Comparison

PLTW Kite Student Portal vs VEXcode EXP

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

Head to head
About

PLTW Kite Student Portal

This application enables students to take standardized Project Lead the Way course assessments on an iPad. It offers various student-friendly tools to aid in testing and measures learning achievement.

Highlights
  • Complete PLTW Course Assessments
  • Student-friendly graphics
  • Magnification tools
  • Calculators
  • Reference materials
  • Auditory calming support
  • ASL translations
Read full description

The PLTW Kite® Student Portal allows students to complete the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Course Assessments on an iPad. PLTW assessments are standardized tests given during and at the completion of a PLTW course. The test measures a student’s progress and learning achievement in the course. PLTW Kite Student Portal is a product of the Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI) at The University of Kansas. It uses student-friendly graphics and provides a large array of student tools, including magnification, calculators, reference materials, color overlay and highlighters. PLTW Kite Student Portal also supports tools such as auditory calming and American Sign Language translations.

About

VEXcode EXP

This coding environment helps students of all ages learn to program robots through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It offers a consistent experience across different VEX robot platforms and age groups, making computer science accessible and engaging.

Highlights
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
  • Consistent across VEX robot platforms
  • Supports multiple programming languages (Blocks/Text)
  • Built-in video tutorials
  • Extensive example projects
  • Device manager for robot setup
Features
Read full description

From elementary school through college, VEXcode is a coding environment that meets students at their level. The intuitive layout of VEXcode allows students to get started quickly and easily. VEXcode is consistent across Blocks and Text, across VEX 123, VEX GO, VEX IQ, VEX EXP, and VEX V5. As students progress from elementary, middle, and high school, they never have to learn a different blocks, code, or toolbar interface. As a result, students can focus on creating with technology, not trying to navigate a new layout. Drive Forward is the new Hello World We all know that robots attract kids to learn. VEX Robotics and VEXcode are providing opportunities for students of all ages to participate in learning the code that makes these robots work. VEX makes computer science come to life through collaborations, hands-on projects, and engaging experiences. From classrooms to competitions, VEXcode helps to create the next generation of innovators. Drag. Drop. Drive. VEXcode Blocks is the perfect platform for those new to coding. Students use the simple drag and drop interface to create functioning programs. Each block's purpose can easily be identified using the visual cues like its shape, color, and label. We've designed VEXcode Blocks to allow those who are new to robotics to get their robot up and running faster. Now, students can focus on being creative and learning computer science concepts, not stuck trying to figure out the interface. More accessible than ever VEXcode even helps across language barriers, allowing student to read blocks and comment programs in their native language. Drag & Drop. Powered by Scratch Blocks. Students and Teachers will feel instantly at home with this familiar environment. Video Tutorials. Grasp concepts faster. Built-in tutorials cover every aspect needed to get up to speed fast. And more tutorials are coming. Help is always there. Getting information on blocks is fast and easy. These resources were written by educators, in a form both teachers and students will grasp quickly. Drivetrain Blocks. A breakthrough in simplicity. From driving forward, making precise turns, setting speed, and stopping precisely, VEXcode makes it easier than ever to control a robot. Setup your VEX robot. Fast. VEXcode's device manager is simple, flexible, and powerful. In no time at all you can setup your robot's drivetrain, controller features, motors, and sensors. 60+ Example projects to choose from. Jumpstart your learning by starting with an existing project, covering every aspect of coding, controlling robots, and learning to use sensors. VEXcode Privacy Policy: https://www.vexrobotics.com/software-privacy-policy

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PLTW Kite Student Portal at 4.5 against VEXcode EXP's 3.0. VEXcode EXP's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 9 months) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.5). On price, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PLTW Kite Student Portal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PLTW Kite Student Portal ships an update every 9 months, VEXcode EXP every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PLTW Kite Student Portal versus VEXcode EXP: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPLTW Kite Student PortalVEXcode EXP
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS18.516.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB531 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAchievement and Assessment InstituteVEX Robotics, Inc.

Customer experience

PLTW Kite Student Portal

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

VEXcode EXP

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

PLTW Kite Student Portal

No in-app purchases

None

VEXcode EXP

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PLTW Kite Student Portal free?
PLTW Kite Student Portal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VEXcode EXP free?
VEXcode EXP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PLTW Kite Student Portal or VEXcode EXP?
PLTW Kite Student Portal is rated higher. PLTW Kite Student Portal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while VEXcode EXP averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do PLTW Kite Student Portal or VEXcode EXP have ads?
Neither PLTW Kite Student Portal nor VEXcode EXP shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PLTW Kite Student Portal or VEXcode EXP?
PLTW Kite Student Portal ships an update every 9 months, and VEXcode EXP every 6 weeks. Most recently, PLTW Kite Student Portal was updated on November 2, 2026 and VEXcode EXP on November 3, 2026.

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