Comparison

Carets vs Run Code

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

Head to head
About

Carets

This app offers a dual-purpose experience as a capable code editor and a fast, minimalist notes app. It supports editing real files from cloud storage with syntax highlighting and provides local note-taking with Markdown support and live previews. Enjoy a distraction-free typing experience across both functions.

Highlights
  • Syntax highlighting for common languages
  • Edit external files from cloud storage
  • Plain text and Markdown notes with live preview
  • Command palette for fast navigation
  • Local-first note storage with no account required
  • Generative art gallery with editable code (Pro)
Features
Read full description

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, no account, no cloud copy — your notes stay on your phone. 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 - No sign-in, no account, no passwords - 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, 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. - No sign-in, ever. Notes are never uploaded or synced anywhere. - Tap "Delete all data" in settings, and the local database is wiped. Privacy policy: https://carets.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://carets.app/terms

About

Run Code

Features
Read full description

Run Code is a code editor that runs your code on your iPhone and iPad. Write Python or JavaScript, tap Run, and see the output, or the error and the line it came from. It works offline and needs no account. RUN YOUR CODE • Python, JavaScript, HTML and SQL run on the device, offline, from the moment you install. There is no run counter. • Program input: type what your program reads with input() or prompt(), then run. Exercises that read input work too. • Output appears when your program finishes. Stop a run at any time. • HTML opens as a live page, with its CSS and script. • SQL runs on a database on the device and shows the results as a table. ERRORS YOU CAN FIX • Errors show the line they came from. • Tap an error to jump to that line in the editor. • A program stuck in a loop stops at the time limit, so the app stays usable. A CLEAN CODE EDITOR • Syntax highlighting, tabs, and a key bar above the keyboard for brackets, quotes and indentation • A shortcuts bar for find and replace, text size, copy and paste • Snippets for common code, go to line, word wrap and a dark theme OPEN ANY CODE OR TEXT FILE • Open files from the Files app or with "Open in" from another app. • Opens .py, .js, .html and .sql files, plus TXT, LOG, JSON, XML, YAML, CSV, Markdown and shell files. WHO IT IS FOR • Students running class exercises and practice programs • Anyone trying a snippet from a tutorial or a book • Developers checking a small function or a query away from the desk FREE AND PRO • Free: the code editor, every file type, program input, and Python, JavaScript, HTML and SQL runs of up to 5 seconds each. • Pro: React, runs of up to 20 seconds, run history for each file, split view of code and output, your own snippets, a live Python console, SQL export to CSV, JSON and Excel, and every editor theme. • Pro is a monthly subscription or a one-time purchase. The free version shows ads; Pro turns them off as well. Write it, tap Run, see what it does. Your code stays on your device. SUBSCRIPTION AND PRICING • Run Code Pro — $19.99, one payment, no subscription and no renewals • Run Code Pro Monthly — $2.99 per month, renews automatically • Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase • A subscription renews unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://cosmovex.web.app/apps/textvedit/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Carets4 screens
Run Code4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Carets at none against Run Code's shown. Run Code's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 2 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Carets sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Run Code sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Carets ships an update every 2 months, Run Code every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Carets versus Run Code: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCaretsRun Code
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEcho Persona LLCSahana A S

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Carets

One-time1
  • Carets Pro$5.99
2 purchases

Run Code

Subscriptions1
  • Code Editor Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • Code Editor Pro$19.99

Questions

Is Carets free?
Carets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Run Code free?
Run Code is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Carets or Run Code have ads?
Run Code shows ads; Carets does not.
Which is updated more often, Carets or Run Code?
Carets ships an update every 2 months, and Run Code every 5 weeks. Most recently, Carets was updated on November 5, 2026 and Run Code on November 6, 2026.

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