Comparison

Hand BASIC vs The Assembler

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

Head to head
About

Hand BASIC

Learn and program in BASIC language on your mobile device. This app offers a compatible version of Commodore's BASIC, ideal for students, scientists, and productivity workers. It includes a text editor, file management, and optional graphics extensions.

Highlights
  • Commodore 64 BASIC V2 compatible
  • Full-speed execution on device
  • Load/save files with directory creation
  • Full-featured iPhone text editor
  • Optional graphics extension with GML
  • In-app help and sample code
Features
Read full description

Learn and Program BASIC Language on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad! Hand BASIC - CBM Flavor is a compatible version of Commodore's version of Microsoft BASIC 6502 as found on the Commodore 64. Released for Educational purposes. BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a computer language designed so that it can be learned very easily. Hand BASIC users could be students, scientists, or any productivity workers. Type HELP to get started! *** Credits for CBMBASIC go to Michael Steil and James Abbatiello *** Features + Compatible with Commodore 64 BASIC V2 + It is not emulated, it runs with your device full speed + The ability to LOAD/SAVE files (case sensitive file names) + File I/O Support (Read/Write data files) + Full featured iPhone Text Editor to build your programs + The ability to make directories ** NEW ** + Provided with helpful Direct Mode Commands (nonstandard, see support webpage) + Renumber your program, plus other helpful file keeping functionality + Alert Sounds + In App Help (type HELP) + Portrait/Landscape Views + Supplied with Sample code (type FILES to see list). Now available through In-App Purchase: Graphics Extension: Empowers you to create complex graphics from simple graphic objects Features + Draw simple graphic objects: lines, rectangles, circles, text, ... + Draw at the super speed of your device + Make animations + Use Graphics Macro Language (GML) to draw objects + Define your colors with alpha channel (32bit color with transparency) + Select your drawn text font face and size + Interact with user taps + Assistant for typing Graphic Commands + Enables you to run included Graphic Sample Programs(10 samples) To find more details type HELP then select Graphics Extension Reference To open Graphics Extension Purchase Screen: - Type: PURCHASE - Type: ACTION then select Purchase - Or, run a program that uses Graphics Make sure to check out App Blog Page: cbmhandbasic.blogspot.com Please Note: - This is not Commodore 64 emulator. It is “Standalone” BASIC of Commodore 64. - Basic knowledge of Commodore 64 BASIC V2 is needed to use this App or just Read FAQ's. - While BASIC requires all commands to be capitalized (Lock Caps by double taping), commands will be automatically capitalized - Since this is not Commodore emulator, PEEK/POKE does not work. See New Commands for alternatives - Only ASCII characters are supported - iPad has different Graphics Extension than ordinary one (sold separately) Visit "Hawwash-Soft" page on iTunes for more Free App's Have Fun!

About

The Assembler

Learn Assembly programming and binary operations by creating pixel art. Each chapter introduces new operations, using 8-bit registers as your canvas to manipulate values and paint an 8x8 image. This app offers a fun, introductory approach to coding fundamentals.

Highlights
  • Learn Assembly programming
  • Understand binary operations
  • Create pixel art on registers
  • Ten chapters with progressive learning
  • Interactive 8x8 canvas
  • Introduction to programming fundamentals
Features
Read full description

Learn Assembly programming and binary operations by painting little pixel art pieces. The app teaches different operations in each of the ten chapters. For each of the chapters you program an image with a limited set of commands. Eight rows of 8-Bit Registers turn into your canvas. Use Assembly to manipulate the values in every register, thus creating an 8x8 painting. 'The Assembler' was made as a small and fun introduction to Assembly, Programming and the Binary system that powers it all. The first version of this app was made for the Swift Student Challenge 2022 and won! I hope that you enjoy this project as much as I have.

Screenshots

Hand BASIC4 screens
The Assembler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Assembler at none against Hand BASIC's 2. The Assembler also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Hand BASIC's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (45 vs 10). On price, review sentiment, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hand BASIC sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. The Assembler asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Assembler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 45 and 10 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Hand BASIC's written reviews are positive against 78% of The Assembler's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hand BASIC ships an update every 5 weeks, The Assembler every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Hand BASIC versus The Assembler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHand BASICThe Assembler
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (45 ratings)4.8 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings45 — better10
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAhmad HawwashLena Mattea Stoexen

Customer experience

Hand BASIC

All ratings45 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral6.7%
Negative8.9%
Written reviews120 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral7.5%
Negative9.2%

The Assembler

All ratings10 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

Bugs and requests

Hand BASIC

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Infinite loops freeze the app with no way to stop execution
  • Graphics mode (SCREEN 1) pops up briefly then disappears
  • On-screen keyboard functions dance around screen on iPad with external keyboard
  • Low Power Mode cuts program speed in half on iPhone
  • Program runs original version instead of edited version
Show 6 more
  • Syntax errors on valid BASIC commands
  • Copy/paste of programs doesn't work properly
  • Line editing requires retyping entire lines for corrections
  • Help and FAQ pages no longer accessible
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • Graphics extension removed in updates, requiring repurchase

Requested features

16 requests
  • Run/Stop button to break out of infinite loops
  • Bluetooth keyboard support
  • Changeable font options
  • Copy/paste functionality
  • PEEK and POKE command support
Show 11 more
  • Ability to delete programs
  • Print AT function for neater output
  • INPUT command support
  • Web service integration
  • Files app integration
  • PC version of the app
  • Compiler for standalone app creation
  • Import/export .BAS files
  • Full C64 character set support
  • Cursor color customization
  • Function keys and CTRL support

The Assembler

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Hand BASIC

One-time2
  • Graphics Extension$9.99
  • Graphics Extension for iPad$9.99
None

The Assembler

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hand BASIC free?
Hand BASIC is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Assembler free?
The Assembler is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Hand BASIC or The Assembler?
The Assembler is rated higher. Hand BASIC averages 4.4 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while The Assembler averages 4.8 from 10 ratings.
Do Hand BASIC or The Assembler have ads?
Neither Hand BASIC nor The Assembler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hand BASIC or The Assembler?
Hand BASIC ships an update every 5 weeks, and The Assembler every 5 months. Most recently, Hand BASIC was updated on September 8, 2026 and The Assembler on August 17, 2026.

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