# PBS KIDS ScratchJr vs Scratch Tutorial

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PBS KIDS ScratchJr at none against Scratch Tutorial's 1. PBS KIDS ScratchJr also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 35%). Scratch Tutorial's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 12 months) and ratings volume (4.6K vs 289). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scratch Tutorial sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. PBS KIDS ScratchJr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scratch Tutorial holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Scratch Tutorial has 4.6K ratings behind it against 289, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of PBS KIDS ScratchJr's written reviews are positive against 35% of Scratch Tutorial's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PBS KIDS ScratchJr ships an update every 12 months, Scratch Tutorial every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PBS KIDS ScratchJr | Scratch Tutorial |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (289 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-kids-scratchjr/id1047840202/reviews) | **[4.2 (4.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratch-tutorial-coding-game/id1545734217/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 289 | **4.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **62.0% of reviews** | 34.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 138 MB | 254 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PBS KIDS](https://appshunter.io/developer/324323339) | [海涛 赵](https://appshunter.io/developer/770384919) |

## 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


### Scratch Tutorial

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratch-tutorial-coding-game/id1545734217)

This app offers an innovative, step-by-step programming course designed for children aged 4-14. It uses engaging content to foster a love for coding and allows kids to create their own games while learning fundamental programming concepts.

**Highlights:** Step-by-step programming guidance, Interactive learning system, Create own programming games, Courses designed by experts, Gradual concept mastery

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scratch lessons | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful tutorials
- 🤗 Good for learning to code
- 😊 Fun and engaging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for advanced content
- 🤔 Outdated or incompatible blocks
- 😕 Repetitive and restrictive
- 🙄 Poor graphics and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Lessons get stuck or freeze
- Inability to edit or correct mistakes

**Requested features**

- Allow more free-form coding
- Improve compatibility with latest Scratch version
- Add more game-making options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PBS KIDS ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Scratch Tutorial free?

Scratch Tutorial is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PBS KIDS ScratchJr or Scratch Tutorial?

Scratch Tutorial is rated higher. PBS KIDS ScratchJr averages 4.0 out of 5 from 289 ratings, while Scratch Tutorial averages 4.2 from 4.6K ratings.

### Do PBS KIDS ScratchJr or Scratch Tutorial have ads?

Neither PBS KIDS ScratchJr nor Scratch Tutorial shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PBS KIDS ScratchJr or Scratch Tutorial?

PBS KIDS ScratchJr ships an update every 12 months, and Scratch Tutorial every 4 weeks. Most recently, PBS KIDS ScratchJr was updated on September 23, 2026 and Scratch Tutorial on September 22, 2026.

---

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