Photon Coding vs SAM Root
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Icon-based programming languages
- Draw, Badge, and Blocks modes
- Mobile device control
- Explore robot possibilities
- Create custom programs
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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.
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.
- Three progressive coding levels
- Graphical blocks to Python 3
- Real-time robot control
- Built-in 3D simulator
- Seamless level switching
- Bluetooth robot pairing
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Photon Coding | SAM Root |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 3.8 (42 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 46.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 42 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 148 MB | 92 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Photon Entertainment sp. z o.o. | SAM Labs |
Customer experience
Photon Coding
SAM Root
In-app purchases
Photon Coding
No in-app purchases
SAM Root
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Photon Coding free?
Is SAM Root free?
Which has better reviews, Photon Coding or SAM Root?
Do Photon Coding or SAM Root have ads?
Which is updated more often, Photon Coding or SAM Root?
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