Comparison

Project Lead The Way vs VEXcode IQ

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

Head to head
About

Project Lead The Way

Manage your experience at Project Lead The Way events and conferences. This app allows you to view event details, create a personalized agenda, and update your profile for the specific event you are attending. Access all necessary event information conveniently.

Highlights
  • View event details
  • Create personalized agenda
  • Update event profile
  • Access event information
Features
Read full description

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that provides transformative learning experiences for PreK-12 students and teachers across the U.S. The PLTW mobile app allows for the management of individual attendee experiences for PLTW-hosted events and conferences. Sign in with the credentials provided to you by PLTW to make the most of your PLTW event experience! Features: - View event details - Create your own personalized agenda - Update your profile for the specific event you will attend - Access to all the event information you need

About

VEXcode IQ

This coding environment is designed for students of all ages to learn programming through robotics. Its intuitive interface, consistent across different levels and platforms, allows users to focus on creation rather than navigation. It makes computer science accessible and engaging through hands-on projects and collaborations.

Highlights
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
  • Consistent across Blocks and Text
  • Robot drivetrain control blocks
  • Device manager for robot setup
  • Built-in video tutorials
  • Example projects for learning
  • Multilingual block support
Features
Read full description

From elementary school through college, VEXcode is a coding environment that meets students at their level. The intuitive layout of VEXcode allows students to get started quickly and easily. VEXcode is consistent across Blocks and Text, across VEX IQ and VEX V5. As students progress from elementary, middle, and high school, they never have to learn a different blocks, code, or toolbar interface. As a result, students can focus on creating with technology, not trying to navigate a new layout. Drive Forward is the new Hello World We all know that robots attract kids to learn. VEX Robotics and VEXcode are providing opportunities for students of all ages to participate in learning the code that makes these robots work. VEX makes computer science come to life through collaborations, hands-on projects, and engaging experiences. From classrooms to competitions, VEXcode helps to create the next generation of innovators. Drag. Drop. Drive. VEXcode Blocks is the perfect platform for those new to coding. Students use the simple drag and drop interface to create functioning programs. Each block's purpose can easily be identified using the visual cues like its shape, color, and label. We've designed VEXcode Blocks to allow those who are new to robotics to get their robot up and running faster. Now, students can focus on being creative and learning computer science concepts, not stuck trying to figure out the interface. More accessible than ever VEXcode even helps across language barriers, allowing student to read blocks and comment programs in their native language. Drag & Drop. Powered by Scratch Blocks. Students and Teachers will feel instantly at home with this familiar environment. Video Tutorials. Grasp concepts faster. Built-in tutorials cover every aspect needed to get up to speed fast. And more tutorials are coming. Help is always there. Getting information on blocks is fast and easy. These resources were written by educators, in a form both teachers and students will grasp quickly. Drivetrain Blocks. A breakthrough in simplicity. From driving forward, making precise turns, setting speed, and stopping precisely, VEXcode makes it easier than ever to control a robot. Setup your VEX robot. Fast. VEXcode's device manager is simple, flexible, and powerful. In no time at all you can setup your robot's drivetrain, controller features, motors, and sensors. 40+ Example projects to choose from. Jumpstart your learning by starting with an existing project, covering every aspect of coding, controlling robots, and learning to use sensors.

Screenshots

Project Lead The Way3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VEXcode IQ at 55% against Project Lead The Way's 4%. VEXcode IQ also leads on rating (3.7 vs 1.8) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 12 months). Project Lead The Way's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, 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

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

VEXcode IQ holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of Project Lead The Way's written reviews are positive against 55% of VEXcode IQ's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Project Lead The Way ships an update every 12 months, VEXcode IQ every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Project Lead The Way versus VEXcode IQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProject Lead The WayVEXcode IQ
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (76 ratings)3.7 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews3.7% of reviews54.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings76 — better39
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB892 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperProject Lead The WayVEX Robotics, Inc.

Customer experience

Project Lead The Way

All ratings75 ratings
Positive16.0%
Neutral5.3%
Negative78.7%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive3.7%
Neutral11.1%
Negative85.2%

VEXcode IQ

All ratings38 ratings
Positive65.8%
Neutral2.6%
Negative31.6%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral6.1%
Negative39.4%

In-app purchases

None

Project Lead The Way

No in-app purchases

None

VEXcode IQ

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Project Lead The Way free?
Project Lead The Way is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VEXcode IQ free?
VEXcode IQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Project Lead The Way or VEXcode IQ?
VEXcode IQ is rated higher. Project Lead The Way averages 1.8 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while VEXcode IQ averages 3.7 from 39 ratings.
Do Project Lead The Way or VEXcode IQ have ads?
Neither Project Lead The Way nor VEXcode IQ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Project Lead The Way or VEXcode IQ?
Project Lead The Way ships an update every 12 months, and VEXcode IQ every 6 weeks. Most recently, Project Lead The Way was updated on October 15, 2026 and VEXcode IQ on October 20, 2026.

Other comparisons