Comparison

Sphero Edu vs Debugging

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

Head to head
About

Sphero Edu

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
Read full description

Sphero Edu is your hub to create, contribute, and learn with Sphero robots. Go beyond code by incorporating unique STEAM lessons to complete with your bot. Designed for learner progression, Sphero Edu beginners can give robots commands by drawing a path in the app for their robot to follow. Intermediate coders can use Scratch blocks to learn more advanced logic, while pros can use text programming and write their own JavaScript or Python code. Sphero Edu is built for makers, learners, educators, and parents. The interactive platform allows you to keep track of your class or group from one easy place. Anyone can save their progress, jump from device to device, and continue the discovery from anywhere. Preparing for the future has never been so fun. SPHERO EDU FEATURES PROGRAMS: Program your bots in 3 ways with Draw, Block, and Text modes. Start with the basics and grow. SENSOR DATA: See location, accelerometer, gyroscope, velocity, and distance sensor data through visual graphs. LESSONS: Program a painting. Navigate a maze. Mimic the solar system. The only limit is your imagination. TAKE A DRIVE: Need a brain break? Set LED colors on your robot and zoom around in Drive mode. ASSIGNMENTS: Are you a teacher? Monitor progress by creating lessons and assigning them to your students. INTEGRATIONS: Simplify classroom use by signing in and syncing classrooms with Google and Clever accounts. COMPATIBILITY Supported Robots: Sphero BOLT+, Sphero BOLT, Sphero RVR/RVR+, Sphero SPRK+, Sphero SPRK Edition, Sphero 2.0, Sphero Mini, Ollie, BB-8, BB-9E, R2-D2, R2-Q5 Unsupported Robots: Sphero Original, Force Band, Lightning McQueen, Spider-Man, indi

About

Debugging

Practice debugging skills in a fun arcade platformer. Solve real AP Computer Science exam questions to fix glitches and escape a corrupted machine. Features multiple difficulty levels and offline play.

Highlights
  • Debugging practice arcade platformer
  • AP CSP & CSA modes
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Collectible bugs with multiple-choice questions
  • Offline play, no account required
  • Built for phones and tablets
Features
Read full description

Debugging: Inside the Machine is a free debugging-practice arcade platformer for students preparing for AP Computer Science Principles or AP Computer Science A. You're inside a corrupted machine — find the USB Key, fix the glitches, and escape the firewall before the system collapses. CSP and CSA modes ship in the same app. Tap once to switch. — EASY · MED · HARD — Each difficulty is a different level, with its own glitch tilemap and its own question bank. CSP topics: Selection, Iteration, Functions & Lists. CSA topics: Variables · Strings, Iteration · Loops, Arrays · Recursion. Two bonus levels (K-Pop Demon Hunters, Minecraft) unlock when you've cleared all three difficulties. — CODE LENS — Glitches scatter across each level as collectible bugs. When you're in range, the CODE LENS button pulses on screen. Tap it and a real multiple-choice debugging question appears: read the broken code, pick the actual bug from four explanations, and the glitch repairs. Wrong answer? Stability drops 10 percent. Right answer? Stability recovers 5 percent and the level inches closer to stable. — Real questions, not filler — Every question is hand-written and scoped to AP exam topics. No random AI hallucinations, no off-curriculum trivia. The pseudocode reference card (CSP) and Java Quick Reference (CSA) are one tap away during any question. — Built for phones and tablets — Touch controls only. Bottom-left D-pad to move, big JUMP button on the right, hold for higher jump. Question screens use full-size answer buttons. Designed for landscape iPhone and iPad. — Offline, no account, no tracking — Everything ships in the app. The game makes zero network calls, collects zero analytics, and requires no sign-in. — More from CS++ — A "More from CS++" button connects you to the rest of the CS++ family: the AP CSP and AP CSA full-curriculum apps, the CS++ Java IDE for on-device Java practice, and the free csplusplus.com web resources (curriculum, vocab trainer, practice exams). For: AP CSP and AP CSA students, CS teachers building exam prep sessions, anyone who likes finding bugs.

Screenshots

Sphero Edu4 screens
Debugging4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Debugging at 5.0 against Sphero Edu's 4.5. Debugging also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). Sphero Edu's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Debugging holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Edu has 1.5K ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of Debugging's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sphero Edu ships an update every 5 weeks, Debugging daily. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sphero Edu versus Debugging: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSphero EduDebugging
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.5K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSphero, Inc.Kevin Hare

Customer experience

Sphero Edu

All ratings1,532 ratings
Positive86.9%
Neutral3.5%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews274 reviews
Positive65.3%
Neutral7.7%
Negative27.0%

Debugging

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Sphero Edu

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Debugging

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sphero Edu

No in-app purchases

None

Debugging

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sphero Edu free?
Sphero Edu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Debugging free?
Debugging is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sphero Edu or Debugging?
Debugging is rated higher. Sphero Edu averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while Debugging averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Sphero Edu or Debugging have ads?
Neither Sphero Edu nor Debugging shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sphero Edu or Debugging?
Sphero Edu ships an update every 5 weeks, and Debugging daily. Most recently, Sphero Edu was updated on October 6, 2026 and Debugging on October 1, 2026.

Other comparisons