codeSpark vs PBS KIDS Games
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
codeSpark
This app offers hundreds of interactive coding games and activities for children aged 3-10. Kids can solve puzzles, design their own games and stories, and even participate in coding contests. It focuses on building essential coding concepts and problem-solving skills in a safe, ad-free environment.
- Hundreds of coding games and activities
- Create your own games and stories
- Puzzles to master coding concepts
- Monthly coding contests
- Multiplayer coding challenges
- Pre-coding activities for preschoolers
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codeSpark: The Award-Winning Learn-to-Code App for Kids (Ages 3–10) 100s of coding games & activities—plus tools to create your own! Kids as young as 3 can start coding through play with puzzles, storytelling, and creativity tools designed just for them. Older kids can design and publish their own games, join monthly contests, and explore projects created by other kid coders. Get full access with a monthly or annual subscription—try membership free for 7 days! Annual subscribers can create up to 5 child profiles, making codeSpark perfect for families with multiple learners. OR play limited content through Hour of Code with no credit card required. Learn Coding Through Play - Puzzles – Master core coding and problem-solving concepts level by level - Create – Design and code your own games and interactive stories - Made by Kids – Play and explore games created by other young coders around the world - Monthly Coding Contests – Showcase creativity, code projects, and win prizes - Code Together – Join friends in a multiplayer water balloon fight while practicing coding logic - Pre-Coding for Preschoolers – Activities designed for early learners ages 3–4 - Adventure Maps – Unlock new puzzles and challenges while progressing through fun coding worlds Educational Benefits Backed by Research codeSpark’s curriculum is based on research from MIT, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon. Kids learn the basics of computer science in a fun, accessible way—without words. - Coding concepts: sequencing, loops, conditionals, events, and debugging - Computational thinking: problem-solving, logic, pattern recognition, and creativity - Reinforces early skills: reading, math, and critical thinking - Builds confidence, perseverance, and collaboration through play - Encourages design thinking by letting kids turn ideas into working games and stories Kid-Safe & Ad-Free - Every game and story is reviewed before publishing to ensure safety - No ads, no micro-transactions, no distractions - Parent dashboard to manage profiles and track progress - A trusted environment for independent learning Praise from Parents & Teachers “My daughters are 6 and 8, and this is their new favorite game. Now they want to be programmers!” – Parent Review “I loved seeing how my children enjoyed working together on the puzzles.” – Parent Review Teachers and parents worldwide use codeSpark to introduce coding in classrooms, after-school programs, and at home. Kids stay motivated because the learning feels like play, and they are proud to share their creations. - Awards & Recognition - The LEGO Foundation – Pioneer in Reimagining Learning & Play - Children’s Technology Review – Editor’s Choice Award - Parent’s Choice Award – Gold Medal - Collision Conference – Kids & Family Silver Winner Why Families Choose codeSpark - Designed for kids ages 3–10 with no reading required - Builds STEM skills through fun, engaging coding challenges - Supports creativity with open-ended game and story design tools - Encourages collaboration through multiplayer games and contests - Trusted by parents, teachers, and schools worldwide - Helps kids see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and future innovators Subscription & Download Start with a 7-day free membership trial. Subscriptions renew automatically; manage or cancel anytime in Account Settings. Annual subscribers can create up to 5 child profiles, making it easy to support the whole family. Privacy Policy: http://codespark.com/privacy/ Terms of Use: http://codespark.com/terms/ Start your child’s coding journey today with codeSpark—the award-winning learn-to-code app that makes programming fun, safe, and accessible for every kid ages 3–10!
PBS KIDS Games
Explore over 280 free educational games designed for children ages 2-8, featuring beloved PBS KIDS characters. These kid-tested games cover subjects like math, reading, and science, promoting early learning and STEM skills in a safe, engaging environment.
- 280+ curriculum-based educational games
- Features favorite PBS KIDS characters
- Available in English and Spanish
- Offline play capability
- STEM, math, reading, and science games
- Kid-tested and safe interface
- New games added weekly
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PBS KIDS Games makes learning fun and safe with 280+ educational games from your child's favorite shows. Play hundreds of free educational games that are kid tested and designed for your child. Watch as they learn with their favorite PBS characters like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Lyla in the Loop, Weather Hunters, Carl the Collector, and more! Your child can play and learn with PBS KIDS in English and Spanish thanks to familiar faces like Alma, Rosie, and more. Quickly play games from the safety of your home and keep playing anywhere you take your device to keep the fun going. Make preschool and early elementary education fun and easy with a safe, kid friendly interface. Start your child’s learning adventure today! SAFE GAMES DESIGNED FOR KIDS * PBS KIDS Games are kid tested and provides a safe, friendly playing experience for toddlers and kids * Play mini games that boost imagination and allow kids to learn early school subjects with beloved PBS KIDS characters LEARNING GAMES FOR GRADE SCHOOL EDUCATION * 280+ FREE curriculum-based games for kids ages 2-8 * Encourage early learning with educational games for kids with different school subjects * Instantly explore mazes, puzzles, numbers, play dress-up, coloring, and more * Elementary school games * Math games * Reading games * Science games * Art games NEW GAMES ADDED WEEKLY * Kids will learn and have fun with new games added frequently * Play new games with accessibility features to enhance the fun! * Build STEM skills with science, math, and puzzles * Play games about social concepts like kindness, mindfulness, and emotions * Foster healthy habits by learning daily routines * Spark creativity and imagination with art games PLAY GAMES FROM PBS KIDS SHOWS * Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood * Wild Kratts * Lyla in the Loop * Weather Hunters * Carl the Collector * Acoustic Rooster * Work It Out Wombats! * Rosie’s Rules * Alma’s Way * Donkey Hodie * Odd Squad * Pinkalicious & Peterrific * Arthur * Elinor Wonders Why * Let’s go Luna * Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum * Scribbles and Ink * Clifford * Molly of Denali * Sesame Street * Nature Cat * And more! PLAY IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH * Bilingual kids will enjoy playing with Alma, Rosie, and more in English and Spanish * Spanish speakers can play 50+ fun-filled, educational games PARENT RESOURCES * Download related PBS KIDS apps to expand your child’s learning * Learn more about PBS TV shows, such as intended age and learning goals * Find your local PBS KIDS station schedule Play fun games and join your kids on an educational adventure alongside their favorite PBS KIDS characters with the PBS KIDS Games app! Download and play the PBS KIDS Games app to start learning and having fun today! ABOUT PBS KIDS PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms, and community-based programs. PBS KIDS Games is a key part of PBS KIDS’ commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of children through curriculum-based media—wherever kids are. More free PBS KIDS games are also available online at pbskids.org/games. You can support PBS KIDS by downloading other PBS KIDS apps in the App Store. AWARDS * Kidscreen Best Games App (2019, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025) * Webby Winner (2023, 2024) * Webby People’s Voice Winner (2021, 2023, 2024) PRIVACY Across all media platforms, PBS KIDS is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for children and families and being transparent about what information is collected from users. To learn more about PBS KIDS’ privacy policy, visit pbskids.org/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PBS KIDS Games at none against codeSpark's 14. PBS KIDS Games also leads on ratings volume (372K vs 41K) and chart position (#97 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence 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
Both are free to download. codeSpark sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PBS KIDS Games asks for nothing beyond the download.
codeSpark holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PBS KIDS Games has 372K ratings behind it against 41K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of codeSpark's written reviews are positive against 61% of PBS KIDS Games's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | codeSpark | PBS KIDS Games |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (41K ratings) — better | 4.4 (372K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 51.6% of reviews | 60.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 41K | 372K — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #97 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 130 MB | 92 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Homer | PBS KIDS |
Customer experience
codeSpark
PBS KIDS Games
User reviews
codeSpark
From 41K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 🚀 Great for learning coding
- 🎨 Lots of creative possibilities
- 🤩 Awesome game/app
- 💯 Best coding app ever
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🔍 Confusing UI/UX
- 🔑 Forced to pay for access
- 🤬 Unauthorized charges
PBS KIDS Games
From 372K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fantastic app with great quality games
- 👍 Variety of educational and engaging games
- 💡 Daily game feature
- 🔒 No ads or links to take kids elsewhere
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent freezing and glitches
- 🐛 Buggy games like Rosie's Rules and Donkey's Froyo Stand
- 🐛 Sound issues and random volume loss
- 🐛 Games disappearing after updates
- 🐛 Compatibility issues on older devices
Bugs and requests
codeSpark
Reported bugs
5 issues- Disappearing progress and lost stories
- Inconsistent performance and crashes
- Incorrect item purchases and coin deductions
- Inability to access drafts and profiles
- Incompatibility issues with newer devices
Requested features
5 requests- Add more pet foos and customization options
- Improve story sharing and collaboration features
- Introduce more puzzles and challenges
- Allow custom character and block creation
- Implement better communication between coders
PBS KIDS Games
Reported bugs
4 issues- Odd Squad game level issues with missing elements
- Cooking School game getting stuck on same recipe
- Greens Hill race in Kart Racer game always resulting in second place
- Downloading games not working for some users
Requested features
5 requests- Add more Kart Kingdom features like customization and online play
- Ability to reset individual games
- Sort games by age/difficulty level
- Add a search function
- Increase offline storage capacity
In-app purchases
codeSpark
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$7.991 Month
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$9.991 Month
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- codeSpark Academy Enrollment1 Month trial$9.991 Month
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial2 variants$12.991 Month
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$15.001 Month
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$23.993 Months
- codeSpark Holiday Annual Membership7 Days trial$63.001 Year
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial2 variants$79.991 Year
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$90.001 Year
- codeSpark Academy Enrollment7 Days trial$99.991 Year
PBS KIDS Games
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is codeSpark free?
Is PBS KIDS Games free?
Which has better reviews, codeSpark or PBS KIDS Games?
Do codeSpark or PBS KIDS Games have ads?
Which is updated more often, codeSpark or PBS KIDS Games?
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