Scratch vs ScratchJr
Scratch
scratch.mit.edu
ScratchJr
scratchjr.orgSide by side
| Figure | Scratch | ScratchJr |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.92/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Coding Education Platforms | 8.1 (#7) | 7.6 (#15) |
| Spec score · Coding Learning Software | 8.1 (#17) | 7.6 (#29) |
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| Learning goals | Scratch aims to help young people think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively. | ScratchJr is designed to support young children's cognitive, personal, social, and emotional growth. |
| Purpose | Scratch lets users program interactive stories, games, and animations and share creations in its online community. | ScratchJr is an introductory programming language for children ages 5–7 to create interactive stories and games. |
| Security | Scratch says it uses administrative, physical, and technical safeguards, including SSL/TLS for data transfers and restricted access to its servers. | Scratch says it uses administrative, physical, and technical procedures to protect collected information, while noting that it cannot guarantee database or transmission security. |
| Support | Parents can contact Scratch staff through the Contact Us link and ask questions in the discussion forums. | The FAQ directs users with additional questions to [email protected]. |
Plans
Scratch
- Scratch platformFree
- Annual Membership$35 a year
- Lifetime Membership$150, paid once
In their own words
Scratch
Scratch is a free programming platform for making and sharing interactive stories, games and animations. Its visual projects are built with Scratch, and project-based learning aims to develop creative thinking, systematic reasoning and collaboration. It is designed especially for ages 8 to 16, though people of all ages use it. Scratch runs on the web and on Android, macOS and Windows; app downloads are listed for Windows 10+, macOS 10.13+, ChromeOS and Android tablets running Android 6.0+. The app works offline, but projects made offline are not accessible by Scratch. Extensions add blocks for connecting projects to hardware or web services. Scratch says it is used in more than 150 countries and is available in more than 40 languages. The platform is free. Optional Annual Membership is $35 a year, and Lifetime Membership is $150, paid once; both are donations that include early or exclusive content, tutorials, merchandise and store discounts.
ScratchJr
ScratchJr is a free introductory programming app for children ages 5–7 to create interactive stories and games. Children snap graphical blocks together to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. They can edit characters in a paint editor, add voices and sounds, and include photos in projects. The app is designed to support young children's cognitive, personal, social, and emotional growth. ScratchJr is developed for iPads running iOS 10 or later and Android tablets running Android 5 or later; it may also run with limitations on some Chromebooks, Apple-silicon MacBooks, Fire tablets, and Windows 11 PCs. Devices that run it in a virtual container may have limits on importing and exporting projects. Projects, including their images and recordings, are stored on the device and are not sent to or accessible by Scratch. The privacy policy says the app collects use preferences and automatically gathers country-level IP and device information; it may also collect usage information such as time spent in the app. Projects can be shared by email, or by AirDrop on iPads. The site offers teacher-led activities and ScratchJr Connect, a free resource database.