Comparison

ZX81 vs Progressbar Popup Fighter

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

Head to head
About

ZX81

Experience early 1980s home computing with this app dedicated to the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81. It includes a wealth of example software, offering a nostalgic journey into the origins of personal computing.

Highlights
  • Sinclair ZX80/ZX81 emulation
  • Timex Sinclair 1000 support
  • Includes example software
  • Focuses on early 1980s computing
  • ROM code included with permission
Features
Read full description

Welcome to a taste of early 1980s home computing. This app focuses on the Sinclair ZX81 experience and is loaded with example software. A streamlined watchOS app is included, offering saved session syncing with the iOS app on the paired iPhone. Background: In 1980 the British company Science of Cambridge (later renamed Sinclair Research) released the Sinclair ZX80 home computer. The computer was developed with another technology company, Nine Tiles, and manufactured in a Timex Corporation factory in Dundee, Scotland. Followed in March 1981 by the even more popular successor, the Sinclair ZX81, both models had a profound impact on home and hobbyist computing in the UK and many other countries. Timex Corporation and Sinclair Research continued their joint venture and released the Timex Sinclair 1000 (TS1000) and 1500 (TS1500) variants of the ZX81 for the US market in July 1982 and July 1983 respectively. Meanwhile, another iconic British home computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, was under development and hit the market in April 1982... but that's another story. Special thanks to Nine Tiles for granting permission to include the ROM code, to which they retain the intellectual property rights after all these years. Additionally, many thanks to all the developers of the loaded ZX81 software who have all granted permission to include their titles in the app. We hope this list of software will continue to grow in future updates.

About

Progressbar Popup Fighter

A retro-themed game where players must quickly close pop-up windows to prevent a system crash. Test your reaction time and attention as you battle tricky notifications designed to overwhelm your virtual computer.

Highlights
  • Retro interface and sounds
  • Tricky pop-up challenges
  • Test reaction and attention
  • Endless gameplay potential
  • Prevent system crashes
Features
Read full description

Progressbar Popup Fighter - is a new game in the Progressbar family. It was born to fill your hearts with joy just in time fo this Christmas and New Year. Your favorite classic interface on the device: cute retro wallpapers, nostalgic sounds. Everything seems perfect. Something however seems off … The pop-ups went crazy and it feels like they are determined to test your skill and patience. How fast are you? Can you close everything that pops up and keep your beloved system from showing the infamous blue screen of death ? You need to hold out as long as possible and not let the hostile pop-ups overheat your device. These blue screen lovers strive to flood you with notifications and blow your virtual computer’s mind. The goal of the game is to close as many windows as possible to keep system from crashing and overheating your system. How many can you close in a seating? Psssst… secretly - Progressbar Popup Fighter can be an endless game! Everything depends on you. Pop-ups are tricky, they mask and change. To properly handle them be careful when choose the button to push. Do not agree to all offers - some of them are tricking you and might lead to the blue screen of death. They may offer you to create a bug report, for instance which in turn will overwhelm the screen with new popups. Sometimes they suggest you to format something that does not need to be formatted, or even delete the game! They are insidious for sure. Who is faster and smarter? Are you or are the crazy popups? Features: - Old familiar interface - Cute & tricky pop-ups - The game on the reaction and attention / this game is all about focus - Your goal is to hold out as long as possible Play Progressbar Popup Fighter! This cute retro game will add fun and won’t let you get bored. Boredom doesn’t stand a chance when there are so many cute annoying little pop-ups! Hurry up! Close them all! Note: The Free version may be subject to limitations and the limitations are subject to change. Our standard subscription options are: 1-month Subscription 3-months Subscription 1 Year Subscription * Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of your purchase and upon commencement of each renewal term. Subscription with a free trial period will automatically renew to a paid subscription. You can cancel your subscription or free trial in the iTunes settings at least 24-hours before the end of the free trial period. The cancellation will take effect the day after the last day of the current subscription period and you will be downgraded to the free service. * Please note: any unused portion of a free trial period (if offered) will be forfeited when you purchase a premium subscription during the free trial period. Privacy Policy: http://www.spookyhousestudios.com/privacy_policy/sh_limited.html Terms of use: http://www.spookyhousestudios.com/legal/sh_limited_subscriptions_terms_of_use.html

Screenshots

ZX814 screens
Progressbar Popup Fighter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZX81 at none against Progressbar Popup Fighter's 10. ZX81 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). Progressbar Popup Fighter's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Progressbar Popup Fighter sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. ZX81 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ZX81 against 4.8 for Progressbar Popup Fighter. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 92 and 98 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of ZX81's written reviews are positive against 90% of Progressbar Popup Fighter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, Progressbar Popup Fighter every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ZX81 versus Progressbar Popup Fighter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZX81Progressbar Popup Fighter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (92 ratings) — better4.8 (98 ratings)
Positive reviews98.4% of reviews — better89.7% of reviews
Number of ratings9298 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB265 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperKevin PalserSH Limited

Customer experience

ZX81

All ratings92 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive98.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative0.0%

Progressbar Popup Fighter

All ratings96 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive89.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative7.7%

In-app purchases

None

ZX81

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Progressbar Popup Fighter

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Month Premium user 50% OFF$1.991 Month
  • 3 Months Premium user 50% OFF$5.993 Months
  • 1 Year Premium user 50% OFF$17.491 Year
One-time7
  • 80 Gems 50% OFF$1.99
  • Remove ads 50% OFF$2.49
  • 5 000 Coins 50% OFF$2.99
Show 4 more
  • Remove Ads$4.99
  • 25 000 Coins 50% OFF$9.99
  • Unlock All 50% OFF$11.99
  • Unlock ALL$23.99

Questions

Is ZX81 free?
ZX81 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Progressbar Popup Fighter free?
Progressbar Popup Fighter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ZX81 or Progressbar Popup Fighter?
ZX81 is rated higher. ZX81 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 92 ratings, while Progressbar Popup Fighter averages 4.8 from 98 ratings.
Do ZX81 or Progressbar Popup Fighter have ads?
Progressbar Popup Fighter shows ads; ZX81 does not.
Which is updated more often, ZX81 or Progressbar Popup Fighter?
ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, and Progressbar Popup Fighter every 2 months. Most recently, ZX81 was updated on November 2, 2026 and Progressbar Popup Fighter on November 3, 2026.

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