# Comics Studio vs PBS KIDS ScratchJr

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PBS KIDS ScratchJr at none against Comics Studio's 4. Comics Studio's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Comics Studio sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. PBS KIDS ScratchJr asks for nothing beyond the download.

Comics Studio ships an update every 3 weeks, PBS KIDS ScratchJr every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Comics Studio | PBS KIDS ScratchJr |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.0 (356 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-kids-scratchjr/id1047840202/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **356** |
| Positive reviews | — | 62.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 12 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 45 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GreenShpits](https://appshunter.io/developer/335524002) | [PBS KIDS](https://appshunter.io/developer/324323339) |

## What reviewers say

### Comics Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comics-studio/id982443863)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| one month pro version subscription | $1.99 | one-time |
| 3 months pro version subscription | $4.99 | one-time |
| 6 months pro version subscription | $4.99 | one-time |
| 12 months pro version subscription | $9.99 | one-time |


### PBS KIDS ScratchJr

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pbs-kids-scratchjr/id1047840202)

This app allows children ages 5-8 to create their own interactive stories and games using simple programming blocks. Kids can make characters move, jump, and sing, while learning foundational coding concepts and problem-solving skills. It features beloved PBS KIDS characters and offers creative tools like painting and voice recording.

**Highlights:** Create interactive stories and games, Learn basic coding concepts, Use colorful programming blocks, Incorporate PBS KIDS characters, Paint and edit characters/backgrounds, Record voice for projects, Utilize story starters for inspiration

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👨‍👧‍👦 Great for teaching kids to code
- 🎨 Fun creative storytelling and animation features
- 🎭 PBS Kids characters and themed content
- 💰 Free app with no paywall
- 📚 Educational value for young learners

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- ❌ Limited coding blocks compared to original ScratchJr
- 🎭 Character roster hasn't been updated in years
- ⚠️ Drawing/text tools produce poor quality output
- 🔊 Sound and voice recording features broken or missing

**Reported bugs**

- Home button causes character to revert to previous position
- Projects fail to load when creating or opening
- Voice recording feature not working or missing
- How-to tutorial videos don't play
- Drawing tool corrupts custom characters

**Requested features**

- Add more PBS Kids shows (Let's Go Luna, Dinosaur Train, Elinor Wonders Why, Hero Elementary, Wordgirl, Rosie's Rules, Alma's Way)
- Unlimited pages/slides instead of 4-slide limit
- More coding blocks from original Scratch (text-to-speech, etc.)
- Custom character creation on blank canvas
- Level maker and world maker features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Comics Studio free?

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

### Is PBS KIDS ScratchJr free?

PBS KIDS ScratchJr is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Comics Studio or PBS KIDS ScratchJr have ads?

Neither Comics Studio nor PBS KIDS ScratchJr shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Comics Studio or PBS KIDS ScratchJr?

Comics Studio ships an update every 3 weeks, and PBS KIDS ScratchJr every 12 months. Most recently, Comics Studio was updated on October 5, 2026 and PBS KIDS ScratchJr on October 24, 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.*