# FinchBlox vs SAM Studio

The clearest difference is rating: SAM Studio at 5.0 against FinchBlox's 4.0. SAM Studio also leads on ratings volume (3 vs 1). FinchBlox's advantage is device support (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

SAM Studio holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on June 12, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FinchBlox | SAM Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/finchblox/id1455231117/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-studio/id1582863218/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 119 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BirdBrain Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1012525349) | [SAM Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033131753) |

## What reviewers say

### FinchBlox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/finchblox/id1455231117)

This app allows children ages 5-9 to code a Finch Robot using an icon-based programming language. It introduces foundational computer science skills through three levels of increasing complexity, teaching concepts like sequencing, parameters, and loops.

**Highlights:** Icon-based programming, Three learning levels, Teaches sequencing, Introduces parameters, Supports loops, Requires Finch Robot 2.0

**In-app purchases:** none


### SAM Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-studio/id1582863218)

This platform offers tools and curriculum-aligned lesson plans for engaging STEAM and coding education. It features intuitive visual coding apps and wireless electronic blocks to bring computational thinking to life in the classroom.

**Highlights:** Curriculum-aligned lesson plans, Intuitive visual flow-based and block-based coding, Wireless Bluetooth electronic blocks, Lesson Builder tool, Teacher support and training, Support for various sensors and motors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FinchBlox free?

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

### Is SAM Studio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FinchBlox or SAM Studio?

SAM Studio is rated higher. FinchBlox averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while SAM Studio averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do FinchBlox or SAM Studio have ads?

Neither FinchBlox nor SAM Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FinchBlox or SAM Studio?

FinchBlox ships an update every 5 months, and SAM Studio every 5 months. Most recently, FinchBlox was updated on June 12, 2026 and SAM Studio on June 1, 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.*