# SAM Root vs OctoStudio

The clearest difference is rating: OctoStudio at 4.8 against SAM Root's 3.8. OctoStudio also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 46%). SAM Root's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

OctoStudio holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of SAM Root's written reviews are positive against 83% of OctoStudio's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SAM Root | OctoStudio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (42 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sam-root/id1524652548/reviews) | **[4.8 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 42 | **64** |
| Positive reviews | 46.2% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 92 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SAM Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1033131753) | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### OctoStudio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316)

Create animations and games using coding blocks on your mobile device. Bring your own photos and sounds to life, and share your interactive projects with others. Developed by the creators of Scratch at MIT, it's a free and fun way to learn coding.

**Highlights:** Create animations and games, Use coding blocks, Incorporate photos and sounds, Interactive project features, Share projects as video or GIF, Offline project creation, Learn coding through play

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SAM Root free?

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

### Is OctoStudio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SAM Root or OctoStudio?

OctoStudio is rated higher. SAM Root averages 3.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while OctoStudio averages 4.8 from 64 ratings.

### Do SAM Root or OctoStudio have ads?

Neither SAM Root nor OctoStudio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SAM Root or OctoStudio?

SAM Root ships an update monthly, and OctoStudio monthly. Most recently, SAM Root was updated on September 7, 2026 and OctoStudio on September 29, 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.*