EightyOne

Free plan Windows

What EightyOne is

EightyOne is a Windows emulator for Sinclair ZX home computers and their clones, including ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum models. It emulates the ZX80 and ZX81 display mechanisms with clock accuracy and supports add-on interfaces for storage devices, high-resolution graphics, custom character sets, sound, and colour. The emulator includes debugger facilities, with release notes describing debug-screen controls and execution breakpoints. BASIC tools can view and save programs as bitmap or text and load listings from text files. Supported media includes tape and disk images, snapshots, ZIP-compressed media, Microdrive cartridges, and several IDE or CompactFlash interfaces. Version 1.41 adds a full-screen option and emulation for speech interfaces; its release notes also list sound options, joystick support, and floppy-image writing and protection features. The project is open source under GPLv2. Its creator is no longer actively developing the emulator and made the code available for others to extend.

Who it suits

EightyOne is for Windows users interested in emulating Sinclair ZX computers and their clones, including those who want debugger and BASIC-program tools.

What it does well

Emulates ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum models
Includes debugger facilities and execution breakpoints
Supports tape, disk, snapshot, and ZIP media
Open source under GPLv2

What to know first

Windows is the listed platform
Creator is no longer actively developing it

Getting started

Open the EightyOne GitHub repository.
Use its Windows download route.
Consult the repository's documentation and examples as needed.

Verdict

EightyOne combines Sinclair ZX emulation with debugging, BASIC tools, and support for varied peripherals and media. Its creator is no longer actively developing it, though the code was made open source for others to extend.

Questions

Is EightyOne free?

Yes. Its pricing model is free, with a free plan.

Which computers does it emulate?

It emulates Sinclair ZX home computers and clones, primarily the ZX80 and ZX81, as well as ZX Spectrum models.

Which operating system does it support?

Windows is the listed platform, and the project provides Windows downloads.

Is EightyOne open source?

Yes. The project is listed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2).

What media and peripherals does it support?

Listed support includes tape and disk images, snapshots, ZIP-compressed media, Microdrive cartridges, IDE or CompactFlash interfaces, joysticks, sound and speech interfaces, and MIDI output.

Is it still actively developed by its creator?

No. The project says its creator is no longer actively developing it and made the code open source for others to extend.

Facts from EightyOne's own pages

Audience: The project lists End Users/Desktop as its intended audience. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
BASIC listings: The release notes say the BASIC Listing window refreshes automatically after loading programs from cassette through ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum ROMs. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
BASIC tools: Release notes describe tools to view and save BASIC programs as bitmap or text and to load BASIC listings from text files for ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum models. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Debugger: The emulator includes comprehensive debugger facilities. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Debugging: The release notes describe debug screen controls and execution breakpoints, including breakpoints above RAMTOP. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Development: The project page says creator Michael D Wynne is no longer actively developing the emulator and made the code open source for others to extend. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Display: Version 1.41 added a full screen option under View → Zoom. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Display emulation: The project describes clock-accurate emulation of the ZX81 and ZX80 display mechanisms. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Documentation: The repository's Documentation directory contains a document titled “EightyOne Development Environment.docx.” · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Download artifacts: The GitHub repository has a Release Files directory containing documentation, examples, and ROM-related folders. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Hardware interfaces: It supports add-on interfaces for storage devices, hi-res graphics, custom character sets, sound and colour cards. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Joysticks: The release notes list joystick support for Kempston, Fuller, Sinclair 1, Sinclair 2, Cursor, and Boldfield, with autofire support. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Latest listed release: The project’s SourceForge files page lists EightyOne V1.26.zip dated February 4, 2022. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Latest release: The repository lists Version 1.41 as the latest release. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
License: The SourceForge project page lists the license as GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2). · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Licensing: The repository lists a GPL text file in its Release Files directory. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Media and drives: The release notes describe support for Spectrum floppy disk images, formatting, writing, and write protection, plus Microdrive cartridge write protection. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Platform: The project lists Windows as its operating system and provides Windows downloads. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Product: EightyOne emulates Sinclair ZX home computers and their clones, primarily the ZX80 and ZX81, as well as ZX Spectrum models. · sourceforge.net, 3 Oct 2026
Project profile: The GitHub repository is public and its About section says no description or website is provided. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Purpose: EightyOne is a computer emulator project; its latest release notes document emulation for ZX80 and ZX81 computers. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Repository: The maker’s GitHub repository is public and its About section provides no description, website or topics. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Sound: Release notes describe sound emulation features including AY sound controls, stereo or mono mixing, speech interfaces and MIDI output for some Spectrum models. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Speech emulation: Version 1.41 added emulation of speech interfaces including The Parrot, Sweet Talker, Voice Synthesiser, Fuller Orator, and S-Pack. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026

Where EightyOne stands on Freedom251

ZX Spectrum Emulators#12 of 23