Comparison

Arduino Science Journal vs Arduino Programming Tutorial

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

Head to head
About

Arduino Science Journal

Transform your smartphone into a science notebook. Use your device's sensors and connect external hardware to gather real-time data, conduct experiments, and analyze findings. Ideal for students to explore the world scientifically.

Highlights
  • Use smartphone sensors
  • Connect external Arduino sensors
  • Record and analyze real-time data
  • Conduct interactive experiments
  • Enhance lesson plans
  • Cross-platform support
Features
Read full description

The Arduino Science Journal (formerly Science Journal, an initiative by Google) is free and allows you to gather data about the world around you by harnessing the sensors in your smartphone as well as sensors connected to Arduino. The Science Journal transforms smartphones and tablets into science notebooks that encourage students to explore their world. The Arduino Science Journal app is recommended for students from 10 to 18 years of age. About Arduino Science Journal With the Arduino Science Journal, you can learn interactively, conduct experiments and iterate on findings. • Enhance your existing lesson plans: use the Science Journal with activities and assignments you have already prepared • Classroom & home-school friendly: you don’t have to be in a classroom setting to start exploring. The Arduino Science Journal can be used to run experiments straight away, as long as you have your smartphone or tablet with you! • Move learning outside: the use of mobile devices along with the types of experiments we offer encourage students to get out of their seats and open their eyes to the world around them through the power of science • Science and data have no secrets: you can easily record your observations, store your data sensors in real-time and analyse them, just as a proper scientist! • Connect the digital and the physical world from your pocket: go through a series of simple tutorials and start having fun with science With built-in device sensors as well as external hardware, you can measure light, sound, movement, and much more. You can also compare results, and even set triggers. Together with the external hardware, (not included with the app), students are enabled to conduct more complex experiments, and advance in their scientific studies. As long as the external sensors are compatible with a Bluetooth-connecting device such as a microcontroller, there is no end to what experiments the students can make. Some popular sensors that the app can work with are: light, conductivity, temperature, force, gas, heart rate, respiration, radiation, pressure, magnetism, and many more. The app is classroom-friendly, since students can sign in on any device and access their experiments to continue exploring the world, wherever they are! Permissions notice: • Bluetooth: needed to scan for Bluetooth sensor devices. • Camera: needed to take pictures to document experiments and for the brightness sensor. • Photo Library: needed to store pictures taken to document experiments and for adding existing photos from your library to experiments. • Microphone: needed for sound intensity sensor. • Push notifications: needed to inform you of recording status when backgrounding the app. Benefits of using the Arduino Science Journal • It’s free and simple to use • Easy setup: download the app and start exploring with your phone’s built-in sensors • Cross-platform support • Portable: enhance your home learning or bring your device outside to study the world around you • Fully compatible with Arduino hardware: keep experimenting with the Arduino Science Kit Physics Lab, as well as the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense board • Google Drive integration, as well as local download --- Terms and Conditions: https://www.arduino.cc/en/sj-terms-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.arduino.cc/en/privacy-policy Children's Privacy Policy: https://www.arduino.cc/en/privacy-policy/children-privacy-policy

About

Arduino Programming Tutorial

Learn Arduino programming with over 200 lessons, circuit diagrams, and code examples. Covers electronics, components, and C++ essentials for beginners and advanced users. Available in 14 languages.

Highlights
  • 200+ practical lessons
  • Circuit diagrams and wiring guides
  • Ready-to-use code examples
  • Interactive quiz questions
  • Covers 14 languages
  • Detailed component explanations
  • C++ programming essentials
Features
Read full description

Learn Arduino programming from scratch with 200+ practical lessons, circuit diagrams, and ready-to-use code examples. For beginners, students, hobbyists, and engineers looking to learn Arduino from scratch or advance their skills — build real projects, understand electronics, and master Arduino. The app includes a wide collection of electronic components, analog and digital sensors, and external modules used with Arduino. Each topic includes: • Clear, detailed explanations of how components work • Step-by-step wiring instructions and circuit guidance • Integration steps with practical usage tips • Ready-to-use Arduino code examples • Interactive quiz questions Available in 14 Languages: • English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese — study in your native language! The application provides detailed lessons and wiring guides for a wide range of hardware components commonly used with Arduino, including: • GPIO, buttons, LEDs • ADC, PWM • UART, I2C, SPI communication • Distance, motion, and infrared sensors • Temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors • Light, sound, gas, and touch sensors • LCD and OLED displays • Motors, relays, and actuators • Accelerometers and gyroscopes • Real-time clock modules These examples include wiring diagrams, explanations, and ready-to-use Arduino code. The built-in programming course covers essential C++ topics used in Arduino development: • Data types and variables • Operators and expressions • Control structures and loops • Arrays and strings • Functions and scope • Math and random functions • Bitwise operations • Preprocessor directives All lessons, component descriptions, and quizzes are regularly updated and expanded in every new app version. "Arduino" and all other mentioned trade names are trademarks of their respective owners. This app is an independent educational product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or associated with Arduino or any other company.

Screenshots

Arduino Science Journal4 screens
Arduino Programming Tutorial4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arduino Programming Tutorial at none against Arduino Science Journal's 2. Arduino Science Journal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (59% vs 45%). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Arduino Science Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Arduino Programming Tutorial asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Arduino Science Journal ships an update every 2 months, Arduino Programming Tutorial every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Arduino Science Journal versus Arduino Programming Tutorial: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArduino Science JournalArduino Programming Tutorial
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (1.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews58.7% of reviews — better45.5% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArduino LLCALG Software Lab

Customer experience

Arduino Science Journal

All ratings1,102 ratings
Positive86.0%
Neutral3.4%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews75 reviews
Positive58.7%
Neutral5.3%
Negative36.0%

Arduino Programming Tutorial

Written reviews22 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative36.4%

Bugs and requests

Arduino Science Journal

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App often crashes when trying to add sensors
  • Sensor selection menu doesn't work
  • Freezes on loading dashboards with blank screen
  • Stopped working after iOS 15 update

Requested features

5 requests
  • iCloud sync
  • CSV export for data analysis
  • Velocity sensors using GPS
  • Arduino sensor integration
  • Buzzer with variable range

Arduino Programming Tutorial

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Arduino Science Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Teacher Monthly Plan1 Month trial$7.991 Month
  • Yearly Teacher Plan1 Month trial$63.991 Year
None

Arduino Programming Tutorial

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Arduino Science Journal free?
Arduino Science Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arduino Programming Tutorial free?
Arduino Programming Tutorial is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Arduino Science Journal or Arduino Programming Tutorial have ads?
Arduino Programming Tutorial shows ads; Arduino Science Journal does not.
Which is updated more often, Arduino Science Journal or Arduino Programming Tutorial?
Arduino Science Journal ships an update every 2 months, and Arduino Programming Tutorial every 6 weeks. Most recently, Arduino Science Journal was updated on September 19, 2026 and Arduino Programming Tutorial on September 23, 2026.

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