# iAltair vs The Assembler

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Assembler at every 5 months against iAltair's every 11 months. iAltair's advantage is iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for iAltair against 4.8 for The Assembler. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of iAltair's written reviews are positive against 78% of The Assembler's.

iAltair ships an update every 11 months, The Assembler every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iAltair | The Assembler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ialtair/id291182085/reviews) | [4.8 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-assembler/id1631691804/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **22** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 10 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Schorn](https://appshunter.io/developer/291182088) | [Lena Mattea Stoexen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503902552) |

## What reviewers say

### iAltair

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ialtair/id291182085)

Experience vintage computing with a simulation of the MITS Altair 8800. Explore old software like CP/M 2 and run programs such as Eliza using built-in BASIC. This self-contained system offers a unique glimpse into early computing history.

**Highlights:** MITS Altair 8800 simulation, CP/M 2 operating system support, Built-in BASIC interpreter, Run Eliza program, Self-contained system

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Assembler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-assembler/id1631691804)

Learn Assembly programming and binary operations by creating pixel art. Each chapter introduces new operations, using 8-bit registers as your canvas to manipulate values and paint an 8x8 image. This app offers a fun, introductory approach to coding fundamentals.

**Highlights:** Learn Assembly programming, Understand binary operations, Create pixel art on registers, Ten chapters with progressive learning, Interactive 8x8 canvas, Introduction to programming fundamentals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iAltair free?

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

### Is The Assembler free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iAltair or The Assembler?

iAltair and The Assembler are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 22 and 10 ratings respectively.

### Do iAltair or The Assembler have ads?

Neither iAltair nor The Assembler shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iAltair or The Assembler?

iAltair ships an update every 11 months, and The Assembler every 5 months. Most recently, iAltair was updated on October 27, 2026 and The Assembler on October 24, 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.*