Comparison

Encode vs imagi

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

Head to head
About

Encode

Learn to code with interactive, bite-sized lessons designed for busy schedules. Master popular languages like Python, JavaScript, and SQL through hands-on exercises and challenges. Ideal for beginners, this app makes coding accessible and fun, offering certificates upon completion.

Highlights
  • Bite-sized interactive lessons
  • Hands-on coding exercises
  • Learn Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, SQL
  • Built-in code playground
  • Daily motivation streaks and hearts
  • Certificates of completion
Features
Read full description

Start coding today with short, interactive lessons! Learn Python, SQL, HTML/CSS, JavaScript (and more) at your own pace. Encode makes learning to code easy! Bite-Sized Learning: Fit coding into your busy life with effective lessons you can complete in just 15 minutes daily. Hands-On Coding: Write REAL code from lesson one! Our interactive quizzes, coding exercises, and challenges build practical, real-world skills. Master In-Demand Languages: Learn Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, & SQL. Plus, explore mini-courses in R, Swift, Java, & the Command Line. Practice Anywhere: Our built-in playground for coding means no setup headaches. Experiment, test, and write code on the go. Learning Made Fun: Daily streaks and hearts keep you motivated. Coding feels like a game, not a chore! Perfect for Absolute Beginners: No coding experience needed! Encode guides you step-by-step, demystifying complex concepts. Build Real-World Skills: Prepare to build websites, automate tasks, analyze data, or launch your tech career. Earn Your Certificate: Showcase your new coding skills with a personalized certificate of completion. Join thousands learning to code with Encode. Visit https://upskew.com/privacy for our Privacy Policy and https://upskew.com/tos for our Terms of Use. Illustrations by Ouch (https://icons8.com/ouch). Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you at support@upskew.com.

About

imagi

Learn Python coding through creative projects and a supportive community. Build pixel art, animations, and share your creations. Connect with friends and even bring your code to life with a physical gadget.

Highlights
  • Learn Python basics
  • Create pixel art and animations
  • Explore community projects
  • Remix and build upon others' work
  • Share creations as stickers or backgrounds
  • Connect with friends for collaborative coding
Features
Read full description

Never tried coding before? Looking to learn with like-minded friends? With imagi, you will learn to code in Python and use this skill to express yourself creatively. Become part of an welcoming, kind, and fun community where you get to learn together. LEARN No previous coding experience needed, the imagi Ghost will guide you to write your first lines of code in Python. This Python is not a scary snake – it’s a way to create with code. Soon you will master variables, loops, conditionals, functions, and more. Earn coding superpowers along the way! EXPLORE Discover inspiring coding projects created by others in the community. Comment on projects by your fellow creators to encourage or help them. Remix others’ projects to build upon their work and add your own creative modifications to create your own unique project. CREATE Use what you have learned in the imagi app to create pixel art designs and animations. When you're done you can run and check your code with the code editor, as well as learn how to debug like professional programmers. Save your projects to come back to them later. Code with your friends on a FaceTime call. SHARE Share what you created and show the world what you can code. Show your projects to your friends, family, and pets outside the imagi app as stickers, on top of cool backgrounds or even on top of a photo taken inside the imagi app! WEAR To make using the imagi app even more fun, connect to your imagiCharm and show the world your creations by wearing it. The imagiCharm is a customisable gadget that brings your code and pixel art to life in the physical world. REPEAT Once you learn the basics you will be able to create whatever you like. If you can dream it, you can code it! To unlock all features of the imagi app and engage with our global community, you will be required to create an account. This ensures a safe and enjoyable experience for all users, fostering a secure environment for interaction and exploration.

Screenshots

Encode4 screens
imagi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: imagi at none against Encode's 2. imagi also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Encode's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Encode sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. imagi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Encode against 4.7 for imagi. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.4K and 3.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Encode's written reviews are positive against 82% of imagi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Encode ships an update every 2 weeks, imagi every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Encode versus imagi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEncodeimagi
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (6.4K ratings) — better4.7 (3.1K ratings)
Positive reviews88.8% of reviews — better82.4% of reviews
Number of ratings6.4K — better3.1K
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB242 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUpskew Pty. Ltd.imagiLabs AB

Customer experience

Encode

All ratings6,375 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral2.8%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews249 reviews
Positive88.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative6.4%

imagi

All ratings3,090 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral3.3%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews210 reviews
Positive82.4%
Neutral3.8%
Negative13.8%

User reviews

Encode

From 6.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to learn and understand
  • 🚀 Bite-sized, digestible lessons
  • 💡 Engaging and game-like approach
  • 🆓 Mostly free with no ads
  • 👌 Smooth and intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 🕰️ Long wait times after mistakes
  • 💰 Restricts content behind paywall
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 🤔 Lacks depth for more advanced learners

imagi

From 3.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤩 Fun and engaging
  • 👍 Easy to use and learn
  • 💡 Teaches coding in a unique way
  • 🤖 Helpful for learning programming
  • 🌟 Great for beginners

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Requires sign-up with personal information
  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches, especially on higher levels
  • 🤔 Limited coding capabilities, not a full-fledged coding app
  • 😕 Repetitive and can get boring over time

Bugs and requests

Encode

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incorrect grammar/spelling in some lessons
  • Inability to input answers in certain lessons
  • Lesson content not always matching what's asked

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more coding languages like C++, C#, and Lua
  • Implement progress sync across devices
  • Provide more interactive coding exercises
  • Include audio/voice guidance for lessons

imagi

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to progress past certain levels due to bugs
  • Freezing and crashes on some devices
  • Issues with input recognition and validation

Requested features

5 requests
  • More advanced coding lessons and features
  • Ability to create own pixel art without constraints
  • Easier sign-up process without requiring personal info
  • More levels and content updates
  • Ability to share creations with others

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Encode

Subscriptions2
  • Encode Plus (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Encode Plus (Annual)$39.991 Year
None

imagi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Encode free?
Encode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is imagi free?
imagi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Encode or imagi?
Encode is rated higher. Encode averages 4.8 out of 5 from 6.4K ratings, while imagi averages 4.7 from 3.1K ratings.
Do Encode or imagi have ads?
Encode shows ads; imagi does not.
Which is updated more often, Encode or imagi?
Encode ships an update every 2 weeks, and imagi every 5 weeks. Most recently, Encode was updated on October 1, 2026 and imagi on October 2, 2026.

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