# ScratchJr vs Bugs and Beyond

The clearest difference is price: ScratchJr at Free against Bugs and Beyond's $0.99. ScratchJr also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 7) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). Bugs and Beyond's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

ScratchJr is free to download; Bugs and Beyond costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Bugs and Beyond 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 7, 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 100% of Bugs and Beyond's.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Bugs and Beyond every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Bugs and Beyond |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bugs-and-beyond/id1393702002/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 66.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 51 MB | 227 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [Little Bit Studio, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1064989969) |

## 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


### Bugs and Beyond

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bugs-and-beyond/id1393702002)

Explore a world of learning with over 18 interactive 3D games and activities designed to entertain and educate young children. Develop essential skills like logic, memory, and programming through engaging gameplay and fun challenges.

**Highlights:** Over 18 3D activities and games, Develops logic, memory, and programming skills, Designed for ages 4-6, Parental gate for settings, Apple Pencil support, Profiles for multiple children, High-quality graphics and music

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Bugs and Beyond free?

Bugs and Beyond costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ScratchJr or Bugs and Beyond?

Bugs and Beyond is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Bugs and Beyond averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or Bugs and Beyond have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor Bugs and Beyond shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Bugs and Beyond?

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Bugs and Beyond every 3 months. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on November 6, 2026 and Bugs and Beyond on November 2, 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.*