# Tynker vs ScratchUP

The clearest difference is price: Tynker at Free against ScratchUP's $0.99. Tynker also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). ScratchUP's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (75% vs 56%). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Tynker is free to download; ScratchUP costs $0.99 up front. Tynker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. ScratchUP asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tynker holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tynker has 18K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Tynker's written reviews are positive against 75% of ScratchUP's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, ScratchUP every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 16, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tynker | ScratchUP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[4.6 (18K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tynker-coding-for-kids/id805869467/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchup/id1596380124/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **18K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 56.0% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Size | 153 MB | 476 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tynker](https://appshunter.io/developer/805869470) | [Ulrich PICAUD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1582663236) |

## What reviewers say

### Tynker

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

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:** 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


### ScratchUP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchup/id1596380124)

This app allows users to learn, teach, and play with code. It offers a variety of features for creating educational activities, including sensor integration, machine learning capabilities, and math tools. Compatible with Scratch files, it provides an offline coding experience for students and educators.

**Highlights:** Scratch file compatibility (.sb2, .sb3), Sensor event integration (touch, keyboard, camera, Bluetooth), Machine learning for object and sound recognition, Body detection, Handpose, and Facemesh, QRCode scanner, Math tools for learning, Offline app functionality

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tynker free?

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

### Is ScratchUP free?

ScratchUP costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Tynker or ScratchUP?

Tynker is rated higher. Tynker averages 4.6 out of 5 from 18K ratings, while ScratchUP averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Tynker or ScratchUP have ads?

Neither Tynker nor ScratchUP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tynker or ScratchUP?

Tynker ships an update every 3 weeks, and ScratchUP every 4 months. Most recently, Tynker was updated on October 16, 2026 and ScratchUP on October 16, 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.*