Comparison

TeX Go vs PharoSmalltalk

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

Head to head
About

TeX Go

Features
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TeX Go is a LaTeX editor for iPhone and iPad, built for writing, editing, compiling, and previewing documents wherever you are. Use it for equations, notes, reports, papers, and technical documents. TeX Go keeps the writing experience focused, with a clean editor, quick access to PDF preview, and tools that help you move smoothly from source to output. You can work with files stored on your device or in cloud storage, start from templates, and use editing support such as automatic bracket and command completion. TeX Go also supports local compilation, so many projects can be built directly on your device. Additional TeX packages can be imported when a project needs them, making it easier to keep working even without a remote build environment. Key Features • Clean LaTeX editing environment • Local compilation for supported documents • Fast switching between source and PDF preview • Auto-completion for brackets and commands • Document creation from templates • Editing for local and cloud-based files • Background compilation with completion notifications • Build logs designed to make errors easier to understand Whether you are studying, researching, drafting a paper, or polishing a technical document, TeX Go gives you a practical LaTeX workspace on iOS.

About

PharoSmalltalk

Features
Read full description

Pharo on iOS brings the complete Pharo 13 Smalltalk programming environment to your Apple devices. Browse classes, write code, inspect objects, and debug — all running natively with Metal-accelerated graphics. FULL PHARO DESKTOP Run unmodified official Pharo 13 images. The System Browser, Playground, Inspector, Debugger, and every tool you know from desktop Pharo works here. No special images required. BUILT FOR TOUCH Intuitive gesture mapping makes Pharo comfortable on a touchscreen. Tap for left-click, long-press for right-click, two-finger tap for middle-click. Pinch to zoom. Full hardware keyboard support with modifier keys on iPad. NATIVE PERFORMANCE A clean-room interpreter written in C++ with Metal GPU rendering. Smooth 30fps display, efficient memory management, and full foreign function interface support. IMAGE LIBRARY Download official Pharo 13 images directly from the app. Import your own .image files from the Files app. Keep multiple images organized and switch between projects easily. WORKS EVERYWHERE Universal app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac (via Mac Catalyst). Your Pharo environment goes wherever you do. PRIVACY FIRST No accounts, no telemetry, no data collection. Your code stays on your device. Period. OPEN SOURCE The VM is MIT-licensed and open source. Contributions welcome.

Screenshots

TeX Go4 screens
PharoSmalltalk1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PharoSmalltalk at Free against TeX Go's $5.99. PharoSmalltalk also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On update cadence, 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

PharoSmalltalk is free to download; TeX Go costs $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TeX Go ships an update every 5 days, PharoSmalltalk weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
TeX Go versus PharoSmalltalk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTeX GoPharoSmalltalk
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHikaru MatsudaAaron Wohl

In-app purchases

None

TeX Go

No in-app purchases

None

PharoSmalltalk

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TeX Go free?
TeX Go costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PharoSmalltalk free?
PharoSmalltalk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do TeX Go or PharoSmalltalk have ads?
Neither TeX Go nor PharoSmalltalk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TeX Go or PharoSmalltalk?
TeX Go ships an update every 5 days, and PharoSmalltalk weekly. Most recently, TeX Go was updated on October 25, 2026 and PharoSmalltalk on October 24, 2026.

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