# VEXcode 123 vs SAM Root

The clearest difference is update cadence: SAM Root at monthly against VEXcode 123's every 4 months. SAM Root also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, 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.

VEXcode 123 ships an update every 4 months, SAM Root monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VEXcode 123 | SAM Root |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.8 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-root/id1524652548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **42** |
| Positive reviews | — | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 408 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [VEX Robotics, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1162973741) | [SAM Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033131753) |

## What reviewers say

### VEXcode 123

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vexcode-123/id1501755917)

**In-app purchases:** none


### SAM Root

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-root/id1524652548)

Learn programming through interactive robotics with three progressive coding levels, from graphical blocks to Python 3. Control robots in real-time or test your code with a built-in 3D simulator.

**Highlights:** Three progressive coding levels, Graphical blocks to Python 3, Real-time robot control, Built-in 3D simulator, Seamless level switching, Bluetooth robot pairing

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VEXcode 123 free?

VEXcode 123 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SAM Root free?

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

### Do VEXcode 123 or SAM Root have ads?

Neither VEXcode 123 nor SAM Root shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VEXcode 123 or SAM Root?

VEXcode 123 ships an update every 4 months, and SAM Root monthly. Most recently, VEXcode 123 was updated on September 28, 2026 and SAM Root on September 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*