# mBlock vs ScratchUP

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | mBlock | ScratchUP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.1 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mblock-learn-coding/id1367117202/reviews) | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchup/id1596380124/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **152** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 170 MB | 397 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Makeblock Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1002364464) | [Ulrich PICAUD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1582663236) |

## What reviewers say

### mBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mblock-learn-coding/id1367117202)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for coding robots
- 👍 Works well with Codey Rocky
- 👍 Great for learning programming
- 👍 Similar to Scratch
- 👍 Bluetooth connection works

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not support mBot2/mBot Neo
- 🐛 Connection issues (Bluetooth)
- 🐛 App is glitchy
- 🐛 Upload mode not working on iPad
- 🐛 Live mode not working

**Reported bugs**

- mBot2/mBot Neo not supported
- Bluetooth connection fails or is unstable
- App crashes or freezes
- Upload mode not functional on iPad
- Live mode unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Add mBot2/mBot Neo support
- Improve Bluetooth connectivity
- Add local storage for programs
- Implement zoom functionality
- Add more examples for Codey Rocky


### ScratchUP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchup/id1596380124)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is mBlock free?

mBlock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ScratchUP free?

ScratchUP costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, mBlock or ScratchUP?

ScratchUP is rated higher. mBlock averages 3.1 out of 5 from 152 ratings, while ScratchUP averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do mBlock or ScratchUP have ads?

Neither mBlock nor ScratchUP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, mBlock or ScratchUP?

mBlock ships an update every 2 months, and ScratchUP every 9 months. Most recently, mBlock was updated on October 8, 2026 and ScratchUP on September 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*