# Kodable Basics vs OctoStudio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OctoStudio at none against Kodable Basics's 7. OctoStudio also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 55%). Kodable Basics's advantage is ratings volume (21K vs 64). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Kodable Basics sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. OctoStudio asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Kodable Basics against 4.8 for OctoStudio. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kodable Basics has 21K ratings behind it against 64, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of Kodable Basics's written reviews are positive against 83% of OctoStudio's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Kodable Basics | OctoStudio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (21K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kodable-basics/id577673067/reviews) | **[4.8 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21K** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 422 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SurfScore, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/577654768) | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### OctoStudio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316)

Create animations and games using coding blocks on your mobile device. Bring your own photos and sounds to life, and share your interactive projects with others. Developed by the creators of Scratch at MIT, it's a free and fun way to learn coding.

**Highlights:** Create animations and games, Use coding blocks, Incorporate photos and sounds, Interactive project features, Share projects as video or GIF, Offline project creation, Learn coding through play

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Kodable Basics free?

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

### Is OctoStudio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Kodable Basics or OctoStudio?

OctoStudio is rated higher. Kodable Basics averages 4.7 out of 5 from 21K ratings, while OctoStudio averages 4.8 from 64 ratings.

### Do Kodable Basics or OctoStudio have ads?

Neither Kodable Basics nor OctoStudio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Kodable Basics or OctoStudio?

Kodable Basics ships an update monthly, and OctoStudio monthly. Most recently, Kodable Basics was updated on September 24, 2026 and OctoStudio on September 20, 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.*