# ScratchJr vs Shenmo Abacus

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ScratchJr at none against Shenmo Abacus's 3. Shenmo Abacus's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shenmo Abacus sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. ScratchJr asks for nothing beyond the download.

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Shenmo Abacus fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and May 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ScratchJr | Shenmo Abacus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchjr/id895485086/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 51 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Scratch Foundation, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1066012912) | [beijing shenmo culture company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1377583312) |

## 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


### Shenmo Abacus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shenmo-abacus/id6738268822)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly card (1 month) | $0.99 | one-time |
| VIP half year card (6 months) | $5.99 | one-time |
| VIP Annual Card(12 months) | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ScratchJr free?

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

### Is Shenmo Abacus free?

Shenmo Abacus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ScratchJr or Shenmo Abacus have ads?

Neither ScratchJr nor Shenmo Abacus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Shenmo Abacus?

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Shenmo Abacus fortnightly. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on October 2, 2026 and Shenmo Abacus on May 16, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*