# ScratchJr vs Candy Coding

The clearest difference is rating: Candy Coding at 5.0 against ScratchJr's 3.9. Candy Coding also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). ScratchJr's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 2). 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.

Candy Coding holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScratchJr has 1.8K ratings behind it against 2, 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 Candy Coding's.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Candy Coding every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Candy Coding |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-coding/id1484449977/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 66.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.3 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [Tinkamo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185240069) |

## 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


### Candy Coding

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-coding/id1484449977)

This app offers hands-on coding lessons designed for young children aged 5-8. Developed by an award-winning team, it provides an engaging way to learn programming concepts. Currently, it is exclusively available in Simplified Chinese.

**Highlights:** Hands-on coding lessons, Designed for ages 5-8, Award-winning development team, Simplified Chinese language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Candy Coding free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ScratchJr or Candy Coding?

Candy Coding is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Candy Coding averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or Candy Coding have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor Candy Coding shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Candy Coding?

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Candy Coding every 3 weeks. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on October 10, 2026 and Candy Coding on October 1, 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.*