You don't need to pay a subscription to teach your child to code. These free apps are genuinely excellent.
The best free coding apps for kids cost nothing at all, and they are the same programs millions of students already use in school. Scratch from MIT, Code.org, and Apple's Swift Playgrounds are all world-class, and none of them asks for a subscription.
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.
Updated August 8, 2026: we reviewed the rankings for this refresh, and prices are shown as listed in our app directory. All five picks are unchanged.
| App | Price | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Scratch | Free | 8-16 | Visual block-based coding for beginners |
| 2. Code.org | Free | 4-18 | Structured coding curriculum with popular themes |
| 3. ScratchJr | Free | 5-7 | Coding for young children (ages 5-7) |
| 4. Swift Playgrounds | Free | 10-18 | Learn Swift programming on Apple devices |
| 5. CodeCombat | Free / $99/yr Premium | 9-18 | Learn real coding through gaming |
† Pricing note: Prices are checked against each vendor's official website or help center at the time of writing, but vendors change plans and prices at any time. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's own site before purchasing. How we review and verify →
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.
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.
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.
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.
CodeCombat is an RPG where players learn real Python or JavaScript by writing code to control their character through dungeons and battles.
Our top 5 free coding apps for kids are Scratch (ages 8-16), Code.org (ages 4-18), ScratchJr (ages 5-7), Swift Playgrounds (ages 10-18) and CodeCombat (ages 9-18). Scratch is the best overall pick. Every app here has a genuinely usable free version; CodeCombat also sells an optional premium plan.
ScratchJr runs on iOS and Android tablets, and Swift Playgrounds runs on iOS and Mac. Scratch, Code.org and CodeCombat are web based, so kids use them in a browser rather than as a tablet app.
Yes! Scratch from MIT is 100% free with no premium tier. It's funded by foundations and donations, not subscriptions.
Scratch for ages 8+ or ScratchJr for ages 5-7. Both are free, visual block-based, and don't require prior coding knowledge.
Yes! Swift Playgrounds (Apple devices) teaches real Swift. CodeCombat's free tier teaches Python/JavaScript basics. Code.org also introduces real code concepts.
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).
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.