Comparison

ScratchJr vs Math Buddy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ScratchJr

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
Read full description

With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) learn important new skills as they program their own interactive stories and games. By snapping together graphical programming blocks, children can make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. In the process, children learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer. They also use math and language in a meaningful and motivating context, supporting the development of early-childhood numeracy and literacy. With ScratchJr, children don’t just learn to code, they code to learn. ScratchJr was inspired by the popular Scratch programming language (http://scratch.mit.edu), used by millions of people (ages 8 and up) around the world. The ScratchJr interface and programming language were redesigned to make them appropriate for younger children’s cognitive, personal, social, and emotional development. ScratchJr is a collaboration between the Lifelong Kindergarten research group at the MIT Media Lab, the Developmental Technologies research group at Tufts University, and the Playful Invention Company. The ScratchJr project has received generous financial support from the National Science Foundation (NSF DRL-1118664), Scratch Foundation, LEGO Foundation, and British Telecommunications. If you enjoy using this free app, please consider making a donation to the Scratch Foundation (www.scratchfoundation.org), a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing support for ScratchJr. We appreciate donations of all sizes, large and small.

About

Math Buddy

Features
Read full description

Build strong math foundations with step-by-step learning, adaptive practice, and real progress tracking. Trusted by 450+ schools across India, Bangladesh, and Bahrain. Backed by the Google Accelerator Program. Math Buddy brings 15+ years of classroom expertise to your child's fingertips - breaking every concept into bite-sized skills for true understanding, not memorization. Why Math Buddy? Unlike typical apps that rely only on drill practice, Math Buddy uses an activity-based learning approach so children understand why, not just how. What your child gets Interactive Activities Hundreds of engaging activities across Grades 1-8 Mental Math Build speed and accuracy with proven strategies Adaptive Practice Personalized learning that adjusts to your child's level Math Olympiad Prep Advanced problems for competitive exam readiness Daily Challenges Practice regularly with thoughtfully designed questions Badges & Streaks Stay motivated with rewards and progress tracking Goals & Rewards Set targets and earn coins for consistent practice Curriculum aligned Aligned with CBSE, ICSE, and international curricula for Grades 1 to 8 Important note Currently available for students enrolled through schools using Math Buddy. Please contact your school for login access. Download Math Buddy and give your child the strong math foundation they deserve. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ScratchJr1 screens
Math Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ScratchJr at none against Math Buddy's 3. ScratchJr also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). Math Buddy's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Math Buddy sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ScratchJr asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, Math Buddy every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
ScratchJr versus Math Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScratchJrMath Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (1.9K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.9K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB121 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScratch Foundation, Inc.Math Buddy LLC

Bugs and requests

ScratchJr

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Freezing and crashing issues
  • Incorrect character movements and positioning
  • Saving and loading problems
  • Microphone and recording bugs

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

Math Buddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ScratchJr

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Math Buddy

Subscriptions3
  • Individual Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Individual Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • Family Yearly - 3 children7 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is ScratchJr free?
ScratchJr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Math Buddy free?
Math Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ScratchJr or Math Buddy have ads?
Neither ScratchJr nor Math Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ScratchJr or Math Buddy?
ScratchJr ships an update every 6 months, and Math Buddy every 3 weeks. Most recently, ScratchJr was updated on November 13, 2026 and Math Buddy on November 13, 2026.

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