Pyonkee vs VEXcode EXP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pyonkee
This app offers a real programming environment for creating games, animations, and stories using visual blocks. It's inspired by Scratch and optimized for touch devices, allowing users to learn logic, creativity, and collaboration through coding.
- Visual block-based programming
- Create games, animations, and stories
- Optimized for touch devices
- Import sounds and pictures
- Share projects easily
- Connect with micro:bit
- Utilize iPad sensors
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Tired of consuming? Let's enjoy creating! Based on Scratch, Pyonkee provides a real, programming environment, anytime, anywhere! Pyonkee is a new dynamic media for developing various ideas. By combining visual blocks, kids/adults are able to create original games, animations, and stories on their own. Through the programming process, we will learn about logics, productivity, creativity, and collaborations. Pyonkee has been developed from the open-source code of "Scratch 1.4" from MIT Media Lab. Since Pyonkee is fully compatible with Scratch 1.4, millions of existing Scratch projects can be used for reference. Pyonkee's user interface is optimized for touch devices. We do not need cumbersome typing, even a mouse. Just write programs wherever you like. Pyonkee nicely supports pinch-in/out, and font scaling for small devices. Moreover, sound recorder and camera are provided for importing your sounds and pictures into the projects. We can mix various media on Pyonkee and program them. Moreover, you can share your projects via AirDrop, e-mail, iCloud, and other cloud storage services. From the version 2.1, you are able to create programs using various iPad sensors and Mesh network protocol. From the version 2.3, more than 100 instruments are available in sound block. You can even play other synth app's sounds by enabling Virtual MIDI. From the version 2.20, Pyonkee is able to connect to micro:bit. You can get values from various sensors and send analog/digital signals to the pins. By combining the micro:bit with Pyonkee, you can enjoy an even wider world of programming. Dive into the fun of visual programming!
VEXcode EXP
This coding environment helps students of all ages learn to program robots through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It offers a consistent experience across different VEX robot platforms and age groups, making computer science accessible and engaging.
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Consistent across VEX robot platforms
- Supports multiple programming languages (Blocks/Text)
- Built-in video tutorials
- Extensive example projects
- Device manager for robot setup
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From elementary school through college, VEXcode is a coding environment that meets students at their level. The intuitive layout of VEXcode allows students to get started quickly and easily. VEXcode is consistent across Blocks and Text, across VEX 123, VEX GO, VEX IQ, VEX EXP, and VEX V5. As students progress from elementary, middle, and high school, they never have to learn a different blocks, code, or toolbar interface. As a result, students can focus on creating with technology, not trying to navigate a new layout. Drive Forward is the new Hello World We all know that robots attract kids to learn. VEX Robotics and VEXcode are providing opportunities for students of all ages to participate in learning the code that makes these robots work. VEX makes computer science come to life through collaborations, hands-on projects, and engaging experiences. From classrooms to competitions, VEXcode helps to create the next generation of innovators. Drag. Drop. Drive. VEXcode Blocks is the perfect platform for those new to coding. Students use the simple drag and drop interface to create functioning programs. Each block's purpose can easily be identified using the visual cues like its shape, color, and label. We've designed VEXcode Blocks to allow those who are new to robotics to get their robot up and running faster. Now, students can focus on being creative and learning computer science concepts, not stuck trying to figure out the interface. More accessible than ever VEXcode even helps across language barriers, allowing student to read blocks and comment programs in their native language. Drag & Drop. Powered by Scratch Blocks. Students and Teachers will feel instantly at home with this familiar environment. Video Tutorials. Grasp concepts faster. Built-in tutorials cover every aspect needed to get up to speed fast. And more tutorials are coming. Help is always there. Getting information on blocks is fast and easy. These resources were written by educators, in a form both teachers and students will grasp quickly. Drivetrain Blocks. A breakthrough in simplicity. From driving forward, making precise turns, setting speed, and stopping precisely, VEXcode makes it easier than ever to control a robot. Setup your VEX robot. Fast. VEXcode's device manager is simple, flexible, and powerful. In no time at all you can setup your robot's drivetrain, controller features, motors, and sensors. 60+ Example projects to choose from. Jumpstart your learning by starting with an existing project, covering every aspect of coding, controlling robots, and learning to use sensors. VEXcode Privacy Policy: https://www.vexrobotics.com/software-privacy-policy
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pyonkee at 3.6 against VEXcode EXP's 3.0. Pyonkee also leads on ratings volume (51 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13 vs 16.0). VEXcode EXP's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 62%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Pyonkee holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pyonkee has 51 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Pyonkee's written reviews are positive against 100% of VEXcode EXP's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Pyonkee ships an update every 4 months, VEXcode EXP every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 15, 2026 and August 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pyonkee | VEXcode EXP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (51 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 51 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 137 MB | 531 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SoftUmeYa, LLC. | VEX Robotics, Inc. |
Customer experience
Pyonkee
VEXcode EXP
Bugs and requests
Pyonkee
Reported bugs
16 issues- App crashes when importing photos
- App kicks user out
- Blocks not working
- Stamp and select features not working
- Forever if block issue
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- Storage usage too high (5GB)
- App crashes when making games (e.g., Five Nights at Freddy's)
- Loading screen stuck
- Blocks/sprites disappear briefly when moved
- Memory cleaning issues causing reloads
- Pixels shift when drawing sprites
- Image import forces rectangular crop
- App crashes on launch (iOS 8, iPad Mini)
- Slow performance/lagging
- Editor runs slowly
- Freezes when making multiple costumes
Requested features
24 requests- Update to Scratch 2.0/3.0
- Support for .sb3 and .sjr files
- Add clone blocks
- Add original Scratch Cat sprite
- Implement auto-save function
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- Improve drawing/sprite editing tools
- Add sharing rules and report buttons
- Add social media sharing
- Add new blocks (e.g., when screen swiped)
- Support for importing images from camera roll
- Support for importing audio from iTunes
- Add more background images
- Add more scripts and features
- Improve performance and speed
- Add scroll bar for UI elements
- Make it lighter/less resource-intensive
- Add a home screen
- Allow uploading projects to Dropbox
- Add online play and sharing
- Add iMessage sharing and email file opening
- Add mature sprites
- Add programming explanations
- Support for Kanji input
- Make it more compatible with newer iOS versions
VEXcode EXP
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Pyonkee
No in-app purchases
VEXcode EXP
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Pyonkee free?
Is VEXcode EXP free?
Which has better reviews, Pyonkee or VEXcode EXP?
Do Pyonkee or VEXcode EXP have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pyonkee or VEXcode EXP?
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