Kodable vs MIT App Inventor
Kodable
kodable.com
MIT App Inventor
appinventor.mit.eduSide by side
| Figure | Kodable | MIT App Inventor |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $10/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 2 |
| Spec score · Coding Learning Software | 8.8 (#2) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Audience | Kodable describes Kodable Basics as designed for early readers and pre-readers, and its parent offering targets children ages 4–10. | The project’s stated vision is to enable anyone, including people who do not consider themselves coders, to create mobile apps. |
| Documentation | Kodable publishes scripted unplugged lessons, vocabulary, explanatory videos, learning guides and classroom activity materials. | The official library includes component and block references, tutorials, emulator and connection troubleshooting, templates, sharing, Google Play guidance and advanced extension material. |
| Integrations | School plans list Clever Secure Sync, ClassLink rostering and Google Classroom integration. | The documentation covers Web and XML services, Google Sheets, CloudDB, sensors, Google Play uploading and external hardware connections. |
| Privacy | Kodable states that it is based in the United States and that collected information is governed by U.S. law, with processing and transfer possible in the U.S. and other countries. | MIT says it tracks site usage and information about projects and their development, and may log IP address operating system and browser software. |
| Rating on Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 from 21K ratings | The US App Store listing shows 2.6 out of 5 from 12 ratings. |
| Support | The Premium school plan includes priority support. | MIT directs users to a community forum where community experts answer questions, rather than promising commercial support contracts. |
| What it does | Kodable is a K–5 digital-literacy curriculum combining coding, typing, STEM projects and digital-citizenship learning for children roughly ages 4–10. | MIT App Inventor is a browser-based, block-programming environment for creating, testing and sharing mobile apps. |
Plans
Kodable
- Monthly$24.99 a month
- Yearly$119.99 a year
- Lifetime$199.99, paid once
- KickstartFree
- Premium$1,750 a year
- Premium+$2,500 a year
- All Access$3,500 a year
- Monthly$24.99 a month
- Yearly$119.99 a year
- Lifetime$199.99, paid once
In their own words
Kodable
Kodable is a coding, typing, and STEM app suite for children ages 4–10, available on web, iOS, and Android. Children can start with drag-and-drop puzzles and progress to JavaScript without prior experience. Kodable Creator offers guided lessons, challenges, open-ended game creation, and a personalized AI tutor. Kodable Typing teaches home-row placement, accuracy, punctuation, and fluency for grades K–5. Bug World introduces object-oriented programming and JavaScript through a strategy game for students in grade K and above. Teachers can use a dashboard to see what each student has learned, their current progress, and what comes next. Classroom setup supports Google Classroom, Clever, or class codes; paid Premium+ and All Access plans include Clever Secure Sync and ClassLink rostering. Families can choose a free plan or paid plans for up to four child profiles: Monthly is $24.99 a month, Yearly is $9.99 a year as listed, and Lifetime is $199.99, paid once. A 7-day trial is listed. School plans are separately priced. Kodable was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Diego.
MIT App Inventor
MIT App Inventor is a free, browser-based platform for creating, testing, and sharing mobile apps with block-based programming. Its Designer is used to choose components, and its Blocks Editor is where users program app behavior. Projects can include games and media, AI for images, sounds, and text, surveys and charts, maps, sensors, and internet-connected devices. The MIT AI2 Companion app supports testing as an app is built on iOS and Android devices over Wi-Fi. Users can share projects for others to load and remix, then package completed apps for installation on Android. Although apps can be built for Android and iOS, the getting-started information says packaged app building and installation are Android-only for now. The browser tool supports Chrome, Firefox, and Safari on most laptops and desktops, plus Chromebooks, iPads, and Android tablets. A Google account is required. Creators own their apps and can download or delete them from the server. MIT says it tracks site usage and project-development information and may log device and browser details.