# PBS KIDS ScratchJr vs Candy Coding

The clearest difference is rating: Candy Coding at 5.0 against PBS KIDS ScratchJr's 4.0. Candy Coding also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 62%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). PBS KIDS ScratchJr's advantage is ratings volume (289 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Candy Coding holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PBS KIDS ScratchJr has 289 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of PBS KIDS ScratchJr's written reviews are positive against 100% of Candy Coding's.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr ships an update every 12 months, Candy Coding every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PBS KIDS ScratchJr | Candy Coding |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (289 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-kids-scratchjr/id1047840202/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-coding/id1484449977/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **289** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 138 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.3 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PBS KIDS](https://appshunter.io/developer/324323339) | [Tinkamo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185240069) |

## What reviewers say

### PBS KIDS ScratchJr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-kids-scratchjr/id1047840202)

This app allows children ages 5-8 to create their own interactive stories and games using simple programming blocks. Kids can make characters move, jump, and sing, while learning foundational coding concepts and problem-solving skills. It features beloved PBS KIDS characters and offers creative tools like painting and voice recording.

**Highlights:** Create interactive stories and games, Learn basic coding concepts, Use colorful programming blocks, Incorporate PBS KIDS characters, Paint and edit characters/backgrounds, Record voice for projects, Utilize story starters for inspiration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👨‍👧‍👦 Great for teaching kids to code
- 🎨 Fun creative storytelling and animation features
- 🎭 PBS Kids characters and themed content
- 💰 Free app with no paywall
- 📚 Educational value for young learners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- ❌ Limited coding blocks compared to original ScratchJr
- 🎭 Character roster hasn't been updated in years
- ⚠️ Drawing/text tools produce poor quality output
- 🔊 Sound and voice recording features broken or missing

**Reported bugs**

- Home button causes character to revert to previous position
- Projects fail to load when creating or opening
- Voice recording feature not working or missing
- How-to tutorial videos don't play
- Drawing tool corrupts custom characters

**Requested features**

- Add more PBS Kids shows (Let's Go Luna, Dinosaur Train, Elinor Wonders Why, Hero Elementary, Wordgirl, Rosie's Rules, Alma's Way)
- Unlimited pages/slides instead of 4-slide limit
- More coding blocks from original Scratch (text-to-speech, etc.)
- Custom character creation on blank canvas
- Level maker and world maker features


### Candy Coding

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-coding/id1484449977)

This app offers hands-on coding lessons designed for young children aged 5-8. Developed by an award-winning team, it provides an engaging way to learn programming concepts. Currently, it is exclusively available in Simplified Chinese.

**Highlights:** Hands-on coding lessons, Designed for ages 5-8, Award-winning development team, Simplified Chinese language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PBS KIDS ScratchJr free?

PBS KIDS ScratchJr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Candy Coding free?

Candy Coding is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PBS KIDS ScratchJr or Candy Coding?

Candy Coding is rated higher. PBS KIDS ScratchJr averages 4.0 out of 5 from 289 ratings, while Candy Coding averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do PBS KIDS ScratchJr or Candy Coding have ads?

Neither PBS KIDS ScratchJr nor Candy Coding shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PBS KIDS ScratchJr or Candy Coding?

PBS KIDS ScratchJr ships an update every 12 months, and Candy Coding every 3 weeks. Most recently, PBS KIDS ScratchJr was updated on October 14, 2026 and Candy Coding on October 1, 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.*