Comparison

DraftCode for PHP IDE vs UCoW

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

Head to head
About

DraftCode for PHP IDE

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
Read full description

Develop and run PHP, JavaScript, HTML, CSS locally on your iPad or iPhone (or an Apple Silicon Mac), without requiring an internet connection. Run Apps as complex as WordPress or phpMyAdmin right on your device. Freely choose your workspace location on your device, either inside DraftCode, or in the folder of a Git Client like WorkingCopy, on iCloud or other services that offer selectable folder locations. Access your PHP Web App from other Apps on your iPad while in Split Screen mode, for example Mobile Safari or Brave. DraftCode includes the standard PHP stack including PHP extensions typically available on a server: MySQL, SQLite, PDO, Curl, OpenSSL, FTP, XML, JSON, SOAP, GD and more. DraftCode can run different versions of PHP and you can switch between them: - Includes PHP 7.3, PHP 8.0, PHP 8.1 and PHP 8.2 - Available (via in-App Purchase): PHP 8.5 DraftCode Features: - Execute PHP/JS/HTML/CSS without requiring an internet connection - Run Apps as complex as WordPress on your device for offline development - Support for selecting a custom workspace folder in supported other Apps (like Git clients) or iCloud - Includes a Session Inspector showing state of current session variables - Shows PHP errors - PHP and JavaScript syntax colouring - Internal keyboard support with coding accessory - External keyboard support with additional keyboard shortcuts - Multitasking and split-screen support on iPad - Includes PHP packages: WordPress, phpMyAdmin, Composer and more - File workspace including support to zip, unzip, copy, move or duplicate files or folders - Code import/export from iCloud Drive, other Apps or iTunes file sharing - Kiosk mode that runs you PHP code fullscreen - Script mode to run PHP scripts without a web context or timeout INCLUDED PHP PACKAGES WORDPRESS 6.8 With just one tap you can run WordPress offline (using the included WordPress SQLite plugin) and develop themes and plugins for the popular platform. PHPMYADMIN Connect to EXTERNAL MySQL databases (MySQL is NOT included). PHPLITEADMIN Work with local SQLite databases. COMPOSER Use Composer v.2.1.12 to efficiently manage your dependencies. The package also includes an example project. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions please visit DraftCode's website. (Please follow the "Developer Website" link below.) Please note: - Included packages might not yet support all PHP versions available (check their website) - DraftCode's runtime currently does not support re-write rules - A MySQL database is NOT included. (We recommend using SQLite when working completely offline.) - A phpinfo() output of the current available runtime configurations is available on the DraftCode website, please follow the "Developer Website" link below. - In-App purchase pricing can be reviewed on this App Store page under "Information" by tapping the triangle next to 'In-App Purchases"

About

UCoW

This app provides a unified interface to access various online code editing and development environments. It enhances usability with custom keybars, shortcut access, and improved cursor control for mobile devices.

Highlights
  • Unified access to online code instances
  • Customizable keybar with cursor control
  • Full keyboard shortcut support
  • Optimized performance for iPad
  • Quick switching between instances
  • Multi-instance and window support
Features
Read full description

The Ultimate Code Wrapper gives you the ability to access all your Code-Server, OpenVSCode Server, gitpod, github.dev, vscode.dev*, github codespaces, github1s, jupyter notebooks, jetbrains projector and stackblitz online instances in one place "with tweeks". That means you can use all defined and global shortcuts without the limitation of a browser. UCoW also adds a custom Keybar, including an innovative new "cursor control stick" to the virtual keyboard. Short features overview: • Access to all keyboard shortcuts (physical keyboard required) • Extra Key-bar with many onscreen shortcuts (including a virtual stick to move the cursor without a trackpad/mouse) • Best possible performance on iPad devices • Quick switch between multiple code-server instances • Optimized Trackpad support • Multi instance and window support • Editor scale/zoom support ••• ! ••• This app requires a self hosted code-server instance or an account at one of the supported services ••• ! ••• Supported Services: • Code-Server (self-hosted) You can download code-server at: https://github.com/cdr/code-server • NEW! OpenVSCode Server (self-hosted) Download it at: https://github.com/gitpod-io/openvscode-server • NEW! Support for VSCode and Jupyter Notebook Add-On in Home Assistant (www.home-assistant.io) • NEW! Join a live share (VSCode Extension) on https://VSCode.dev via URL or Liveshare id • Gitpod (gitpod.io) • Github Codespaces (github.com/features/codespaces) • Github1s (github1s.com) • Stackblitz (stackblitz.com) • VSCode.dev* (github.dev) • Jetbrains Projector (jetbrains.com/projector) • Jupyter Notebooks (jupyter.org) • more services will follow soon * IMPORTANT! for VSCode.dev (VS Code Server & Liveshare) there is an new separate App available on the AppStore. Please check out: "VSCoW - Code Wrapper" for this case. ••• ! ••• An internet connection is required to work ••• ! ••• An external keyboard is recommended to use the app since selection with the touch cursor is not supported in VSCode at this moment. This is a wrapper app only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.

Screenshots

DraftCode for PHP IDE4 screens
UCoW4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DraftCode for PHP IDE at 4.5 against UCoW's 3.8. DraftCode for PHP IDE also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 54%) and ratings volume (88 vs 12). UCoW's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On ads, chart position and device support 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

DraftCode for PHP IDE costs $4.99 and UCoW $3.99 up front. DraftCode for PHP IDE sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. UCoW asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DraftCode for PHP IDE holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DraftCode for PHP IDE has 88 ratings behind it against 12, 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 54% of UCoW's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, UCoW every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
DraftCode for PHP IDE versus UCoW: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDraftCode for PHP IDEUCoW
Price$4.99$3.99 — better
Rating4.5 (88 ratings) — better3.8 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews65.8% of reviews — better54.2% of reviews
Number of ratings88 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#71 — better#127
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.614.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB3 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperSolesignal LimitedChristoph Gogolin

Customer experience

DraftCode for PHP IDE

All ratings88 ratings
Positive89.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.8%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive65.8%
Neutral14.8%
Negative19.4%

UCoW

All ratings12 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive54.2%
Neutral12.5%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and requests

DraftCode for PHP IDE

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • 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
Show 10 more
  • Cannot navigate to specific lines efficiently
  • Scroll position jumps when switching files
  • File deletion is buggy when deleting multiple files
  • Dropbox conflicted copy files created by autosave
  • iCloud file sync not automatic
  • Keyboard layout makes coding difficult
  • App loses work after tapping run
  • Address bar shows 'about:blank' and 'Not Found'
  • Cannot paste projects from Dropbox (helper app error)
  • Syntax highlighting slow on large files

Requested features

20 requests
  • Search and find/replace functionality
  • FTP and Dropbox integration
  • Updated PHP versions
  • Multiple syntax highlighting themes
  • Git/GitHub integration
Show 15 more
  • Ability to access localhost from external browsers
  • Font size adjustment controls
  • Code completion and snippets
  • Multi-project support
  • Drupal and CraftCMS support
  • MySQL full support
  • SSH/SFTP access
  • Swipe gestures throughout UI
  • Light theme option
  • Extended keyboard with more shortcuts
  • Undo/redo improvements
  • Split-screen multitasking support
  • phpMyAdmin updates
  • Manual save option instead of autosave
  • GD library support

UCoW

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

DraftCode for PHP IDE

One-time6
  • PHP 7.2 RuntimeFree
  • PHP 7.3 RuntimeFree
  • PHP 8.2 RuntimeFree
Show 3 more
  • PHP 8.1 RuntimeFree
  • PHP 8.0.28 RuntimeFree
  • PHP 8.5 Runtime$4.99
None

UCoW

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DraftCode for PHP IDE free?
DraftCode for PHP IDE costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is UCoW free?
UCoW costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DraftCode for PHP IDE or UCoW?
DraftCode for PHP IDE is rated higher. DraftCode for PHP IDE averages 4.5 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while UCoW averages 3.8 from 12 ratings.
Do DraftCode for PHP IDE or UCoW have ads?
Neither DraftCode for PHP IDE nor UCoW shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DraftCode for PHP IDE or UCoW?
DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, and UCoW every 3 weeks. Most recently, DraftCode for PHP IDE was updated on September 25, 2026 and UCoW on September 23, 2026.
Which is more popular, DraftCode for PHP IDE or UCoW?
DraftCode for PHP IDE currently peaks at #71 in the App Store charts, and UCoW at #127. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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