# Octopus vs Mate academy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mate academy at none against Octopus's 4. Mate academy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (86% vs 71%). Octopus's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (13.6 vs 15.5). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Octopus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Mate academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Octopus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mate academy has 45 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Octopus's written reviews are positive against 86% of Mate academy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Octopus ships an update monthly, Mate academy every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Octopus | Mate academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octopus-learn-programming/id1565140788/reviews)** | [4.8 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mate-academy-learn-to-code/id1636846508/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **45** |
| Positive reviews | 71.2% of reviews | **85.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 107 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.6** | 15.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alaa CHERBIB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1097070945) | [Mate academy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1560379718) |

## What reviewers say

### Octopus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octopus-learn-programming/id1565140788)

Learn to code in popular languages like Python, Java, Swift, and JavaScript, plus web development with HTML and CSS. Offers detailed tutorials and interactive exercises for all skill levels. Join a community of learners to advance your programming journey.

**Highlights:** Learn Python, Java, Swift, JavaScript, Web development with HTML and CSS, Detailed tutorials, Interactive coding exercises, Community collaboration, Courses for all levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Learn programming - 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Learn programming - 3 Months | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| Learn programming - 1 Year | $84.99 | per year |
| Learn programming - No limits | $44.99 | one-time |


### Mate academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mate-academy-learn-to-code/id1636846508)

Learn in-demand tech skills through hands-on projects and quick lessons. An AI mentor provides instant guidance, while gamified elements like streaks and leaderboards make learning engaging. Connect with a community of learners to build a tech career.

**Highlights:** 80% hands-on practice, AI mentor for instant guidance, Gamified learning with streaks and leaderboards, Community learning features, Courses for frontend, fullstack, Python, UX/UI, and more, Beginner-friendly approach

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Octopus free?

Octopus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mate academy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Octopus or Mate academy?

Octopus is rated higher. Octopus averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Mate academy averages 4.8 from 45 ratings.

### Do Octopus or Mate academy have ads?

Octopus shows ads; Mate academy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Octopus or Mate academy?

Octopus ships an update monthly, and Mate academy every 3 weeks. Most recently, Octopus was updated on September 16, 2026 and Mate academy on September 26, 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.*