Comparison

Makeblock-Play STEM Robots vs Sphero Edu Jr

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

Head to head
About

Makeblock-Play STEM Robots

Control and program robots with a user-friendly interface. Design custom controllers and explore STEM education through interactive robot play. Supports a variety of robot models and multiple languages.

Highlights
  • Robot control via official controller
  • Create custom robot controllers
  • Graphical programming for complex functions
  • User-friendly interface
  • Supports multiple Makeblock robot models
  • Multi-language support
Features
Read full description

Makeblock APP is a robot control software in smart devices. Everyone can directly control Makeblock robots using official controller in the software, or creates and programs a specific controller to achieve richer robotic functionality. Makeblock APP gives the user a way to grow. You can use the controller function to control directly, you can also drag the control to create a different multi-function console; advanced users can even programmatically through the control to achieve more complex functions. Features: -Brand New UI Design, User-Friendly Interface. -Stronger Controllability, Simpler Way to Learn STEM:STEM education becomes easy & fun as you can also master robot freely to sing, dance or light. -Create Customized Robot Controller with Graphical Programming: Realize your imagination and control your robot by simply dragging, dropping and programming the command blocks. -Supporting Makeblock Robots: Codey Rocky, MotionBlock, mBot、mBot Ranger、Airblock、Starter、Ultimate2.0 . -Multi-Language User Interface :Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Croatian,Polish,Romanian. Support: -You can visit the official website: www.makeblock.com for more information -support email: support@makeblock.cc -Support forum: we.makeblock.com

About

Sphero Edu Jr

This app allows users to connect to a robot and customize its actions using visual programming blocks. Create mazes, play games, and compose music while learning fundamental coding logic.

Highlights
  • Block programming interface
  • Customize lights, sounds, and movements
  • Create mazes and games
  • Learn basic programming logic
  • Classic and new drive modes
Read full description

With Sphero Edu Jr you can connect to your indi and customize its behavior with simple yet powerful programming blocks. By coding the lights, sounds, and movements of indi, you can create unique mazes, play games, write simple songs, and ultimately learn the basic logic of programming. Features include: • All new block programming experience, designed for the uniqueness of indi. • Drive modes, including the classic Sphero driving experience and a new mode designed specifically for indi.

Screenshots

Makeblock-Play STEM Robots4 screens
Sphero Edu Jr4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Makeblock-Play STEM Robots at every 6 weeks against Sphero Edu Jr's every 17 months. Makeblock-Play STEM Robots also leads on ratings volume (202 vs 15) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for Makeblock-Play STEM Robots against 3.6 for Sphero Edu Jr. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Makeblock-Play STEM Robots has 202 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Makeblock-Play STEM Robots's written reviews are positive against 44% of Sphero Edu Jr's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Makeblock-Play STEM Robots ships an update every 6 weeks, Sphero Edu Jr every 17 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Makeblock-Play STEM Robots versus Sphero Edu Jr: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMakeblock-Play STEM RobotsSphero Edu Jr
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (202 ratings) — better3.6 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews46.6% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings202 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 17 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size458 MB128 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMakeblock Co., Ltd.Sphero, Inc.

Customer experience

Makeblock-Play STEM Robots

All ratings202 ratings
Positive66.3%
Neutral6.4%
Negative27.2%
Written reviews131 reviews
Positive46.6%
Neutral3.8%
Negative49.6%

Sphero Edu Jr

All ratings15 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative55.6%

In-app purchases

None

Makeblock-Play STEM Robots

No in-app purchases

None

Sphero Edu Jr

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Makeblock-Play STEM Robots free?
Makeblock-Play STEM Robots is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sphero Edu Jr free?
Sphero Edu Jr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Makeblock-Play STEM Robots or Sphero Edu Jr?
Makeblock-Play STEM Robots is rated higher. Makeblock-Play STEM Robots averages 3.7 out of 5 from 202 ratings, while Sphero Edu Jr averages 3.6 from 15 ratings.
Do Makeblock-Play STEM Robots or Sphero Edu Jr have ads?
Neither Makeblock-Play STEM Robots nor Sphero Edu Jr shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Makeblock-Play STEM Robots or Sphero Edu Jr?
Makeblock-Play STEM Robots ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sphero Edu Jr every 17 months. Most recently, Makeblock-Play STEM Robots was updated on October 18, 2026 and Sphero Edu Jr on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons