Comparison

Wonder for Dash vs SAM Root

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

Head to head
About

Wonder for Dash

This app introduces children aged 8 and up to coding through interactive challenges and creative play with robots. It features a picture-based language and guided adventures to teach programming concepts. Users can create their own inventions and transfer code directly to the robots.

Highlights
  • Picture-based coding language
  • Over 50 guided challenges
  • Robotic adventures in various environments
  • Transform robot capabilities
  • Free Play mode for custom inventions
  • Code transfer to robots
Features
Read full description

Wonder makes robotics as delightful as finger painting. With a picture-based coding language and guided challenges, Wonder lets kids ages 8 and up explore robotics on their own – and have a blast doing it. A FRESH NEW LOOK The redesigned main menu puts everything one tap away: - Scroll Quest – multiple guided coding adventures, from first steps to tricky puzzles - Free Play – an open coding canvas for your own inventions CODING ADVENTURES WITH DASH Travel through the African Grasslands, the Arctic Wilderness and even Outer Space to uncover new ideas for your robot. Transform Dash into a ferocious lion, dodge asteroids together, play a game of Marco Polo, and much more. Every challenge introduces a new coding concept – sequences, events, loops, conditions and variables – through play. CREATE YOUR OWN INVENTIONS When you're ready, jump into Free Play and build anything you can imagine. Once your program is finished, transfer it to Dash – the next time you turn Dash on, it runs your code without being connected to an iPhone or iPad. HOW TO GET STARTED 1. Turn on Dash and enable Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad. 2. Open Wonder and connect to Dash from the main menu. 3. Update your robot when prompted. The update brings new sounds, personality and abilities and may take up to 10 minutes. 4. Start with Challenges to learn the basics, then explore Free Play. PRAISE FOR WONDER "Thoroughly absorbing." – The New York Times "Both kids begged me to take out the robots and start playing with them again." – Business Insider SAFE FOR KIDS Wonder contains no third-party advertising and does not collect personal information. For details, see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. ABOUT WONDER WORKSHOP Wonder Workshop creates award-winning educational robots and apps that make learning to code meaningful and fun. Founded in 2012 by three parents, Wonder Workshop is now part of MORAVIA Education. We play-test with children throughout development to make sure every experience is frustration-free and fun. Questions or ideas? We'd love to hear from you at https://help.makewonder.com. Privacy Policy: https://www.makewonder.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://www.makewonder.com/TOS

About

SAM Root

Learn programming through interactive robotics with three progressive coding levels, from graphical blocks to Python 3. Control robots in real-time or test your code with a built-in 3D simulator.

Highlights
  • Three progressive coding levels
  • Graphical blocks to Python 3
  • Real-time robot control
  • Built-in 3D simulator
  • Seamless level switching
  • Bluetooth robot pairing
Read full description

SAM Root makes it easy and fun to learn programming through hands-on robotics! With three progressive coding levels—from graphical blocks to hybrid blocks to Python 3 syntax—you’ll be building real coding skills and controlling robots in no time. MASTER CODING WITH 3 LEARNING LEVELS No coding experience? No problem! SAM Root meets you where you are and grows with your skills: - LEVEL 1: Graphical Blocks – Start with drag-and-drop, graphical blocks to grasp the fundamentals of coding logic—no reading required. - LEVEL 2: Hybrid Blocks – Transition into more advanced coding structure with blocks that blend visuals and coding script. - LEVEL 3: Python Code Blocks – Discover the structure and syntax of professional coding languages with full-text Python 3 code blocks. SEAMLESSLY SWITCH BETWEEN LEVELS Change coding levels anytime with a tap. SAM Root automatically converts your code, so you can match your skill level and learn the professional Python syntax behind each block. CONNECT TO ROOT ROBOTS Pair with a Root coding robot via Bluetooth and bring your programs to life! Control movement, lights, sounds, sensors, and more—while watching your code run in real time. TEST WITH THE BUILT-IN SIMULATOR Use the built-in 3D simulator to test your programs, speed up execution, and try new ideas—all without needing hardware.

Screenshots

Wonder for Dash4 screens
SAM Root4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Wonder for Dash at 4.3 against SAM Root's 3.8. Wonder for Dash also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 46%) and ratings volume (473 vs 42). SAM Root's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Wonder for Dash holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wonder for Dash has 473 ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Wonder for Dash's written reviews are positive against 46% of SAM Root's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Wonder for Dash ships an update every 3 months, SAM Root monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Wonder for Dash versus SAM Root: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWonder for DashSAM Root
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (473 ratings) — better3.8 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews68.9% of reviews — better46.2% of reviews
Number of ratings473 — better42
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size455 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMORAVIA Consulting, spol. s r.o.SAM Labs

Customer experience

Wonder for Dash

All ratings473 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral6.1%
Negative12.1%
Written reviews106 reviews
Positive68.9%
Neutral11.3%
Negative19.8%

SAM Root

All ratings42 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral11.9%
Negative23.8%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative46.2%

Bugs and requests

Wonder for Dash

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes when trying to run certain programs
  • Bluetooth connection frequently drops
  • Incorrect Bluetooth status detection
  • Certain features and commands not working as expected
  • App freezes or becomes unresponsive

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more robots and accessories support
  • Improve app stability and performance
  • Implement a user profile system
  • Add more advanced programming features
  • Improve Bluetooth connectivity and reliability

SAM Root

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Wonder for Dash

No in-app purchases

None

SAM Root

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Wonder for Dash free?
Wonder for Dash is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SAM Root free?
SAM Root is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Wonder for Dash or SAM Root?
Wonder for Dash is rated higher. Wonder for Dash averages 4.3 out of 5 from 473 ratings, while SAM Root averages 3.8 from 42 ratings.
Do Wonder for Dash or SAM Root have ads?
Neither Wonder for Dash nor SAM Root shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Wonder for Dash or SAM Root?
Wonder for Dash ships an update every 3 months, and SAM Root monthly. Most recently, Wonder for Dash was updated on October 16, 2026 and SAM Root on October 9, 2026.

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