Blockly for Dash & Dot robots vs Merge Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blockly for Dash & Dot robots
Learn coding fundamentals through interactive play with robots. This app uses a visual drag-and-drop interface to create programs for Dash and Dot robots, offering challenges and creative freedom for young learners.
- Visual drag-and-drop coding
- Robot programming challenges
- Create custom robot behaviors
- Learn coding concepts (sequencing, loops, variables)
- Bluetooth connectivity to robots
- Playful storylines and puzzles
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PLEASE NOTE: This app requires a Wonder Workshop robot (Dash or Dot) to play. To find out more, please visit our website: https://www.makewonder.com. This app is FREE to play. Blockly is a visual drag-and-drop programming tool developed by Google that allows children to snap together commands like puzzle pieces. This app includes dozes of coding challenges for kids to tackle. They can also invent their own creations using Blockly to program Dash & Dot! Learn concepts like sequencing, events, loops, algorithms, operations, and variables through self-directed play and guided challenges. A series of puzzles teach the concepts of coding through playful storylines, allowing kids to learn and explore all on their own. Kids can confidently embark on their own coding adventures with their newfound knowledge, a dash of creativity, and robot buddy - Dash. For ages 6 and up. As seen on the New York Times, USA TODAY, WIRED, Engadget, BBC, and more. “Thoroughly absorbing.” - New York Times “Both kids begged me to take out the robots and start playing with them again.” - Business Insider “Wonder Workshop's notion that kids need to learn twenty-first century skills (and can have fun doing it) flips the industry paradigm on its head, putting kids first.” - James Oppenheim "They are designed to encourage kids to explore and be curious while also learning problem solving." - VentureBeat HOW TO PLAY - Connect Dash and/or Dot to the Blockly app using Bluetooth Smart/4 - Start with a sample project or start your own projects from scratch - Navigate Dash through a maze or around the room, using object detection to avoid walls - Dash knows when it's being picked up and moved. Program Dash to sound the alarm when there is a disturbance! - Program Dash to do synchronized dance moves with lights, motion, and sounds If you have any questions or suggestions, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at any time at https://help.makewonder.com. ABOUT WONDER WORKSHOP Wonder Workshop, an award-winning creator of educational toys and applications for children, was founded in 2012 by three parents on a mission to make learning to code meaningful and fun for children. Through open-ended play and learning experiences, we hope to instill a sense of wonder while helping kids develop their creative problem solving skills. We play test with children throughout our product and app development process to make sure our experiences are frustration free and fun. Wonder Workshop takes children's privacy very seriously. Our apps do not include any third-party advertising or collect any personal information. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Privacy Policy: https://www.makewonder.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://www.makewonder.com/TOS Make Wonder: https://www.makewonder.com/make-wonder
Merge Explorer
Explore over 100 interactive science simulations using a smartphone and a Merge Cube. Investigate volcanoes, sharks, the solar system, and more with hands-on activities and quizzes. Ideal for K-8 students learning science at school or home.
- Over 100 science simulations
- Interactive Merge Cube experiences
- Hands-on learning activities
- Built-in quizzes
- NGSS-aligned K-8 curriculum
- Physical, Life, and Earth/Space Science topics
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PLEASE NOTE: This app requires a Merge Cube and a smartphone or a tablet to experience. Find out how to get a Merge Cube and learn more at: https://www.MergeCube.com. Students can learn science effectively with over 100 science simulations they can touch, hold and interact with! Merge Explorer (along with a Merge Cube) allows students to investigate a smoking volcano in the palm of their hand, examine a great white shark up close, hold and explore the solar system, dissect a frog (humanely!), and so much more. With easy-to-follow activities and built-in quizzes, students gain key knowledge while immersed in learning, both in the classroom or while remote learning at home. Merge Explorer includes NGSS-aligned topics for K-8th grade, like Physical Science, Life Science, and Earth & Space Science. If you have any questions or suggestions, we want to hear from you! Contact us at any time at support@mergeedu.com. Privacy Policy: https://MergeEdu.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://MergeEdu.com/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Blockly for Dash & Dot robots at none against Merge Explorer's 4. Blockly for Dash & Dot robots also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Merge Explorer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Blockly for Dash & Dot robots asks for nothing beyond the download.
Blockly for Dash & Dot robots holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 172 and 279 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of Blockly for Dash & Dot robots's written reviews are positive against 46% of Merge Explorer's.
Blockly for Dash & Dot robots ships an update every 2 months, Merge Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blockly for Dash & Dot robots | Merge Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (172 ratings) — better | 4.1 (279 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 53.3% of reviews — better | 46.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 172 | 279 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 142 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MORAVIA Consulting, spol. s r.o. | Merge Apps |
Customer experience
Blockly for Dash & Dot robots
Merge Explorer
Bugs and requests
Blockly for Dash & Dot robots
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Merge Explorer
Reported bugs
13 issues- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes when pressing play
- Camera not working in app
- Black screen when using cube or camera
- VR function broken
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- VR doesn't work with iPhone XS Max
- App crashes or loads forever
- Problems with galactic explore
- App has trouble recognizing the cube
- Screen recording only records cube, not overlay
- Words appear sideways in horizontal mode
- Content appears incorrectly
- App crashes
Requested features
9 requests- Make the app free to play
- Add more fun things, not just learning
- Bring back the fun apps (time bomb, block courses)
- Allow users to create their own games for the merge cube
- Add a way to reset quizzes for class sets of devices
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- Improve functionality for remote teaching, including screen recording
- Add more content in the future
- Add dark mode option
- Add advanced analytics dashboard
In-app purchases
Blockly for Dash & Dot robots
No in-app purchases
Merge Explorer
- Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Explorer Premium Monthly14 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Merge EDU Individual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
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- Explorer Premium Annual14 Days trial$99.991 Year
Questions
Is Blockly for Dash & Dot robots free?
Is Merge Explorer free?
Which has better reviews, Blockly for Dash & Dot robots or Merge Explorer?
Do Blockly for Dash & Dot robots or Merge Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Blockly for Dash & Dot robots or Merge Explorer?
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