DraftCode for PHP IDE vs php$
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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"
php$
Learn, run, and share PHP scripts with this iOS application. It offers code autocompletion, syntax highlighting, and a built-in browser for learning resources. Customize your coding environment and share your work via email or social media.
- Autocompletion and auto-indent
- Code coloring and font customization
- Built-in browser for learning materials
- Save, modify, and delete code files
- Support for various file types
- Customizable interface and background
- Generate QR codes for sharing
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This is an ios php app,you can learn,run,share php script. Features : Autocomplate. Auto Indent. Code color. In(the built-in browser or the txt editor),Select the text to run. Horizontal screen development. Code templates,the contents of the new file is copy from contents of the template file. *You can enter php code by keyboard, and then you can execut the php code,support the input and raw_input function. *You can adjust the code color and font size , and support to move the cursor left and right and up and down , easy to read and write. *You can find learning materials by the built-in browser . *You can save php code and learning materials, and can be modified to the save file and delete the save file . *You can use the file system to support txt, pdf, chm, mp3,m4v,zip, gif, png, html, py ,doc... files. *You can control the background image and color, and execution voice , background animation, text color and shadow, switch interface animation , the number and the order of the main interface of the tab bar to create your learning software. *You can Learn php knowledge , the system provides some basic learning materials . *You can use php code or learning materials to generate two-dimensional code , for easy sharing . *You can share code by Email,Weibo,Twitter,Facebook. *You can use the counter,light in the Setting tab.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: php$ at none against DraftCode for PHP IDE's 6. php$ also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 66%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). DraftCode for PHP IDE's advantage is ratings volume (88 vs 9). On update cadence, ads and chart position 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
DraftCode for PHP IDE costs $4.99 and php$ $2.99 up front. DraftCode for PHP IDE sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. php$ asks for nothing beyond the download.
php$ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DraftCode for PHP IDE has 88 ratings behind it against 9, 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 88% of php$'s.
DraftCode for PHP IDE ships an update every 3 months, php$ every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DraftCode for PHP IDE | php$ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (88 ratings) | 4.8 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 65.8% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 88 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #71 — better | #130 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 184 MB | 89 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Solesignal Limited | 小文 黄 |
Customer experience
DraftCode for PHP IDE
php$
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
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- 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
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- 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
php$
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
DraftCode for PHP IDE
- PHP 7.2 RuntimeFree
- PHP 7.3 RuntimeFree
- PHP 8.2 RuntimeFree
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- PHP 8.1 RuntimeFree
- PHP 8.0.28 RuntimeFree
- PHP 8.5 Runtime$4.99
php$
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DraftCode for PHP IDE free?
Is php$ free?
Which has better reviews, DraftCode for PHP IDE or php$?
Do DraftCode for PHP IDE or php$ have ads?
Which is updated more often, DraftCode for PHP IDE or php$?
Which is more popular, DraftCode for PHP IDE or php$?
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