# Sphero Edu vs MIT App Inventor

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sphero Edu at 65% against MIT App Inventor's 20%. Sphero Edu also leads on rating (4.5 vs 2.6) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 18). MIT App Inventor's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sphero Edu holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Edu has 1.5K ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Sphero Edu's written reviews are positive against 20% of MIT App Inventor's.

Sphero Edu ships an update every 5 weeks, MIT App Inventor every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sphero Edu | MIT App Inventor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-edu/id1017847674/reviews)** | [2.6 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mit-app-inventor/id1422709355/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 18 |
| Positive reviews | **65.3% of reviews** | 19.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 194 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sphero, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/468699622) | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322) |

## What reviewers say

### Sphero Edu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sphero-edu/id1017847674)

This app allows users to learn and create with programmable robots. It offers multiple coding methods, from drawing paths to advanced text-based programming. Educators can manage classes and track student progress, making learning fun and interactive.

**Highlights:** Multiple programming modes (Draw, Block, Text), Access sensor data via graphs, Pre-made STEAM lessons, Robot driving mode, Assignment creation for educators, Google/Clever account integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Excellent for learning to code
- 🚀 Fun and engaging to use
- 👍 Great for kids and adults
- 👍 Supports various Sphero models
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs after updates
- 🔋 Battery life problems
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices
- 🐛 Unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- Programs not saving properly
- Firmware update issues
- Inability to connect to certain Sphero models
- Sign-in and registration problems

**Requested features**

- Add more coding blocks and functionality
- Improve community features and sharing
- Restore legacy app features (e.g., free drive mode)
- Provide better documentation and tutorials
- Allow custom sound and light effects


### MIT App Inventor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mit-app-inventor/id1422709355)

Learn computational thinking and app development by building your own mobile applications. This educational tool uses a block-based programming language and offers tutorials for workshops. Test and debug your creations directly on your device.

**Highlights:** Block-based programming language, Design and code mobile apps, Test and debug projects, Built-in tutorials, Over 60 components, Learn computational thinking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💡 Great for learning and creating apps
- 👍 Useful for school and coding classes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔌 Connectivity issues, especially with iOS devices
- 👎 Confusing and outdated user interface
- ⚠️ Unreliable and glitchy performance

**Reported bugs**

- App frequently crashes or freezes
- Connectivity problems when trying to test apps
- Inconsistent behavior and unexpected errors

**Requested features**

- Improved compatibility with modern devices and operating systems
- More intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Better error handling and debugging tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sphero Edu free?

Sphero Edu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MIT App Inventor free?

MIT App Inventor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sphero Edu or MIT App Inventor?

Sphero Edu is rated higher. Sphero Edu averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while MIT App Inventor averages 2.6 from 18 ratings.

### Do Sphero Edu or MIT App Inventor have ads?

Neither Sphero Edu nor MIT App Inventor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sphero Edu or MIT App Inventor?

Sphero Edu ships an update every 5 weeks, and MIT App Inventor every 3 months. Most recently, Sphero Edu was updated on November 1, 2026 and MIT App Inventor on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*