CPU8 Pro vs Lichenly
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CPU8 Pro
Explore the inner workings of modern computers with a simulated 8-bit processor. Learn about computer history, use a visual model to execute programs, and assemble your own code.
- Simulated 8-bit computer model (Intel 8085 based)
- History of computing content
- Assembler manual and reference
- Visual execution model of programs
- Integrated assembler for creating programs
- Links to Ben Eater's building instructions
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CPU8 Pro is part of a family of simulated computers that teach about the inner workings of modern computers. From the basic CPU8 App to the enhanced CPU8 Plus App and now the CPU8 Pro, these apps provide a easy to use reference point to the inner-most operations of computers. CPU8 Pro is based on a simplified model of the Intel 8085 (or SAP-3 “Simple As Possible” level 3) that is a subset of the computer that brought computing to the masses. It’s heritage stems from the work of Ben Eater, the creator of the wonderful 8-bit breadboard computer that is popular on YouTube and other sites. CPU8 Pro contains: A history of computing with details about computers through the ages. This material will hopefully form a base from which a more detailed examination of specific topics can be gleaned. Reference material, including links to all of the Ben Eater videos providing step-by-step building instructions. A full Assembler Manual plus a shortened reference summary directly in the assembler module. A visual model of the operation of the computer as it executes programs that you can create or modify. The model supports 256 addressable spaces (words), ALU, Program Counter, Accumulator, Address Register, Instruction Register, Bus Indicator, Stack Pointer, Registers B, D and M, plus displays for Program Status Word, Microcode Phase, Flags and a 7-segment Display. An assembler to take source code and create executable programs that you can “run” on your simulated computer. The assembler is quite sophisticated and supports about 70 instructions and pseudo instructions. Hopefully, this will enhance the learning process for you and provide new information about how computers work! Suitable for classroom study, independent study or just for the sheer enjoyment of playing with a computer that you can watch and learn from. No personal individual information is accessed.
Lichenly
Instantly identify lichen species from a photo using AI. Discover ecological roles, habitats, and build a personal collection of your findings. Ideal for nature enthusiasts and students.
- Instant AI identification from photos
- Covers thousands of lichen species
- Detailed ecological insights
- Personal lichen collection
- Suitable for all skill levels
- Completely private, no data collection
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Ever spotted a strange crust on a rock, a leafy green growth on tree bark, or something fuzzy on the forest floor, and wondered what it actually is? Lichenly uses AI to identify any lichen species in seconds from a single photo. Whether you're on a hike, doing fieldwork, studying ecology, or simply curious about the nature around you, just snap a picture and instantly get the species name, habitat, ecological role, and more. It's the only app built exclusively for lichen, the organisms that plant identifier and mushroom identifier apps almost always miss. KEY FEATURES - INSTANT AI IDENTIFICATION: Point your camera at any lichen, on rock, bark, soil, wall, or leaf, and get the species name in seconds. No botany degree, no field guide, no expert knowledge needed. Just a photo. - THOUSANDS OF SPECIES COVERED: Our database spans the full range of lichen morphology: crustose (crust-forming), foliose (leaf-like), and fruticose (shrub-like) species from ecosystems worldwide. Arctic tundra, alpine cliffs, temperate forests, coastal bluffs, and tropical rainforest floors. - DEEP ECOLOGICAL INSIGHTS: Every identification comes with rich detail: preferred habitat, global distribution, air pollution sensitivity, ecological function, and the partnership between the lichen's fungus and its photosynthetic algae. Learn not just the name, learn the story. - YOUR LICHEN COLLECTION: Save every find to your personal collection. Build a growing record of species name, location, and date, and review it anytime, even offline. - BUILT FOR EVERY SKILL LEVEL: From the weekend hiker who spotted something unusual to the professional lichenologist in the field, Lichenly works for everyone. Clean interface. Fast results. No prior expertise required. - COMPLETELY PRIVATE: The developer collects no data from you. No account. No tracking. No ads. Your identifications are yours alone. WHAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY Lichenly recognizes species across all major groups: - Crustose: flat, crust-like forms embedded in rock or bark - Foliose: leafy, lobed lichens on trees and soil - Fruticose: branching, shrub-like or hair-like forms - Squamulose: small scale-like species on soil and rock - Cyanolichens: species partnered with cyanobacteria Often confused with moss, fungi, or small plants, lichens are their own remarkable kingdom of life, and now you can name them with a single snap. WHY LICHEN? Lichens cover 8% of Earth's land surface. Some Arctic species are over 8,000 years old, among the oldest living organisms on the planet. They are nature's most sensitive air quality monitors: where pollution is heavy, lichens vanish; where air is clean, they flourish. Yet they remain one of the most under-identified organisms in the world. Most plant and mushroom identifier apps pass right over them. Lichenly was built to change that. WHO USES LICHENLY - Hikers and outdoor lovers curious about the natural world - Botany, biology, and ecology students on field assignments - Environmental scientists and air quality researchers - Citizen scientists contributing to biodiversity records - Nature photographers wanting accurate species names - Anyone who ever looked at a rock, tree, or patch of moss and wondered what's growing there Download free and make your first identification today. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/ya1privacypolicy Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/ya-tof
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: CPU8 Pro at 100% against Lichenly's 30%. CPU8 Pro also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Lichenly's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. Lichenly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. CPU8 Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.
CPU8 Pro holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of CPU8 Pro's written reviews are positive against 30% of Lichenly's.
CPU8 Pro ships an update every 3 months, Lichenly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CPU8 Pro | Lichenly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 4.4 (13 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 30.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 13 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 255 MB | 97 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cordova Bay Entertainment Group, Inc | Youssef Agnaou |
Customer experience
CPU8 Pro
Lichenly
In-app purchases
CPU8 Pro
No in-app purchases
Lichenly
- Premium Weekly$5.997 Days
- Premium Monthly$19.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$44.991 Year









