# ScratchJr vs OctoStudio

The clearest difference is rating: OctoStudio at 4.8 against ScratchJr's 3.9. OctoStudio also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (83% vs 67%). ScratchJr's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 64) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). 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.

OctoStudio holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ScratchJr has 1.8K ratings behind it against 64, 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 83% of OctoStudio's.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, OctoStudio monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | OctoStudio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews) | **[4.8 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | 66.8% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/353590322) |

## 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


### OctoStudio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octostudio-coding-for-kids/id6461573316)

Create animations and games using coding blocks on your mobile device. Bring your own photos and sounds to life, and share your interactive projects with others. Developed by the creators of Scratch at MIT, it's a free and fun way to learn coding.

**Highlights:** Create animations and games, Use coding blocks, Incorporate photos and sounds, Interactive project features, Share projects as video or GIF, Offline project creation, Learn coding through play

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is OctoStudio free?

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

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

OctoStudio is rated higher. ScratchJr averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while OctoStudio averages 4.8 from 64 ratings.

### Do ScratchJr or OctoStudio have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor OctoStudio shows ads.

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

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and OctoStudio monthly. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on October 2, 2026 and OctoStudio 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.*