Comparison

Kenbak vs DEC Opcodes

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

Head to head
About

Kenbak

Features
Read full description

Discover the history of computing with the Kenbak-1 Emulator! This emulator is not just a copy, but a carefully recreated digital version of the Kenbak-1, one of the first personal computers, released in 1971. Key Features: • Full Processor Emulation: Authentic emulation of all original Kenbak-1 instructions. • Interactive Front Panel: Replica of the control panel with working switches and LEDs. • Easy-to-use command input panel: Allows you to choose the specific processor instruction from the command panel and immediately store it in memory. • Memory Dump: Visual display of the contents of each memory location for debugging and analysis. • Save and Load Programs: Create, save, and load your own programs written for the Kenbak-1. • Documentation: Complete set of original Kenbak-1 documentation. • Settings: Option to adjust emulation speed and other parameters. The Kenbak-1 Emulator is the perfect tool for learning the fundamentals of computing, experimenting with machine code, and delving into computer history. It's a great way to understand how the first computers worked and how the foundations of the modern digital revolution were laid.

About

DEC Opcodes

Explore the instruction sets of legendary DEC computers like the PDP and VAX. This app provides detailed information on each instruction, historical context, and interactive lessons. Discover the machines that shaped modern computing.

Highlights
  • Instruction set reference
  • Historical context and photos
  • System specifications
  • Interactive assembly lessons
  • Search and filtering
  • Customizable themes
  • Simple assembler
Features
Read full description

Dec Opcodes – DEC Architecture Reference Before the microprocessor, there was DEC. The minicomputers built by Digital Equipment Corporation didn't just advance computing - they defined it. Unix was born on a PDP-7. Spacewar! ran on a PDP-1. The field of Artificial Intelligence was born on the PDP-10. The VAX powered universities and research labs worldwide for a generation. DecOpcodes puts the complete instruction sets of these legendary machines in your pocket. Five iconic architectures covered: PDP-1 (1960) · PDP-8 (1965) · PDP-10 (1966) · PDP-11 (1970) · VAX (1977) For every instruction:  • Full description of what the instruction does  • Octal and hex encoding  • Flags affected  • Addressing modes, word count, and cycle counts  • Assembly code examples and implementation notes But there is a lot more than just dry opcodes:  • Complete system specifications and register architecture  • Historical context and cultural impact  • Archival photographs - front panels, system cabinets, and more  • Notable installations and the systems they powered  • Architecture variants and successors • Interactive lessons on assembly language and console operations (ideal if you have an PiDP emulator) Built for exploration:  • Search across all systems instantly • A simple assembler for PDP-1, -8 and -11 code • Filter by instruction category  • Sort alphabetically or by category • Favorite instructions for quick reference Beautifully designed:  • System-specific accent colours  • Five themes including Terminal green and Blinkenlights orange  • Full Dark Mode support From the 18-bit simplicity of the PDP-1 to the 32-bit sophistication of the VAX, DecOpcodes is a fascinating and interactive journey through the machines that made modern computing possible. All features are free and unlocked. If you like the app you can always leave a nice review or tip the developer!

Screenshots

Kenbak3 screens
DEC Opcodes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Kenbak at none against DEC Opcodes's 1. DEC Opcodes's advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. DEC Opcodes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Kenbak asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Kenbak ships an update every 3 weeks, DEC Opcodes every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Kenbak versus DEC Opcodes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKenbakDEC Opcodes
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTakhir ZakirovJohn Kennedy

In-app purchases

None

Kenbak

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

DEC Opcodes

One-time1
  • Buy Me a Coffee$0.99

Questions

Is Kenbak free?
Kenbak is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DEC Opcodes free?
DEC Opcodes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Kenbak or DEC Opcodes have ads?
Neither Kenbak nor DEC Opcodes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Kenbak or DEC Opcodes?
Kenbak ships an update every 3 weeks, and DEC Opcodes every 8 days. Most recently, Kenbak was updated on September 9, 2026 and DEC Opcodes on September 20, 2026.

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