# mBlock vs OctoStudio

The clearest difference is review sentiment: OctoStudio at 83% against mBlock's 34%. OctoStudio also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

OctoStudio holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 152 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of mBlock's written reviews are positive against 83% of OctoStudio's.

mBlock ships an update every 2 months, OctoStudio monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | mBlock | OctoStudio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mblock-learn-coding/id1367117202/reviews) | **[4.8 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **152** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 170 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Makeblock Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1002364464) | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322) |

## 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


### OctoStudio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316)

Create animations and games using coding blocks on your mobile device. Bring your own photos and sounds to life, and share your interactive projects with others. Developed by the creators of Scratch at MIT, it's a free and fun way to learn coding.

**Highlights:** Create animations and games, Use coding blocks, Incorporate photos and sounds, Interactive project features, Share projects as video or GIF, Offline project creation, Learn coding through play

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is mBlock free?

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

### Is OctoStudio free?

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

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

OctoStudio is rated higher. mBlock averages 3.1 out of 5 from 152 ratings, while OctoStudio averages 4.8 from 64 ratings.

### Do mBlock or OctoStudio have ads?

Neither mBlock nor OctoStudio shows ads.

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

mBlock ships an update every 2 months, and OctoStudio monthly. Most recently, mBlock was updated on September 17, 2026 and OctoStudio on September 20, 2026.

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