Comparison

Swift Code Runner vs Graphica Playground

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

Head to head
About

Swift Code Runner

This app provides a focused environment for writing, testing, and organizing Swift code. It features syntax highlighting, code completion, and a secure runner to test snippets and review output. Ideal for learners and developers needing a lightweight scratchpad for quick experiments and practice.

Highlights
  • Swift playground and code editor
  • Syntax highlighting and line numbers
  • Code snippets and local completions
  • Secure runner for testing code
  • Console output and AST viewer
  • File management (create, rename, import, export)
  • Autosave functionality
Features
Read full description

SwiftMate is a focused Swift playground and code editor for learning, testing snippets, and keeping small code files organized. Write Swift with syntax highlighting, line numbers, search, smart pairs, indentation, snippets, and local completions. Create files, autosave your work, rename, duplicate, import, export, and share code when you need to move it elsewhere. When you are ready to test an idea, run Swift code through the configured secure runner and review console output, compiler diagnostics, and the AST viewer. Your files stay local until you choose to run or inspect code. SwiftMate is built for students, learners, and developers who want a lightweight Swift scratchpad for examples, algorithms, interview practice, and quick experiments. - Privacy Policy: https://lykovstudio.io/privacy - Terms of Use: https://lykovstudio.io/terms

About

Graphica Playground

Features
Read full description

Describe it. Ship it. Graphica Playground turns one sentence into a Metal shader you can actually use. Write what you want to see, watch it run full screen, tune it until it feels right, and take the code straight into your SwiftUI project. Built for designers, design engineers and iOS developers who want distinctive backgrounds, glows, ripples and gradients without writing shader math from scratch. GENERATE FROM WORDS - Type a description like "deep ocean caustics with drifting light" and get a live, animated Metal shader - Every result is compiled and checked on your device's GPU before you see it; broken or blank output is automatically repaired or replaced - Not quite right? Use Refine to describe what to change, and keep your colors and settings TUNE IT LIVE - Adjust speed, intensity and scale in real time - Pick from curated color palettes - Touch the preview and the shader reacts under your finger - Tuning never re-runs the AI, so you can experiment as much as you like EXPORT CODE THAT MATCHES THE PREVIEW - SwiftUI: a .metal file with a stitchable function plus a ready-to-use SwiftUI view built on .colorEffect - Metal only: just the stitchable function for ShaderLibrary - MTKView: runtime-compiled Metal source with an MTKView renderer - Copy to the clipboard or share the files - The preview and the exported code are built from the same shader, so what you see is what you ship LEARN SHADERS BY WRITING THEM - Lessons on coordinates, color, distance, rings, soft light and noise, one expression at a time - Your picture is checked against the target as you go, and most steps need no typing - Open a finished lesson in the editor to see what each slider changes START FROM PRESETS Hand-built starting points such as Liquid Glass, Mesh Gradient, Metal Ripple and Ripple Field. YOUR LIBRARY Every shader you generate is saved automatically. Search, mark favorites and pick up where you left off. SHORTCUTS AND SIRI Generate a shader, open one, adjust its parameters or get its code from the Shortcuts app, Spotlight or Siri. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No account and no sign-in - Your prompts and shaders stay on your device, unless you connect your own model endpoint - On-device generation uses Apple Intelligence on supported devices - Offline templates always work, even in Airplane Mode, so generation never comes back empty - Prefer your own model? Connect any OpenAI-compatible endpoint with your own API key (Pro). The key is stored in the iOS Keychain and sent only to the endpoint you choose FREE - Up to 10 generations a day - 3 saved shaders - 4 presets - The first 2 lessons - Full live preview, touch interaction, speed, intensity, scale and curated palettes PRO - Export and copy code - Unlimited generations and unlimited saved shaders - Set all three colors by hand and tune the touch response - All 8 presets, including Nebula Warp, Crystal Cells, Vortex Rings and Particle Dust - Version history: return to any earlier take - Use your own API key - Every lesson, including new ones as they are added On-device generation requires iOS 26 or later on an Apple Intelligence-capable device with Apple Intelligence turned on. On other devices the app uses offline templates. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Graphica Playground Pro is available as an auto-renewing monthly or yearly subscription, or as a one-time Lifetime purchase. Prices are shown in the app before you buy and may vary by region. - Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. - Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. - You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://graphica.touyou.dev/playground/terms Privacy Policy: https://graphica.touyou.dev/playground/privacy

Screenshots

Swift Code Runner4 screens
Graphica Playground4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Graphica Playground at none against Swift Code Runner's 3. Swift Code Runner's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 2 days) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Swift Code Runner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Graphica Playground asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swift Code Runner ships an update daily, Graphica Playground every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Swift Code Runner versus Graphica Playground: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwift Code RunnerGraphica Playground
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLYKOV STUDIO LTDYosuke Fujii

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Swift Code Runner

Subscriptions2
  • premium3 Days trial$5.997 Days
  • premium$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • premium$49.99
None

Graphica Playground

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Swift Code Runner free?
Swift Code Runner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Graphica Playground free?
Graphica Playground is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Swift Code Runner or Graphica Playground have ads?
Neither Swift Code Runner nor Graphica Playground shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swift Code Runner or Graphica Playground?
Swift Code Runner ships an update daily, and Graphica Playground every 2 days. Most recently, Swift Code Runner was updated on October 4, 2026 and Graphica Playground on October 9, 2026.

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