Jimu vs micro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Jimu
Build, control, and program robotic creations using interactive 3D assembly guides and a graphical programming interface. Design custom actions, convert code to Swift, and share your robotic designs with a community.
- 3D assembly guides
- Pre-programmed robot actions
- Custom action creation
- Graphical programming interface
- Code conversion to Swift
- Robot model design and sharing
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Build, control and program Jimu Robots with this app. With 3D video guide on how to assemble your Jimu Robot and tons of pre-programmed actions for each robot model, you will be able to start playing with your Jimu Robot from the start. You can create custom actions for each robot model, and learn how to program robots with graphical programming interface. You can even view how the graphically programing code would look like when converted to Swift. Feeling creative? Design and create your own Jimu Robot models and share them with other users. Program custom actions and show off your latest robotic creations in both pictures and videos.
micro
This app is the essential companion for the BBC micro:bit, a pocket-sized programmable computer. It allows you to wirelessly beam programs to your micro:bit via Bluetooth and includes access to a block-based programming editor. Monitor sensor data and control your micro:bit in real-time.
- Wireless flashing of micro:bit hex files
- Access to Microsoft MakeCode editor
- Bluetooth beaming of programs
- Real-time sensor data monitoring
- Control micro:bit buttons and pins
- Debug running program code
- Store and manage HEX files
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The micro:bit app is the essential companion to the BBC micro:bit, the pocket sized programmable computer. The app allows you to flash any micro:bit hex file to your device, as well as including online access to the Microsoft MakeCode editor for simple block-based programming. When your program is ready, the app beams it to the micro:bit via Bluetooth wirelessly. Easy-to-follow screens lead you through the process of pairing your iPad (or iPhone) to the micro:bit and then transferring your program code. Compared with previous versions, the micro:bit app Version 3.1 contains these additional features: • A simpler pairing and micro:bit discovery flow • The micro:bit V2 can be put into pairing mode by triple-tapping the reset button • Retrieval of the micro:bit data log files from off your micro:bit • Pair with any number of micro:bits • Choose which micro:bit is currently connected • Store HEX files in the app • Choose a HEX file for flashing • Export and delete HEX files • Import stored HEX files directly into JavaScript Blocks editor • Rapid download from JavaScript Blocks editor • Monitor data detected by micro:bit sensors • Use the range of micro:bit Bluetooth services in real time • Display messages on the micro:bit LEDs • Send control commands to the micro:bit buttons and pins • De-bug your program code while it is running in the micro:bit • Use a simulated gamepad to send commands to the micro:bit • View camera images ready for taking photos or video As well as providing more flexible handling of your program scripts and HEX files, a major addition in Version 3 is the Monitor and Control page. This lets you observe real-time data from the micro:bit sensors, send messages directly to the LEDs and control the micro:bit buttons and pins from your iPad or iPhone. Monitor is ideal for exploiting Bluetooth services in real time, and for de-bugging your program code while it is running in the micro:bit. The MakeCode code editor now requires iOS 13 or later.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Jimu at 3.7 against micro's 3.3. Jimu also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (434 vs 90). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Jimu holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 434 and 90 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 37% of Jimu's written reviews are positive against 43% of micro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Jimu ships an update monthly, micro every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Jimu | micro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (434 ratings) — better | 3.3 (90 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 36.7% of reviews | 42.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 434 — better | 90 |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 197 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP | Micro:bit Educational Foundation |
Customer experience
Jimu
micro
User reviews
Jimu
From 434 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great app and product
- 👍 Awesome for kids
- 👍 Excellent connection and great robots
- 👍 Awesome experience
- 👍 Very cool and fun to build
Room to improve
- 🐛 Poorly laid out for iOS
- 🐛 App problems and glitches
- 🐛 Can't register or login issues
- 🐛 Instructions won't download
- 🐛 Pieces do not fit or are missing
micro
From 90 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use and quick to set up
- 💻 Allows coding on mobile devices
- 🎓 Great for learning and education
- ⚡ Fast download and installation
- 🔧 Works well once properly configured
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent Bluetooth pairing failures
- 🐛 App crashes during code flashing
- 🐛 Connection drops after flashing
- 📱 Poor optimization for phone screens
- 🔌 Requires frequent device reconnection
Bugs and requests
Jimu
Reported bugs
4 issues- Coding screen doesn't work
- Can't select different builds
- App crashes during building
- Incompatible with older devices
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode option
- More help and guidance in the app
- Ability to purchase missing parts
- Improved app stability and reliability
micro
Reported bugs
14 issues- Bluetooth pairing fails or shows false success
- App crashes when flashing code to micro:bit
- Connection lost after code flashing
- White screen display issue
- Login fails with Google accounts
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Text strings display with extra characters
- Arrow keys non-functional on iPad with Bluetooth
- Pairing pattern entry buggy and unclear
- Safari crashes on iPad 2
- Keyboard blocks code naming on iPhone
- App crashes when sending feedback
- Screen freezes during use
- Recent update broke existing micro:bit connections
- Flashing takes excessive time (1+ minute)
Requested features
11 requests- Offline mode for iOS
- Integrated IDE in app instead of Safari redirect
- Support for multiple languages
- Persistent Bluetooth connection after flashing
- Mute audio functionality
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Better pairing instructions
- USB cable connection alternative to Bluetooth
- Improved project save/storage duration
- WebKit Safari view controller integration
- Support for actual MicroPython instead of MakeCode Python
- Device statements for camera operations
In-app purchases
Jimu
No in-app purchases
micro
No in-app purchases









