VEXcode IQ vs Rugs alive™ Plus
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VEXcode IQ
This coding environment is designed for students of all ages to learn programming through robotics. Its intuitive interface, consistent across different levels and platforms, allows users to focus on creation rather than navigation. It makes computer science accessible and engaging through hands-on projects and collaborations.
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Consistent across Blocks and Text
- Robot drivetrain control blocks
- Device manager for robot setup
- Built-in video tutorials
- Example projects for learning
- Multilingual block support
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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 IQ 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. 40+ 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.
Rugs alive™ Plus
This app uses augmented reality to bring educational rugs to life in 3D. Students can interact with zoo animals, practice letter and animal identification, and engage in collaborative learning activities. It's designed to enhance classroom engagement and introduce early STEM concepts.
- 3D Augmented Reality animal animations
- Alphabet and animal identification
- Habitat matching games
- Virtual animal placement
- Photo capture of AR animals
- Supports collaboration and communication
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Our colorful and vibrant classroom alphabet/habitat rugs come to life in 3D Augmented Reality with help from the Rugs alive™ Plus mobile app. Not only are our rugs perfect for practicing upper and lowercase letters, animal identification, and animal/habitat matching, they also have 26 zoo animals that spring to life right in your classroom! Teachers and early learners love the interaction! Your students will be challenged to match a Habitat Card with an animal that lives there to be rewarded with that animal joining the class through the magic of 3D Augmented Reality. The Rugs alive Plus app allows placement of the animals virtually anywhere in your real world environment! Alive Studios’ rugs and the Rugs alive Plus app can also be utilized for increasing student collaboration, building relationships, and effective communication as well as early concepts of STEM and problem solving. The Rugs alive Plus app allows users to take photos of the zoo animals, which may or may not include other people. The photos taken are automatically saved locally into the device’s photo section, if permitted by the user. Rugs alive Plus does not require user accounts or logins, nor does it collect user data.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Rugs alive™ Plus at 100% against VEXcode IQ's 55%. Rugs alive™ Plus also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). VEXcode IQ's advantage is ratings volume (39 vs 3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
Rugs alive™ Plus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VEXcode IQ has 39 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of VEXcode IQ's written reviews are positive against 100% of Rugs alive™ Plus's.
VEXcode IQ ships an update every 6 weeks, Rugs alive™ Plus every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VEXcode IQ | Rugs alive™ Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (39 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 39 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 892 MB | 326 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | VEX Robotics, Inc. | Alive Studios, LLC |
Customer experience
VEXcode IQ
Rugs alive™ Plus
In-app purchases
VEXcode IQ
No in-app purchases
Rugs alive™ Plus
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VEXcode IQ free?
Is Rugs alive™ Plus free?
Which has better reviews, VEXcode IQ or Rugs alive™ Plus?
Do VEXcode IQ or Rugs alive™ Plus have ads?
Which is updated more often, VEXcode IQ or Rugs alive™ Plus?
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