Comparison

DrawOn vs Codex by Lloyd Barnes

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

Head to head
About

DrawOn

This app allows two players to draw and guess together, share sketches, and use typed clues. It supports both local and online play with features like live drawing and optional AI redrawing using your own API keys.

Highlights
  • Collaborative drawing and guessing
  • Live drawing and text sharing
  • Optional AI redrawing with custom API keys
  • Local and online room creation
  • Apple Watch mirroring
  • Canvas style selection
Features
Read full description

DrawOn is a drawing and guessing game for a host and another player. Share sketches, typed clues and number-based game inputs in a room, or draw together. PLAY TOGETHER Create or restore a permanent six-digit room using your email ID and room key. Share its invitation link or QR code so another player can join with the included App Clip. Rooms support nearby Bluetooth and online connections. Room features require valid room access; local drawing and writing are available without signing in. DRAW AND WRITE Use pencil tools, colours, an eraser, undo and redo. Live Peek shows the other player's drawing and text as they create it. Parallel Draw shares both players' strokes and erasing. Choose a canvas style, including number-based game inputs. OPTIONAL AI REDRAWS Use your own OpenAI, Claude or Gemini API key to interpret a sketch and generate editable strokes. Choose drawing similarity. AI Peek shows the result on the host; Reverse AI sends the host's redrawn sketch to the other player. Internet, a valid provider account and possible provider charges apply. Ordinary drawing works without AI. ROOM SETTINGS AND CONNECTIONS Room settings can sync with the backend. When enabled, online rooms can accept player submissions while the host is unavailable. You control online App Clip access from Settings. OPTIONAL FORWARDING Configure supported destinations or your own endpoint to forward submitted text. Telegram notifications and drawing images are available for connected room accounts. Forwarding requires setup and is off by default; delivery depends on connectivity and the selected service. APPLE WATCH Mirror received content to a paired Apple Watch. The Watch is optional. Nearby play requires Bluetooth and both phones to remain open nearby. Internet is required to download an App Clip and use online rooms, AI or remote integrations. Game screens do not unlock your device; use invented game inputs, never real passwords or device passcodes.

About

Codex by Lloyd Barnes

This app offers a rapid day-of-week calculation and a reference tool for various card stacks. It's designed for practice and quick lookups with customizable feedback options for different environments.

Highlights
  • Day of week calculator
  • Speak dates for weekday display
  • Optional haptic feedback
  • Customizable tones and volume
  • Reference for common card stacks
  • High-contrast interface
Features
Read full description

Codex is a fast day-of-week calculator and card-stack reference tool designed for practice, rehearsal, and quick lookup. It provides accurate results with flexible output options so you can use it in different environments. Day of Week Calculator - Enter or speak a date and Codex displays the correct weekday. - Optional haptic feedback and optional sounds can be enabled for hands-free or silent operation. Customisation - Configure haptic strength, timing, and patterns. - Choose optional tones and volume. Card & Stack Tools - Quick reference and practice utilities for common stacks and arrangements (e.g., Mnemonica, Aronson, Si Stebbins, Eight Kings, and more). - High-contrast, readable interface for rapid lookup. Codex is built to be quick, reliable, and easy to use—whether you’re practicing at home or reviewing information on the go.

Screenshots

DrawOn1 screens
Codex by Lloyd Barnes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DrawOn at $1.99 against Codex by Lloyd Barnes's $49.99. DrawOn also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (daily vs every 9 days). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

DrawOn costs $1.99 and Codex by Lloyd Barnes $49.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DrawOn holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrawOn ships an update daily, Codex by Lloyd Barnes every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
DrawOn versus Codex by Lloyd Barnes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrawOnCodex by Lloyd Barnes
Price$1.99 — better$49.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMohammed Nihal HasanLloyd Barnes

Customer experience

DrawOn

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

Codex by Lloyd Barnes

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

In-app purchases

None

DrawOn

No in-app purchases

None

Codex by Lloyd Barnes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DrawOn free?
DrawOn costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Codex by Lloyd Barnes free?
Codex by Lloyd Barnes costs $49.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DrawOn or Codex by Lloyd Barnes?
DrawOn is rated higher. DrawOn averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Codex by Lloyd Barnes averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DrawOn or Codex by Lloyd Barnes have ads?
Neither DrawOn nor Codex by Lloyd Barnes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DrawOn or Codex by Lloyd Barnes?
DrawOn ships an update daily, and Codex by Lloyd Barnes every 9 days. Most recently, DrawOn was updated on November 12, 2026 and Codex by Lloyd Barnes on October 31, 2026.

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