# iAltair vs H.C.I.S

The clearest difference is update cadence: H.C.I.S at every 3 weeks against iAltair's every 11 months. H.C.I.S also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.4). iAltair's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

H.C.I.S holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iAltair has 22 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

iAltair ships an update every 11 months, H.C.I.S every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iAltair | H.C.I.S |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ialtair/id291182085/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcis/id6605932643/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 10 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Peter Schorn](https://appshunter.io/developer/291182088) | [Zaw Win Htun](https://appshunter.io/developer/1723481583) |

## 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


### H.C.I.S

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hcis/id6605932643)

This platform facilitates secure communication between schools and homes. It offers group messaging, private conversations, and district-wide alerts to foster a connected school community through a simple interface.

**Highlights:** Group messaging, Private conversations, District-wide alerts, School-to-home communication, Simple user interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iAltair free?

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

### Is H.C.I.S free?

H.C.I.S is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iAltair or H.C.I.S?

H.C.I.S is rated higher. iAltair averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while H.C.I.S averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do iAltair or H.C.I.S have ads?

Neither iAltair nor H.C.I.S shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iAltair or H.C.I.S?

iAltair ships an update every 11 months, and H.C.I.S every 3 weeks. Most recently, iAltair was updated on October 31, 2026 and H.C.I.S on October 30, 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.*