The kids' software directory

Coding

Block coding to real code, and the AI helpers teens meet.

96 researched
1 to know about
88 more on G2, not yet researched

Researched by Peabody

Facts from each maker's own pages (terms, pricing, privacy), with our one-line take. A to Z; we rank nothing until we have tried it.

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7 Billion Humans
Tomorrow Corporation · ages about 10 and up
A great buy for puzzle-loving kids 10 and up who are ready to think like a programmer; younger children will do better with block-based coding games.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Adafruit Circuit Playground Express
Adafruit Industries · ages about 8+ with adult help
A low-cost, flexible first electronics board for kids 8+ with a helper; kids who want a guided kit may prefer a subscription box.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Adafruit Learning System
Adafruit Industries · ages about 10 and up with an adult
A top free resource for families building electronics together; kids should not work through it alone.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Arduino Education
Arduino S.r.l. (owned by Qualcomm) · ages about 7-18+ (varies by kit)
A strong choice for schools and teens serious about electronics; younger kids or tight budgets may start with a micro:bit or Circuit Playground.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Arduino UNO Q
Arduino · ages about 13 and up with some coding experience
A good next step for teens who already know Arduino and want to add AI vision; true beginners should start with a classic UNO or a starter kit.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
BBC micro:bit
Micro:bit Educational Foundation · ages about 8-14
One of the best-value ways for 8- to 14-year-olds to learn coding and simple machine learning, with privacy-first tools; very young children will need help.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Bee-Bot and Blue-Bot
TTS (RM Educational Resources) · ages about 3-7 (Blue-Bot also used into Key Stage 2)
A proven, privacy-light first robot for ages 3-7; older kids will outgrow it quickly.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Blockly Games
Neil Fraser (open source, built on Google's Blockly) · ages about 8-14
A quick, free warm-up for kids about 8-14 before Scratch or Python; not a full course.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Botley the Coding Robot
Learning Resources · ages about 5-9 (grades K-3)
A good first coding toy for kindergarten to second grade, especially for families avoiding screens; kids already coding on tablets may find it too simple.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Brilliant
Brilliant Worldwide, Inc. · ages about 10-18 and adults (grade 5 to college)
A strong pick for motivated middle and high schoolers who like puzzles, if the price fits; younger kids and families wanting free tools should look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Code & Go Robot Mouse Activity Set
Learning Resources · ages about 4-8
A good first coding toy for ages 4-7 who learn best with their hands; older kids who already code on a screen can skip it.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Code Club
Raspberry Pi Foundation (UK charity) · ages about 9-13 (school-aged)
A proven, free way for kids 9-13 to learn coding with others; families without a local club can use the same projects at home.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CodeAI (formerly Code.org), incl. Hour of AI
CodeAI (nonprofit, formerly Code.org) · ages grades K-12
A dependable free starting point for classrooms and families; check the outside organization's rules before using any Hour of AI activity not made by CodeAI.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Codecademy
Codecademy LLC · ages 16+
A good next step for a motivated 16- or 17-year-old; younger kids need a coding tool built for them.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
CodeCombat
CodeCombat Inc. · ages about 6-18 (K-5 Junior, then grades 6-12)
A good fit for game-loving kids about 9 and up who are ready to type code; parents should decide whether they want generative AI included before buying Premium.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
CodeHS
CodeHS, Inc. (also owner of Tynker) · ages grades K-12 (mostly middle and high school)
A strong school choice for teens learning to code; families can use it for homeschool courses.
Desk researchPaid
CodeMonkey
CodeMonkey Studios Inc. · ages about 5-14 (grades K-8)
A good paid option for kids 7-12 ready to type simple code; families on a budget can try free tools first.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
codeSpark (Begin Learning)
Begin (Conscious Content Media, Inc.) · ages 3-10
A well-made first coding game for ages 3-7; families should set a reminder before the free trial renews and compare with free ScratchJr.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Construct 3
Scirra Ltd · ages about 11-18
A good classroom pick for 2D game making; families may find the free limit too tight and the yearly price steep.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Coolest Projects
Raspberry Pi Foundation · ages up to 18
A good, low-pressure goal for kids who already code or build; beginners should start with a course first and enter later.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CS Unplugged
Computer Science Education Research Group, University of Canterbury (New Zealand) · ages about 5-14
A great free pick for teachers and homeschool parents who want screen-free computing lessons; kids who want to start coding right away need a separate tool.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
CS50's Introduction to AI with Python
Harvard University (CS50) · ages strong teens (about 15+) and adults
A serious, free course for motivated teens who already code in Python; not for beginners or younger kids.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Cubetto+
Primo Toys (MORAVIA) · ages about 3-6
A strong choice for parents of 3- to 6-year-olds who want coding play with no screens and no data; older kids will want something more open.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Dash
Wonder Workshop (now MORAVIA Education) · ages about 6-11
A dependable coding robot for ages 6-11 with clear privacy promises; families wanting no screens should look at Cubetto or KIBO.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
DeepLearning.AI
DeepLearning.AI · ages about 13+ (built for adults)
Great for a teen coder who wants to build with AI; non-coders and younger kids should start elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
DIY.org (ChatDino, game builder)
DIY (AstroSafe family) · ages about 8-18 (the maker says 8 to 18)
Suits kids 8 and up who want to make and share games with a parent watching the portal; skip if you want kids learning to code by hand.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Edison robot
Microbric (Edison) · ages 4-16 (maker's range)
A budget-friendly classroom robot that spans barcodes to Python; families wanting app control or AI features should look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
ELECFREAKS micro:bit kits
ELECFREAKS · ages about 8-14
Good value for families or classes that already have a micro:bit and want robots and sensors; families starting from zero may prefer an all-in-one kit.
Desk researchFree
Exercism
Exercism (UK not-for-profit) · ages 13+ (16+ in the UK and EU)
Good for teens who already code and want practice and feedback; beginners and younger kids should look elsewhere.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
fast.ai Practical Deep Learning
fast.ai (Jeremy Howard) · ages about 16+ (needs a year of coding)
One of the best free routes into real AI for a strong teen coder; not for beginners.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Finch Robot 2.0
BirdBrain Technologies (part of CreXo) · ages grades K-12
A privacy-friendly, long-lasting choice for schools teaching coding across grades; home buyers may find it pricey for one child.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Fortnite Creative and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN)
Epic Games · ages about 10-18 (publishing 18+)
Good for Fortnite-loving teens who want to build; younger beginners will find Scratch or Roblox Studio easier to start with.
Desk researchFree
freeCodeCamp
freeCodeCamp (US 501(c)(3) charity) · ages 13+ (aimed at adults and older teens)
A top free option for motivated teens 13+ heading toward web development; younger or less independent learners need something more guided.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
futurecoder
Alex Hall and open-source contributors · ages about 12+
One of the best free first Python courses for a patient tween or teen; younger kids may want something more visual.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
GDevelop
GDevelop Ltd · ages about 10-18
A strong next step after Scratch for kids 10+ who want to make real games; younger kids will need an adult setting up the account.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code Inc. (nonprofit) · ages about 8-18 (grades 3-12)
A great free option for girls who would enjoy learning to code with peers; kids without a nearby club may need an at-home tool instead.
Desk researchFree
GitHub Copilot (Copilot Student)
GitHub (Microsoft) · ages about 13-18 and college
A strong free option for high school and college students who already know some coding; beginners may lean on it too early.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Godot Engine
Godot Foundation and open-source contributors · ages about 12-18
A great free choice for teens who are ready to type real code; younger beginners should start with Scratch, GDevelop or Roblox Studio.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Google Machine Learning Crash Course
Google · ages about 15+ (needs algebra and some Python)
A strong free next step for a teen who has done some coding and math; too hard as a first look at AI.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Hack Club
Hack Club (nonprofit, Vermont) · ages 13-18
Excellent for motivated teens who want to build and ship with peers; parents should talk with their teen about online chat first.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Hopscotch
Hopscotch Technologies (New York) · ages about 8-13 (App Store lists ages 9-11)
A good step up from ScratchJr for iPad kids who want to make games; parents who dislike in-app currencies should switch off purchases or skip it.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
HUSKYLENS 2
DFRobot · ages teens and adults (not stated by the maker)
A capable, low-cost AI vision tool for teen robotics clubs; younger children need close adult help, and face recognition projects deserve a privacy talk.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
iD Tech
internalDrive, Inc. (iD Tech) · ages 7-19 (camps 7-17, teen academies 13-18)
A strong but costly choice for tech-hungry kids whose families can afford camp; read the media release and refund terms before you pay.
Desk researchFree
Kaggle Learn
Kaggle (Google) · ages about 16 and up
A useful free next step for older teens who already code; younger kids are not allowed.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
KIBO
KinderLab Robotics · ages about 4-11 (pre-K to grade 5)
A well-researched, data-free coding kit for ages 4-11 that suits schools and committed families; the price is the main barrier.
Desk researchThrough schools
Kira
Kira Learning · ages about 11-18 (middle and high school courses)
Worth a look for schools teaching computer science, especially in Tennessee; parents can ask the school how student chats with the tutor are stored and used.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kodable
SurfScore, Inc. (Kodable Education) · ages about 5-11 (grades K-5)
A solid first coding path for K-5 at school or home; families after free tools may prefer Scratch or Code.org.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
LEGO Education Computer Science & AI
LEGO Education · ages grades K-8 (three kits: K-2, 3-5, 6-8)
A strong option for K-8 schools wanting hands-on AI literacy with careful data design; families should note it is sold in classroom kits.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Lightbot
SpriteBox LLC (LightBot Inc.) · ages about 6 and up
A neat logic puzzle if it runs on your device; try the free Code Hour version first before paying.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
LM Studio
Element Labs, Inc. · ages about 16+ with a parent (no age in terms)
Fine for a skilled older teen with a parent involved; keep the Bionic agent away from kids and off any shared family computer.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Machine Learning for Kids
Dale Lane (independent, built with IBM Watson APIs) · ages about 8-16 (schools and code clubs)
Good for a teacher, club leader or hands-on parent who wants kids to build real AI projects in Scratch; less suited to a child working alone at home.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Makeblock Codey Rocky
Makeblock · ages 6+ (maker's age grouping)
Suits early-elementary kids who want a ready-to-go coding robot; kids who like building should look at mBot2 instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Makeblock CyberPi
Makeblock · ages about 10+ (maker lists CyberPi under 12+; Go Kit aimed at beginners)
A cheap, capable first coding gadget for tweens; younger kids will need an adult or a simpler robot.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Makeblock mBot2 (with AI Camera 2.0)
Makeblock · ages about 8+ (maker lists mBot2 under 6+ and the AI Camera under 8+)
A solid pick for upper-elementary and middle-school students learning robotics and how vision AI is trained; families wanting a no-account, no-camera toy should look elsewhere.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Makey Makey
JoyLabz / Makey Makey LLC · ages 8+ (the box says ages 8 to infinity)
A fun, low-risk way to spark interest in circuits for kids 8+; kids who want to program hardware directly should look at a micro:bit or Circuit Playground.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Marty the Robot
Robotical · ages 4+ (maker says learners as young as 4)
Great for schools that want a robot kids remember, from age 4 up; budget-minded families should weigh the $449 price and ask about the app's tracking.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
MatataStudio Coding Set Pro
MatataStudio (Matatalab) · ages about 4-9 (maker recommends 5 and up)
A rich, offline coding kit for ages 5-8; families who already have a button robot may not need it.
Desk researchPaid
MatataStudio Nous AI Set
MatataStudio (Matatalab) · ages 12+
Promising for teens learning how machine learning works, but schools and parents should ask the maker for an app privacy policy before students use its chat features.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
MatataStudio Tale-Bot Pro
MatataStudio (Matatalab) · ages 3+
A gentle first robot for ages 3-6 that keeps screens out; kids past kindergarten will want something with more depth.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
micro:bit CreateAI
Micro:bit Educational Foundation · ages about 7-14
A safe, hands-on way for kids 7-14 to learn how AI uses data, if you have or will buy a micro:bit; skip if you want screen-only learning.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft · ages about 13+
Useful for a tech-minded teen aiming at a first certificate; younger kids will find it dry.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Microsoft MakeCode (micro:bit, Minecraft and more)
Microsoft · ages about 8-16
A strong free choice for kids who want code to make something happen in the real world or in Minecraft; skip the Minecraft editor if you have no Education license.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Microsoft MakeCode Arcade
Microsoft · ages about 9 and up
A great free choice for kids who want to make their own video games; younger children may need help with the tutorials.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
Minecraft Education
Mojang Studios / Microsoft · ages about 5-18 (K-12)
Worth it when a school uses it with good lessons; families at home are better served by regular Minecraft plus the free educational worlds.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
MIT App Inventor
MIT (Center for Mobile Learning, CSAIL) · ages about 10 and up
Great for curious kids about 10 and up who want to build a real phone app; younger children will do better with ScratchJr or Scratch first.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit
NVIDIA · ages about 14 and up, with Linux experience
A strong pick for a motivated teen ready to tinker with Linux and local AI; younger kids or beginners should start with a micro:bit or Raspberry Pi.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Ollama
Ollama Inc. · ages 18+ (per terms)
A learning tool for an older teen with a parent nearby, not a kids' chatbot; younger children should not use it.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Osmo
Play Osmo Inc. (formerly Tangible Play) · ages about 3-10
Still a good hands-on option for ages 3-10 if you check device compatibility and accept the company's fragile history; buy from the official store and do not expect every old game.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Ozobot Evo
Ozo EDU, Inc. (Ozobot) · ages grades K-8
A strong classroom choice for K-8 coding that starts without screens; families on a budget may find the single-robot price steep.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Petoi Bittle X
Petoi · ages 10+
A rewarding project robot for motivated kids 10+ and teen robotics clubs; younger children will need a lot of adult help.
Desk researchFree
PictoBlox
STEMpedia (Agilo Research Pvt. Ltd., India) · ages about 4-7 (Junior Blocks) and 8-16
Worth a look for teens and clubs doing AI with robots; parents of younger kids should note the unclear under-13 privacy wording and supervise camera use.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
RAISE Playground
MIT RAISE Initiative and the MIT Media Lab Personal Robots Group · ages middle school (about 11-14), usable by older students
An excellent free way for middle schoolers and teachers to learn how AI works by building it; younger children will need a lot of adult help.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Raspberry Pi AI Camera / AI Kit
Raspberry Pi · ages teens and adults (not stated by the maker)
Great for teens who want to build real AI vision or local chatbot projects; too technical for younger children without an adult.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Raspberry Pi Projects and Experience CS
Raspberry Pi Foundation · ages about 7-18 (projects); grades 3-8 (Experience CS)
An easy free recommendation for families and teachers who want step-by-step projects beyond Scratch basics.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Replit
Replit, Inc. · ages about 13-18 and adults
Fine for older teens with a parent's permission who want to ship real projects; younger kids are no longer allowed, and beginners learning to code may do better with tools built for teaching.
Desk researchFree
Roblox Studio and Roblox Education
Roblox Corporation · ages about 10-18
Powerful for teens who want to make real games, best with a parent watching account settings; young kids or families wary of open platforms should start with Scratch or MakeCode Arcade.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Robo Wunderkind
Robo Wunderkind (Vienna, Austria) · ages about 5-12
A sturdy hands-on robot kit for ages 5-12 that suits classrooms and committed families; check the reseller's support and app updates before buying.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Scratch
Scratch Foundation · ages 8-16
The standard first real coding tool for kids 8-16; parents should review the community guidelines and the new AI-training language together with their child.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
ScratchJr
DevTech Research Group at Boston College and the Scratch Foundation · ages 5-7
An easy yes for families and teachers of 5-7-year-olds who want a calm, creative first coding app; older kids will outgrow it quickly.
Desk researchPaid
Smartick
Sistemas Virtuales de Aprendizaje, S.L. (Smartick) · ages 4-14
Fits families who want a short daily math routine and will pay for it; budget-minded families can find free practice elsewhere.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Snap!
University of California, Berkeley, with SAP · ages about 12-20 (the terms say it is aimed mainly at ages 12-20)
A good next step for teens who have outgrown Scratch and want real computer science; younger beginners should start with Scratch.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
SparkFun Learn
SparkFun Electronics · ages about 12 and up (younger with an adult)
A good free companion for a teen who has a SparkFun or Arduino kit and wants to build real gadgets; younger kids need a parent alongside.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Sphero BOLT+
Sphero · ages grades 3-10 (about 8-16)
A solid classroom coding robot for grades 3-10; younger children are better served by screen-free robots like indi or Cubetto.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Sphero indi
Sphero · ages grades PreK-3 (about 4-9)
A good fit for pre-K to grade 3 classrooms and families who want screen-free coding; children past early grades will outgrow it.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Swift Playground
Apple · ages about 10 and up
A solid free option for Apple families with kids about 10 and up who want real code; younger kids or non-Apple homes should start elsewhere.
Desk researchFree
The Odin Project
The Odin Project (open-source volunteer community) · ages about 15+ (built for adult career changers)
Excellent for a determined older teen aiming at web development jobs; not suited to children or casual learners.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Thymio
Mobsya (Swiss nonprofit association), designed with EPFL and ECAL · ages about 6-18 and adults
A sturdy, privacy-friendly robot for schools and coding clubs; families in the US may find it harder to buy than local brands.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Tinkercad
Autodesk · ages about 8 and up
A strong free pick for kids who like building things, from 3D models to circuits; under-13s need a parent or teacher to approve the account.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Turing Tumble
Upper Story LLC (Minnesota) · ages 8 to adult
A great screen-free logic game for kids 8+ and families who like puzzles; kids who want to write code or make apps need a different tool.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Tynker
Tynker (Neuron Fuel), owned by CodeHS since 2025 · ages about 5-18 (grades K-12)
A reasonable paid pick for families who want a guided, game-like path from age 5 to Python; budget-minded families can get much of the same from free Scratch and Code.org.
Desk researchPaid
UBTECH Alpha Mini
UBTECH Robotics (Shenzhen, China) · ages about 8-14 (maker does not give an age range)
Only for families comfortable with a camera-and-microphone robot from an overseas maker that publishes little about product data; most families will find better-supported coding robots.
Desk researchThrough schoolsNo ads
UBTECH uKit Explore
UBTECH Robotics (Shenzhen, China) · ages about 9-15 (upper primary to junior secondary)
A fit for schools building a robotics and AI program for grades 4-9; families looking for a home kit should pick something sold directly with clear pricing.
Desk researchPaid
Udemy
Udemy, Inc. (affiliate of Coursera) · ages 18+; teens about 13-17 only through a parent's account
Useful for motivated teens learning a specific skill with a parent's account; younger children and kids who need guidance should skip it.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Unity and Unity Learn
Unity Technologies · ages about 13-18
Right for motivated teens heading toward game development careers; younger kids will get further with Scratch, GDevelop or Roblox Studio first.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
VEX IQ
VEX Robotics · ages grades 5-8 (maker's target)
A strong pick for schools and clubs teaching robotics to middle schoolers; families wanting a cheap home toy can find simpler kits.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Wokwi
Wokwi B.V. (Netherlands) · ages about 13+
Great for teens learning electronics or prepping before buying parts; younger kids do better with a physical kit and blocks.

Know before you buy

Shut down, exposed children's data, or said unsafe things in tests.

WarningPaid
Unitree Go2
Unitree Robotics (Hangzhou, China) · ages teens and adults with supervision; not designed for children
A cautionary pick: amazing tech, but its security and data record make it a poor choice for homes with children unless kept on an isolated network with Bluetooth off.

Also listed on G2

Products G2 files here that we have not researched yet, in G2's order. Most are built for adults or businesses. G2 categories: AI Coding Assistants Software, Technical Skills Development Software.