Comparison

Sololearn vs Thorlabs Toolkit

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

Head to head
About

Sololearn

Learn programming languages like Python, Java, and C# through interactive lessons and hands-on practice. This app offers bite-sized courses, coding challenges, and AI-powered support to help you build practical coding skills on the go. Join millions of learners worldwide advancing their careers and creating real-world solutions.

Highlights
  • Interactive coding lessons
  • Hands-on coding exercises
  • AI-powered coding support
  • Mobile code editor
  • Community support
  • Personalized learning paths
Features
Read full description

Start learning to code with Sololearn, the #1 app for learning programming on the go! Created by top educators and tech experts, Sololearn offers interactive lessons and hands-on practice in over 20 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, SQL, Java, C#, and more. Join over 35 million learners worldwide building skills, advancing careers, and turning ideas into real-world solutions with Sololearn's community-driven, beginner-friendly courses. Ready to start your coding journey? What You Get with Sololearn • 4 Career Tracks & 20+ Full Courses – Dive into thousands of coding lessons and hands-on coding exercises, crafted in a bite-sized, engaging format. Ideal for future developers and coding enthusiasts alike! • Practice from Lesson One – Start coding right away with real-world projects, interactive coding games, and challenges that make learning fun. With engaging content in Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, and more, Sololearn helps you build practical skills from day one. • Code with AI from Lesson One – Begin your coding journey with AI-powered support. As AI becomes integral to development, Sololearn ensures you’re ready with skills all modern developers need. • Real-Time Support When You Need It – Stuck? Get help within minutes! Tap into our supportive community or ask Kodie, our in-app teacher, for instant, AI-powered guidance on any coding challenge. • Personalized Learning Just for You – Sololearn adapts to your pace, preferences, and skill level, tailoring a learning plan that fits you. Progress through coding lessons at your own speed with content customized to match your goals and learning style. • Code Anytime, Anywhere – Practice coding anytime with Sololearn’s mobile code editor. From Python to JavaScript and more, keep learning and coding wherever you are. • Powered by Learning Science – Sololearn strikes the perfect balance of theory and practice with spaced repetition, real-world challenges, and the right level of difficulty, all designed to maximize retention and make coding stick What 35M+ users love about Sololearn • Engaging, hands-on lessons for real-world coding • Learning made super easy • Wide variety of coding courses • Perfect for beginners & pros alike • Learn anywhere with mobile coding What the Media Says About Us - "A profound impact on millions of people's financial futures." – TechCrunch - "Hundreds of different quizzes and activities." – Forbes - "An enjoyable environment for infinite professional growth." – TechCrunch HOW DOES IT WORK? With Sololearn, you can start learning to code for free. However, to unlock access to all features, you’ll need to enable a free Pro trial. If you choose not to cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the trial, you will automatically be charged the price shown on the payment screen for your selected subscription period. Don’t worry—the App Store will remind you when your free trial is nearing its end. The Sololearn Pro subscription renews automatically at the end of each period (weekly, monthly, or yearly, depending on your choice) until you cancel. Canceling your subscription will disable automatic renewal, but you’ll still have access to all your Pro features until the end of the current subscription period. Looking for even more? Our Max subscription includes exclusive Learn AI content with 15 courses designed to boost your AI-driven skills. Master data analytics, data visualization, writing and brainstorming with AI, SEO optimization, and much more with cutting-edge tools to accelerate your growth. Please note: Deleting the app does not cancel your subscription. Terms of Use: https://www.sololearn.com/en/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.sololearn.com/en/privacy-policy/ Contact Us For any questions or suggestions on how to make your experience better, reach out to us at info@sololearn.com

About

Thorlabs Toolkit

Features
Read full description

Get convenient access to photonics calculators, equations, and other information and resources when you download this free app! This application is being continually updated to offer new types of resources, as well as to expand existing categories, so be sure to check for updates. The current version of the app includes a collection of calculators that engineers and technicians at Thorlabs Lens Systems and elsewhere have used on the floor for over 15 years. Each calculator page includes the equations used in the calculations, as well as usage notes and information about assumptions included in the equations. Additional resources include brief summaries of ray tracing, lens theory, Snell’s Law, manufacturing tolerances, and evaluation of system resolution using the modulation transfer function (MTF). History Thorlabs Toolkit builds on the excellent foundation provided by the JML Optical Calculator. When JML Optical joined Thorlabs’ family as Thorlabs Lens Systems, it provided a wonderful opportunity to expand the app to share knowledge collected from across all of Thorlabs.

Screenshots

Sololearn4 screens
Thorlabs Toolkit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Thorlabs Toolkit at none against Sololearn's 14. Thorlabs Toolkit also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Sololearn's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On price and device support 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. Sololearn sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Thorlabs Toolkit asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sololearn ships an update every 2 weeks, Thorlabs Toolkit every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sololearn versus Thorlabs Toolkit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSololearnThorlabs Toolkit
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (82K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews69.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings82K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSololearn IncThorlabs, Inc.

Bugs and requests

Sololearn

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Incorrect test answers even when the code is correct
  • Inability to enter certain characters or syntax correctly
  • Lessons not saving progress properly
  • Landscape mode not supported on tablets
  • Frequent crashes or freezes

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more advanced courses and content
  • Improve code editor and IDE functionality
  • Implement better explanations and feedback for incorrect answers
  • Add more programming languages like Lua
  • Improve search and navigation within the app
Show 1 more
  • Provide offline mode for learning

Thorlabs Toolkit

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Sololearn

Subscriptions12
  • Sololearn PRO Monthly3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • SoloLearn PRO Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Sololearn PRO Monthly2 variants$12.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • SoloLearn PRO Annual3 Days trial$47.991 Year
  • PRO Annual (14 days trial)14 Days trial$47.991 Year
  • SoloLearn PRO Annual14 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Sololearn PRO Annual14 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • SoloLearn PRO Annual$69.991 Year
  • Sololearn PRO Annual14 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Sololearn PRO Annual7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Full access to AI courses7 Days trial$97.991 Year
  • Sololearn MAX14 Days trial$119.991 Year
None

Thorlabs Toolkit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sololearn free?
Sololearn is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thorlabs Toolkit free?
Thorlabs Toolkit is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sololearn or Thorlabs Toolkit have ads?
Sololearn shows ads; Thorlabs Toolkit does not.
Which is updated more often, Sololearn or Thorlabs Toolkit?
Sololearn ships an update every 2 weeks, and Thorlabs Toolkit every 4 months. Most recently, Sololearn was updated on October 30, 2026 and Thorlabs Toolkit on October 25, 2026.

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