# BrainPOP vs Explore NC

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Explore NC at none against BrainPOP's 5. Explore NC also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). BrainPOP's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (34K vs 6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainPOP sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Explore NC asks for nothing beyond the download.

Explore NC holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainPOP has 34K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of BrainPOP's written reviews are positive against 100% of Explore NC's.

BrainPOP ships an update every 2 months, Explore NC every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainPOP | Explore NC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (34K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop/id364894352/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explore-nc/id1613986031/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **34K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 92.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 25 MB | 1.1 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BrainPOP®](https://appshunter.io/developer/364894355) | [Horizon Video Productions, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1072526409) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainPOP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop/id364894352)

This app offers award-winning animated educational videos, interactive activities, and quizzes designed by educators. It aims to transform passive screen time into active, enriched learning experiences for children in grades 3-8 across all subjects.

**Highlights:** Animated educational movies, Interactive activities, Quizzes, Content for grades 3-8, All subjects covered, Research-backed learning platform

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BrainPOP Explorer Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| BrainPOP Full Access | $15.99 | per month |
| BrainPOP Combo Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| BrainPOP Full Access Yearly | $129.99 | per year |
| BrainPOP Combo Yearly | $159.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and educational
- 🚀 Helpful for learning
- 👍 Great for kids
- 👍 Funny and entertaining
- 👍 Informative videos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Limited free content
- 🙄 Biased or one-sided content
- 🙄 Lacks detail in some topics

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues
- Playback problems
- Syncing issues across devices

**Requested features**

- More topics and content
- Lower subscription cost
- Better organization of content
- More character diversity
- Support for older devices


### Explore NC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explore-nc/id1613986031)

Discover North Carolina's historical and cultural sites through an engaging augmented reality experience. Interactive games and educational content are designed for children aged 5 and up, offering a fun way to learn about the state's attractions.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality experiences, Interactive games, Historical and cultural attractions, Educational content for kids, Learn about North Carolina sites

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainPOP free?

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

### Is Explore NC free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BrainPOP or Explore NC?

Explore NC is rated higher. BrainPOP averages 4.7 out of 5 from 34K ratings, while Explore NC averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do BrainPOP or Explore NC have ads?

Neither BrainPOP nor Explore NC shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainPOP or Explore NC?

BrainPOP ships an update every 2 months, and Explore NC every 11 months. Most recently, BrainPOP was updated on November 10, 2026 and Explore NC on November 3, 2026.

---

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