Kodable Basics vs ScratchJr
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.
ScratchJr
This app allows young children to create their own interactive stories and games by snapping together graphical programming blocks. It fosters problem-solving, creative expression, and develops early numeracy and literacy skills in a fun, motivating context.
- Program interactive stories
- Create games
- Snap-together programming blocks
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Foster creative expression
- Learn coding fundamentals
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With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) learn important new skills as they program their own interactive stories and games. By snapping together graphical programming blocks, children can make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. In the process, children learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer. They also use math and language in a meaningful and motivating context, supporting the development of early-childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, children don’t just learn to code, they code to learn. ScratchJr was inspired by the popular Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), used by millions of people (ages 8 and up) around the world. The ScratchJr interface and programming language were redesigned to make them appropriate for younger children’s cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development. ScratchJr is a collaboration between the Lifelong Kindergarten research group at the MIT Media Lab, the Developmental Technologies research group at Tufts University, and the Playful Invention Company. The ScratchJr project has received generous financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF DRL-1118664), Scratch Foundation, LEGO Foundation, and British Telecommunications. If you enjoy using this free app, please consider making a donation to the Scratch Foundation (www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing support for ScratchJr. We appreciate donations of all sizes, large and small.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Kodable Basics at 4.7 against ScratchJr's 3.9. Kodable Basics also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (21K vs 1.8K). ScratchJr's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and review sentiment (67% vs 55%). On price, ads and device support 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. ScratchJr asks for nothing beyond the download.
Kodable Basics holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Kodable Basics has 21K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of Kodable Basics's written reviews are positive against 67% of ScratchJr's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Kodable Basics ships an update monthly, ScratchJr every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kodable Basics | ScratchJr |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (21K ratings) — better | 3.9 (1.8K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 54.8% of reviews | 66.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 21K — better | 1.8K |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 422 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SurfScore, Inc | Scratch Foundation, Inc. |
Customer experience
Kodable Basics
ScratchJr
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
ScratchJr
From 1.8K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use for kids
- 🚀 Great for coding and creating animations
- 💡 Allows customization of characters and backgrounds
- ⭐ Fun and engaging for young users
Room to improve
- 🐛 Glitchy drawing/editing tools
- 🔧 Limited number of frames/scenes per project
- 🎨 Lack of color options and customization
- 🔊 Poor audio quality and limited sound options
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
ScratchJr
Reported bugs
4 issues- Freezing and crashing issues
- Incorrect character movements and positioning
- Saving and loading problems
- Microphone and recording bugs
Requested features
5 requests- Add more frames/scenes per project
- Improve drawing/editing tools
- Expand color and customization options
- Enhance audio features and sound library
- Integrate with the full Scratch platform
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
ScratchJr
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Kodable Basics free?
Is ScratchJr free?
Which has better reviews, Kodable Basics or ScratchJr?
Do Kodable Basics or ScratchJr have ads?
Which is updated more often, Kodable Basics or ScratchJr?
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