# Lightbot vs ScratchJr

Lightbot and ScratchJr both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Lightbot's written reviews are positive against 67% of ScratchJr's. Lightbot also leads on iOS requirement (5.1.1 vs 11.0). ScratchJr's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 242). On price, rating, 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.

Lightbot holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScratchJr has 1.8K ratings behind it against 242, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Lightbot's written reviews are positive against 67% of ScratchJr's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightbot | ScratchJr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightbot-code-hour/id873943739/reviews)** | [3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 242 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **79.7% of reviews** | 66.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 48 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SpriteBox LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/517384301) | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightbot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightbot-code-hour/id873943739)

This programming puzzle game introduces players to coding logic through interactive challenges. Guide a robot using commands to solve levels, learning concepts like procedures, loops, and conditionals. It's designed for beginners, making coding accessible and fun for students.

**Highlights:** Programming puzzle gameplay, Introduces programming logic, Teaches procedures, loops, conditionals, 20 levels for beginners, Multiplayer progress tracking, Supports multiple languages

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great level design
- 🤩 Fun and addictive
- 🧠 Helps develop coding skills
- 🎓 Good for kids and beginners
- 🏆 Awesome game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Levels too difficult
- 🤏 Not enough space for code
- 🕰️ Game too short
- 🙄 Unclear tutorial
- 🎵 Bad music

**Reported bugs**

- Level 1-7 impossible to complete
- Procedures level 5 glitched
- Robot not moving as expected

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Ability to create own games
- Better tutorial and instructions
- More music options


### ScratchJr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086)

This app allows young children to create their own interactive stories and games by snapping together graphical programming blocks. It fosters problem-solving, creative expression, and develops early numeracy and literacy skills in a fun, motivating context.

**Highlights:** Program interactive stories, Create games, Snap-together programming blocks, Develop problem-solving skills, Foster creative expression, Learn coding fundamentals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for kids
- 🚀 Great for coding and creating animations
- 💡 Allows customization of characters and backgrounds
- ⭐ Fun and engaging for young users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy drawing/editing tools
- 🔧 Limited number of frames/scenes per project
- 🎨 Lack of color options and customization
- 🔊 Poor audio quality and limited sound options

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues
- Incorrect character movements and positioning
- Saving and loading problems
- Microphone and recording bugs

**Requested features**

- Add more frames/scenes per project
- Improve drawing/editing tools
- Expand color and customization options
- Enhance audio features and sound library
- Integrate with the full Scratch platform


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightbot free?

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

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightbot or ScratchJr?

Lightbot is rated higher. Lightbot averages 4.1 out of 5 from 242 ratings, while ScratchJr averages 3.9 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Lightbot or ScratchJr have ads?

Neither Lightbot nor ScratchJr shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightbot or ScratchJr?

Lightbot ships an update every 6 months, and ScratchJr every 6 months. Most recently, Lightbot was updated on September 29, 2026 and ScratchJr on October 4, 2026.

---

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