Tynker vs First News
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tynker
This app offers a fun and engaging platform for children to learn coding and artificial intelligence. It guides them from visual block coding to text-based languages like Python and JavaScript, with opportunities to mod Minecraft and create AR apps.
- Block-to-text coding transition
- AI and Machine Learning basics
- Minecraft modding and creation
- Augmented Reality (AR) app development
- Coding tutorials and game building
- Robotics programming
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TYNKER: THE #1 CODING & AI APP FOR KIDS Empower your child’s future with the world’s most advanced coding platform. Tynker makes learning to code an adventure. From building their first game to mastering AI and Python, our award-winning curriculum is used by over 100 million children and 150,000+ schools worldwide. Whether your child is a complete beginner or an aspiring developer, Tynker provides the tools to turn screen time into creative time. WHY CHOOSE TYNKER? * Block-to-Text Transition: Start with intuitive visual blocks and move to Python, Swift, JavaScript and Java. * AI-Ready Learning: Explore the basics of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. * Minecraft modding, mobs, skins, items * Official Partnerships: Exclusive coding paths featuring Barbie™, LEGO®, and Minecraft. * Cross-Platform: One subscription unlocks full access on iPad, iPhone, and Web. KEY FEATURES * 200+ Coding Tutorials Solve puzzles and build multi-level games while learning logic and sequencing. Master loops, variables, and functions through interactive play. Create Augmented Reality (AR) apps that bring code into the real world. * Minecraft Modding (iPad Exclusive) Design custom skins, mobs, and blocks with ease. Use code to build instant structures or change mob behaviors. Deploy your mods directly to Minecraft for endless play. * Crystal Clash: Coding Arenas The ultimate "Code-to-Win" battles! Write scripts to cast spells, avoid obstacles, and outsmart opponents in a real-time arena. * Robotics & Physical Computing Program LEGO® WeDo, and micro:bit. TRUSTED BY EXPERTS Apple: Selected for the "Everyone Can Code" program. Parents’ Choice: Gold Award Winner. Common Sense Media: 5-Star Rating for Engagement. USA Today: Rated “Best for ages 8-14.” PRIVACY TERMS Privacy Policy: https://www.tynker.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.tynker.com/terms Start your child's coding journey today. What will they create?
First News
This app provides children with a balanced and truthful view of world events, written by award-winning journalists. It offers interactive articles, daily curated news, puzzles, games, and a video platform with news explainers to foster curiosity and critical thinking.
- Weekly 28-page interactive newspaper edition
- Searchable archive of past issues
- Hundreds of news explainer videos
- Weekly topical quiz with avatar and leaderboard
- Interactive puzzles linked to current news
- Daily news feed with age-appropriate articles
- Weekly polls and competitions
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For 20 years, First News has provided trusted & impartial age-appropriate news to kids around the world. Our award-winning weekly newspaper is jam-packed with headlines, sport, entertainment, world news and more. App features: READ: weekly 28-page edition of First News with interactive features, plus a searchable archive. WATCH: hundreds of videos, including news explainers presented by children for children. CHALLENGE: play interactive word and number puzzles. Subscribers can also play the weekly news quiz, based on the latest issue of the paper. STAY AHEAD: read or listen to 3 daily news articles from the UK and around the world. SHARE YOUR OPINION: weekly polls encouraging children to form their own opinions and get their voices heard. Terms of use: https://www.firstnews.co.uk/terms/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Tynker at every 3 weeks against First News's every 6 months. Tynker also leads on ratings volume (18K vs 22) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). First News's advantage is review sentiment (74% vs 56%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Tynker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month and First News sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Tynker against 4.5 for First News. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tynker has 18K ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 56% of Tynker's written reviews are positive against 74% of First News's.
Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, First News every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Tynker | First News |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (18K ratings) — better | 4.5 (22 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | 73.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 18K — better | 22 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 6 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 153 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tynker | First News |
Customer experience
Tynker
First News
Bugs and requests
Tynker
Reported bugs
4 issues- Minecraft mods not working as expected
- Syncing and publishing issues
- Disappearing projects and progress
- Compatibility problems with newer Minecraft versions
Requested features
4 requests- More Minecraft block and mob customization
- Offline access
- Improved community moderation
- Ability to save and restore projects
First News
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Tynker
- Tynker Web + Mobile Plan7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- Tynker Web + Mobile Plan7 Days trial$59.993 Months
- Yearly All-Access Plan$119.991 Year
- Tynker Web + Mobile Plan$314.99
First News
- 1 Month Subscription$5.491 Month
- 1-month subscription$9.991 Month
- 3 Month Subscription$24.493 Months
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- 3-month subscription$28.493 Months
- 6 Month subscription$43.996 Months
- 6-month subscription$53.996 Months
- 1 Year Subscription$79.991 Year









