micro vs eSchool Rooms
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.
eSchool Rooms
Facilitates live online classes for students and educators. Enables sharing of audio, video, and screen content during webinars. Requires microphone, camera, and network access.
- Live webinar functionality
- Audio sharing
- Video sharing
- Screen sharing
- Student and teacher access
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This application allows students and teachers to open webinar live class and share audio, video and screen. Permissions needed: 1- Microphone 2- Camera 3- Network connection
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: eSchool Rooms at 3.8 against micro's 3.3. eSchool Rooms also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 43%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 7 months). micro's advantage is ratings volume (90 vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
eSchool Rooms holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: micro has 90 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of micro's written reviews are positive against 67% of eSchool Rooms's.
micro ships an update every 7 months, eSchool Rooms every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | micro | eSchool Rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (90 ratings) | 3.8 (10 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 42.6% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 90 — better | 10 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Micro:bit Educational Foundation | eSchool |
Customer experience
micro
eSchool Rooms
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
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- 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
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- 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
eSchool Rooms
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
micro
No in-app purchases
eSchool Rooms
No in-app purchases
