MiniBench vs Carets
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MiniBench
Create and edit Minecraft Bedrock function packs directly on your iPad. This app offers a code-first editor with syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and inline validation. Export your creations as .mcpack files for easy import into the game.
- Syntax highlighting
- Context-aware autocomplete
- Snippets palette
- Inline syntactic validation
- Project creation wizard
- iCloud Drive integration
- Multi-tab editor
- Export as .mcpack
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Write, build, preview, and learn Minecraft Bedrock function packs on iPad. MiniBench is a native, code-first editor for Minecraft Bedrock Edition function packs. Create a project, write your commands (or let a builder write them for you), check the result in 3D, and export a .mcpack that opens in Minecraft with one tap. No hand-editing JSON in a plain text app. LEARN BY DOING — FREE • 10 interactive Labs teach commands one hands-on step at a time: selectors, coordinates, execute, scoreboards, tags, and a capstone • 28 command drills, from /fill and /summon to /scoreboard and /title • Write it in a real pack, tap Check for a friendly nudge, let MiniBench fix it for you if you're stuck, then ship it to Minecraft • Labs, hints, and in-file comments in 13 languages A REAL CODE EDITOR • Syntax highlighting for commands, selectors (@a, @e, @p, @r, @s), coordinates (~, ^), strings, numbers, and NBT-like braces • Context-aware autocomplete with a signature bar that previews argument shapes as you type; Tab accepts a completion from the full vanilla 1.21 catalog • Selector-argument key completion inside @e[...] • 80 ready-made snippets: execute chains, give, teleport, scoreboard, tags, and more • Jump between functions: autocomplete "function " and tap any function call to open it • Inline validation for unknown commands, malformed selectors, and unbalanced braces • Light and dark editor themes, multi-tab editing, and iPad split view with a draggable divider 3D PREVIEW — FREE • See what your .mcfunction builds before you share it, with your own character standing in the scene • The preview follows function calls, so a build split across several files renders as one complete scene • 12 painted world backdrops with gradient skies, block art close to Minecraft's own, and translucent glass that renders correctly BUILDERS (PRO) • House Builder: houses, towers, and rooms up to 32 floors at exact, block-perfect sizes, with roofs and lighting • Chest Builder: lay out loot on a visual grid with Bedrock's real stack limits • Demolition Builder: rig a build with concealed TNT and a fuse • Image → Build: turn a photo into a block statue, solid or hollow PROJECTS, EXPORT, IMPORT • Single-screen project wizard; store locally or in iCloud Drive • Valid manifest.json scaffolded with fresh UUIDs, plus a manifest form editor • Auto-save and Cmd+S; tabs and split state restored across launches • Export validates the manifest, UUIDs, version arrays, pack icon, and functions folder, then hands a .mcpack to the share sheet; export as a playable .mcworld with Pro • Import an existing .mcpack from Files or the share sheet • 26 project icon packs: Classic is free, the rest are $0.99 each KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS Cmd+S save, Cmd+W close tab, Cmd+T new tab, Cmd+F find, Cmd+Z / Shift+Cmd+Z undo and redo, Cmd+Shift+E export, Tab to accept a completion. Full cheat sheet built in. WHO IT'S FOR Minecraft creators, map makers, teachers, and anyone learning commands who wants a real editor on iPad, not a watered-down web wrapper. PRICING Free: up to 3 projects, the full editor, 3D preview, and every Lab. MiniBench Pro unlocks unlimited projects, the builders, .mcworld export, and every new feature as it ships: $0.99/month or $9.99/year, with a 7-day free trial on the annual plan. Cancel anytime in Settings. TERMS & PRIVACY Terms of Use (EULA): https://icolasoft.com/minibench/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://icolasoft.com/minibench/privacy-policy NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT PRODUCT. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT. "Minecraft" is a trademark of Mojang Synergies AB; the Minecraft name, brand, and assets are the property of Mojang AB or their respective owners. MiniBench is an independent third-party tool, built and named in accordance with Mojang's public brand and asset usage guidelines (minecraft.net/usage-guidelines).
Carets
This app offers a dual-purpose experience as a capable code editor and a fast notes and lists application. It focuses on speed, minimalism, and a clean aesthetic for mobile devices, allowing you to edit real files from cloud storage or create internal notes.
- Syntax highlighting for common languages
- Edit external files from cloud storage
- Plain text and Markdown notes
- Lists and checklists
- Full-text search across notes
- Generative art gallery
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Carets is two great apps in one: a genuinely capable pocket code editor and a fast, beautiful notes and lists app. Built for speed, minimalism, and a monospace-clean aesthetic — reshaped for a phone. On the editor side, Carets opens and edits the real files on your device, in iCloud Drive, and in Google Drive. You get syntax highlighting across the common languages, line numbers, code-aware editing, find and replace with full regex, and a touch-reimagined command palette for jumping between files and actions. Edits save back to the file's original location, not a copy. Opening and editing external files is unlimited on the free tier. On the notes side, Carets keeps internal notes in a local SQLite store you own. Plain text or Markdown, with live preview when you want it. Lists and checklists with tap-to-toggle to-dos. Folders and tags for lightweight organization. Instant full-text search across everything you've written. No login required, no account, no cloud — until you ask for one. There's also a Gallery of generative-art sketches that run right on your phone. Open one and watch it draw — every run is unique. With Pro, open the code behind any piece, tweak it live, and make it your own. The bridge between the two halves is the editor surface itself: the same fast, monospace, distraction-free typing experience whether you're editing a config file from iCloud Drive or jotting a grocery list. The chrome fades while you type. The keyboard never jumps. The cursor stays where you left it. Features: - Syntax highlighting across common languages - Line numbers and code-aware editing - Find and replace, with regex - Command palette for fast navigation - Open and edit external files from the Files app, iCloud Drive, and Google Drive - Save changes back to the original file - Plain text and Markdown notes with live preview - Lists and checklists, auto-continued - Folders and tags - Instant full-text search across all notes - Gallery of live generative-art templates (Pro unlocks the code to edit and export) - Auto-save with cursor and scroll restore per document - Light and dark themes, including a deep, editor-style dark - Native sign-in only when you opt into paid cloud sync — no passwords ever - Delete-all-data button that means it Pricing: - Free — open and edit unlimited external files; create up to 30 internal notes - Carets Pro — 5.99 USD, one-time (no subscription) Carets Pro is a single one-time unlock: unlimited internal notes, cloud sync to your own iCloud, cross-device editing, the premium theme pack and custom fonts, the generative-art template code (open, edit, export), and export to Markdown / PDF / .txt. Pay once, keep it forever. Privacy: - Local-first. The app works fully offline with no account. - We collect no personal information by default. - Sign-in is only invoked if you turn on paid cloud sync. - Cloud sync goes to your own iCloud container — not a server we operate. - Tap "Delete all data" in settings, and the local database and the cloud copy are wiped. Privacy policy: https://carets.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://carets.app/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
MiniBench and Carets are too close to call on the numbers: across 9 compared parameters — price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. MiniBench sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Carets sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for MiniBench against 5.0 for Carets. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
MiniBench ships an update monthly, Carets every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MiniBench | Carets |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 117 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Eric Internicola | Echo Persona LLC |
Customer experience
MiniBench
Carets
In-app purchases
MiniBench
- Farming & Homestead Icon Pack$0.99
- Minigame Arcade Icon Pack$0.99
- Quest Board Icon Pack$0.99
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- Village Life Icon Pack$0.99
- Builder's Workshop Icon Pack$0.99
- Potion Lab Icon Pack$0.99
- Dungeon Rooms Icon Pack$0.99
- Survival Camp Icon Pack$0.99
- Town Services Icon Pack$0.99
- Treasure Trails Icon Pack$0.99
Carets
- Carets Pro$5.99








