# ScratchJr vs Code Karts

The clearest difference is price: ScratchJr at Free against Code Karts's $4.99. ScratchJr also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 2) and review sentiment (67% vs 50%). Code Karts's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 11.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

ScratchJr is free to download; Code Karts costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Code Karts holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScratchJr has 1.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of ScratchJr's written reviews are positive against 50% of Code Karts's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Code Karts every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Code Karts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-karts-school-edition/id1314658831/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **66.9% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 15 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 51 MB | 252 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [EDOKI ACADEMY](https://appshunter.io/developer/555989645) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Code Karts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-karts-school-edition/id1314658831)

This app introduces pre-coding concepts to young children through engaging racing puzzles. It teaches fundamental logic and problem-solving skills, preparing them for future coding endeavors with over 70 levels and two game modes.

**Highlights:** Logical puzzles presented as raceways, Teaches fundamentals of code while racing, Learn to count in binary, Over 70 levels, Two game modes: Classic and Competition, Intuitive UI for ages 4+

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Code Karts free?

Code Karts costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ScratchJr or Code Karts?

Code Karts is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Code Karts averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or Code Karts have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor Code Karts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Code Karts?

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Code Karts every 15 months. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on October 26, 2026 and Code Karts on October 22, 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.*