iAltair vs Opcodes
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.
Opcodes
This app provides a comprehensive reference for retro CPU opcodes, including detailed descriptions, assembly examples, and historical context. It covers eighteen iconic processors and offers features like search, sorting, and filtering for easy exploration of historical computing information.
- Opcode reference for 18 iconic processors
- Detailed instruction descriptions
- Hex, octal, decimal values
- Flags affected, addressing modes, cycle counts
- Assembly code examples
- CPU history and pinout diagrams
- Simple assembler/disassembler
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Opcodes – The Retro CPU Reference The definitive opcode reference for the legendary processors that launched the personal computer revolution. Whether you're a retrocomputing enthusiast, a student of computer history, writing code for classic hardware, or just a big old nerd - the Opcodes app gives you everything you need. Eighteen iconic processors covered: Intel 4004 · Intel 8008 · Intel 8080 · Intel 8085 · Intel 8088 · Zilog Z80 · Motorola 6800 · Intel 8085 · Motorola 6809 · MOS 6502 · Signetics 2650 · RCA 1802 - SC/MP · Motorola 68000 · Intel 8086 · WDC 65816 · Texas Instruments TMS9900 · INMOS Transputer · ARM2 For every opcode: • Full description of what the instruction does. • Hex, octal, and decimal values. • Flags affected. • Addressing modes and cycle counts. • Assembly code examples - including loops, conditionals, and common patterns. More than just opcodes: • CPU history and historical context. • IC pinout diagrams. • Notable systems that used each CPU, with memory maps and other background information. • Chip variants and successors. • A silly card game(!) • Simple assembler / disassembler for many CPUs. Built for exploration: • Search for opcodes by name or category. • Sort by mnemonic, opcode byte, or category. • Filter by category, Quick Find with a colorful map. • Undocumented instructions clearly marked and optionally displayed. More than microprocessors: • Information on key support chips: video, sound, memory and more. Cool design: • Clean, readable layout optimised for quick reference. • Multiple colour themes. • Full "dark mode" support. Everything is included with absolutely no in-app purchase required. Recent additions: • Quiz game - test your CPU knowledge! • Share CPU cards - beautiful shareable images showing specs and history for any processor • External references - curated links to community resources for all 18 CPUs • "Opcodes display first" setting - choose whether selecting a CPU shows opcodes or info first • Chip-maker colour themes - Zilog, MOS Tech, and Motorola replace the old themes • Enhanced 6502 docs - JMP page boundary bug, BRK behaviour, and Read-Modify-Write quirks • Fixed Scratchpad hang when switching tabs
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iAltair at none against Opcodes's 1. iAltair also leads on ratings volume (21 vs 6) and iOS requirement (15.4 vs 18.0). Opcodes's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 11 months). On price, rating, ads and monetization model 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. Opcodes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. iAltair asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for iAltair against 4.8 for Opcodes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 6 respectively.
iAltair ships an update every 11 months, Opcodes every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on August 27, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iAltair | Opcodes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (21 ratings) | 4.8 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 21 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Schorn | John Kennedy |
Customer experience
iAltair
Opcodes
In-app purchases
iAltair
No in-app purchases
Opcodes
- Buy Me a Coffee$0.99








