# ScratchJr vs Cabin

The clearest difference is ads: ScratchJr at none against Cabin's shown. Cabin's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 11.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Cabin every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Cabin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 51 MB | 205 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) | [JoinMax Digital Technology Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/963981892) |

## 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


### Cabin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cabin/id1337552075)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Cabin free?

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

### Do ScratchJr or Cabin have ads?

Cabin shows ads; ScratchJr does not.

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

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Cabin every 6 weeks. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on September 24, 2026 and Cabin on September 13, 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.*