Kodable Basics vs Tynker Junior
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kodable Basics
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.
- Game-based learning approach
- Develops critical thinking
- Teaches coding concepts
- Builds foundational computer science skills
- Creative activities
- Seasonal events
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The coding curriculum used in over 50% of U.S. elementary schools, now at home! Kids go from solving their first maze at age 4 to writing real JavaScript by 5th grade, through games they actually ask to play. LOVED BY KIDS, TRUSTED BY SCHOOLS Rated 4.7 stars by 21,000+ families. Over 25 million downloads. Built with elementary teachers for more than a decade, and aligned to Common Core and CSTA standards, the same curriculum kids use in class. WHAT KIDS LEARN Ages 4-6 (no reading required): sequencing, patterns, and problem-solving through maze puzzles. This is the logic underneath all programming. Ages 7-10: conditions, loops, functions, and variables, leading to real typed JavaScript Every level builds critical thinking they'll use far beyond the screen MORE THAN LESSONS Kids design their own characters, build and share their own games, and jump into seasonal events. Creativity keeps them coming back long after the lesson ends. USING KODABLE AT SCHOOL? Sign in with your school account and your child's progress comes home with them. Some class content carries over free; Kodable Pro unlocks the full library at home. BUILT FOR FAMILIES No ads. Ever. Works offline for road trips, flights, and waiting rooms Designed to meet the strict privacy standards schools require TEACHERS: A complete K-5 STEM curriculum with 80+ scripted lesson plans and Google Classroom, Clever, and roster integrations is available at kodable.com. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable.
Tynker Junior
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.
- Word-free picture block coding
- Problem-solving and logic development
- Music and art creation
- 200+ coding challenges
- Tap-based interface
- Voiceovers for guidance
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The Ultimate Coding Playground for Kids Ages 4-7! Tynker Junior is the award-winning app specifically designed for young learners, including pre-readers who haven’t even started school yet. Through vibrant, word-free picture blocks, your child will learn to solve problems, compose music, and create art—all with the power of code. Why Parents and Teachers Love Tynker: * Trusted Globally: Used by 1 out of every 3 U.S. K-8 schools and 100,000+ schools worldwide. * Proven Success: Over 60 million kids in 150 countries have started their STEM journey with Tynker. * Designed for Little Hands: A tap-based interface with friendly voiceovers and no complex dragging or reading required. 5 EPIC CODING ADVENTURES With 200+ coding challenges, your child will explore: Ocean Odyssey: Master sequencing and patterns while helping Gillie the Goldfish. Robots: Learn about events and parameters as you fix a wacky robot factory. Wild Rumble: Help endangered animals using counting loops and delays. Puffball Panic: Navigate dynamic environments using conditional logic. Super Squad: Defeat villains and retrieve stolen treasure using advanced problem-solving. WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN Tynker Junior transforms screen time into a brain-building workout. Your child will master: Logic & Sequencing: Understanding cause and effect. Critical Thinking: Solving complex puzzles step-by-step. Programming Concepts: Loops, conditional logic, and debugging. 21st Century Skills: Resilience, focus, and algorithmic thinking—the same foundations used in professional languages like Swift and Python. Privacy & Terms: Privacy Policy: https://www.tynker.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.tynker.com/terms/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Kodable Basics at 4.7 against Tynker Junior's 4.5. Kodable Basics also leads on ratings volume (21K vs 4.2K). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Kodable Basics sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month and Tynker Junior sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Kodable Basics holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kodable Basics has 21K ratings behind it against 4.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Kodable Basics'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.
Kodable Basics ships an update monthly, Tynker Junior every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kodable Basics | Tynker Junior |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (21K ratings) — better | 4.5 (4.2K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | 58.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 21K — better | 4.2K |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 422 MB | 396 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SurfScore, Inc | Tynker |
Customer experience
Kodable Basics
Tynker Junior
User reviews
Kodable Basics
From 21K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💡 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
Room to improve
- 💰 Subscription-based model with high costs
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Misleading trial period and automatic subscription
- 📉 Declining quality and value over time
Tynker Junior
From 4.2K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Fun and engaging for kids
- 💡 Good introduction to coding concepts
- 🚀 Easy to use interface
Room to improve
- 🐛 Glitchy code and bugs
- 💰 Limited access without subscription
- 🤔 Misleading about subscription details
Bugs and requests
Kodable Basics
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
4 requests- More free content and levels
- Improved stability and performance
- Customization options for parents/teachers
- Better customer support and communication
Tynker Junior
Reported bugs
3 issues- Levels/games not progressing properly
- Login and account issues
- Compatibility problems on certain devices
Requested features
3 requests- Add more advanced coding lessons
- Improve customer support and responsiveness
- Integrate with full Tynker app for seamless experience
In-app purchases
Kodable Basics
- Kodable Monthly Plan7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- Kodable Yearly Plan7 Days trial$119.991 Year
- 3-day Parent TrialFree
- Fuzzes to Support Computer Science$4.99
- Pre-Trial Parent Plan$19.99
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- Parent Plan$29.99
- Kodable Lifetime Plan$199.99
Tynker Junior
- Individual Monthly$4.991 Month
- Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- Individual Yearly7 Days trial$49.991 Year
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- Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan7 Days trial$59.993 Months
- Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan$119.991 Year
- Tynker Jr. Web + Mobile Plan$314.99
Questions
Is Kodable Basics free?
Is Tynker Junior free?
Which has better reviews, Kodable Basics or Tynker Junior?
Do Kodable Basics or Tynker Junior have ads?
Which is updated more often, Kodable Basics or Tynker Junior?
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