DERS vs TinkRcode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DERS
This tool assesses the quality of learning environments for children aged 2.5 to 12. It measures environmental design and implementation against desired developmental outcomes, focusing on executive functions, literacy, and social-emotional growth.
- Measures learning environment quality
- Focuses on executive functions
- Assesses literacy development
- Evaluates social-emotional growth
- Research-based environmental attributes
- Classroom observation tool
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The Developmental Environmental Rating Scale (DERS) measures the quality of learning environments offered in classrooms serving children between the ages of 2.5 and 12. It aligns environmental design and implementation with desired outcomes related to executive functions, literacy, and social-emotional development. The DERS consists of 60 research-based environmental attributes or observable behaviors (child and adult) aligned with five broad aspects of human development: initiation and concentration, inhibitory control, working memory, linguistic and cultural fluency, and social fluency and emotional flexibility. The assessment is administered in a 60-minute classroom observation, during which the assessor records the presence, magnitude, and/or frequency for each item. Schools can use the DERS internally to identify priorities for continuous improvement or externally as an assessment of environmental quality. The DERS was developed by researchers at the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector.
TinkRcode
This app provides a visual, drag-and-drop programming environment for K-8 students to bring STEAM projects to life. It works with curriculum and project kits to offer an engaging learning experience.
- Drag-and-drop block programming
- STEAM curriculum integration
- Project kit compatibility
- Brings projects to life
- Visual programming environment
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TinkRworks is a provider of unique and engaging STEAM curriculum for grades K-8. The TinkRcode App, in combination with TinkRworks curriculum and project kits enable students to bring their projects to life using a visual, drag and drop, block-based programming environment. This App is intended for use by schools and educational organizations.
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: DERS at every 4 months against TinkRcode's every 56 months. DERS also leads on ratings volume (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.2 vs 13.4). On price, rating, 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for DERS against 5.0 for TinkRcode. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
DERS ships an update every 4 months, TinkRcode every 56 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DERS | TinkRcode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 56 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 8.2 — better | 13.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 68 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Centre for Montessori in the Public Sector, Inc. | TinkRworks LLC |
Customer experience
DERS
TinkRcode
In-app purchases
DERS
No in-app purchases
TinkRcode
No in-app purchases
