Lua AlternativesProgramming Languages and other similar apps like Lua

Lua is described as 'Powerful, fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language' and is a very popular programming language in the development category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Lua for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, BSD and Web-based apps. The best Lua alternative is Python, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Lua are JavaScript, PHP, C (programming language) and C#.

Lua iconLua
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Lua is a powerful, fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language.

Lua combines simple procedural syntax with powerful...

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Lua alternatives page was last updated Apr 19, 2025
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  1. Python icon

    Python

     1376 likes
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    Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented, extensible programming language. It provides an extraordinary combination of clarity and versatility, and is free and comprehensively ported.

    92 Python alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Symbian S60
    • BSD
    • AROS
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • OpenSolaris
    • MorphOS
    Python screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  High Level
    2.  Object-oriented Language
    3.  Dynamic typing
    4.  Modular System
    5.  Garbage Collection
    6.  Support for scripting
    7.  Interpreted language
    8.  Portable
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Rad

    Python VS Lua

     

    • Almost everyone thinks Python is a great Lua alternative.

    • Python is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Lua.

    • Python is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Lua.

    • Python is Free and Open SourceLua is also Free and Open Source
    • Python is LightweightLua is not according to our users
  2. JavaScript icon

    JavaScript

     623 likes
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    JavaScript (sometimes shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first-class functions, most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but also used in many non-browser environments.

    60 JavaScript alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • AROS
    • Haiku
    JavaScript screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Asynchronous
    2.  Multiplatform
    3.  Interpreted language
    4.  Dynamic typing
    5.  Programmers Documentation
    6.  Extensibility
    7.  Portable
    8.  Support for scripting
    9.  Prototype-based inheritance

    JavaScript VS Lua

     

    • JavaScript is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Lua.

    • JavaScript is Free and Open SourceLua is also Free and Open Source
    • JavaScript is LightweightLua is not according to our users
  4. PHP icon

    PHP

     469 likes
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    Open-source scripting language executed on the server, PHP embeds into HTML, fostering dynamic web development. Influenced by C, Java, and Perl, it supports database integration, offers extensive libraries, and remains easy for beginners while robust for seasoned developers.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PHP
    PHP screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Object-oriented Language

    PHP VS Lua

     
    Comments about PHP as an Alternative to Lua
    superluminar
    Negative Dec 4, 2017
    6

    PHP is mainly used for web applications, which is not the area where Lua shines.

    Lua Icon
    PHP icon
    • PHP is Free and Open SourceLua is also Free and Open Source
    • PHP is LightweightLua is not according to our users
  5. C (programming language) icon

    C (programming language)

     322 likes
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    C is a general-purpose programming language. It was created in the 1970s by Dennis Ritchie and remains very widely used and influential. By design, C's features cleanly reflect the capabilities of the targeted CPUs.

    62 C (programming language) alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    C (programming language) screenshot 1

    C (programming language) Features

    1.  Systems programming
    2.  Works at kernel level
    3.  Manual memory management
    4.  Compiled Language
    5.  Inline assembly
    6.  Portable

    C (programming language) VS Lua

     
    Comments about C (programming language) as an Alternative to Lua
    Most Recent Comment
    IamPyu
    Negative Jul 20, 2024
    1

    Lua's purpose as an extension language is to be embedded into C therefore not being an alternative to C.

    superluminar
    Negative Dec 4, 2017
    4

    C works well for entirely different use cases than Lua.

    RemovedUser
    Positive Jan 7, 2023
    0

    Lua can be embedded in C and Lua is as fast as C

    Lua Icon
    C (programming language) icon

    • Some users think C (programming language) is a great Lua alternative, some don't.

    • C (programming language) is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Lua.

    • C (programming language) is Free and Open SourceLua is also Free and Open Source
  6. C# icon

    C#

     229 likes
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    C# is a multi-paradigm programming language encompassing strong typing, imperative, declarative, functional, generic, object-oriented (class-based), and component-oriented programming disciplines.

    79 C# alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    C# screenshot 1

    C# Features

    1.  Compiled Language
    2.  Object-oriented Language

    C# VS Lua

     
  7. Go (Programming Language) icon

    Go (Programming Language)

     149 likes
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    Open-source programming language by Google, offering C-style syntax and automatic memory management. Features built-in concurrency and vast libraries, ideal for cloud services, web, and CLI development, supporting DevOps with fast builds and an expansive ecosystem.

    68 Go (Programming Language) alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Go (Programming Language)
    Go (Programming Language) screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Compiled Language
    2.  Object-oriented Language
    3.  Test case management
    4.  Readability
    5.  Performance Monitoring
    6.  Static typing
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Command line interface
    9.  Class inheritance
    10.  Typesafe
    11.  Garbage Collection
    12.  Statically Typed Language

    Go (Programming Language) VS Lua

     
  9. Ruby icon

    Ruby

     267 likes
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    Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was initially developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • JP flagJapan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku
    Ruby screenshot 1

    Ruby Features

    1.  Dynamic typing
    2.  Blocks
    3.  Object-oriented Language
    4.  Text processing
    5.  Interpreter
    6.  Native extension libraries

    Ruby VS Lua

     
  10. Perl icon

    Perl

     140 likes
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    Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language with over 22 years of development.

    76 Perl alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Haiku

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for scripting
    2.  Portable
    3.  Shell integration
    4.  Text processing

    Perl VS Lua

     
  11. Dart icon

    Dart

     80 likes
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    Dart (originally called Dash) is a Web programming language developed by Google. It was unveiled at the GOTO conference in Aarhus, 2011 October 10-12. The goal of Dart is "ultimately to replace JavaScript as the lingua franca of web development on the open web platform.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Dart screenshot 1

    Dart Features

    1.  Ad-free

    Dart VS Lua

     
  12. Nim (programming language) icon

    Nim (programming language)

     39 likes
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    Nim is a statically typed, imperative programming language with a powerful macro system that tries to give the programmer ultimate power without compromises on runtime efficiency.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Nim (programming language) screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Compiled Language
    2.  Imperative Language
    3.  Systems programming
    4.  Static typing
    5.  Portable
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Object-oriented Language
    9.  Lisp-like

    Nim (programming language) VS Lua

     
  13. Kotlin icon

    Kotlin

     37 likes
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    Kotlin is a cross-platform, statically typed, general-purpose programming language with type inference. Kotlin is designed to interoperate fully with Java, and the JVM version of its standard library depends on the Java Class Library, but type inference allows its syntax to be...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CZ flagCzechia
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    Kotlin screenshot 1

    Kotlin Features

    1.  Object-oriented Language
    2.  Cross-Platform
    3.  Static typing
    4.  Type inference
    5.  Support for scripting
    6.  Portable
    7.  Java Support
    8.  Multiplatform
    9.  Interpreter
    10.  Rad

    Kotlin VS Lua

     
  14. D (Programming Language) icon

    D (Programming Language)

     59 likes
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    D is a language with C-like syntax and static typing. It pragmatically combines efficiency, control, and modeling power, with safety and programmer productivity.

    67 D (Programming Language) alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    D (Programming Language) screenshot 1

    D (Programming Language) Features

    1.  Multiparadigm
    2.  Compiled Language
    3.  Object-oriented Language
    4.  High Level
    5.  Contract programming
    6.  Functional Language

    D (Programming Language) VS Lua

     
12 of 82 Lua alternatives