mBlock vs PictoBlox Junior Blocks
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
PictoBlox Junior Blocks
This app introduces beginners to coding through a fun, block-based interface. Explore AI, robotics, and create games, animations, and interactive projects. Develop essential 21st-century skills like creativity and logical reasoning.
- Block-based coding interface
- AI and Machine Learning exploration
- Robotics and hardware interaction
- Create games and animations
- Develop 21st-century skills
- Logic and algorithm concepts
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Junior Blocks is a block-based educational coding app for beginners with enhanced hardware-interaction capabilities and emerging technologies such as robotics and AI that make learning to code fun and engaging. Just drag and drop the coding blocks and make cool games, animations, interactive projects, and even control robots the way you want! ● 21st-Century Skills Junior Blocks opens doors for beginners to learn creative and physical computing in an engaging way and helps develop essential skills for today’s technology-driven world such as: - Creativity - Logical reasoning - Critical thinking - Problem-solving ● Coding Skills With Junior Blocks, learners can understand key coding concepts such as: - Logic - Algorithms - Sequencing - Loops - Conditional statements ● AI and ML for Education Users can explore Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concepts like: - Face and text recognition - Speech recognition and virtual assistant - AI-based games ● Extensions for Making Countless DIY Projects Junior Blocks offers dedicated extensions to create exciting projects involving AI, robotics, Scratch project control via Bluetooth, programming wheels, sensors, displays, NeoPixel RGB lights, and much more. Boards Compatible with PictoBlox App: - Quarky - Wizbot Want to know more about Junior Blocks? Visit: https://thestempedia.com/product/pictoblox Getting Started with Junior Blocks: Projects that you can make:https://thestempedia.com/project/ Permissions required for: Bluetooth: to provide connectivity. Camera: for taking pictures, videos, face recognition, etc. Microphone: to send voice commands and use the sound meter. Storage: to store the images and videos taken. Location: to use the location sensor and BLE. Download Junior Blocks NOW and start the exciting world of coding and AI with these interactive coding blocks.
Screenshots
Verdict
mBlock and PictoBlox Junior Blocks both sit at 3.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of PictoBlox Junior Blocks's written reviews are positive against 34% of mBlock's. PictoBlox Junior Blocks also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). mBlock's advantage is ratings volume (155 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.1 for mBlock against 3.0 for PictoBlox Junior Blocks. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: mBlock has 155 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of mBlock's written reviews are positive against 100% of PictoBlox Junior Blocks's.
mBlock ships an update every 2 months, PictoBlox Junior Blocks every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | mBlock | PictoBlox Junior Blocks |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (155 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 155 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 170 MB | 314 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Makeblock Co., Ltd. | STEMpedia |
Customer experience
mBlock
PictoBlox Junior Blocks
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
PictoBlox Junior Blocks
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
mBlock
No in-app purchases
PictoBlox Junior Blocks
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is mBlock free?
Is PictoBlox Junior Blocks free?
Which has better reviews, mBlock or PictoBlox Junior Blocks?
Do mBlock or PictoBlox Junior Blocks have ads?
Which is updated more often, mBlock or PictoBlox Junior Blocks?
Other comparisons
