Comparison

LEGO® Boost vs Sphero Play

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

Head to head
About

LEGO® Boost

Bring your LEGO creations to life with this app. Combine it with the LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox set to build, code, and play with interactive robots and models. Enjoy over 60 activities and digital building instructions.

Highlights
  • Digital LEGO Building Instructions
  • Drag-and-drop programming interface
  • Over 60 fun activities
  • Build and code custom creations
  • Control LEGO models with mobile device
  • Combine with other LEGO sets
Features
Read full description

The LEGO® Boost app is available for download until January 1st 2027. Combine this app with the LEGO® BOOST Creative Toolbox (17101) set to bring your creations to life! Enjoy more than 60 fun activities with simple drag-n'-drop coding, watch videos and access digital LEGO Building Instructions. Have fun with LEGO models that can move, talk and respond to real-world events. Take your experience to another level with advanced coding. Build and BOOST your own robot toy creations and control them from your mobile device. All it takes is three simple steps: BUILD, CODE and PLAY! Is your device compatible? Please go to LEGO.com/devicecheck to check if your device is compatible. Ask your parents’ permission before going online. LEGO® BOOST App Feature List - Access digital LEGO® Building Instructions for all 5 LEGO BOOST models included with the 17101 LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox. - BUILD, CODE and PLAY with CODABLE LEGO® models. - Bring your LEGO® BOOST creations to life with the simple drag-n'-drop PROGRAMMING interface. - Enjoy more than 60 fun ACTIVITIES. - Imagine, build and code your own creations. Kick-start your creativity—3 inspirational models included with the app. - Combine 17101 LEGO BOOST with the LEGO® City 60194 Arctic Scout Truck to control and drive the vehicle! Use the app to operate the forklift, examine samples with the color sensor, help the whale back into the water and much more. - Combine 17101 LEGO BOOST with LEGO® NINJAGO® 70652 Stormbringer and set the Lightning Dragon free! Use the app to control the fearsome beast, fire the shooters, create a color-sensing ejector seat and much more! - Go to LEGO.com/devicecheck to check if your device is compatible. Ask your parents’ permission before going online. LEGO BOOST set (17101) Feature List - Includes 844 LEGO® pieces, plus a LEGO Move Hub, Interactive Motor and a Color & Distance Sensor. - Move Hub features Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity, 2 encoded motors, activation button, internal tilt sensor and a light. - Interactive Motor is an encoded motor. - Color & Distance Sensor detects distance, motion and color, and can also function as a light. - Create and code Vernie the Robot, Frankie the Cat, the M.T.R.4 (Multi-Tooled Rover 4), the Guitar 4000 and the AutoBuilder. - Rotate Vernie’s head to activate its shoulder-mounted spring-loaded shooter. - Build the M.T.R.4 (Multi-Tooled Rover 4) and try out the different tool and customization attachments for an array of exciting activities. - Learn songs and rock out with the Guitar4000! - Look after your own pet with Frankie the Cat. Be sure to feed it the right food—or it might get upset! - Construct, code and operate the AutoBuilder to produce real miniature LEGO® models. - Build and code robots and models, and complete exciting activities with the playmat and intuitive LEGO® BOOST app. The LEGO® BOOST Creative Toolbox set (17101) is sold separately. For app support contact LEGO Consumer Service. For contact details refer to http://service.lego.com/contactus Our privacy policy and terms of use for apps are accepted if you download this app. Read more on http://aboutus.lego.com/legal-notice/Privacy-Policy and http://aboutus.lego.com/legal-notice/terms-of-use-for-apps There’s no third-party advertising. LEGO marketing content and information is served, for instance LEGO news about LEGO sets and other LEGO games, in hope of inspiring children’s creative play. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2017 The LEGO Group.

About

Sphero Play

Control and play with various Sphero robots using a single application. Explore multiple drive modes, engage in robot-controlled games, and learn basic programming through a block-based interface.

Highlights
  • Multiple drive modes (joystick, tilt, voice)
  • Robot-controlled games
  • Block Drive programming
  • Sports-themed drive modes
  • Voice control
Features
Read full description

Drive and play games from ONE app with your Sphero Mini, Sphero 2.0, SPRK, SPRK+, BOLT, and BOLT+. Connect and control your robots with several exciting drive modes, use your robot as a controller to play games, or try out Block Drive for an intro to programming with colorful blocks. Features include: DRIVE MODES Drive your robots several ways with the Sphero Play app. Use the joystick and slingshot controls, tilt your device, or use your voice. Our sports-themed drive modes keep things fun with the ability to swing your device to "golf"*, or flick to "kick" your robot. BLOCK DRIVE PROGRAMMING Learn programming basics by controlling your robot with colorful movement and light blocks. GAMES Use your robot as a controller to shoot your way through space, race your vehicle through a tunnel avoiding obstacles and scoring points, or rotate your ball to destroy a polygon of bricks. Need robots? We know a guy. Visit sphero.com and order today. *This mode is not available on iPads.

Screenshots

LEGO® Boost4 screens
Sphero Play4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sphero Play at 4.8 against LEGO® Boost's 4.6. Sphero Play also leads on ratings volume (37K vs 4.3K). LEGO® Boost's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sphero Play holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 4.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of LEGO® Boost's written reviews are positive against 69% of Sphero Play's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LEGO® Boost ships an update every 3 months, Sphero Play every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
LEGO® Boost versus Sphero Play: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLEGO® BoostSphero Play
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (4.3K ratings)4.8 (37K ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.6% of reviews69.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.3K37K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size717 MB193 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLEGOSphero, Inc.

Customer experience

LEGO® Boost

All ratings4,261 ratings
Positive90.7%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews392 reviews
Positive65.6%
Neutral8.4%
Negative26.0%

Sphero Play

All ratings36,681 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews519 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative24.7%

User reviews

LEGO® Boost

From 4.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun and engaging
  • 👍 Great for learning coding
  • 🎨 Excellent for creativity
  • 💡 Impressive programming options
  • 🤖 Enjoyable building experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔋 Battery life problems
  • 📚 Unclear instructions
  • 🤔 Confusing programming interface
  • 🔍 Difficulty finding parts

Sphero Play

From 37K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun and engaging app
  • 👍 Great controls and customization
  • 🎮 Enjoyable games and activities
  • 💡 Compatibility with multiple Sphero products

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues
  • 🔧 Limited features compared to older apps
  • 🔋 Concerns about battery life and durability

Bugs and requests

LEGO® Boost

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes and freezes
  • Firmware update failures
  • Bluetooth connection problems
  • Lost progress and build instructions
  • Sensor and motor issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • More advanced programming blocks
  • Ability to save and load projects
  • Improved instructions and documentation
  • Compatibility with more devices
  • Easier part organization

Sphero Play

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Joystick controls not working as expected
  • Alignment issues causing unexpected movement

Requested features

4 requests
  • More games and activities
  • Support for additional Sphero products (e.g. Ollie, BB-8)
  • Improved aiming and control precision
  • Camera integration to see the Sphero's view

In-app purchases

None

LEGO® Boost

No in-app purchases

None

Sphero Play

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LEGO® Boost free?
LEGO® Boost is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sphero Play free?
Sphero Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, LEGO® Boost or Sphero Play?
Sphero Play is rated higher. LEGO® Boost averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Sphero Play averages 4.8 from 37K ratings.
Do LEGO® Boost or Sphero Play have ads?
Neither LEGO® Boost nor Sphero Play shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LEGO® Boost or Sphero Play?
LEGO® Boost ships an update every 3 months, and Sphero Play every 2 months. Most recently, LEGO® Boost was updated on November 6, 2026 and Sphero Play on November 6, 2026.

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