# ScratchJr vs Castle Blocks

The clearest difference is price: ScratchJr at Free against Castle Blocks's $1.99. ScratchJr also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 261). Castle Blocks's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

ScratchJr is free to download; Castle Blocks costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Castle Blocks holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScratchJr has 1.9K ratings behind it against 261, 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 80% of Castle Blocks's.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Castle Blocks every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Castle Blocks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) | **[4.4 (261 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castle-blocks-easy-building/id1371689695/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 261 |
| Positive reviews | 66.9% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 55 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) | [Marek Dobrowolski](https://appshunter.io/developer/1371689694) |

## 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


### Castle Blocks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/castle-blocks-easy-building/id1371689695)

This app allows children to unleash their creativity by building and designing various structures like palaces, fortresses, and ancient cities. It's a fun way for kids to develop their imagination through drawing and construction.

**Highlights:** Castle creator, Palace building, Fortress design, Ancient city construction, Drawing and painting tools, Develops creativity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Castle Blocks free?

Castle Blocks costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ScratchJr or Castle Blocks?

Castle Blocks is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Castle Blocks averages 4.4 from 261 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or Castle Blocks have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor Castle Blocks shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Castle Blocks?

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Castle Blocks every 2 months. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on October 22, 2026 and Castle Blocks on October 19, 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.*