Comparison

BrainPOP Jr. vs Osmo Squiggle Magic

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

Head to head
About

BrainPOP Jr.

This app offers engaging animated movies, interactive activities, and quizzes for K-3 learners. It aims to transform passive screen time into active, enriched educational experiences with relatable characters guiding children through various subjects. The platform is designed to foster critical thinking and independent learning.

Highlights
  • Animated movies
  • Interactive activities
  • Quizzes
  • K-3 curriculum
  • Critical thinking focus
  • Independent learning
Read full description

Access BrainPOP Jr.’s award-winning animated movies, activities and quizzes made by educators and replace your kids’ passive screen time with active, enriched learning. The gentle, humorous, and relatable characters Annie and Moby serve as guides through each topic, empowering kids to form their own ideas. BrainPOP Jr. is designed to cultivate critical thinking skills and encourage children to ask questions and make connections. Start your free trial today to access content for grades K-3 across all subjects. BrainPOP Jr. is a research-backed learning platform created by educators that know how kids learn best, and perfect for age-appropriate, independent learning. Start watching, learning, playing and growing with us! Terms of Use: https://www.brainpop.com/about/terms_of_use/ Privacy Policy: https://www.brainpop.com/about/privacy_policy/ User Agreement: https://www.brainpop.com/about/user_agreement/

About

Osmo Squiggle Magic

Bring your drawings to life with interactive game pieces. This app fosters creativity, cognitive skills, and pre-drawing abilities through hands-on play. Designed for young children, it offers a fun and engaging learning experience.

Highlights
  • Create with physical sticks and rings
  • Watch creations come alive on screen
  • Develop cognitive skills
  • Foster creativity and pre-drawing skills
  • Hands-on learning experience
Read full description

Create anything you want using sticks & rings and then watch them come alive! Develop cognitive, creative, social and emotional skills with our game pieces designed for little hands. Foster creativity and pre-drawing skills, through this fun-filled exploration. *Play your favourite Osmo Squiggle Magic on both iPhone and iPad! Use your iPhone with the Osmo Base for iPad and Squiggle Magic Silicone Sticks & Rings pieces - each can be found at playosmo.com. *Requires the Osmo Base for iPad and Silicone Sticks & Rings pieces. Learn more by visiting www.playosmo.com. *Please see our device compatibility list here: https://support.playosmo.com/hc/articles/115010156067 ABOUT OSMO -- 21ST CENTURY PLAY AND LEARNING Osmo uses the screen to create a new healthy, hands-on learning experience that promotes creativity, problem-solving and social interaction. We do this with our reflective artificial intelligence technology.

Screenshots

BrainPOP Jr.4 screens
Osmo Squiggle Magic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BrainPOP Jr. at 4.6 against Osmo Squiggle Magic's 4.0. BrainPOP Jr. also leads on review sentiment (73% vs 41%) and ratings volume (21K vs 195). Osmo Squiggle Magic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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. BrainPOP Jr. sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Osmo Squiggle Magic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BrainPOP Jr. holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BrainPOP Jr. has 21K ratings behind it against 195, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of BrainPOP Jr.'s written reviews are positive against 41% of Osmo Squiggle Magic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BrainPOP Jr. versus Osmo Squiggle Magic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrainPOP Jr.Osmo Squiggle Magic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (21K ratings) — better4.0 (195 ratings)
Positive reviews72.6% of reviews — better41.2% of reviews
Number of ratings21K — better195
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB578 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrainPOP®Tangible Play

Customer experience

BrainPOP Jr.

All ratings20,857 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral4.2%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews186 reviews
Positive72.6%
Neutral8.6%
Negative18.8%

Osmo Squiggle Magic

All ratings195 ratings
Positive73.8%
Neutral5.1%
Negative21.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive41.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative52.9%

Bugs and requests

BrainPOP Jr.

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes when trying to subscribe
  • Videos not loading properly
  • Quiz functionality not working

Requested features

5 requests
  • More free videos and content
  • Lower subscription pricing
  • Improved device compatibility
  • Expanded topic coverage
  • Better navigation and organization

Osmo Squiggle Magic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

BrainPOP Jr.

Subscriptions5
  • BrainPOP Jr. Explorer Subscription$3.991 Month
  • Full Access Monthly14 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • BrainPOP Jr. Monthly Combo14 Days trial$19.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Full Access Yearly14 Days trial$119.001 Year
  • BrainPOP Jr. Yearly Combo14 Days trial$159.991 Year
None

Osmo Squiggle Magic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is BrainPOP Jr. free?
BrainPOP Jr. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Osmo Squiggle Magic free?
Osmo Squiggle Magic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, BrainPOP Jr. or Osmo Squiggle Magic?
BrainPOP Jr. is rated higher. BrainPOP Jr. averages 4.6 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Osmo Squiggle Magic averages 4.0 from 195 ratings.
Do BrainPOP Jr. or Osmo Squiggle Magic have ads?
Neither BrainPOP Jr. nor Osmo Squiggle Magic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BrainPOP Jr. or Osmo Squiggle Magic?
BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, and Osmo Squiggle Magic every 6 weeks. Most recently, BrainPOP Jr. was updated on September 22, 2026 and Osmo Squiggle Magic on September 21, 2026.

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