HotPaw Basic vs OpoLua
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HotPaw Basic
Experience retro computing by typing and running Basic programs on your iPhone or iPad. This app functions as a programmable calculator and can display simple line graphics, Morse code audio, and perform FFT analysis.
- Retro text-mode Basic interpreter
- Programmable calculator functionality
- Simple line graphics display
- Morse Code audio output
- FFT analysis
- GPS location support
- MQTT and BTLE communications
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Calling all early-personal-computing fans, remember typing Basic programs into your home computer? HotPaw Basic recreates the retro-experience of a text-mode Basic interpreter, and it runs right on your iPhone or iPad. You can also use HotPaw Basic as a programmable calculator, or for displaying simple line graphics. The HotPaw Basic interpreter supports the minimal Basic language, including: Commands: let if then else endif dim data read restore for to step next while wend goto gosub return ? print input open close end stop mat run new list del save load dir cls rem Functions: int() abs() sgn() rnd() sqr() exp() log() log10() sin() cos() tan() atn() len() val() asc() str$() chr$() hex$() mid$() timer() date$ time$ pi Operators: + - * / mod ^ = and or xor not Also includes new command and functions to support line graphics, Morse Code audio, FFT analysis, GPS location, MQTT and BTLE communications. Line numbers are required. Type in the text of your program and type "run" to run them. See: http://www.hotpaw.com/rhn/basic/iphone/ for a more complete description of the Basic language syntax, commands and functions which this Basic interpreter supports.
OpoLua
This utility allows users to view and interact with files from Psion computers, including image files, scripts, and resources. It also supports listening to sound files and running OPL scripts and programs directly on compatible devices.
- View MBM image files
- View OPL scripts
- View AIF resources
- Listen to sound files
- Run OPL scripts and programs
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View MBM image files, OPL scripts, and AIF resources, listen to sound files, and run OPL scripts and programs from Psion and Psion-compatible computers.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: HotPaw Basic at 52% against OpoLua's 0%. HotPaw Basic also leads on iOS requirement (12.3 vs 15.0). OpoLua's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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
OpoLua is free to download; HotPaw Basic costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, OpoLua every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and August 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HotPaw Basic | OpoLua |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | Jason Morley |
Customer experience
HotPaw Basic
OpoLua
In-app purchases
HotPaw Basic
No in-app purchases
OpoLua
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is HotPaw Basic free?
Is OpoLua free?
Do HotPaw Basic or OpoLua have ads?
Which is updated more often, HotPaw Basic or OpoLua?
Other comparisons
