6 Best Scratch Alternatives (2026)
- Price
- Free
- Grades
- K–10
- Type
- App, Activity
Updated · By Edulist · 4 sources
Why families look for Scratch alternatives
- No built-in course sequence or progress tracking for parents
- Online community means kids see other users' projects and comments
- Older kids eventually need a text language
- Offline app requirements vary by device
- Children who need a step-by-step course with levels and grades
- Teens ready to type code in Python or JavaScript
Scratch alternatives compared
| Product | Grades | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scratch | K–10 | App, Activity | Free |
| Code.org (now CodeAI) | K–12 | Curriculum, Course | Free |
| Tynker | K–12 | App, Course | From $15/mo |
| Create & Learn | K–12 | Course, Tutoring | From $94.50 one-time |
| codeSpark | Pre-K–4 | App | See site |
| Kodable | K–5 | App, Curriculum | From $10/mo |
| CodeMonkey | K–8 | App, Curriculum, Course | From $8/mo |
The best Scratch alternatives
Free, ad-free K–12 computer science and AI curriculum from the nonprofit formerly called Code.org, with self-paced express courses, Sprite Lab, Game Lab, App Lab, Python Lab and the Hour of AI.
Self-paced coding courses for ages 5–18 that start with picture and block coding and move to Python, JavaScript and Minecraft modding, on web and three mobile apps.
Live online coding, AI and robotics classes for grades K–12 in small groups of 5 students or fewer, with free one-hour intro classes in Scratch, Minecraft, Roblox, Python and AI.
A wordless learn-to-code app for kids ages 3–10, now part of Begin, where children solve drag-and-drop puzzles and then build their own games and stories, with no reading required.
Game-based coding for kindergarten through 5th grade: maze puzzles for pre-readers in Kodable Basics, game design in Kodable Creator, and real JavaScript in Bug World, used in many U.S. elementary schools.
Game-based coding courses for kids 5–14 that move from block coding to typed CoffeeScript and Python, with Coding Adventure, Banana Tales, Game Builder and AI courses, plus a home school plan with lesson plans.
Can a scholarship pay for any of these?
Scratch is free, so there is nothing to fund. Paid Scratch classes from other providers may be covered by some ESA or scholarship programs; each program decides.
No program on Edulist lists Scratch yet. Save it to your wishlist and we’ll tell you when one does. Many state ESAs let families buy products like this directly; each program decides.
Sources
Save Scratch. Compare it later.
Save products free, then apply once for the scholarships that can pay.