8 Best Coding Apps for Kids on iOS and Android
Experts recommend fostering pro skills at a young age so they have a lasting impact on the respective careers. If you want your little champ wants tolearn something new, like develop groundbreaking apps or create stunning websites, there couldn’t be a better time to get a headstart. Contrary to traditional belief,learning the basics of codingis a lot easier than you might think. The colorful UI, game-like exercises designed to build problem-solving and logical thinking skills help make learning how to code fascinating. So if you want your child to step into the world of coding while having some fun, check out our curated list of the best coding apps for kids (free and paid) on iOS and Android in 2021.
Best Coding Apps for iPhone and Android for Kids
Coding apps for kids have gotten way smarter than they used to be. They have found numerous intriguing ways to teach the fundamentals of coding to young learners. The bite-sized exercises come with several surprises, including progress rewards that keep children motivated to give their best.
With in-depth progress tracking, these kids coding apps enable parents to keep an eye on their performance. Hence, finding their strong and weak areas become a tad easier. What’s more, the apps also offer insightful tips to keep children on the right track. As parents, all you need to do is find the right coding app for your kids.
1. codeSpark Academy
codeSpark Academy makes learning how to code a fun-loving experience for kids. It features a “no words” interface and teaches the basics of computer programming throughhighly interactive learning activitiessuch as games, puzzles, game design, step-by-step creative projects, and offline printables. This interactive learning concept makes codeSpark a popular home coding program for kids from 5 to 9 years of age.
Moreover, the appoffers personalized daily activitiesbased on a child’s progress that not only keeps the interest intact but motivates young learners to give their best. Parents can keep track of the child’s activities and also offer up help when needed. Notably, this award-winning coding app can support up to 3 individual child profiles, so more than one child can use the app to learn how to program.
codeSpark Academy featuresa pleasing interface that feels snappierand is easy to navigate. While the coding app is available for free, unlocking features like codeSpark academy enrollment requires in-app purchases. Overall, it’s one of the best coding apps for young learners.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free, $3.99 for codeSpark academy enrollment)
2. Hopscotch-Programming for kids
Learning becomes a joyful experience when there is plenty of fun elements woven into lessons. Hopscotchoffersa wide range of gamesdesigned to teach the basics of programming through engaging gameplay. Throughkid-friendly programming, the app gives complete freedom to children to code whatever they want. From games and stories to arts, they have the liberty to stretch their imagination to create something truly interesting.
Notably, children can watchplay-along video tutorialsto makegames like Agar.io, PokemonGo, Crossy Road, and more. As your kid goes ahead, the app will challenge them to makeadvanced gamesand apps.
Hopscotch isbacked by a vast communitywhere your child can publish his/her creations. Other children can play and learn from your kid’s games. With millions of projects at the disposal, children will always have something out of the box to try. As thousands of new games are published every week, exploring the massive library will never fail to bring a ton of surprises.
What’s more, it also allows kids totweak and remix any projectfor a more personalized learning experience. Though Hopscotch is a free coding app for kids, you will need a $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year subscription to unlock all the features.
Key features:
Install:iOS(Free, $9.99/month for the premium version)
3. Mimo
Mimo has long been a popular coding app among mobile users. So, there is no question of missing out on this one. What makes this app stand out isa solid library of science-based, game-like exercises. Each exercise has been thoughtfully designed to enhance specific skills.
Mimo can help you learn all thepopular programming languages, including HTML, CSS, SQL, JavaScript,Python, and more. To ensure kids remain guided throughout the learning process, itprovides immediate feedback. More importantly, the app acts as a true teacher, offering the much-needed tips to sort out the confusion and find ways to improve the overall performance.
What’s more, Mimo alsocreates fully personalized bite-sized exercisesthat children can solve at their own pace. Depending on their needs, kids can choose the preferred experience level – beginner and intermediate. The app also offers coding challenges to help kids progress and stay motivated during the learning process.
Along the way, children canmonitor their progressand collect a lot of prestigious achievements and badges. Furthermore, there is a great community to interact and share thoughts with other coders. Like other coding apps in this roundup, Mimo also offers a limited free version and requires you to opt for a premium version to unlock all the features. Putting everything into the right perspective, Mimo deserves to be rated one of the best coding apps for iPhone and Android devices.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free, $8.99/month for the premium version)
4. Google Grasshopper
If you are hunting fora top-notch yet completely freecoding app for kids on iOS and Android, look no further than Google Grasshopper. The app offers a smooth-sailing headstart to beginners who want to have a good grip over coding without getting into complexity.
Grasshopper has a decent collection of coding games designed toteach how to write JavaScript. The app provides a series of challenging levels as you move ahead to ensure learning remains fascinating. Personally, I have found thevisual puzzlesquite interesting. They not only enhance problem-solving skills but also aim at clearing coding concepts.
Grasshopper alsoprovides coveted awards to encourage learnersand motivate them to give their best. Another feature that makes it a great asset for kids is the real-time feedback to guide and enable them to find the right answers to problems. In a nutshell, Google Grasshopper has got your kid fully covered as a free smart coding app.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free)
5. SoloLearn
Claiming to have theworld’s largest collection of free coursesto teach how to code, SoloLearn is a one-stop platform for kids to get a good hang of coding. The courses aim to teach your kid the fundamentals of Python, C++, JavaScript, Java, jQuery, machine learning, data science, and more. It also offers a certificate for each course that you complete.
Apart from letting you choose fromthousands of programming topics, SoloLearn also keeps you in the loop about the latest coding trends. So if you want to stay informed about the latest coding technologies and remain ahead of the curve, the app can prove to be super handy.
Another feature that makes SoloLearn a top pick for anyone willing to learn to code is thehead-to-head competitiondesigned to get the most out of you. The competition compels you to bring your best and also learn from others. That’s not all. SoloLearn also has an ever-growing community of learners with whom you can interact and share your thoughts with like-minded people.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free, $6.99/month for the pro version)
6. Programming Hub
Programming Hub has managed to catch my attention for multiple reasons. First and foremost, the app providesbite-sized lessonsthat kids would enjoy taking on at their own convenient speed. Each lesson focuses on teaching a core concept in a pretty simple way. and with a game-like structure, the courses don’t allow boredom to creep into the learning process.
Boasting a massive collection ofover 5000 programs and more than 35 courses, Programming Hub has got everything covered to be a complete learning resource. Kids can learn to code with HTML, Javascript, C, C++, C#, Swift,Python, R Programming, Java,Artificial Intelligence, CSS, etc. Interestingly, Programming Hub also allows kids to learn R programming, a programming language used for big data statistical analysis, reporting, and graphical representation. With the categorized view for programs, finding a specific program is hassle-free.
Thanks to the periodic updates, the app keeps adding new programs so that kids will never get bored with learning. Besides, it also provides the neededfeedback and support from coding expertsfor guidance. Taking everything into account, Programming Hub is a comprehensive asset which children can use to learn programming and coding at their desired pace.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free, $6.99/month for the pro version)
7. Codeacademy Go
For kids who want a coding app to practice coding syntax extensively on their iPhone or Android device, Codeacademy Go is by far the best bet. The app focuses on teaching the core aspects of data science,web development, Python, JavaScript, and SQL. Itoffers daily flashcardsthat children can skim through in a breeze. Plus, there is also a better way to review everything that they have learned or are learning.
While it’s easy to start learning something new, it’s a bit hard to keep the tempo intact as you go ahead, largely due to the increasing level of challenges that come along. That’s why Codeacademy Go motivates you to maintain your streaks and also track your progress. Withdetailed insight into your performance, the app allows you to figure out your kids’ shortcomings and focus on enhancing their skills.
Codeacademy Go is another ideal option (apart from Google Grasshopper) for kids to learn coding on their iOS or Android device for free, without having to spend any money.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free)
8. Coding for Kids
Of all the coding apps for kids that I have tried, “Coding for Kids” has fascinated me the most. What has struck me the most about this app is the playful concept that teaches kids the fundamentals of programming with utmost ease. Packed with a greatcollection of over 200 exciting gameslike popping balloons, firefighting, playing a dentist, and more, it never fails to amaze.
Aside from offering a ton of joy, the gamesfoster problem-solving and logical thinkingskills. Besides, it also tries to boost memory through playful games. With over 1000 levels, children have a lot to take on. They need to recognize patterns to complete each level and also order actions in a logical sequence. With easy-to-follow instructions, the app makes learning how to code a pretty simple affair.
Coding for Kids isavailable for free with restriction, and you will need to subscribe to ($4.99/month or $29.99/year) the premium version to have access to all the features. Limited freemium version aside, it remains a highly recommended coding app for children.
Key features:
Install:iOSandAndroid(Free, $4.99/month or $29.99/year for the pro version)
Top iOS and Android Coding Apps for Kids
There you go! So, these are the best free and paid coding apps for kids on Android and iOS. With so many interactive apps vying for attention, finding a more suitable coding app shouldn’t be a big ask. But before you put your child on the learning path, be sure to let me know the name of the app that you picked and why. Besides, if there is any other coding app that deserves to be in this roundup, let me know in the comments section below. We will check out your suggestions and update the list right away.
Rajesh Mishra
An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.
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