive PHP stack.

**Highlights:** Offline PHP, JS, HTML, CSS execution, Run complex apps like WordPress, Custom workspace folder support, Session Inspector and error display, PHP and JS syntax coloring, Composer support for dependency management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PHP 7.2 Runtime | Free | one-time |
| PHP 7.3 Runtime | Free | one-time |
| PHP 8.2 Runtime | Free | one-time |
| PHP 8.1 Runtime | Free | one-time |
| PHP 8.0.28 Runtime | Free | one-time |
| PHP 8.5 Runtime | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Full PHP runtime on iOS device
- 👍 Intuitive and simple user interface
- 💻 Ability to run WordPress locally on iPad
- 🔌 Works offline without internet connection
- 📱 Enables mobile web development workflow

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Scrolling snaps back to starting position
- 🐛 Undo function jumps arbitrary steps
- 🐛 Text editor lacks modern features
- ❌ Cannot access served content from Safari
- ❌ No FTP or cloud storage integration

**Reported bugs**

- Scrolling snaps back to original position
- Undo function deletes arbitrary number of steps
- App freezes after entering characters
- Crashes on iOS 9 and older versions
- JavaScript console viewer always empty

**Requested features**

- Search and find/replace functionality
- FTP and Dropbox integration
- Updated PHP versions
- Multiple syntax highlighting themes
- Git/GitHub integration


### Textastic Code Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/textastic-code-editor/id1049254261)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #43 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

A powerful text and code editor for mobile devices, offering syntax highlighting for over 80 languages, code completion, and formatting tools. It allows connection to various servers and cloud storage for seamless file management and editing.

**Highlights:** Syntax highlighting for 80+ languages, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, and Dropbox client, Built-in SSH terminal, Code completion and formatting, External keyboard and trackpad support, Split View and Slide Over multitasking

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Textastic Pro (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Textastic Pro (Yearly) | $19.99 | per year |
| Textastic Pro (One-Time) | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Highly performant
- 👍 Versatile and feature-rich
- 💡 Excellent integration with other apps (e.g. Working Copy)
- 👍 Customizable and intuitive UI
- 👍 Reliable and stable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔒 Restrictive paywall for basic functionality
- 👎 Confusing file management and upload/download workflow
- 👎 Lack of modern code editing features (e.g. auto-indent, code folding)

**Reported bugs**

- Issues with SSH/SFTP connectivity and authentication
- Problems with handling large files or files with certain extensions
- Inconsistent text selection and editing behavior

**Requested features**

- Add support for more cloud storage providers (e.g. Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Implement a more seamless remote file editing and syncing workflow
- Improve code editing features like code folding, multi-cursor support, and code beautification
- Add a built-in terminal or ability to run code directly within the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DraftCode for PHP IDE free?

DraftCode for PHP IDE costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Textastic Code Editor free?

Textastic Code Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, DraftCode for PHP IDE or Textastic Code Editor?

Textastic Code Editor is rated higher. DraftCode for PHP IDE averages 4.5 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while Textastic Code Editor averages 4.7 from 2.5K ratings.

### Do DraftCode for PHP IDE or Textastic Code Editor have ads?

Neither DraftCode for PHP IDE nor Textastic Code Editor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DraftCode for PHP IDE or Textastic Code Editor?

DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, and Textastic Code Editor every 2 weeks. Most recently, DraftCode for PHP IDE was updated on September 20, 2026 and Textastic Code Editor on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, DraftCode for PHP IDE or Textastic Code Editor?

DraftCode for PHP IDE currently peaks at #72 in the App Store charts, and Textastic Code Editor at #19. 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.*