Coding for Kids
For parents looking into a coding for kids program, Tynker and iDTech offer different approaches to coding education. Today, we will be comparing these two diverse approaches to coding education. Both coding for kids programs can get your young learner started with coding, so let’s explore both offerings in detail to help you determine which approach is right for your child.
Tynker Coding for Kids Overview
Tynker provides a comprehensive curriculum with a wide range of subjects, including Python, JavaScript, Game Design, AI/ML, and Minecraft Modding, catering to kids of varying ages and skill levels. In addition, Tynker offers two live instruction sessions with experienced trainers included in all paid plans, giving young coders a confident start and offering parental support. Tynker’s courses are designed to be engaging and accessible, with drag-and-drop coding blocks and pre-built assets and characters to help kids build their own projects. With a vast catalog of coding activities, Tynker’s courses are curated based on feedback from millions of kids, making it a suitable option for self-paced learning.
iDTech Coding for Kids Overview
iDTech, on the other hand, is primarily a technology camp provider with a focus on in-person summer camps on college campuses. In response to the pandemic, iDTech expanded to include online academies and private lessons. While iDTech offers a range of resources, including student forums and expert advice, they may not have the same level of parental controls or progress tracking as Tynker. iDTech’s courses tend to be more expensive than Tynker’s, but they offer a more hands-on approach with a focus on group instruction and collaboration, making it a great option for kids who learn well in a more social setting.
iDTech vs Tynker: Coding for Kids Quick Comparison
Parents should consider their child’s interests and needs when deciding between Tynker and iDTech. Tynker offers a broad range of courses for self-guided learning, including courses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Minecraft modding, as well as optional structured instruction. It also offers school plans as well as those geared towards the home user, along with a range of tools and resources, including a development environment, coding courses, projects, and games, as well as parental controls and progress tracking. In contrast, iDTech offers a more collaborative learning experience with a focus on group instruction, which may be a better fit for kids who enjoy a more hands-on approach. iDTech has more in-person camps, making it a great option for kids who prefer a social and collaborative learning experience. Ultimately, the choice between Tynker and iDTech will depend on your child’s individual learning style and preferences – in addition to your supplementary education budget: IDTech’s cost per instructional hour is significantly higher, given the fact IDTech is based on a live instruction / tutoring model.
iDTech vs Tynker: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Tynker | iDTech | |
| Appropriate for Grades | Grades K-12 | Grades 2-12+ |
| 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. | Geared towards more advanced learners. Courses extend up to VR, and 3D printing with offline summer camps being the major focus |
| Pricing | Free + Paid plans available | Only paid plans available. Pricing depends on the program and location. A one week camp costs between $399 and $1,499 |
| Progress Tracking & Reporting | ✅ | ⛔ |
| Used in U.S. Schools | Yes, 100,000+ schools | iDTech has partnered with more than 150 schools/colleges to conduct in-person summer camps |
| Peer Support / Community | Kid-Safe community for sharing projects | Opportunities for online and in-person networking |
| Trusted by Leading Brands | Apple, Google Education, NASA, Microsoft, BBC Learning, Lego, Mattel, Minecraft, Hot Wheels, Barbi, SMART, etc. | Harvard Business Publishing Education, Stanford, Wharton University of Pennsylvania, Rice University, 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 | Unknown |
iDTech vs Tynker: Curriculum Comparison
| Tynker | iDTech | 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. |
iDTech vs Tynker: Pricing Table
| Tynker | iDTech | |
| Free trial | ✅ | ⛔ |
| Paid plans | Starts at $20 per month billed quarterly. Includes two free one-on-one instructional sessions. | Virtual camps start at approx. $399 per week. $65 per hour for live one-on-one instruction. |
iDTech pricing:
A weeklong program (5 days a week) is priced at $399 which is about $80 per day, while 8 private lessons run between $60-$70 per hour with price breaks for buying multiple lessons per month. This makes iDTech one of the most expensive coding education options out there.
- 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 from beginner through expert levels for around $0.50 per day. Tynker’s pricing is affordable making it a highly cost-effective option for children learning to code. It also comes with two hours of one-on-one instructional time with all paid packages, making it an overall excellent value that balances live instruction with a large library of learning activities.
iDTech vs Tynker: Which one should you choose for your child?
Parents should consider their child’s interests and needs when deciding between Tynker and iDTech. While Tynker is a premium coding platform offering self-guided learning with optional structured instruction, making it a great choice for younger kids who benefit from visual programming interfaces, iDTech offers a more collaborative learning experience with a focus on group instruction, which may be a better fit for kids who enjoy a more hands-on approach. iDTech courses are generally more expensive than Tynker’s, although they offer a range of in-person camps that can be a great option for kids who prefer a social and collaborative learning experience.
Tynker offers a broad range of courses for self-guided learning, including courses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Minecraft modding, as well as a range of tools and resources, including a development environment, coding courses, projects, and games, as well as parental controls and progress tracking. Tynker’s online courses are curated based on feedback from millions of kids, making it a suitable option for self-paced learning. Additionally, Tynker offers two live classes led by experienced trainers. In contrast, iDTech’s online courses were developed more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they still offer a range of resources, including student forums and expert advice. Ultimately, the choice between Tynker and iDTech will depend on your child’s individual learning style and preferences.
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 Tynker and 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!
