# ZX81 vs BigPEmu

The clearest difference is price: ZX81 at Free against BigPEmu's $9.99. ZX81 also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (92 vs 27). On rating, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

ZX81 is free to download; BigPEmu costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ZX81 against 5.0 for BigPEmu. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 92 and 27 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of ZX81's written reviews are positive against 94% of BigPEmu's.

ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, BigPEmu every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZX81 | BigPEmu |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.9 (92 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zx81/id1180117434/reviews) | **[5.0 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpemu/id6737359949/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **92** | 27 |
| Positive reviews | **98.4% of reviews** | 94.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 86 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | +9 |
| Developer | [Kevin Palser](https://appshunter.io/developer/1180117433) | [Swinecrafters LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/387779001) |

## What reviewers say

### ZX81

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zx81/id1180117434)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### BigPEmu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigpemu/id6737359949)

This application emulates the Atari Jaguar console, offering high accuracy and performance for its entire retail game library. It provides advanced features like saved states, movie recording, and customizable controller support, enhancing the classic gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Full retail library compatibility, High performance emulation, Accurate emulation, Saved states and movie recording, Jaguar CD support, Customizable controller overlays, Fast forward and rewind

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZX81 free?

ZX81 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is BigPEmu free?

BigPEmu costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ZX81 or BigPEmu?

BigPEmu is rated higher. ZX81 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 92 ratings, while BigPEmu averages 5.0 from 27 ratings.

### Do ZX81 or BigPEmu have ads?

Neither ZX81 nor BigPEmu shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ZX81 or BigPEmu?

ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, and BigPEmu every 4 months. Most recently, ZX81 was updated on November 2, 2026 and BigPEmu on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*