# LightUp Learning vs Sandbox AR

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sandbox AR at 100% against LightUp Learning's 32%. Sandbox AR also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0). LightUp Learning's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.1 vs 14.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sandbox AR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of LightUp Learning's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sandbox AR's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | LightUp Learning | Sandbox AR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightup-learning/id817956889/reviews) | **[4.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-ar/id1582806816/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | 31.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 143 MB | 1.6 GB |
| Requires iOS | **8.1** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LightUp](https://appshunter.io/developer/817956892) | [Discovery Education Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557216359) |

## What reviewers say

### LightUp Learning

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightup-learning/id817956889)

Build and learn about electronic circuits using magnetic blocks. Visualize electricity flow and program projects with drag-and-drop coding. Requires a physical LightUp kit.

**Highlights:** Magnetic circuit block assembly, Visualize electricity flow, Drag-and-drop coding interface, Project building guides, X-ray vision for circuits

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sandbox AR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-ar/id1582806816)

Create, build, and explore immersive virtual worlds using augmented reality. This app allows users to scale creations to life-size and share them with others. It's designed to bring interactive technology into educational settings.

**Highlights:** Create, build, and explore in AR, Life-size scale exploration, Share creations via QR code, Capture snapshots and videos, Teacher audio descriptions (DE:X subscribers), Link to curated resources (DE:X subscribers)

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LightUp Learning free?

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

### Is Sandbox AR free?

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

### Which has better reviews, LightUp Learning or Sandbox AR?

Sandbox AR is rated higher. LightUp Learning averages 3.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Sandbox AR averages 4.8 from 16 ratings.

### Do LightUp Learning or Sandbox AR have ads?

Neither LightUp Learning nor Sandbox AR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LightUp Learning or Sandbox AR?

LightUp Learning ships an update every 2 months, and Sandbox AR every 2 months. Most recently, LightUp Learning was updated on November 6, 2026 and Sandbox AR on November 3, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*