# Tynker vs Thunkable Live

The clearest difference is rating: Tynker at 4.6 against Thunkable Live's 4.1. Tynker also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 328). Thunkable Live's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tynker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Thunkable Live asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tynker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tynker has 18K ratings behind it against 328, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Tynker's written reviews are positive against 53% of Thunkable Live's.

Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, Thunkable Live weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 14, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tynker | Thunkable Live |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tynker-coding-for-kids/id805869467/reviews)** | [4.1 (328 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunkable-live/id1223262700/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 328 |
| Positive reviews | **55.9% of reviews** | 53.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 153 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tynker](https://appshunter.io/developer/805869470) | [Thunkable](https://appshunter.io/developer/1207985166) |

## What reviewers say

### Tynker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tynker-coding-for-kids/id805869467)

This app offers a comprehensive platform for children to learn coding and AI through interactive tutorials, game creation, and Minecraft modding. It transitions from visual blocks to text-based languages like Python and JavaScript, making coding an engaging adventure.

**Highlights:** Block-to-text coding transition, AI and Machine Learning exploration, Minecraft modding and game creation, Augmented Reality (AR) app development, Robotics and physical computing, Coding Arenas for competitive play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tynker Web + Mobile Plan | $24.99 | per month |
| Tynker Web + Mobile Plan | $59.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly All-Access Plan | $119.99 | per year |
| Tynker Web + Mobile Plan | $314.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Coding made fun
- 👍 Great for learning
- 🎨 Customizable Minecraft mods
- 💡 Potential for more features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall for full access
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤔 Limited Minecraft functionality
- ⏱️ Slow project publishing

**Reported bugs**

- Minecraft mods not working as expected
- Syncing and publishing issues
- Disappearing projects and progress
- Compatibility problems with newer Minecraft versions

**Requested features**

- More Minecraft block and mob customization
- Offline access
- Improved community moderation
- Ability to save and restore projects


### Thunkable Live

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunkable-live/id1223262700)

Build your own mobile applications using a visual, block-based programming language. This platform offers tutorials and resources to guide you through creating your projects and controlling your device.

**Highlights:** Drag-and-drop interface, Block-based programming, Mobile device control, In-app tutorials, Live testing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to create apps
- 🚀 Instant live testing
- 💡 Innovative learning platform
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 👍 Versatile for all skill levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS devices
- 🐛 Laggy performance and glitches
- 🐛 Unreliable live testing and preview
- 🐛 Confusing navigation and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes or crashes
- White screen issues and app not loading
- Inability to view or edit code
- Inconsistent behavior between web and mobile versions
- Firebase integration problems

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved code editor and customization tools
- Better integration with external services
- More comprehensive documentation and tutorials
- Ability to test apps on multiple devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tynker free?

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

### Is Thunkable Live free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tynker or Thunkable Live?

Tynker is rated higher. Tynker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while Thunkable Live averages 4.1 from 328 ratings.

### Do Tynker or Thunkable Live have ads?

Neither Tynker nor Thunkable Live shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tynker or Thunkable Live?

Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, and Thunkable Live weekly. Most recently, Tynker was updated on November 14, 2026 and Thunkable Live on November 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.*