mBlock vs True Robotics Playground
mBlock
makeblock.comTrue Robotics Playground
app.truerobotics.orgSide by side
| Figure | mBlock | True Robotics Playground |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Robotics Education Software | 8.8 (#3) | 7.7 (#17) |
| Founded | 2013 | 2021 |
| Purpose | mBlock 5 is a coding platform for robotics, STEM, and coding learning. | The Playground is a free block coding platform for elementary and middle school robotics classrooms. |
Plans
In their own words
mBlock
mBlock 5 is a free coding platform for robotics, STEM, and coding learning. It supports block-based coding and Python, with a one-click switch between the two. Users can create games and animations, then program Makeblock robots and other open-resource hardware. The platform includes AI and IoT features, with integrations described for Microsoft Cognitive Services and Google deep learning. Supported devices listed include CyberPi, mBot Neo/mBot2, mBot, mBot Ranger, Ultimate 2.0, mBot Mega, mTiny, Codey Rocky, and xLight. The Extension Builder allows third parties to develop device and sprite extensions. mBlock is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. The web version supports direct Bluetooth or serial connections, but not the Bluetooth dongle. The mBlock Python editor programs devices only for CyberPi, and its Upload mode uses MicroPython rather than third-party Python 3 libraries. The Extension Builder works only in Google Chrome.
True Robotics Playground
True Robotics Playground has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.