Comparison

LEGO® Powered Up vs Downstream

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

LEGO® Powered Up

Control motorized LEGO sets like trains and the Batmobile via Bluetooth. Bring your custom LEGO creations to life by coding movements and sounds using drag-and-drop programming. Experience interactive play with lights, sensors, and motors.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth control for LEGO vehicles
  • Customizable coding for models
  • Drag-and-drop programming
  • Add sounds and lights
  • Control speed and direction
  • Bring custom builds to life
Features
Read full description

Combine this app with the LEGO DC Super Heroes App-Controlled Batmobile (76112), the LEGO City Cargo Train (60198), or the LEGO City Passenger Train (60197) (each sold separately) to operate the motorized engines via Bluetooth controls, or use your imagination and build entirely new creations using LEGO Powered Up components and bring them to life by coding them. Make your models move and respond to real-world events. The LEGO Powered Up app puts you in the driver’s seat of the awesome 4-wheel-drive Batmobile to speed through the streets of GOTHAM CITY™. Drive forwards, backwards, left and right… or pull 360-degree turns! You can even activate cool tricks and stunts as you become the Dark Knight and fight crime. You can customize and code your Batmobile tricks and choose your sounds and movements – pretty awesome! The LEGO Powered Up app also controls LEGO trains to haul goods or pick up passengers around LEGO City. You can control the speed, change directions, and bring even more life to your play with various sounds such as a whistle, passenger announcement, railroad crossing bell, and more! The Bluetooth remote control app and the remote control handset included in the LEGO City train sets aren’t compatible with older infrared remote-controlled LEGO train sets. Thanks to Powered Up components like hubs, motors, sensors, and lights you will be able to bring your customized creations to life. You can also bring your existing LEGO models to life. Is your device compatible? Please go to LEGO.com/devicecheck to check if your device is compatible. Ask your parents’ permission before going online. The LEGO Powered Up App Feature List - Access control panels for DC Super Heroes App-Controlled Batmobile, LEGO City Cargo Train or LEGO City Passenger Train. - Control speed and direction of LEGO vehicles with a variety of exciting interfaces. - Add playful sounds and take your play to the next level. - Use LEGO Powered Up hardware components in your customized models to bring them to life! - Code movements and sounds for your models to create real-life behaviors. - Simple, easy-to-understand programming language based on drag’n’drop coding. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2019 The LEGO Group

About

Downstream

Features
Read full description

Dive into the heart of opera with "Downstream" (En Aval), an innovative 360° operatic performance that transforms your living space into a stage. About the project Stemming from the "OpéRA de poche" research-creation project, this application uses volumetric capture technology to renew the form and distribution of lyric art. Using your device's camera, summon the performers as well as immersive virtual sets into your own environment. Unlike a traditional video recording, this format allows you to physically move, choose your point of view, and walk around the artists and within the sets themselves, thereby mitigating the loss of presence often associated with screen-based works. Synopsis : A girl who lost her biological mother in a tragic event is now living with an adoptive mother. As the girl struggles to cope with her trauma and feels out of place in her new home, the adoptive mother tries to get closer to her, eventually revealing that she too has experienced a similar trauma... Downstream, the mother was carried away in the water... Downstream, trauma is passed from generation to generation... Downstream, love is passed from generation to generation… Technical Requirements: Internet Connection: The first launch of the work requires downloading a large volume of additional data. A stable and fast Wi-Fi connection is highly recommended before starting the experience. Hardware Requirements: This work requires intensive 3D rendering calculations. It has been developed and optimized for high-end mobile devices. The experience may be impaired or incompatible on older generation devices. Storage Space: The application requires significant storage on the device to host the volumetric data and high-fidelity spatialized audio once downloaded. Viewing Conditions: For optimal deployment of the augmented reality, it is recommended to use the application in a well-lit room with a clear floor space. Credits An interdisciplinary co-creation developed with the participation of the Canada Research Chair in Opera Creation and the Opéra de Montréal.

Screenshots

LEGO® Powered Up4 screens
Downstream3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Downstream at daily against LEGO® Powered Up's every 2 months. LEGO® Powered Up's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LEGO® Powered Up ships an update every 2 months, Downstream daily. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
LEGO® Powered Up versus Downstream: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLEGO® Powered UpDownstream
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (554 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews41.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings554 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.5 GB2.9 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLEGOServices Appwapp inc.

Bugs and requests

LEGO® Powered Up

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Bluetooth connection drops
  • Motors not controllable through app
  • Timer blocks don't work
  • Motor code blocks don't work
  • Coding canvas is broken
Show 7 more
  • Loses Bluetooth connection randomly
  • Coding blocks not working properly
  • App doesn't run in background
  • Doesn't work on latest iOS
  • Doesn't work with new hubs and motors
  • Can only connect one hub at a time
  • Train stops when app closes

Requested features

12 requests
  • Add more sound effects
  • Add more music to the playlist
  • Allow custom sounds
  • Improve parameters
  • Add more controls
Show 7 more
  • Add more widgets
  • Allow custom themes
  • Add documentation
  • Add support for LEGO Boost and Mindstorms
  • Add loop option for sounds
  • Add dark mode option
  • Add advanced analytics dashboard

Downstream

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

LEGO® Powered Up

No in-app purchases

None

Downstream

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is LEGO® Powered Up free?
LEGO® Powered Up is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Downstream free?
Downstream is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do LEGO® Powered Up or Downstream have ads?
Neither LEGO® Powered Up nor Downstream shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LEGO® Powered Up or Downstream?
LEGO® Powered Up ships an update every 2 months, and Downstream daily. Most recently, LEGO® Powered Up was updated on October 21, 2026 and Downstream on September 29, 2026.

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