# codeSpark vs Candy Coding

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Candy Coding at 100% against codeSpark's 52%. Candy Coding also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). codeSpark's advantage is ratings volume (41K vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. codeSpark sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Candy Coding asks for nothing beyond the download.

Candy Coding holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: codeSpark has 41K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of codeSpark's written reviews are positive against 100% of Candy Coding's.

codeSpark ships an update every 2 weeks, Candy Coding every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | codeSpark | Candy Coding |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (41K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codespark-coding-for-kids/id923441570/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-coding/id1484449977/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **41K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 134 MB | 84 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Homer](https://appshunter.io/developer/601437929) | [Tinkamo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1185240069) |

## 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


### Candy Coding

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candy-coding/id1484449977)

This app offers hands-on coding lessons designed for young children aged 5-8. Developed by an award-winning team, it provides an engaging way to learn programming concepts. Currently, it is exclusively available in Simplified Chinese.

**Highlights:** Hands-on coding lessons, Designed for ages 5-8, Award-winning development team, Simplified Chinese language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is codeSpark free?

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

### Is Candy Coding free?

Candy Coding is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, codeSpark or Candy Coding?

Candy Coding is rated higher. codeSpark averages 4.6 out of 5 from 41K ratings, while Candy Coding averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do codeSpark or Candy Coding have ads?

Neither codeSpark nor Candy Coding shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, codeSpark or Candy Coding?

codeSpark ships an update every 2 weeks, and Candy Coding every 3 weeks. Most recently, codeSpark was updated on October 11, 2026 and Candy Coding on October 1, 2026.

---

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