Runestone Text Editor icon
Runestone Text Editor: Professional Code Editing Optimized for iOS

by Simon B. Støvring

Runestone is a lightweight plain text editor for iOS featuring syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages, search and replace functionality, and extensive customization options. Designed for developers and writers needing mobile coding capabilities.

Detailed Review

Runestone Text Editor emerges as a specialized plain text editing solution for iOS devices, developed by independent developer Simon B. Støvring. Positioned as a more powerful alternative to TextEdit, the application targets users requiring robust text editing capabilities on mobile devices without unnecessary bloat. The editor distinguishes itself through its focus on core functionality while maintaining a lightweight footprint. The application's core functionality centers around comprehensive syntax highlighting support for numerous programming languages including HTML, JavaScript, JSON, Markdown, Swift, Python, PHP, and YAML. Additional professional features include line numbering, search and replace functionality with keyboard shortcut support (Ctrl+F), configurable page guides, and text wrapping column width customization. The editor handles basic text file creation and management without requiring premium upgrades for essential functionality. User experience reflects careful attention to mobile optimization with a clean, distraction-free interface adapted for both iPhone and iPad form factors. The interface provides immediate access to editing tools while maintaining readability on smaller screens. Real-world usage patterns show the application serving both quick note-taking scenarios and extended coding sessions, with particular strength in on-the-go code snippet editing and markup document creation. User feedback consistently praises the application's power-to-weight ratio, with multiple reviews highlighting specific appreciated features. User 'Potatomanman' (July 28, 2025) specifically noted the YAML support and search/replace functionality as standout features, while 'Dr-Greg' (August 2, 2025) emphasized the customization options for overscroll and text wrapping. The absence of mandatory premium features receives repeated mention across reviews, with 'brittnayrobertson' (August 3, 2025) describing the customization level as 'insane' without upgrade requirements. The application demonstrates notable strengths in its focused feature set, performance optimization, and thoughtful mobile interface design. Limitations include the iOS-exclusive availability noted by several users requesting macOS compatibility, and the absence of advanced IDE features like code execution or version control integration. Ideal use cases include mobile code editing, quick documentation work, and as a complementary tool for developers already using full-featured desktop environments.

Key Features

  • Syntax highlighting for multiple languages including HTML, JavaScript, Swift and YAML provides visual code structure recognition during editing sessions
  • Search and replace functionality with keyboard shortcut support enables efficient text manipulation and code refactoring on mobile devices
  • Customizable text wrapping column width and page guide allows developers to maintain consistent code formatting standards
  • Configurable overscroll amount and interface customization provides personalized editing experience without premium requirements
  • Lightweight performance optimization ensures responsive editing even on older iOS devices with limited resources

Why Users Love It

Extensive customization without premium
Optimized mobile coding experience

Perfect for: Developers and technical writers needing mobile code editing capabilities

Ranking History

Track Runestone Text Editor's performance in Developer Tools over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#26

+4 from last week

Best Rank

#26

All-time high

Average Rank

#29

30-day average

User Reviews

PaintyPirate
Apr 29, 2025

$10 for a crystal on my screen? Shut up and take my money. Have a pizza $10 for a crystal on my screen? Shut up and take my money.

popa_smurf
Oct 20, 2024

A very neat lightweight minimalistic text / code editor with a user friendly interface and an intuitive settings menu. It even has syntax highlighting in some of my all time favorite themes (such as Dracula & Solarized Dark). Thank you dev! PS. I’m contemplating an upgrade to the Premium version, but it’s a bit pricey for me at this time. Just what I needed! A very neat lightweight minimalistic text / code editor with a user friendly interface and an intuitive settings menu. It even has syntax highlighting in some of my all time favorite themes (such as Dracula & Solarized Dark).Thank you dev!PS. I’m contemplating an upgrade to the Premium version, but it’s a bit pricey for me at this time.

WaywardHiker
Nov 22, 2024

I originally installed Runestone some time ago in my quest to find an editor to use on my iPad. The editor works well overall. The only thing I wish it provided was an explicit save option for files. Many times I open a file, code or other, just to review something, and perhaps noodle around an idea. Without an explicit save action, I just need to remember to undo changes. Despite this need, there are many times when I want to take content stored in the default Notes app, and bring it to another system. Runestone does this for me well. Ultimately Useful for My Needs I originally installed Runestone some time ago in my quest to find an editor to use on my iPad. The editor works well overall. The only thing I wish it provided was an explicit save option for files. Many times I open a file, code or other, just to review something, and perhaps noodle around an idea. Without an explicit save action, I just need to remember to undo changes. Despite this need, there are many times when I want to take content stored in the default Notes app, and bring it to another system. Runestone does this for me well.

GDU3man
Dec 14, 2024

I am a long time coder. I have been coding since the late 1980s. A large part of my programming has been done using text editors. With the advent of and convenience of the iPad and the iPadOS I have been looking for a useable text editor. Notepad is good, but it is not really for plain text. None of the others I have tried have come close to my go to Mac text editor of Bare Bones. But Runestone is about as close as I am going to get on the iPad. So it was and is worth the premium. An excellent job done on a solid app. Best I have found for iPadOS so far I am a long time coder. I have been coding since the late 1980s. A large part of my programming has been done using text editors. With the advent of and convenience of the iPad and the iPadOS I have been looking for a useable text editor. Notepad is good, but it is not really for plain text. None of the others I have tried have come close to my go to Mac text editor of Bare Bones. But Runestone is about as close as I am going to get on the iPad. So it was and is worth the premium. An excellent job done on a solid app.

NCPSNetworks
Oct 16, 2024

I really like Runstone, but I noticed that there is no support for macOS in the compatibility section. Currently, I haven't found a suitable and visually appealing code editor for macOS. Are there plans to support macOS? Add support for macOS? I really like Runstone, but I noticed that there is no support for macOS in the compatibility section. Currently, I haven't found a suitable and visually appealing code editor for macOS. Are there plans to support macOS?

App Details

Developer

Simon B. Støvring

Platform

ios

Rating

4.8

Last Updated

10/7/2025