micro vs PictoBlox
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
PictoBlox
Learn to code with a block-based platform that integrates robotics, AI, and machine learning. Create games, animations, and control hardware using intuitive drag-and-drop Scratch blocks. Ideal for beginners to develop 21st-century skills.
- Block-based coding
- Robotics control
- AI and Machine Learning
- IoT projects
- Game and animation creation
- Hardware interaction
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PictoBlox is a block based coding app for students with enhanced hardware-interaction capabilities and emerging technologies such as robotics, AI and machine learning that make learning to code fun and engaging. Just drag and drop the Scratch coding blocks and make cool games, animations, interactive projects, and even control robots the way you want! ● 21st-Century Skills PictoBlox opens doors for beginners to learn creative and physical computing in an engaging way and thus helps in developing must-have skills of today’s technology-driven world such as: - Creativity - Logical reasoning - Critical thinking - Problem-solving ● Coding Skills With PictoBlox and its courses, beginners will learn important coding concepts such as: - Logic - Algorithms - Sequencing - Loops - Conditional statements ● AI and ML for beginners Beginners can learn Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concepts such as: - Face and text recognition - Speech Recognition and virtual assistant - Training ML models like image, pose, and audio - AI based games ● Extensions for Making Countless DIY Projects PictoBlox has dedicated extensions for making projects based on the Internet of Things (IoT), controlling Scratch projects using a mobile app via Bluetooth, programming actuators, sensors, display modules, NeoPixel RGB lights, robotic arm, humanoid robots, and much more. Boards Compatible with PictoBlox App: - evive - Quarky - Arduino Uno - Arduino Mega - Arduino Nano - ESP32 - T Watch - Boffin - TecBits Bluetooth Modules Compatible with PictoBlox: - HC-05 BT 2.0 - HC-06 BT 2.0 - HM-10 BT 4.0 BLE (or AT-09) Want to know more about PictoBlox? Visit: https://thestempedia.com/product/pictoblox Getting Started with PictoBlox: Projects that you can make:https://thestempedia.com/project/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PictoBlox at 3.5 against micro's 3.3. micro's advantage is update cadence (every 7 months vs every 14 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.3). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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.
PictoBlox holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 89 and 45 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of micro's written reviews are positive against 48% of PictoBlox's.
micro ships an update every 7 months, PictoBlox every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | micro | PictoBlox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (89 ratings) | 3.5 (45 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews | 48.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 89 — better | 45 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months — better | Every 14 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 14.3 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 178 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Micro:bit Educational Foundation | Agilo Research Private Limited |
Customer experience
micro
PictoBlox
User reviews
micro
From 89 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
PictoBlox
From 45 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great for learning AI
- 👍 Good for robotics
- 👍 Intuitive block interface
- 👍 Fun for beginners
- 👍 Good for short projects
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and glitches
- 🐛 Projects not saving
- 🐛 Freezes and crashes
- 🐛 Lagging issues
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate
Bugs and requests
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
PictoBlox
Reported bugs
9 issues- Birthday date not appearing during account creation
- Purple screen and reset when saving project
- Microphone activated unexpectedly
- Space instead of left arrow in hat block
- Projects not saving on iPad and laptops
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Arduino not connecting
- Character and code deleted after saving and reopening project
- App freezes and project disappears on refresh
- Camera access concerns
Requested features
10 requests- Zoom in feature for drawing
- Pixelated text option
- Custom controls (thumbsticks, levers)
- Move variables with finger
- Drag code to other sprites
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Bigger window for code/stage
- Add more extensions
- Cloud variables for multiplayer
- Dark mode
- Full screen option
In-app purchases
micro
No in-app purchases
PictoBlox
No in-app purchases









