iAltair vs Hand BASIC
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iAltair
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.
- MITS Altair 8800 simulation
- CP/M 2 operating system support
- Built-in BASIC interpreter
- Run Eliza program
- Self-contained system
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iAltair pretends to be a MITS Altair 8800 computer. It allows you to get the feeling of really old software such as the CP/M 2 operating system. The system is fully self contained and does not allow you to remotely add any code but you can try out Basic to run Eliza.
Hand BASIC
Learn and program in BASIC language on your mobile device. This app offers a compatible version of Commodore's BASIC, ideal for students, scientists, and productivity workers. It includes a text editor, file management, and optional graphics extensions.
- Commodore 64 BASIC V2 compatible
- Full-speed execution on device
- Load/save files with directory creation
- Full-featured iPhone text editor
- Optional graphics extension with GML
- In-app help and sample code
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Learn and Program BASIC Language on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad! Hand BASIC - CBM Flavor is a compatible version of Commodore's version of Microsoft BASIC 6502 as found on the Commodore 64. Released for Educational purposes. BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a computer language designed so that it can be learned very easily. Hand BASIC users could be students, scientists, or any productivity workers. Type HELP to get started! *** Credits for CBMBASIC go to Michael Steil and James Abbatiello *** Features + Compatible with Commodore 64 BASIC V2 + It is not emulated, it runs with your device full speed + The ability to LOAD/SAVE files (case sensitive file names) + File I/O Support (Read/Write data files) + Full featured iPhone Text Editor to build your programs + The ability to make directories ** NEW ** + Provided with helpful Direct Mode Commands (nonstandard, see support webpage) + Renumber your program, plus other helpful file keeping functionality + Alert Sounds + In App Help (type HELP) + Portrait/Landscape Views + Supplied with Sample code (type FILES to see list). Now available through In-App Purchase: Graphics Extension: Empowers you to create complex graphics from simple graphic objects Features + Draw simple graphic objects: lines, rectangles, circles, text, ... + Draw at the super speed of your device + Make animations + Use Graphics Macro Language (GML) to draw objects + Define your colors with alpha channel (32bit color with transparency) + Select your drawn text font face and size + Interact with user taps + Assistant for typing Graphic Commands + Enables you to run included Graphic Sample Programs(10 samples) To find more details type HELP then select Graphics Extension Reference To open Graphics Extension Purchase Screen: - Type: PURCHASE - Type: ACTION then select Purchase - Or, run a program that uses Graphics Make sure to check out App Blog Page: cbmhandbasic.blogspot.com Please Note: - This is not Commodore 64 emulator. It is “Standalone” BASIC of Commodore 64. - Basic knowledge of Commodore 64 BASIC V2 is needed to use this App or just Read FAQ's. - While BASIC requires all commands to be capitalized (Lock Caps by double taping), commands will be automatically capitalized - Since this is not Commodore emulator, PEEK/POKE does not work. See New Commands for alternatives - Only ASCII characters are supported - iPad has different Graphics Extension than ordinary one (sold separately) Visit "Hawwash-Soft" page on iTunes for more Free App's Have Fun!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iAltair at none against Hand BASIC's 2. iAltair also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Hand BASIC's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 11 months) and review sentiment (83% vs 75%). On price, ratings volume, 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. Hand BASIC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. iAltair asks for nothing beyond the download.
iAltair holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 45 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of iAltair's written reviews are positive against 83% of Hand BASIC's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
iAltair ships an update every 11 months, Hand BASIC every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 27, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iAltair | Hand BASIC |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (21 ratings) — better | 4.4 (45 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 83.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 21 | 45 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Schorn | Ahmad Hawwash |
Customer experience
iAltair
Hand BASIC
Bugs and requests
iAltair
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Hand BASIC
Reported bugs
11 issues- Infinite loops freeze the app with no way to stop execution
- Graphics mode (SCREEN 1) pops up briefly then disappears
- On-screen keyboard functions dance around screen on iPad with external keyboard
- Low Power Mode cuts program speed in half on iPhone
- Program runs original version instead of edited version
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- Syntax errors on valid BASIC commands
- Copy/paste of programs doesn't work properly
- Line editing requires retyping entire lines for corrections
- Help and FAQ pages no longer accessible
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- Graphics extension removed in updates, requiring repurchase
Requested features
16 requests- Run/Stop button to break out of infinite loops
- Bluetooth keyboard support
- Changeable font options
- Copy/paste functionality
- PEEK and POKE command support
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- Ability to delete programs
- Print AT function for neater output
- INPUT command support
- Web service integration
- Files app integration
- PC version of the app
- Compiler for standalone app creation
- Import/export .BAS files
- Full C64 character set support
- Cursor color customization
- Function keys and CTRL support
In-app purchases
iAltair
No in-app purchases
Hand BASIC
- Graphics Extension$9.99
- Graphics Extension for iPad$9.99






