Coding for Kids
When it comes to introducing your child to the world of coding for kids, Tynker and Coding with Kids are two of the most popular platforms available. Both offer engaging and interactive ways for kids to learn about programming, but each has its own unique features and benefits. In this review, we’ll compare Tynker and Coding with Kids and highlight the pros and cons of each program.
Tynker Overview
Tynker stands out for its diverse curriculum, which covers a wide range of subjects including Python, JavaScript, Game Design, AI/ML, and Minecraft Modding. This means that no matter what your child’s interests are, they’re sure to find fun courses and content that appeals to them.
One of Tynker’s standout features is its emphasis on live instructor-led sessions – all paid plans include two one-on-one coaching sessions to set budding coders up for success. This provides young coders with the extra support and guidance they need, and gives parents peace of mind knowing that they won’t become technical support in an area where they may have limited to no knowledge (unless you’re a coder). Tynker’s courses are designed to be user-friendly and engaging, using block coding to make the process of creating projects accessible for young learners. More experienced coders can leverage Tynker for text-based coding to make just about anything they can think of.
Tynker’s extensive library of 5,000+ coding activities is based on feedback from millions of children and polished over a decade, so you can be sure that the courses are both relevant and engaging. This makes Tynker a great choice for self-paced learning, allowing children to work at their own speed and level with optional live instruction to help with the “cold start” challenge many kids face when dipping their toes into the world of coding.
Coding with Kids Overview
Coding with Kids offers both online and in-person coding classes for kids aged 5 to 16. The curriculum covers programming languages like Scratch, Python, Java, and web development, and the small student-to-teacher ratio means that students receive solid attention and support. In-person classes are held in cities across the US, including Seattle, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
Coding with Kids vs Tynker: Quick Comparison
Tynker operates on a massive scale, providing coding education to over 60 million kids worldwide. This huge user base has created a thriving community of learners, with frequent coding competitions, activities, and immersive learning experiences to keep kids engaged and motivated.
On the other hand, Coding with Kids has a more modest student base of around 53,000 kids. While this is still a significant number, it can’t compete with Tynker’s global reach and depth of coding instruction.
Coding with Kids vs Tynker: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Tynker | Coding with Kids | |
| Appropriate for Grades | Grades K-12 | Grades K-12, + AP |
| Offers Live Instruction | Included with Paid Plans (two sessions); optional live instruction available for purchase | ✅ |
| Curriculum Overview | 300 lessons in six progressive levels covering block coding and text coding. 33 electives including Minecraft Modding, game design and AI. 5,000+ coding activities, puzzles, and games; all skill levels | Only instructor-led classes, with both live online and in-person options No self-paced courses |
| Pricing | Free + Paid plans available | Paid plans only |
| Progress Tracking & Reporting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Used in U.S. Schools | Yes, 100,000+ schools | 800+ school partners |
| Peer Support / Community | Kid-Safe community for sharing projects | ⛔ |
| Trusted by Leading Brands | Apple, Google Education, NASA, Microsoft, BBC Learning, Lego, Mattel, Minecraft, Hot Wheels, Barbi, SMART, etc. | ⛔ |
| Mobile Apps | Three available:Tynker: available for iOS and AndroidTynker Junior for ages 5-7: available for iOS and AndroidMod Creator: available on iOS | ⛔ |
| Awards | Common Sense Media LearningNational Parenting AwardsParents ChoiceSmart MediaDigital Education AwardBrain ChildMom’s Choice | Parenting OC MagazineNW Kids Magazine |
Coding with Kids vs Tynker: Curriculum Comparison
| Tynker | Coding with Kids | Comments | |
| Support for Pre-Readers | ✅ | ✅ | Appropriate for introducing very young children to coding concepts and computational thinking. |
| Digital Literacy | ✅ | ⛔ | An essential skill for any child growing up in today’s digital world. |
| Block coding | ✅ | ✅ | A good starting point for young children learning coding concepts and a foundation for more advanced coding concepts. |
| Creativing coding, music and animation | ✅ | ✅ | Allows children to express their creativity while learning coding concepts and building practical skills. |
| MInecraft modding, mobs and skins | ✅ | ✅ | A popular application of coding concepts, but may be of less interest to children who are not already Minecraft fans. |
| Game Design | ✅ | ✅ | A popular and engaging way for children to learn coding and a practical application of coding concepts. |
| STEM | ✅ | ✅ | Encourages children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on coding projects. |
| Web Development / HTML | ✅ | ✅ | A practical skill for children interested in creating websites or web-based applications. |
| Python | ✅ | ✅ | A widely-used programming language with many practical applications, including data science and machine learning. |
| Data Science | ✅ | ⛔ | A growing field with many practical applications, including business, healthcare, and scientific research. |
| AI/ML | ✅ | ⛔ | A rapidly growing field with many practical applications, but may be more appropriate for older children with a stronger coding foundation. |
| Robotics and IoT | ✅ | ✅ | A specialized area that may be of interest to children with a particular interest in these fields, but may require additional equipment and support. |
| AP Computer Science Courses | ✅ | ✅ | AP Computer Science courses are designed to be equivalent to college-level computer science courses, providing students with a challenging and rewarding educational experience that can earn them college credit and demonstrate their readiness for higher education. |
Pricing details of Coding with Kids vs Tynker:
| Tynker | Coding with Kids | |
| Pricing | Starts at $20 per month billed quarterly for unlimited access to thousands of coding activities; includes two live instruction sessions | Annual subscriptions range from $2,500 to $5,600 (depending on frequency). Class courses lasting 6-8 weeks start at $225. |
Coding with Kids pricing:
Tynker pricing:
- Short-term plan: $20 per month billed quarterly
- Annual plan: $16 per month billed annually
- Lifetime plan: $360 as a one-time payment
With 5000+ activities, your child can learn coding with just around $0.50 per day – less if Tynker is running a sitewide sale. Tynker’s pricing is affordable making it a highly cost-effective option for children learning to code interested in doing so on a schedule they control.
Coding with Kids vs Tynker : Which one should you choose for your child?
When it comes to providing comprehensive coding education for children, Tynker sets itself apart from Coding with Kids by offering a wider range of courses and features. With a focus on subjects like AI, machine learning, and data science, Tynker provides a more extensive curriculum than Coding with Kids, which focuses on teaching specific coding languages only. Tynker also offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including a coding platform, a community forum, and a curriculum builder for educators.
Tynker’s large user base of millions of kids and it’s free trial option give parents the assurance of a trusted and tested platform. On the other hand, Coding with Kids has taught just over 53,000 kids and doesn’t provide any free trial option.
In contrast, Coding with Kids has a classroom-based approach with a less comprehensive platform with more of an emphasis on camps. Because of the classroom-based model, Coding with Kids doesn’t offer a free trial or freemium access to its offering.
In conclusion, both platforms offer quality coding education for children, but Tynker’s more extensive range of courses, features, and flexible scheduling options, as well as its larger user base, free trial option, and bundled live instruction with paid plans make it the better choice for parents looking for a comprehensive coding education for their child.
More Coding for Kids Reviews & Comparisons
We hope you found our head-to-head software reviews helpful in your search to discover the best coding education resource for your child. If you’re eager to dive deeper, don’t miss out on our other insightful comparisons that can help you make a well-informed decision. Check out our head-to-head comparison of Tynker and codeSpark, a review of Tynker vs. CodeWizard, a look at how Tynker compares to IDTech, comparing Tynker with CodeMonkey, and we take a look at how Tynker stacks up against Code.org. Still curious? You can check out our head-to-head review of Tynker vs. Kodable. We want every child to learn how to code before they graduate high school, so we welcome you on this journey and hope you find the ideal coding education platform for your child. Happy coding!
