🎨 Art, music and story makers · 🔠Science, nature and the world
Instructables
By Autodesk. Visit Instructables
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
A huge free website of step-by-step project guides written by its community, from electronics and robots to woodworking, crafts and cooking. Each guide has photos and often video, and readers can comment, ask questions and post their own versions. A Teachers section sorts projects by grade and subject, and contests, including student contests, invite kids to publish their builds. Quality varies because anyone can post.
Our take: A rich idea bank for teens and parents planning projects together; younger kids should browse with an adult.
| Ages it suits | 13+ to post; younger kids with an adult |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | Terms: you must be 13 or older to access or use the service; if you are not an adult, a parent or guardian must agree to the terms for you and supervise your use. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free (Oct 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | The child's own account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Thousands of free, photo-rich project guides
- Projects sorted by grade and subject for teachers
- Student contests give kids an audience
- Covers far more than coding
Watch for
- 13+ for any use, under the terms
- Projects can involve sharp tools, heat or mains power
- Open comments from adults
- Quality and safety vary by author
Data and privacy
Covered by the Autodesk privacy statement; the site uses Google Analytics and Autodesk tracking. No display ads were seen on the pages we loaded. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
No independent studies; the maker groups projects by grade for teachers.
In the Big Index
- On the list 14 AI tools for DIY projects and young makers
- On the list 20 best DIY and maker sites for kids
- Instructables
Alternatives to Instructables
Desk researchPaidNo ads
3Doodler Start+
3Doodler (WobbleWorks) · ages 6+
A fun, safe-by-design entry to 3D making for ages 6-10; kids who want precise models will move to a 3D printer.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Adobe Express for Education
Adobe · ages grades K-12 through a school
A good free option for schools that want design and AI in one tool and will set the admin controls; families cannot set it up for a young child on their own.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
AI Duet
Yotam Mann with Google Magenta and Creative Lab · ages about 5 and up
Worth a few minutes in a music or AI lesson; not a tool for learning piano.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Algodoo
Algoryx Simulation AB · ages about 8 and up
A great creative sandbox for curious kids and science classes; parents should supervise use of the public sharing site and forum.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Animaker
Animaker · ages 18+ by its terms (teachers, older students with a parent)
A tool for teachers making lesson videos, not for kids; families wanting a kids' animation app should look at Stop Motion Studio or FlipaClip instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo · ages about 6-14
A calm, creative pick for younger kids; keep online visits to known friends.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.instructables.com/
- https://www.instructables.com/teachers/
- https://www.instructables.com/Robot-Friends-Easy-Robot-STEM-Project-for-Kids/
- https://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/terms-of-service-autodesk360-web-services/instructables-terms-of-service-june-5-2013
- https://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/privacy-statement
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.