Comparison

Bug World by Kodable vs Thames & Kosmos Junior

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bug World by Kodable

Embark on a coding adventure to defeat slimes using object-oriented programming and JavaScript skills. Build, upgrade, and deploy heroes to defend Bug World, learning essential coding concepts and soft skills in a fun, engaging environment.

Highlights
  • Object-oriented programming concepts
  • JavaScript coding
  • Hero building and upgrading
  • Real-time code updates
  • Problem-solving and creativity
  • Drag-and-drop coding interface
Features
Read full description

Are you ready for a new coding adventure? The fuzzFamily have landed on Bug World but some unwanted slimes came along with them! It’s up to you to use your object-oriented programming and javascript skills to help defeat the slimes in Bug World by Kodable! Bug World, a new coding game from the award-winning team behind Kodable, is designed to help kids learn and level up their programming skills in a fun and engaging way. Use real code to build, upgrade, and deploy your own heroes to push back the slimes all while exploring the captivating levels of Bug World. WHAT THEY LEARN Bug World features age-appropriate games and activities to introduce and reinforce coding concepts that will have kids thinking like programmers and writing real code using Kodable’s built-for-kids coding interface. Coding skills learned through Bug World include: Object-oriented programming Javascript Classes/Objects Properties Functions Arrays Inheritance CODE YOUR DEFENSE Use one of Bug World’s seven heroes, or your own creations, to set up your defenses against the incoming waves of slimes. Need an extra boost to take down a tricky slime? You can drag and drop one hero onto another similar hero to merge them into a super-defender using code to update their stats in real-time. Need more help? Place a rune on the field to use their special coding properties to slow down or defeat the slimes in a certain area. There’s no one right way to defeat the slimes, so use your creativity to help code your defenses on Bug World! WHY CODE WITH BUG WORLD? Kodable is trusted by more than 50% of US Elementary Schools because of our commitment to making computer science education accessible for everyone. Bug World is the next step in Kodable and your child’s coding journey by giving them a whole new world of possibilities to explore while developing object-oriented programming and javascript skills. In addition to programming concepts, kids also learn incredibly important ‘soft skills’ such as Problem solving skills Executive thinking skills Creativity Collaboration skills Communication skills Critical thinking skills KODABLE PRO MEMBERSHIPS Kodable PRO memberships offer access to all content across Kodable’s suite of learning apps. Use your same login across all Kodable apps to access PRO content. 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

About

Thames & Kosmos Junior

Build and program a robotic friend using a physical kit. Control its movements, lights, and sounds through an intuitive visual coding interface. This app offers a fun, hands-on introduction to robotics, engineering, and computer science for young learners.

Highlights
  • Build and code a robotic buddy
  • Learn coding with block-based interface
  • Program movement, lights, and sounds
  • Remote control and programming modes
  • Robot workshop diagnostic game
Features
Read full description

This app is used to control and program the robot built using the Robotics: Smart Machines - Junior kit from Thames & Kosmos. Build and program a loyal robotic pal! Discover the world of robotics — an exciting, interdisciplinary field combining physics, engineering, and computer science. This kit gives kids a simple, fun, and customizable introduction to robotics. As soon as Junior is assembled, you can begin programming its movements directly on a built-in keypad. You can also download the free Junior app to unlock all of the Junior’s capabilities. Did you assemble everything correctly? Play a make-believe robot workshop game in the app to diagnose any onboard issues. You control Juniors’s movements and sounds. Have fun and drive Junior by remote control or by using your device as a gyroscope. Code programs for Junior using an easy, visual interface included in the app. Junior’s microcontroller — the robot’s “brain” — has separate inputs for the LED lights that light up its eyes, a speaker, two motors (left and right), and a battery. As you assemble this robot, you will learn how Junior’s functions relate to each of these elements. A full-color, 32-page step-by-step illustrated manual helps kids assemble the model and use all of the functions of the app — all while teaching them about robotics in the real world. The app requires a tablet (recommended) or smartphone running iOS. • Build and code your own robotic buddy • Learn to code! Easy, block-based coding app with dozens of cool functions • Program movement, lights, and sounds • Remote control and programming modes

Screenshots

Bug World by Kodable4 screens
Thames & Kosmos Junior4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Thames & Kosmos Junior at 100% against Bug World by Kodable's 59%. Thames & Kosmos Junior also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Bug World by Kodable's advantage is ratings volume (840 vs 24). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Bug World by Kodable sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Thames & Kosmos Junior asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Thames & Kosmos Junior holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bug World by Kodable has 840 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Bug World by Kodable's written reviews are positive against 100% of Thames & Kosmos Junior's.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Bug World by Kodable versus Thames & Kosmos Junior: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBug World by KodableThames & Kosmos Junior
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (840 ratings)4.9 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings840 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size337 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSurfScore, IncFranckh-Kosmos Verlags GmbH & Co. KG

Customer experience

Bug World by Kodable

All ratings805 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive59.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative36.4%

Thames & Kosmos Junior

All ratings23 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Bug World by Kodable

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Infinite loading screens preventing game access
  • Math problem answers not registering
  • General glitchiness affecting gameplay
  • Startup issues with no game experience possible

Requested features

3 requests
  • More levels and content beyond the initial 3
  • Improved difficulty scaling for advanced players
  • Clearer monetization and subscription information upfront

Thames & Kosmos Junior

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Bug World by Kodable

Subscriptions2
  • Kodable Monthly Plan7 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • Kodable Yearly Plan7 Days trial$119.991 Year
One-time1
  • Kodable Lifetime Plan$199.99
None

Thames & Kosmos Junior

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bug World by Kodable free?
Bug World by Kodable is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Thames & Kosmos Junior free?
Thames & Kosmos Junior is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bug World by Kodable or Thames & Kosmos Junior?
Thames & Kosmos Junior is rated higher. Bug World by Kodable averages 4.7 out of 5 from 840 ratings, while Thames & Kosmos Junior averages 4.9 from 24 ratings.
Do Bug World by Kodable or Thames & Kosmos Junior have ads?
Neither Bug World by Kodable nor Thames & Kosmos Junior shows ads.

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