# codeSpark vs MathTango

The clearest difference is monetization model: codeSpark at free with in-app purchases against MathTango's subscription. codeSpark also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (41K vs 3.9K). MathTango's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. codeSpark sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and MathTango sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 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 4.6 for MathTango. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: codeSpark has 41K ratings behind it against 3.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of codeSpark's written reviews are positive against 76% of MathTango's.

codeSpark ships an update fortnightly, MathTango every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | codeSpark | MathTango |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (41K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codespark-coding-for-kids/id923441570/reviews) | [4.6 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathtango-math-games-for-kids/id6475483877/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **41K** | 3.9K |
| Positive reviews | 51.6% of reviews | **75.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 126 MB | 884 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Homer](https://appshunter.io/developer/601437929) | [Piknik](https://appshunter.io/developer/640702079) |

## 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


### MathTango

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mathtango-math-games-for-kids/id6475483877)

This app offers hundreds of engaging math games for children aged 5-10+, covering addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Kids progress through playful challenges, collect rewards, and build confidence in math skills. It features a customized curriculum and adaptive learning.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of math games for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Customized, age-appropriate lesson plan wizard, Adaptive learning based on Common Core curriculum, Playful worlds and missions for engagement, Multiple user profiles for family use, Offline play without WiFi

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MathTango Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $14.99 | per month |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $49.99 | per year |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $79.99 | per year |
| Piknik Unlimited Plan | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💙 Love it
- 🤍 Fun and enjoyable
- 👍 Great learning game
- 🎨 Lovely graphics
- 🧠 Helps with math skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔄 Reactive missions
- 💸 High in-game prices
- 🔒 Lost access to previous version
- 🚫 Subscription issues

**Reported bugs**

- Progress and purchases not carrying over to new version
- Inability to log in to paid account on new device
- Accidental purchases cannot be refunded

**Requested features**

- Update the game to be more like the original MathTango
- Change the name to MathTango and the icon to Isacc
- Add more features and updates to continue playing puzzles
- Remove the daily puzzle limit


## Frequently asked questions

### Is codeSpark free?

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

### Is MathTango free?

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

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

codeSpark and MathTango are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 41K and 3.9K ratings respectively.

### Do codeSpark or MathTango have ads?

Neither codeSpark nor MathTango shows ads.

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

codeSpark ships an update fortnightly, and MathTango every 2 months. Most recently, codeSpark was updated on October 17, 2026 and MathTango on October 14, 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.*