Comparison

Sphero Play vs Carle

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

Head to head
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.

About

Carle

Control a robot using your phone with intuitive buttons or gravity sensors. The app also allows you to play stories, songs, and poems.

Highlights
  • Button controls for robot movement
  • Gravity sensor control
  • Robot dancing
  • Play stories
  • Play songs
  • Play poems
Features
Read full description

这是一款通过手机控制机器人的App,主要有以下功能: 1.App操控按钮控制机器人移动跳舞 2.手机重力感应控制机器人移动 3.播放故事歌曲诗词

Screenshots

Sphero Play4 screens
Carle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sphero Play at 69% against Carle's 25%. Sphero Play also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (37K vs 57). On price, update cadence, 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

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 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sphero Play has 37K ratings behind it against 57, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Sphero Play's written reviews are positive against 25% of Carle's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, Carle every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sphero Play versus Carle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSphero PlayCarle
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (37K ratings) — better3.8 (57 ratings)
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings37K — better57
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015
Further details — not scored
Size193 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSphero, Inc.DKC Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Sphero Play

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

Carle

All ratings57 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral10.5%
Negative22.8%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative62.5%

Bugs and requests

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

Carle

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Sphero Play

No in-app purchases

None

Carle

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sphero Play free?
Sphero Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Carle free?
Carle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sphero Play or Carle?
Sphero Play is rated higher. Sphero Play averages 4.8 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while Carle averages 3.8 from 57 ratings.
Do Sphero Play or Carle have ads?
Neither Sphero Play nor Carle shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sphero Play or Carle?
Sphero Play ships an update every 2 months, and Carle every 3 months. Most recently, Sphero Play was updated on November 5, 2026 and Carle on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons