EightyOne vs ESPectrum
EightyOne
github.comESPectrum
github.comSide by side
| Figure | EightyOne | ESPectrum |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · ZX Spectrum Emulators | 7.6 (#12) | 7.8 (#9) |
| Display | Version 1.41 added a full screen option under View → Zoom. | Video output supports standard VGA, machine-rate VGA and 15 kHz CRT modes, with 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios. |
| License | The SourceForge project page lists the license as GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2). | The GitHub repository identifies the project license as GPL-3.0. |
Plans
In their own words
EightyOne
EightyOne is a Windows emulator for Sinclair ZX home computers and clones, including ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum models. It provides clock-accurate emulation of ZX80 and ZX81 display mechanisms and supports add-on interfaces for storage, high-resolution graphics, custom character sets, sound, and colour. A built-in debugger includes debug-screen controls and execution breakpoints, including points above RAMTOP. BASIC tools can view and save programs as bitmap or text and load listings from text files. Media support covers tape and disk images, snapshots, ZIP-compressed media, Microdrive cartridges, and several IDE or CompactFlash interfaces. Release notes for version 1.41 describe full-screen viewing, speech interfaces, sound options, joystick support, floppy-image writing and protection, and automatic BASIC Listing refresh after cassette loading. The project is open source under GPLv2. Windows downloads are provided, while the creator is no longer actively developing the emulator.
ESPectrum
ESPectrum is free, GPL-3.0 emulator firmware for Sinclair ZX Spectrum computers on Espressif ESP32 boards. It emulates Spectrum 48K, 128K, +2A, and Pentagon 128K systems, plus Microdigital TK90X and TK95 models. Supported boards include Lilygo TTGo VGA32 and Olimex ESP32-SBC-FabGL. Video output offers standard VGA, machine-rate VGA, and 15 kHz CRT modes in 16:9 or 4:3. Emulation includes the Z80, AY-3-8912 sound, beeper and microphone behavior, contended memory, and floating-bus effects. Users can connect PS/2 keyboards, joysticks, DB9 joysticks through a converter, and a PS/2 mouse acting as a Kempston mouse. It reads TAP, TZX, SNA, Z80, SP, TRD, and SCL files. Installation uses an online web flasher or release binaries. A FAT16- or FAT32-formatted micro SD card stores programs, disks, snapshots, and captures. PlatformIO builds are described for Windows, GNU/Linux, and MacOS/X.