Comparison

LEGO® Boost vs Lens Buddy

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

Lens Buddy

Instantly identify building bricks by pointing your camera at them. This app uses machine learning to recognize hundreds of bricks directly on your device, making it easy to find similar pieces. It also provides a comprehensive catalog of all existing bricks with search and information features.

Highlights
  • Recognize bricks with camera
  • Explore brick catalog
  • Search bricks by description
  • Search bricks by category
  • View brick information
Features
Read full description

Lens Buddy! Search for your Bricks by simply pointing the camera at them! Thanks to it's Machine Learning algorithm Lens Buddy is able to recognize hundreds of Bricks directly on your device! Search for a similar piece has never been easier! Lens Buddy also contains the catalogue of ALL the existing bricks, you can search them by description or category! With Lens Buddy you can: * Search for Bricks using your Camera * Explore the catalogue of ALL the existing Bricks * Search for a particular brick * Have useful informations for every Brick * More cool features are coming!!.. Stay tuned! Stop spending hours searching for a piece! Lens Buddy!

Screenshots

LEGO® Boost4 screens
Lens Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LEGO® Boost at 66% against Lens Buddy's 0%. LEGO® Boost also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Lens Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. LEGO® Boost asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

LEGO® Boost holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LEGO® Boost has 4.3K ratings behind it against 115, 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 0% of Lens Buddy's.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
LEGO® Boost versus Lens Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLEGO® BoostLens Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (4.3K ratings) — better2.7 (115 ratings)
Positive reviews65.6% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4.3K — better115
Update frequencyEvery 3 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size717 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLEGOMorella Folesani

Customer experience

LEGO® Boost

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

Lens Buddy

All ratings115 ratings
Positive39.1%
Neutral6.1%
Negative54.8%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

Lens Buddy

From 115 App Store ratings

Room to improve

  • 💸 Paywall for core feature
  • ❌ Inaccurate recognition
  • 👎 Does not work as advertised
  • ⏳ Waste of time and money
  • 🚫 Bait and switch marketing

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

Lens Buddy

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Camera doesn't recognize pieces
  • App charges before testing
  • Incorrectly identifies pieces
  • Main feature blocked by paywall
  • Doesn't recognize even basic bricks
Show 2 more
  • Camera mode doesn't work
  • App doesn't recognize any pieces

Requested features

4 requests
  • Make camera feature free
  • Improve recognition accuracy
  • Allow testing before purchase
  • Fix the app's functionality

In-app purchases

None

LEGO® Boost

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Lens Buddy

One-time1
  • Lens Buddy Pro$0.99

Questions

Is LEGO® Boost free?
LEGO® Boost is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lens Buddy free?
Lens Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LEGO® Boost or Lens Buddy?
LEGO® Boost is rated higher. LEGO® Boost averages 4.6 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while Lens Buddy averages 2.7 from 115 ratings.
Do LEGO® Boost or Lens Buddy have ads?
Neither LEGO® Boost nor Lens Buddy shows ads.

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