# Hopscotch vs NewsMaker

The clearest difference is rating: Hopscotch at 4.5 against NewsMaker's 3.6. Hopscotch also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 33%) and ratings volume (15K vs 14). NewsMaker's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hopscotch sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and NewsMaker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hopscotch holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hopscotch has 15K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Hopscotch's written reviews are positive against 33% of NewsMaker's.

Hopscotch ships an update every 2 weeks, NewsMaker every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hopscotch | NewsMaker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hopscotch-programming-for-kids/id617098629/reviews)** | [3.6 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsmaker/id933686341/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | **70.3% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 203 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hopscotch Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/490514281) | [Teevers Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1419472174) |

## What reviewers say

### Hopscotch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hopscotch-programming-for-kids/id617098629)

This app allows children to create their own games, art, and stories using kid-friendly programming. Users can share their creations with a moderated community, play and remix projects from others, and learn to code through interactive video tutorials.

**Highlights:** Create games, art, and stories, Kid-friendly programming interface, Share creations with a moderated community, Play and remix projects from other users, Learn coding through video tutorials, Build advanced games and apps

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription with free trial | $7.99 | per month |
| Hopscotch Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Hopscotch Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Hopscotch Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Hopscotch Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Subscription with free trial | $79.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Subscription with free trial | $79.99 | per year |
| Hopscotch Yearly Subscription | $79.99 | per year |
| Hopscotch Yearly Subscription | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for beginners
- 🚀 Powerful coding tools
- 💡 Encourages creativity and problem-solving
- 👍 Supportive community
- 🚀 Great for learning coding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model restricts free access
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Limited account/login options
- 🔒 Concerns about child safety and moderation

**Reported bugs**

- Projects disappearing or not saving properly
- Shapes/objects not displaying correctly
- Crashes and freezes when using certain features
- Subscription/login issues

**Requested features**

- Add cloud variables and multiplayer support
- Allow custom sounds and profile pictures for free
- Improve the 'Newest' tab to better showcase new projects
- Restore old features like unlimited free projects
- Add a 'reset' button for projects


### NewsMaker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newsmaker/id933686341)

Create and share your own video news with this comprehensive tool. Features include a teleprompter, voiceover capabilities, animated intros, and virtual accessories. Collaborate with friends remotely and host your videos on a personal news channel.

**Highlights:** Teleprompter for scripts, Voiceover for videos and images, Animated trailer library, Background music overlay, Virtual accessories, Remote collaboration, Personal news channel

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Year NewsMaker Subscription | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hopscotch free?

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

### Is NewsMaker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hopscotch or NewsMaker?

Hopscotch is rated higher. Hopscotch averages 4.5 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while NewsMaker averages 3.6 from 14 ratings.

### Do Hopscotch or NewsMaker have ads?

Neither Hopscotch nor NewsMaker shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hopscotch or NewsMaker?

Hopscotch ships an update every 2 weeks, and NewsMaker every 2 months. Most recently, Hopscotch was updated on November 7, 2026 and NewsMaker on November 6, 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.*