HotPaw Basic vs Eron
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.
Eron
Connect to your personal AI models with a fast, minimal client. Stream messages instantly, add images and documents, and organize chats with projects. Integrates with your calendar, reminders, and smart home devices.
- Connect to local/hosted AI models
- Instant message streaming
- Image and document uploads
- Project organization
- System integrations (calendar, reminders, smart home)
- Personalizable chat backgrounds
- Prompt templates
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Eron is a fast, minimal client for working with your own AI. Connect your local or hosted instance using your URL and API key. Once connected, all available models are loaded automatically. You can switch between them at any time, start new chats, or continue existing ones in a clean and focused interface. The chat is designed to stay out of the way. Messages stream instantly as they arrive from your endpoint, with no delay. Images and documents can be added directly to a conversation, making it simple to analyze content or continue work from your phone. Web search is available when needed. Eron also supports Projects. Create a project, assign a system prompt, and keep related chats organized in one place. Eron also supports system integrations. You can create calendar events, add reminders, control Home devices, and draft emails, all within the same chat. Chat backgrounds let you personalize the conversation view. Choose from three styles or turn them off entirely. Background settings are available under Personalization. Prompt templates help structure outputs when required, without interrupting the flow. There are no accounts and no tracking. All data is sent only to the server you configure. Eron does not use external services. Setup takes only a moment. Enter your endpoint and API key and start using your models.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Eron at 5.0 against HotPaw Basic's 3.9. Eron also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and chart position (#179 vs unranked). HotPaw Basic's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.3 vs 26.2). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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
HotPaw Basic costs $4.99 and Eron $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Eron holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HotPaw Basic has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
HotPaw Basic ships an update every 5 months, Eron fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HotPaw Basic | Eron |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $2.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #179 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.3 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | HotPaw Productions | Henning Winter |
Customer experience
HotPaw Basic
Eron
In-app purchases
HotPaw Basic
No in-app purchases
Eron
No in-app purchases









