Comparison

DraftCode for PHP IDE vs HTML Editor

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

HTML Editor

A lightweight HTML editor offering syntax highlighting, code completion, and a live preview. Easily open, edit, and export HTML documents from your device or iCloud. Features dynamic commenting and tag insertion for efficient web development.

Highlights
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Code completion suggestions
  • Live preview panel
  • Open local and iCloud documents
  • Quick tag insertion
  • Dynamic code commenting
  • Export and share HTML documents
Read full description

HTML Editor is a lightweight HTML editor complete with syntax highlighting, focused code completion suggestions and a live preview panel. With HTML Editor, you can open any existing HTML document on your device or in your iCloud storage. Simply drop your existing HTML document onto our app icon to open that document within HTML Editor. Quickly insert tag elements via the menu, or comment out code dynamically with IntelliSense highlighted detection system. You can efficiently export your HTML document and share it with your teammates. HTML Editor comes with full iCloud and local support. HTML Editor is also available on iOS. We're always working on improving our apps and would love any feedback or suggestions that you may have. Privacy Policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/57995653 Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

DraftCode for PHP IDE4 screens
HTML Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HTML Editor at Free against DraftCode for PHP IDE's $4.99. HTML Editor also leads on ratings volume (819 vs 88) and device support (4 vs 2). DraftCode for PHP IDE's advantage is review sentiment (66% vs 22%) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

HTML 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 HTML Editor sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DraftCode for PHP IDE holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HTML Editor has 819 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 22% of HTML Editor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
DraftCode for PHP IDE versus HTML Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDraftCode for PHP IDEHTML Editor
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (88 ratings) — better4.2 (819 ratings)
Positive reviews65.8% of reviews — better22.0% of reviews
Number of ratings88819 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#68#36 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS17.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB29 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperSolesignal LimitedIntrepid

Customer experience

DraftCode for PHP IDE

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

HTML Editor

All ratings819 ratings
Positive77.7%
Neutral4.6%
Negative17.7%
Written reviews518 reviews
Positive22.0%
Neutral3.9%
Negative74.1%

User reviews

DraftCode for PHP IDE

From 88 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

HTML Editor

From 819 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great for online coding
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
  • 💡 Helpful syntax highlighting

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Requires subscription to use
  • 💰 Expensive weekly subscription
  • 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
  • 👎 Obtrusive subscription popup

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

HTML Editor

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Preview doesn't always match actual HTML output
  • Unable to dismiss subscription popup
  • Corrupts or deletes existing HTML files

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add ability to open and edit multiple files
  • Implement full-screen preview mode
  • Provide option to purchase app outright instead of subscription

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
2 purchases

HTML Editor

Subscriptions2
  • Html Pro$2.997 Days
  • HTML Pro3 Days trial$3.997 Days

Questions

Is DraftCode for PHP IDE free?
DraftCode for PHP IDE costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is HTML Editor free?
HTML Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DraftCode for PHP IDE or HTML Editor?
DraftCode for PHP IDE is rated higher. DraftCode for PHP IDE averages 4.5 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while HTML Editor averages 4.2 from 819 ratings.
Do DraftCode for PHP IDE or HTML Editor have ads?
Neither DraftCode for PHP IDE nor HTML Editor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DraftCode for PHP IDE or HTML Editor?
DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, and HTML Editor every 3 months. Most recently, DraftCode for PHP IDE was updated on September 30, 2026 and HTML Editor on September 29, 2026.
Which is more popular, DraftCode for PHP IDE or HTML Editor?
DraftCode for PHP IDE currently peaks at #68 in the App Store charts, and HTML Editor at #36. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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