Comparison

Photon Coding vs SAM Root

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

Head to head
About

Photon Coding

Create programs for your Photon robot using intuitive, icon-based languages like Draw, Badge, and Blocks. Explore your robot's capabilities and build custom programs directly from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Icon-based programming languages
  • Draw, Badge, and Blocks modes
  • Mobile device control
  • Explore robot possibilities
  • Create custom programs
Features
Read full description

Program your Photon robot from your mobile device anytime and anywhere. Photon Code is an application that allows you to create programs for your Photon robot in Draw, Badge and Blocks - fully icon-based robot programming languages that are super easy to use. Use the app to build any program for Photon and discover the unlimited possibilities of your robot. NOTE: This app requires a Photon robot and a Bluetooth 4.0 device to play.

About

SAM Root

Learn programming through interactive robotics with three progressive coding levels, from graphical blocks to Python 3. Control robots in real-time or test your code with a built-in 3D simulator.

Highlights
  • Three progressive coding levels
  • Graphical blocks to Python 3
  • Real-time robot control
  • Built-in 3D simulator
  • Seamless level switching
  • Bluetooth robot pairing
Read full description

SAM Root makes it easy and fun to learn programming through hands-on robotics! With three progressive coding levels—from graphical blocks to hybrid blocks to Python 3 syntax—you’ll be building real coding skills and controlling robots in no time. MASTER CODING WITH 3 LEARNING LEVELS No coding experience? No problem! SAM Root meets you where you are and grows with your skills: - LEVEL 1: Graphical Blocks – Start with drag-and-drop, graphical blocks to grasp the fundamentals of coding logic—no reading required. - LEVEL 2: Hybrid Blocks – Transition into more advanced coding structure with blocks that blend visuals and coding script. - LEVEL 3: Python Code Blocks – Discover the structure and syntax of professional coding languages with full-text Python 3 code blocks. SEAMLESSLY SWITCH BETWEEN LEVELS Change coding levels anytime with a tap. SAM Root automatically converts your code, so you can match your skill level and learn the professional Python syntax behind each block. CONNECT TO ROOT ROBOTS Pair with a Root coding robot via Bluetooth and bring your programs to life! Control movement, lights, sounds, sensors, and more—while watching your code run in real time. TEST WITH THE BUILT-IN SIMULATOR Use the built-in 3D simulator to test your programs, speed up execution, and try new ideas—all without needing hardware.

Screenshots

Photon Coding4 screens
SAM Root4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Photon Coding at 5.0 against SAM Root's 3.8. SAM Root's advantage is ratings volume (42 vs 2) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Photon Coding holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SAM Root has 42 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photon Coding ships an update every 3 months, SAM Root monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Photon Coding versus SAM Root: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoton CodingSAM Root
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.8 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews—46.2% of reviews
Number of ratings242 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size148 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhoton Entertainment sp. z o.o.SAM Labs

Customer experience

Photon Coding

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SAM Root

All ratings42 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral11.9%
Negative23.8%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative46.2%

In-app purchases

None

Photon Coding

No in-app purchases

None

SAM Root

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Photon Coding free?
Photon Coding is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SAM Root free?
SAM Root is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Photon Coding or SAM Root?
Photon Coding is rated higher. Photon Coding averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while SAM Root averages 3.8 from 42 ratings.
Do Photon Coding or SAM Root have ads?
Neither Photon Coding nor SAM Root shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photon Coding or SAM Root?
Photon Coding ships an update every 3 months, and SAM Root monthly. Most recently, Photon Coding was updated on September 17, 2026 and SAM Root on September 22, 2026.

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