Scratch
Free block-based coding tool and online community where kids make games, stories and animations.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, Windows, macOS, Android
Is Scratch free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from Scratch to
All 4
Snap!Open source
Roblox StudioFree
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Scratch
Scratch is a visual programming environment for children and young teens. Instead of typing code, you snap coloured blocks together to make characters move, talk, play sounds and react to input, which makes loops, events and variables easy to grasp. It comes with a library of characters, backdrops and sounds, and you can draw or upload your own. Projects can be shared to a large, moderated online community, where others can play them, comment and remix them, which is a big part of its appeal. Teachers can create class accounts to manage students, and there are free tutorials and lesson guides. It runs in the browser, with an offline desktop app for Windows, macOS, ChromeOS and Android tablets. Scratch began at the MIT Media Lab in 2007 and is now run by the non-profit Scratch Foundation. It is completely free. Older students may outgrow its blocks.
Best for: Children around 8 to 16, parents and teachers looking for a free first step into programming.
Scratch pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Scratch's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Nov 8, 2026 | scratch.mit.edu |
Pros and cons
What works
- Completely free, with no ads or paid tier
- Huge moderated community for sharing and remixing projects
- Teacher accounts and plenty of free lesson material
Why people leave
- Blocks hide real syntax, so moving to text languages takes another step
- No official iPhone or iPad app (ScratchJr is a separate, simpler app)
- Can't build standalone mobile apps
Scratch vs Snap!, Roblox Studio and CodeAI (formerly Code.org)
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Scratch | Snap! | Roblox Studio | CodeAI (formerly Code.org) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Open source | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Android | Web | Windows, macOS | Web |
Top Scratch alternatives
See all 4- 1Snap!68.8
Looks like Scratch but lets you build your own blocks, a good next step for older students.
- 2Roblox Studio54.4
A next step for older kids who want to build real 3D games in Lua and publish them for friends to play on Roblox.
- 3CodeAI (formerly Code.org)42.3
Free structured courses and lesson plans, from block puzzles to text coding and AI.
- 4
Swift Playground42.3A free next step into real Swift code on iPad and Mac.
Why people left Scratch
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Scratch, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Scratch: common questions
What is Scratch?
Scratch: Free block-based coding tool and online community where kids make games, stories and animations. Best for children around 8 to 16, parents and teachers looking for a free first step into programming. Available for Web, Windows, macOS and Android.
Is Scratch free?
Yes, Scratch is free to use.
How much does Scratch cost?
Scratch is free to use. Price: Free. Checked on Scratch's own site, November 2026.
Is Scratch open source?
Yes.
What platforms does Scratch run on?
Scratch is available for Web, Windows, macOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Scratch?
The highest-ranked Scratch alternatives right now are Snap!, Roblox Studio and CodeAI (formerly Code.org). See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Scratch vs Snap!: what's the difference?
Scratch is free to use; Snap! is free and open source. Only Scratch runs on Windows, macOS and Android.