Comparison

Tynker vs First News

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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?

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Tynker4 screens
First News4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, First News every 6 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Tynker versus First News: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTynkerFirst News
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (18K ratings) — better4.5 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews55.9% of reviews73.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18K — better22
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size153 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTynkerFirst News

Customer experience

Tynker

All ratings18,334 ratings
Positive89.5%
Neutral4.4%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews794 reviews
Positive55.9%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.0%

First News

All ratings22 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral9.1%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive73.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative26.1%

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

4 purchases

Tynker

Subscriptions3
  • 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
One-time1
  • Tynker Web + Mobile Plan$314.99
7 purchases

First News

Subscriptions7
  • 1 Month Subscription$5.491 Month
  • 1-month subscription$9.991 Month
  • 3 Month Subscription$24.493 Months
Show 4 more
  • 3-month subscription$28.493 Months
  • 6 Month subscription$43.996 Months
  • 6-month subscription$53.996 Months
  • 1 Year Subscription$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Tynker free?
Tynker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is First News free?
First News is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tynker or First News?
Tynker is rated higher. Tynker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while First News averages 4.5 from 22 ratings.
Do Tynker or First News have ads?
Neither Tynker nor First News shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tynker or First News?
Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, and First News every 6 months. Most recently, Tynker was updated on November 3, 2026 and First News on November 3, 2026.

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