# BrainPOP Jr. vs Kodable Basics

BrainPOP Jr. and Kodable Basics both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of BrainPOP Jr.'s written reviews are positive against 55% of Kodable Basics's. Kodable Basics's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BrainPOP Jr. sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Kodable Basics sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for BrainPOP Jr. against 4.7 for Kodable Basics. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21K and 22K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of BrainPOP Jr.'s written reviews are positive against 55% of Kodable Basics's.

BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, Kodable Basics every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | BrainPOP Jr. | Kodable Basics |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop-jr/id536371867/reviews) | **[4.7 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodable-basics/id577673067/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 21K | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | **72.3% of reviews** | 54.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 422 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BrainPOP®](https://appshunter.io/developer/364894355) | [SurfScore, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/577654768) |

## What reviewers say

### BrainPOP Jr.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainpop-jr/id536371867)

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BrainPOP Jr. Explorer Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Full Access Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| BrainPOP Jr. Monthly Combo | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access Yearly | $119.00 | per year |
| BrainPOP Jr. Yearly Combo | $159.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Makes learning fun
- 👍 Engaging videos and quizzes
- 👍 Helpful for homeschooling and supplemental learning
- 👍 Informative and educational content
- 👍 Funny and entertaining

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Lack of free content
- 🐛 Crashes and technical issues
- 👎 Limited content selection

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to subscribe
- Videos not loading properly
- Quiz functionality not working

**Requested features**

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


### Kodable Basics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodable-basics/id577673067)

This app teaches children aged 4-10 foundational computer science concepts through engaging, game-based activities. It helps kids develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by guiding them through mazes and allowing them to create their own games. The curriculum is designed to transition from basic logic to writing real code.

**Highlights:** Game-based learning approach, Develops critical thinking, Teaches coding concepts, Builds foundational computer science skills, Creative activities, Seasonal events

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kodable Monthly Plan | $24.99 | per month |
| Kodable Yearly Plan | $119.99 | per year |
| 3-day Parent Trial | Free | one-time |
| Fuzzes to Support Computer Science | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pre-Trial Parent Plan | $19.99 | one-time |
| Parent Plan | $29.99 | one-time |
| Kodable Lifetime Plan | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Fun and educational coding game
- 👍 Helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- 🚀 Engaging for kids of various ages
- 🎨 Ability to create custom characters and games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription-based model with high costs
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Misleading trial period and automatic subscription
- 📉 Declining quality and value over time

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to access app after subscription cancellation
- Persistent crashes at certain levels or stages
- Syncing and progress issues across devices
- Unresponsive controls and UI elements

**Requested features**

- More free content and levels
- Improved stability and performance
- Customization options for parents/teachers
- Better customer support and communication


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BrainPOP Jr. free?

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

### Is Kodable Basics free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BrainPOP Jr. or Kodable Basics?

Kodable Basics is rated higher. BrainPOP Jr. averages 4.6 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while Kodable Basics averages 4.7 from 22K ratings.

### Do BrainPOP Jr. or Kodable Basics have ads?

Neither BrainPOP Jr. nor Kodable Basics shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BrainPOP Jr. or Kodable Basics?

BrainPOP Jr. ships an update every 6 weeks, and Kodable Basics every 3 weeks. Most recently, BrainPOP Jr. was updated on November 12, 2026 and Kodable Basics on November 12, 2026.

---

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