# ScratchJr vs Robo Blockly

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ScratchJr at 67% against Robo Blockly's 0%. ScratchJr also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (3.9 vs 3.5). Robo Blockly's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 3.5. 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 0% of Robo Blockly's.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Robo Blockly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Robo Blockly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews)** | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/robo-blockly/id1495972768/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **66.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 51 MB | 234 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [Robo Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143043348) |

## 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


### Robo Blockly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/robo-blockly/id1495972768)

This app offers a unified coding environment for robot building and programming. It features three distinct coding levels, interactive tutorials, and a hands-on approach to learning STEAM concepts for children and adults.

**Highlights:** Unified coding environment, Three coding levels (Live, Code, Blockly), Color-coded building blocks, 19 interactive tutorials, Hands-on STEAM learning, Suitable for ages 5+

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Robo Blockly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ScratchJr or Robo Blockly?

ScratchJr is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Robo Blockly averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or Robo Blockly have ads?

Robo Blockly shows ads; ScratchJr does not.

### Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Robo Blockly?

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Robo Blockly every 2 months. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on October 19, 2026 and Robo Blockly on September 21, 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.*