Textastic Code Editor Reviews

by Glroyal

Evidently there is no access mode that allows Textastic to edit files residing on a server by remote. This is a fundamental and crippling limitation for anything resembling a modern website, which will make use of server-side includes, session management, and database access on every page.

I’m less annoyed that I wasted $10 than that my purchase rewards both Apple and the developers of Textastic for upselling a program that would have an awkward workflow by 1999 standards as a sleek and effortless development tool today.

The static web page era is long over.

by ThePeaceGuy

The developer continues to not respond to emails asking about why the SSH feature ALWAYS fails on a keyboard-interactive session. Any typical SSH with a remote server requires the ability to have a keyboard interactive session, and so the primary reason I downloaded TextasticCodeEditor is basically unsupported. More specifically, using DUO authentication only works up to the point where you have to specify the authentication method, and then fails once you enter a response to the prompt in the Textastic terminal.

Please fix the SSH issue we’re experiencing! We paid for a feature that doesn’t work! :(

by The One Piece Is Real!

TextasticCodeEditor is great and I want to make it my main text editor but why do I have to buy it twice to use on my MacBook? It’s not impossible to make apps universal anymore as Apple has officially created a way to do so between Mac and iOS.

Dropped another star,

It needs to be able to open folders from more places. Not just iCloud. I would like to open folders from places like OneDrive and I am unable to do so. If I have a Windows PC and upload files and folders to OneDrive to continue work on a different device, I am unable to do it with TextasticCodeEditor. The only solution would be to go to the OneDrive app on the iPad and transfer the files to iCloud to work with TextasticCodeEditor, however that presents many problems like two different sets of folders (one for iCloud and one for OneDrive).

Please fix and also add universal purchase so I can download on a MacBook. These fixes would make it the perfect text editor for me definitely worthy of 5 stars in my opinion.

by Leenar21

I’ve been using this amazing tool a long time ago, to write and edit HTML and CSS files. Love it because uses prediction to increase your productivity and the margin of errors decreases. One thing that I would love to have is a HEX color picker. Than would help immensely. Thank you!!!

NOTE: Recently working with -WebKit trying to fixed a navigation menu, it won’t display correctly on the native web browser.

by Vriley

Yes, I have a Macbook Pro with all the latest web dev tools. But I always have my iPad with me, and I end up doing all my development with Textastic. It has its own local file structure so you can build the server folder and file structure locally and develop with relative links. You can store all the resources (graphics, images, scripts, stylesheets, etc.) in their proper places so the entire site can be uploaded as it exists on the device. My typical workflow starts with Graphic for graphic and image resources, Pixelmator to edit images to size, and Textastic for html, css, and Javascript as needed. iCloud files are synced automatically so I can pick up on any device, and upload to the web host directly from the iCloud directories. This is one of the essential apps that make the iPad so incredibly useful.

by Alicerunsonfedora

I remember using Textastic before this newer universal app came out, and I fell in love with how amazing TextasticCodeEditor was. I’ve been using the new version for a while now, and. I am extremely impressed with just how capable this little editor is. It even opens and edits Swift Playground Books, meaning that I can safely and happily cut Xcode out of the Swift Playground book equation. Overall impressed and can’t wait to see what’s in store!

by Lefty Hokum

It's a little bit confusing and I think there can be more done with the UI. I do like it though and especially on the iPad. I have yet to hook up a keyboard and I would bet that it really would shine. I am still trying to get it working with Working Copy and once I do I think both will make each other great and my stars will top out. It's mostly for the UI which like I said could be much better but then an app like this is really all about functionality. I think he would get way more downloads if it was pretty. Like most editors are these days.

by Prsnfy

Clearly very polished, but seemingly so simple, solid, ‘just works,’ that it’s easy not to notice...
I’ve never had a problem with the functionality, which is robust beyond my and most uses, but which never seems in the way. I also get used to the special input keys quickly. I’ve used the keyboard onscreen plenty; for me this is at least as natural as typing a document this way.
Very nice editor.

by Typing Monkey

Absolutely worth far more than the ten bucks I paid for this thing. I can now work on my JavaScript and CSS homework assignments on my iPad. Of course my keyboard turns this into a mini-Mac for the most part. But TextasticCodeEditor makes it all possible. Also, a good app to pair this up with is “Inspect Browser,” since you will need to debug on iOS.

I like Brackets for the Mac, but I may check the OS X version of this out since the iOS one is amazing.

by Louis88keys

I’m iPad only and still build and maintain websites for myself and a few clients. While the workflow is different on iPad, I have been using TextasticCodeEditor for a long time and I love it. It is very powerful and does exactly what I need for website building/maintenance I do. I have put in a request for PHP rendering and hope this becomes available soon as that would make TextasticCodeEditor PERFECT! Thank you so much Alexander.

by DavidAnthonio

I used TextasticCodeEditor to first teach myself programming languages and now use it on the regular for independent projects. It’s great! I do hope that the developer will continue to add additional functions and improvements, but this 5-star review is well-deserved. Textastic is well worth the money. Please keep it up!

by BitingChaos

Something as simple as editing a text file on iOS is impossible unless you have an app like this. That is not a good thing.

I just want a simple text editor like Notepad or TextEdit for iOS. Most apps that work with "text" only work if the file actually has a ".txt" extension. I have tons of PLAIN-TEXT files with extensions like .conf or .ovpn or .sh that nothing wants to open.

Textastic opens everything just fine.

by MrdogheadSHoGoAT

The standard IOS text selection in terrible. It is among the worst features of the OS. I understand the desire to conform to standards, and I understand minimizing workload. All the same, opting in on a bad standard is a bad move. Once a user understands TextasticCodeEditor’s custom selection, it is better and more reliable than the mess Apple provides.

Change is good, when it improves the product. In this case, we wind up with something less good.

I love Textastic, given the limitations of the hamstrung OS. Now I figure to love it a tad less.

I hope you decide to tweak the system selection function to improve it in a way that you can live with, from a maintenance standpoint. Until then, I remain with you - with full “rating” support and the same warm recommendation relative to peers in TextasticCodeEditor store. Thanks for your programming efforts.

by Tcabeen

I just mean it’s practically perfect in every way. What’s more, it gets better with every version.

The built-in SFTP makes this the perfect companion for web development and countless other tasks. The network storage (including Dropbox) options make it the perfect travel companion for developing pretty much anything.

This has more features (and costs far less) than many popular desktop text editors. It’s one of the most useful apps on my iPad and has been for years. I can’t recommend it too highly.

by OtherHorses

Hands-down the most capable mobile code/text editor I’ve found. Full, flawless regex search/replace is my favorite feature, though I do wish it remembered recent searches; there are a few I’m constantly retyping.
The process for editing files stored on Dropbox/GoogleDrive could be smoother, but it does make it very clear what you’re doing. (Once you’ve downloaded a file, any time you open the local copy you can hit Menu, then “upload” or “download latest“, and confirm overwrite.)

by Reeld55

it doesn't show syntax errors like other apps do… in html when using line styles it doesn't recognize CSS3 tags so you have to write all the tag yourself, for example: text-aligning: center; etc… it does not recognize the “IDs” or “class” that are in the document, example: div id” show all the “IDs” that are used in the file”… for the moment those are the shortcomings that TextasticCodeEditor has… with Regarding the interface... you should improve it to see it more modern like other apps... with smaller and more aesthetic icons.

by BasenjiBuddy

In the past several decades I’ve used a wide variety of text editors on all sorts of platforms. Textastic is one of the best I’ve ever used. It works well on all of my devices; it gets used for everything from writing scripts and configuration files to taking down notes.

I’m also visually-impaired, and the ability to customize the interface to make it easier to use is extremely helpful. VoiceOver support is fairly solid, and overall it’ easy to navigate the UI.

The developers have done a good job and as a result Textastic is well worth the money.

by RaphaSh

No words, I use this program over years, it’s simply the best. Easy to access FTP with the phone, transfer files, edit files, just wipe out for example an error on your website immediately on the go. Because I use it over years, I can say the programer is an amazing guy!! He didn’t bring a program to TextasticCodeEditor Store for a fast money, he’s passionate about it and loves it, there is a regular improvement and development since years! I read the change log from 8.0, and again saw it will be better now than ever before :)))

by Mesosa214

I’ve searched high and low for an app like this. For one reason or another, I’d talked myself out of purchasing this, instead choosing to use other apps (that were an absolute waste of money). But finally I decided to try my luck with this, and I can’t stop kicking myself for not choosing this one sooner. It works so well. It’s easy to use, setup. I was up and running in no time. Paired with the iPad magic keyboard, this feels like I’m typing on my old MacBook. Can’t thank the Textastic team enough for developing and maintaining TextasticCodeEditor!

by Worldwidewiz

I'm not going to list out the features, you can see that on TextasticCodeEditor product page. I especially enjoy the UI attention to detail, dark mode, icons and connections.

I got SSH, GitHub repos, local iCloud files, external iCloud files etc. Simple integratation with apps like Working Copy. Powerful iPhone app with RegEx search and web Preview. All good things. If you need anything TextasticCodeEditor doesn't have – just use your laptop.

by Dest9876543

Really great app. I’ve been using it for web development and every time I google something like “how to open the JavaScript dev console on iPad” I find out that it would have been difficult to do, except for the fact that it’s already included in Textastic. Basically a one stop shop for web dev.