# Starfall vs ScratchJr

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ScratchJr at none against Starfall's 1. ScratchJr also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Starfall's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and chart position (#195 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Starfall sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month. ScratchJr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Starfall holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.3K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Starfall's written reviews are positive against 67% of ScratchJr's.

Starfall ships an update every 2 months, ScratchJr every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Starfall | ScratchJr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall/id707189889/reviews)** | [3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **74.7% of reviews** | 66.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#195** | — |
| Size | 155 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Starfall Education Foundation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1771099820) | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) |

## What reviewers say

### Starfall

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starfall/id707189889)

**Currently charting:** #195 Top Grossing · Education (US App Store)

This app offers engaging reading and math activities for children from preschool to 5th grade. It features games, songs, and interactive lessons designed by educators to support early literacy and numeracy skills. The platform also includes accessibility features for children with impairments.

**Highlights:** Reading phonics and fluency, Math concepts and operations, Interactive games and songs, Accessibility features, Sequential learning objectives, Holiday activities and sing-alongs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starfall Monthly | $5.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy and fun learning
- 🎨 Engaging activities and games
- 🧠 Helps with reading, math, and more
- 🌟 Nostalgic childhood memories
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Great for kids of all ages

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Limited free content, requires subscription
- 🔒 Difficulty managing parental controls
- 🐛 Technical issues like crashes and freezes
- 📱 Compatibility problems on mobile devices
- 🔍 Repetitive content and lack of updates

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues and trouble logging in
- Freezing and crashing on certain devices
- Glitches in specific games and activities
- Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
- Incorrect pronunciation of numbers and dates

**Requested features**

- Add more advanced content for older kids
- Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
- Provide offline mode for use without internet
- Allow customization of character and settings
- Integrate with other educational platforms


### ScratchJr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086)

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.

**Highlights:** Program interactive stories, Create games, Snap-together programming blocks, Develop problem-solving skills, Foster creative expression, Learn coding fundamentals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for kids
- 🚀 Great for coding and creating animations
- 💡 Allows customization of characters and backgrounds
- ⭐ Fun and engaging for young users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy drawing/editing tools
- 🔧 Limited number of frames/scenes per project
- 🎨 Lack of color options and customization
- 🔊 Poor audio quality and limited sound options

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Incorrect character movements and positioning
- Saving and loading problems
- Microphone and recording bugs

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Starfall free?

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

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Starfall or ScratchJr?

Starfall is rated higher. Starfall averages 4.1 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while ScratchJr averages 3.9 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Starfall or ScratchJr have ads?

Neither Starfall nor ScratchJr shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Starfall or ScratchJr?

Starfall ships an update every 2 months, and ScratchJr every 6 months. Most recently, Starfall was updated on October 12, 2026 and ScratchJr on October 13, 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.*