Comparison

DraftCode for PHP IDE vs DraftCode

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

DraftCode

A free, offline code, text, and Markdown editor for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Offers syntax highlighting for over 60 languages, powerful find and replace, and project management. Ideal for developers and writers seeking a focused editing environment.

Highlights
  • Syntax highlighting for 60+ languages
  • Offline functionality
  • Live Markdown preview
  • Pro-grade find & replace
  • Project file tree management
  • Command Palette for quick access
Features
Read full description

DraftCode is a free, private code, text and Markdown editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Open local files or folders, start typing immediately and keep your work in standard file formats. No ads, account, tracking, subscription or in-app purchase. EDIT CODE AND TEXT • Syntax highlighting and language detection for 57 languages • Tabs, split editing, line numbers, minimap, bookmarks and code snippets • Multi-cursor editing and select next or all matching occurrences • Auto-indent, bracket pairing, comments and a scrollable code-key toolbar • Open files and project folders through Apple system pickers LANGUAGES AND THEMES • Built-in engines for Swift, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Go, Rust and more • Import TextMate grammars, language configuration, syntax themes and file-icon themes • Enable, disable, replace or remove packs, with a safe return to built-in defaults SEARCH AND NAVIGATE • Plain text, escaped and regular-expression search • Find and replace across a selected project folder • Command palette, quick open, outline and TODO navigation FORMAT LOCALLY • JSON, JSON5, HTML, CSS, SVG, SQL, YAML, TOML and plist • JavaScript, TypeScript, JSX and TSX format and compress on device • Full file or selection, with undo, error locations and large-file protection REMOTE WORKSPACES • Connect to FTP, explicit FTPS and SFTP servers • Browse folders, download text files on demand and upload saved changes • Keep passwords in Keychain, detect server-side conflicts and reconnect automatically SOURCE CONTROL • Clone Git repositories over HTTPS or SSH into a folder you choose • Stage, commit, branch, merge, fetch, pull and push on this device • Store passwords, tokens and pasted SSH private keys in Keychain; confirm the host fingerprint before saving it. On Mac, authorize local SSH files instead — those private keys are not copied into Keychain OPTIONAL AI EDITING • Off by default. Prefers on-device Apple models; otherwise your HTTPS endpoint receives only the current selection when you invoke it • Failures never change the document MARKDOWN • Local preview with tables, task lists, code, Mermaid and math • Side-by-side editing on supported layouts • HTML export on Apple platforms and PDF export on Mac Local documents are never uploaded automatically. Remote transfers go only to a server you explicitly configure. DraftCode does not collect personal data.

Screenshots

DraftCode for PHP IDE4 screens
DraftCode4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DraftCode at 5.0 against DraftCode for PHP IDE's 4.5. DraftCode also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and review sentiment (100% vs 66%). DraftCode for PHP IDE's advantage is ratings volume (88 vs 1) and chart position (#74 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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 DraftCode $1.99 up front. DraftCode for PHP IDE sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. DraftCode asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DraftCode holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DraftCode for PHP IDE has 88 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of DraftCode's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, DraftCode weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
DraftCode for PHP IDE versus DraftCode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDraftCode for PHP IDEDraftCode
Price$4.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.5 (88 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.8% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings88 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#74 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB18 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperSolesignal Limited献慧 陈

Customer experience

DraftCode for PHP IDE

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

DraftCode

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

DraftCode

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

DraftCode

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 DraftCode free?
DraftCode costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DraftCode for PHP IDE or DraftCode?
DraftCode is rated higher. DraftCode for PHP IDE averages 4.5 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while DraftCode averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DraftCode for PHP IDE or DraftCode have ads?
Neither DraftCode for PHP IDE nor DraftCode shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DraftCode for PHP IDE or DraftCode?
DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, and DraftCode weekly. Most recently, DraftCode for PHP IDE was updated on September 20, 2026 and DraftCode on September 11, 2026.

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