# codeSpark vs MentalUP

The clearest difference is monetization model: codeSpark at free with in-app purchases against MentalUP's subscription. MentalUP's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 52%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. codeSpark sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and MentalUP sells 20 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for codeSpark against 4.7 for MentalUP. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41K and 38K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of codeSpark's written reviews are positive against 71% of MentalUP's.

codeSpark ships an update fortnightly, MentalUP every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | codeSpark | MentalUP |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (41K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codespark-coding-for-kids/id923441570/reviews) | **[4.7 (38K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mentalup-kids-learning-games/id1284769817/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **41K** | 38K |
| Positive reviews | 51.7% of reviews | **70.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 126 MB | 155 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Homer](https://appshunter.io/developer/601437929) | [Ayasis Yazilim ve Bilisim Teknolojileri Anonim Sirketi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1632413570) |

## What reviewers say

### codeSpark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codespark-coding-for-kids/id923441570)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $3.99 | per month |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $7.99 | per month |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $9.99 | per month |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $9.99 | per month |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $12.99 | per month |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $15.00 | per month |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $23.99 | per 3 months |
| codeSpark Holiday Annual Membership | $63.00 | per year |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $79.99 | per year |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $90.00 | per year |
| codeSpark Academy Enrollment | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging
- 🚀 Great for learning coding
- 🎨 Lots of creative possibilities
- 🤩 Awesome game/app
- 💯 Best coding app ever

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
- 🔍 Confusing UI/UX
- 🔑 Forced to pay for access
- 🤬 Unauthorized charges

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


### MentalUP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mentalup-kids-learning-games/id1284769817)

This app offers a comprehensive learning adventure with teacher-made educational games designed to boost cognitive skills and physical fitness. It provides personalized workouts, skill-based activities, and certified IQ tests with detailed results, all within a safe and engaging environment for children and adults.

**Highlights:** Fun brain games, Educational learning games, Personal skill-based games, Multiple intelligences activities, Certified IQ tests, Fitness exercises, Progress reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| MentalUP Premium | $11.99 | per 3 months |
| MentalUP Premium | $13.99 | per 3 months |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| MentalUP Premium | $17.99 | per 6 months |
| MentalUP Standard Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium | $23.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Standard Subscription | $28.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium | $35.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium | $47.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| MentalUP Premium Subscription | $89.99 | per year |
| 100 GEMS | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and educational for kids
- 🚀 Engaging learning activities
- 💡 Variety of games and exercises
- 👍 Helps improve mental skills
- 👍 Motivates kids to keep playing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locked content requires paid subscription
- 🐛 Occasional technical issues and bugs
- 🔒 Limited free access
- 🤑 Expensive subscription fees

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes on some devices
- Incorrect scoring and results
- Compatibility issues with older iOS versions

**Requested features**

- More free content and features
- Improved character customization options
- Better voice acting and audio quality
- Adaptive difficulty levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is codeSpark free?

codeSpark is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MentalUP free?

MentalUP is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, codeSpark or MentalUP?

MentalUP is rated higher. codeSpark averages 4.6 out of 5 from 41K ratings, while MentalUP averages 4.7 from 38K ratings.

### Do codeSpark or MentalUP have ads?

Neither codeSpark nor MentalUP shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, codeSpark or MentalUP?

codeSpark ships an update fortnightly, and MentalUP every 3 weeks. Most recently, codeSpark was updated on October 28, 2026 and MentalUP on October 28, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*