BBCBasic vs Beacon Tap
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BBCBasic
This app implements the classic BBC BASIC programming language with modern enhancements. It supports advanced graphics, physics, multimedia, and networking, while maintaining compatibility with the original BBC Microcomputer.
- 2D and 3D graphics
- Shader programming
- 2D physics engine
- Stereo music and sound effects
- Video playback
- Networking support
- Accelerometer support
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BBC BASIC is the programming language originally specified and adopted by the British Broadcasting Corporation for its groundbreaking Computer Literacy Project of the early 1980s. This is an advanced, cross-platform, implementation with many enhancements over early versions. As well as extensions to the language it supports anti-aliased 2D graphics, 3D graphics, shader programming and includes a 2D physics engine. Its multimedia capabilities include stereo music, sound effects and video. It supports networking and the accelerometer. Nevertheless it maintains a high degree of compatibility with the BBC Microcomputer, including SOUND, ENVELOPE and MODE 7.
Beacon Tap
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Add a 'Read Self Test' feature to the dashboard screen that reads test logs from the beacon memory and displays all fault statuses.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: BBCBasic at 12.0 against Beacon Tap's 15.1. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BBCBasic ships an update every 3 months, Beacon Tap every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BBCBasic | Beacon Tap |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 30 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Richard Russell | mrtsos |
In-app purchases
BBCBasic
No in-app purchases
Beacon Tap
No in-app purchases
