Comparison

HotPaw Basic vs u64

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

u64

Remotely manage your Ultimate64, Ultimate II+, or Commodore 64 Ultimate hardware from your iPhone. Control device functions, mount disk images, play music, and edit memory wirelessly.

Highlights
  • Remote device control (reset, reboot, pause)
  • Load PRG, cartridge, SID, and MOD files
  • Mount/unmount D64, G64, D71, G71, D81 disk images
  • Memory editor with peek/poke
  • Send text commands via keyboard buffer
  • Access and modify device settings
  • Real-time drive state monitoring
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Control your Ultimate64, Ultimate II+, or the new Commodore 64 Ultimate directly from your iPhone. Mount disks, play SID music, manage files, and configure your device — all wirelessly over your local network. DEVICE CONTROL Reset, reboot, pause, resume, and power your machine remotely. Load PRG programs, cartridge files, SID tunes, and MOD audio instantly. DISK MANAGEMENT Mount and unmount D64, G64, D71, G71, and D81 disk images without leaving your chair. DEVELOPMENT TOOLS Peek and poke memory addresses with the built-in memory editor. Send text commands through the keyboard buffer for automation and testing. CONFIGURATION Access and modify device settings. Save configurations to flash memory for permanent storage. STATUS MONITORING View real-time drive states, mounted images, and device information with instant feedback. Connects via Ethernet or Wi-Fi on your local network. Auto-discovers compatible devices. Perfect for retro gaming, C64 development, digital preservation, and educational use. Requires Ultimate64, Ultimate II+, Ultimate II, or Commodore 64 Ultimate hardware with network connectivity and REST API support.

Screenshots

HotPaw Basic1 screens
u644 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: u64 at 5.0 against HotPaw Basic's 3.9. u64 also leads on price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and chart position (#193 vs unranked). HotPaw Basic's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 2). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

HotPaw Basic costs $4.99 and u64 $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

u64 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, u64 every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
HotPaw Basic versus u64: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotPaw Basicu64
Price$4.99$0.99 — better
Rating3.9 (7 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings7 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#193 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.3 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHotPaw ProductionsMarcin Spoczynski

Customer experience

HotPaw Basic

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive52.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative33.3%

u64

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

HotPaw Basic

No in-app purchases

None

u64

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is HotPaw Basic free?
HotPaw Basic costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is u64 free?
u64 costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HotPaw Basic or u64?
u64 is rated higher. HotPaw Basic averages 3.9 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while u64 averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do HotPaw Basic or u64 have ads?
Neither HotPaw Basic nor u64 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HotPaw Basic or u64?
HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, and u64 every 3 months. Most recently, HotPaw Basic was updated on September 21, 2026 and u64 on September 15, 2026.

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