mBlock vs ScratchUP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
mBlock
This app enables students to learn coding through a block-based interface or Python. It supports creating games, animations, and programming robots, incorporating AI, IoT, and data science for advanced computer science education.
- Graphical programming with drag-and-drop blocks
- Python programming support
- Create games and animations
- Program robots
- AI, IoT, and data science features
- Cloud storage for projects
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With mBlock, students can easily create games, animations, and program robots by dragging and dropping blocks, or through writing Python. Moreover, mBlock comes with AI, IoT, data science features for cutting-edge computer science learning, making it the perfect helper for coding educators and learners. Features: - Graphical programming: The app allows users to create projects with the most popular graphical programming language and program robots to do things as they can imagine. It makes programming as easy as blocks building. - Game-based learning: Children learn to code in completing tasks and know how it feels to accomplish something. - Cloud storage: Users can store their projects in the cloud, syncing the projects across devices. It’s safe and convenient. - Compatible with Makeblock robots: mBot, mBot Ranger, Codey Rocky, Neuron - Support multiple languages: Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, Polish, and Korean. Contact us: - For more information, please visit the official website: https://www.mblock.cc - Contact us via email: support@makeblock.com - Join Facebook group: Makeblock Talk & Share
ScratchUP
This app allows users to learn, teach, and play with code. It offers a variety of features for creating educational activities, including sensor integration, machine learning capabilities, and math tools. Compatible with Scratch files, it provides an offline coding experience for students and educators.
- Scratch file compatibility (.sb2, .sb3)
- Sensor event integration (touch, keyboard, camera, Bluetooth)
- Machine learning for object and sound recognition
- Body detection, Handpose, and Facemesh
- QRCode scanner
- Math tools for learning
- Offline app functionality
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ScratchUP is the perfect app for students, teachers, and anyone who wants to learn coding. Use it in the classroom or at home to create interactive projects, explore programming concepts, and design educational activities with endless possibilities. Scratch-compatible: open and save .sb2 and .sb3 files with ease. Build richer projects by combining touch events, keyboard input, camera features, and Bluetooth sensor data. A fullscreen offline app packed with powerful features: - Virtual keyboard for managing key events - Bluetooth connection to devices such as micro:bit - Body Detection, Hand Pose, and Face Mesh powered by machine learning - QR code scanner - Train your own object recognition models with machine learning - Import Teachable Machine models to recognize objects and sounds - Built-in math tools for easier learning - Control the front and back cameras directly in code - New Function extension for creating more advanced programs - New option to hide blocks in the interface and in scripts for a cleaner workspace - Native iPadOS export to share projects instantly via AirDrop or email - Export scripts as images to easily add them to worksheets, lessons, or other documents Code, learn, teach, and play — all in one app. Enjoy!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: mBlock at Free against ScratchUP's $0.99. mBlock also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (152 vs 4). ScratchUP's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.1) and review sentiment (75% vs 34%). On ads, in-app purchases 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
mBlock is free to download; ScratchUP costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ScratchUP holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: mBlock has 152 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of mBlock's written reviews are positive against 75% of ScratchUP's.
mBlock ships an update every 2 months, ScratchUP every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | mBlock | ScratchUP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 3.1 (152 ratings) | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 152 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 9 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 170 MB | 397 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Makeblock Co., Ltd. | Ulrich PICAUD |
Customer experience
mBlock
ScratchUP
Bugs and requests
mBlock
Reported bugs
26 issues- mBot2/mBot Neo not supported
- Bluetooth connection fails or is unstable
- App crashes or freezes
- Upload mode not functional on iPad
- Live mode unresponsive
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- Sprites cannot be moved correctly
- Key blocks not functioning as expected
- Saving and syncing issues lead to data loss
- Cannot upload programs
- Firmware update required via PC, not Bluetooth
- Translation errors in blocks and interface
- Tutorials are glitchy or do not work
- Fixed rotation issues
- No zoom in/out for blocks
- iPad development appears to be halted
- Cannot grant Bluetooth permissions on iPad
- Parts of the app interface disappear
- Cannot create variables on specific devices
- Incompatibility with older iOS versions
- Some sensors are not controllable via the app
- Quad RGB sensor library is not fully translated
- Costume editor lacks copy-paste and image/sound import
- Line follower functionality not working
- Code execution results in no robot action
- App requires re-login frequently
- Web version updates break iPad version compatibility
Requested features
18 requests- Add mBot2/mBot Neo support
- Improve Bluetooth connectivity
- Add local storage for programs
- Implement zoom functionality
- Add more examples for Codey Rocky
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- Enable Arduino coding in the app
- Improve translation of blocks and interface
- Add copy-paste functionality in costume editor
- Allow adding photos and sounds in costume editor
- Fix variable creation on iPhone X/iPad
- Update Scratch 3 features
- Add more sprites/photos
- Improve tutorial functionality
- Add dark mode
- Enable firmware updates via Bluetooth
- Improve compatibility with older Makeblock controllers
- Add full French language support
- Allow sharing projects
ScratchUP
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
mBlock
No in-app purchases
ScratchUP
No in-app purchases
