# Puppet Pals vs Tynker Junior

The clearest difference is price: Tynker Junior at Free against Puppet Pals's $6.99. Tynker Junior also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (4.2K vs 13). Puppet Pals's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Tynker Junior is free to download; Puppet Pals costs $6.99 up front. Tynker Junior sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Puppet Pals asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tynker Junior holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tynker Junior has 4.2K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 71% of Puppet Pals's written reviews are positive against 59% of Tynker Junior's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Puppet Pals ships an update every 3 weeks, Tynker Junior every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Puppet Pals | Tynker Junior |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puppet-pals-school-edition/id462134755/reviews) | **[4.5 (4.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tynker-junior-coding-for-kids/id1393933000/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **4.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **70.6% of reviews** | 58.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 78 MB | 396 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Polished Play, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/332686547) | [Tynker](https://appshunter.io/developer/805869470) |

## What reviewers say

### Puppet Pals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puppet-pals-school-edition/id462134755)

This app provides a complete toolkit for creating animated puppet shows, allowing students to draw custom characters, use photos, and access pre-loaded assets. It includes printable lesson plans for various subjects and is designed for safe, offline classroom use.

**Highlights:** Create animated puppet shows, Draw custom characters and backdrops, Use photos as characters/backgrounds, Over 100 pre-loaded characters, Printable lesson plans and resources, Offline functionality, No ads or in-app purchases

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Tynker Junior

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tynker-junior-coding-for-kids/id1393933000)

This app introduces children aged 4-7 to coding concepts through engaging, word-free picture blocks. It helps them develop problem-solving, logic, and critical thinking skills through interactive coding adventures. Designed for young learners, it makes learning to code fun and accessible.

**Highlights:** Word-free picture block coding, Problem-solving and logic development, Music and art creation, 200+ coding challenges, Tap-based interface, Voiceovers for guidance

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Individual Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan | $24.99 | per month |
| Individual Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan | $59.99 | per 3 months |
| Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan | $119.99 | per year |
| Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan | $314.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging for kids
- 💡 Good introduction to coding concepts
- 🚀 Easy to use interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy code and bugs
- 💰 Limited access without subscription
- 🤔 Misleading about subscription details

**Reported bugs**

- Levels/games not progressing properly
- Login and account issues
- Compatibility problems on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced coding lessons
- Improve customer support and responsiveness
- Integrate with full Tynker app for seamless experience


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Puppet Pals free?

Puppet Pals costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Tynker Junior free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Puppet Pals or Tynker Junior?

Tynker Junior is rated higher. Puppet Pals averages 4.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Tynker Junior averages 4.5 from 4.2K ratings.

### Do Puppet Pals or Tynker Junior have ads?

Neither Puppet Pals nor Tynker Junior shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Puppet Pals or Tynker Junior?

Puppet Pals ships an update every 3 weeks, and Tynker Junior every 2 months. Most recently, Puppet Pals was updated on November 6, 2026 and Tynker Junior on November 6, 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.*