# ScratchJr vs Tinkercad

The clearest difference is rating: Tinkercad at 4.6 against ScratchJr's 3.9. Tinkercad also leads on ratings volume (19K vs 1.8K). ScratchJr's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 13 months) and review sentiment (67% vs 59%). 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.

Tinkercad holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tinkercad has 19K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of ScratchJr's written reviews are positive against 59% of Tinkercad'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, Tinkercad every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Tinkercad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) | **[4.6 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tinkercad/id1469440830/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1.8K | **19K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.8% of reviews** | 58.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 months** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [Autodesk Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/295089690) |

## 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


### Tinkercad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tinkercad/id1469440830)

This app empowers aspiring designers and engineers with essential skills in 3D design, electronics, and coding. Learn through hands-on projects, build confidence, and bring your creations to life in the real world. It's a safe, ad-free environment for all ages to explore innovation.

**Highlights:** 3D design optimized for mobile, Circuit simulation with Arduino/micro:bit, 3D design from code (Codeblocks), AR viewer for designs, Import/export various file formats, Educational tools for teachers

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Powerful 3D modeling capabilities
- 💡 Lots of built-in shapes and templates
- 👍 Good for beginners
- 👍 Smooth performance on iPad

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Buggy controls and UI issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on some devices
- 🐛 Unreliable saving and loading of designs
- 🐛 Lack of advanced modeling tools

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and lost connection problems
- Dimensions box repeatedly appearing
- Designs reverting to earlier versions
- Overlapping UI elements

**Requested features**

- Add support for Apple Pencil and trackpad
- Improve alignment and grouping tools
- Provide offline functionality
- Expand library of shapes and templates
- Implement better tutorial and documentation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Tinkercad free?

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

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

Tinkercad is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Tinkercad averages 4.6 from 19K ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or Tinkercad have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor Tinkercad shows ads.

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

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Tinkercad every 13 months. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on September 24, 2026 and Tinkercad on September 25, 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.*