Comparison

iAltair vs Kenbak

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • MITS Altair 8800 simulation
  • CP/M 2 operating system support
  • Built-in BASIC interpreter
  • Run Eliza program
  • Self-contained system
Read full description

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.

About

Kenbak

Features
Read full description

Discover the history of computing with the Kenbak-1 Emulator! This emulator is not just a copy, but a carefully recreated digital version of the Kenbak-1, one of the first personal computers, released in 1971. Key Features: • Full Processor Emulation: Authentic emulation of all original Kenbak-1 instructions. • Interactive Front Panel: Replica of the control panel with working switches and LEDs. • Easy-to-use command input panel: Allows you to choose the specific processor instruction from the command panel and immediately store it in memory. • Memory Dump: Visual display of the contents of each memory location for debugging and analysis. • Save and Load Programs: Create, save, and load your own programs written for the Kenbak-1. • Documentation: Complete set of original Kenbak-1 documentation. • Settings: Option to adjust emulation speed and other parameters. The Kenbak-1 Emulator is the perfect tool for learning the fundamentals of computing, experimenting with machine code, and delving into computer history. It's a great way to understand how the first computers worked and how the foundations of the modern digital revolution were laid.

Screenshots

iAltair4 screens
Kenbak3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Kenbak at monthly against iAltair's every 11 months. iAltair's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 17.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iAltair ships an update every 11 months, Kenbak monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
iAltair versus Kenbak: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriAltairKenbak
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (22 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeter SchornTakhir Zakirov

In-app purchases

None

iAltair

No in-app purchases

None

Kenbak

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iAltair free?
iAltair is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kenbak free?
Kenbak is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do iAltair or Kenbak have ads?
Neither iAltair nor Kenbak shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iAltair or Kenbak?
iAltair ships an update every 11 months, and Kenbak monthly. Most recently, iAltair was updated on October 31, 2026 and Kenbak on November 5, 2026.

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