Scratch Reviews (2026): What Parents Say, Pros & Cons
- Price
- Free
- Grades
- K–10
- Type
- App, Activity
Updated · By Edulist · 4 sources
Scratch pros and cons
Pros
- Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases
- Huge library of shared projects to study and remix
- Runs in a browser, plus an offline app
- ScratchJr extends it down to ages 5–7
- Used by many schools and coding classes, so skills transfer
Cons
- 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
Who Scratch is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Kids ages 8–16 who like making games, animations and stories
- Families who want a free, ad-free coding tool
- Kids taking a Scratch class who want to keep building at home
Look elsewhere if
- Children who need a step-by-step course with levels and grades
- Teens ready to type code in Python or JavaScript
- Families who do not want any online community features (use the offline app instead)
Scratch family reviews
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Is Scratch worth the price?
Scratch is free for everyone. The Scratch Foundation, an independent nonprofit, maintains it with support from donors.
Can a scholarship pay for Scratch?
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.
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.
Sources
Questions
Is Scratch safe for kids?
Scratch has a moderated community and community guidelines, and the foundation says moderators help keep it safe and welcoming. Kids can still see and comment on other users' projects, so younger children do best with a parent nearby or with the offline app.
Save Scratch. Compare it later.
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