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Best Free Coding Apps for Kids in 2025

You don't need to pay a subscription to teach your child to code. These free apps are genuinely excellent.

SpellingJoy TeamSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: December 13, 2025
Child coding

Here's a secret the paid coding apps don't want you to know: the best coding apps are free. Scratch from MIT, Code.org, and Apple's Swift Playgrounds are all world-class—and cost nothing.

These aren't watered-down free tiers. They're full programs used by millions of students worldwide, often in schools. Your child can learn everything from basic logic to real Python programming without spending a dime.

Our Top Picks:

1

Scratch

Scratch is MIT's free visual programming language where kids drag and drop code blocks to create animations, games, and stories. The most popular coding platform for kids worldwide.

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Best for - Ages 8-16: The gold standard
Price - Free
Grades - 2-8
Platforms - Web

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free forever
  • ✓ From MIT - trusted institution
  • ✓ Huge community of projects to explore

Cons

  • ✗ Limited progression to text-based coding
  • ✗ Web-only (no mobile app)
  • ✗ Can be overwhelming at first
2

Code.org

Code.org is a nonprofit with a full K-12 computer science curriculum. Famous for Hour of Code activities featuring Minecraft, Star Wars, and Disney characters.

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Best for - K-12: Structured lessons
Price - Free
Grades - K-12
Platforms - Web

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ Full K-12 curriculum
  • ✓ Licensed themes (Minecraft, Star Wars, Frozen)

Cons

  • ✗ Can feel school-like
  • ✗ Some content is dated
  • ✗ Progression to text coding can be abrupt
3

ScratchJr

ScratchJr is a simplified version of Scratch designed for children ages 5-7. Kids snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing.

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Best for - Ages 5-7: No reading required
Price - Free
Grades - PreK-2
Platforms - iOS, Android

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ Designed specifically for young kids
  • ✓ No reading required

Cons

  • ✗ Very basic - kids outgrow it quickly
  • ✗ Limited features compared to Scratch
  • ✗ Tablet-only
4

Swift Playgrounds

Swift Playgrounds is Apple's free app for learning Swift programming. Kids solve puzzles and eventually build real apps that can run on iPhone and iPad.

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Best for - Learn real Swift programming
Price - Free
Grades - 4-12
Platforms - iOS, Mac

Pros

  • ✓ Completely free
  • ✓ From Apple - high quality
  • ✓ Teaches real Swift programming

Cons

  • ✗ Apple devices only
  • ✗ Swift is less universal than Python
  • ✗ Can be challenging for beginners
5

CodeCombat

CodeCombat is an RPG where players learn real Python or JavaScript by writing code to control their character through dungeons and battles.

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Best for - Learn Python through gaming
Price - Free / $99/yr Premium
Grades - 4-12
Platforms - Web

Pros

  • ✓ Teaches real Python/JavaScript
  • ✓ RPG game format is highly engaging
  • ✓ Free tier covers basics

Cons

  • ✗ Premium needed for advanced content
  • ✗ Can be distracting as a game
  • ✗ Limited for younger kids

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Scratch from MIT is 100% free with no premium tier. It's funded by foundations and donations, not subscriptions.

Our Verdict

Start here: Scratch (ages 8+) or ScratchJr (ages 5-7). Both are free, excellent, and have huge communities.

For structure: Code.org offers complete courses with popular themes like Minecraft and Star Wars.

For real code: Swift Playgrounds (Apple) or CodeCombat's free tier (Python/JavaScript).

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About the Author

SpellingJoy Team

The SpellingJoy team is dedicated to creating free, high-quality spelling resources for K-6 students and their families. We test every app we review and provide honest assessments to help parents make informed decisions.

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