# ScratchJr vs mBlock

The clearest difference is rating: ScratchJr at 3.9 against mBlock's 3.1. ScratchJr also leads on review sentiment (67% vs 34%) and ratings volume (1.8K vs 152). mBlock's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

ScratchJr holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScratchJr has 1.8K ratings behind it against 152, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of ScratchJr's written reviews are positive against 34% of mBlock's.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, mBlock every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | mBlock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews)** | [3.1 (152 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mblock-learn-coding/id1367117202/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 152 |
| Positive reviews | **66.8% of reviews** | 33.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 170 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [Makeblock Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1002364464) |

## 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


### mBlock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mblock-learn-coding/id1367117202)

This app enables students to learn coding through a block-based interface or Python. It supports creating games, animations, and programming robots, incorporating AI, IoT, and data science for advanced computer science education.

**Highlights:** Graphical programming with drag-and-drop blocks, Python programming support, Create games and animations, Program robots, AI, IoT, and data science features, Cloud storage for projects

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good for coding robots
- 👍 Works well with Codey Rocky
- 👍 Great for learning programming
- 👍 Similar to Scratch
- 👍 Bluetooth connection works

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Does not support mBot2/mBot Neo
- 🐛 Connection issues (Bluetooth)
- 🐛 App is glitchy
- 🐛 Upload mode not working on iPad
- 🐛 Live mode not working

**Reported bugs**

- mBot2/mBot Neo not supported
- Bluetooth connection fails or is unstable
- App crashes or freezes
- Upload mode not functional on iPad
- Live mode unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Add mBot2/mBot Neo support
- Improve Bluetooth connectivity
- Add local storage for programs
- Implement zoom functionality
- Add more examples for Codey Rocky


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is mBlock free?

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

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

ScratchJr is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while mBlock averages 3.1 from 152 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or mBlock have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor mBlock shows ads.

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

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and mBlock every 2 months. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on September 22, 2026 and mBlock on September 17, 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.*