There is no denying that kids need to learn programming skills. Thankfully you don’t have to be a code wizard yourself to teach this vital skill to your kids. Plenty of programming apps for kids – Free & Paid are now available to help your children learn to code.
These coding applications for kids are highly engaging and so easy to use that children as young as 3 years can learn to code.
There is a strong evidence indicating that children who learn to code are better at math, logical thinking, problem solving and are more creative, patient and resilient. So don’t wait, kickstart your child’s coding journey and see them progress.
Programming Apps and Coding Applications for Kids
1. Coding Safari
One of the most fun coding apps for kids, Coding Safari is designed for young children and focuses on pre-computation and pre-coding skills like logical thinking, problem solving and computational skills.
This coding app for kids is perfect for children as young as 3 year old. Available only on iOS.
Quick Tip: Make sure your little one learns how to type as she picks up coding skills. There are plenty of Free Typing Games for Kids that teach kids how to type the fun way.
2. Thinkrolls Play & Code STEM
This multiple award winning learning app for preschoolers and kinder kids will not only teach young minds coding but also math, science and logical thinking skills. Its bright and colourful interface is an instant hit with kids.
It can be played offline making it a great travel game to keep young children happily engaged and learning on the go.
Thinkrolls comes with a 7-day free trial and offers monthly as well as yearly subscription plans to choose from.
Available on App Store.
Related: Wondering why kids should learn to code? Check out Why Children Should Learn to Code.
3. Algorithm City
Suited for kids 5 years and above, this coding software for kids focuses on algorithm design, sequencing, looping along with basic coding concepts. The downside is that it is only available for android users.
4. Code Karts
Got a car crazy kid at home? Help your vehicle obsessed kid learn to code while building race tracks and racing cars. Suitable for children 3 to 5 years of age. It has 70+ levels and has 21 languages to choose from.
Available on both Apple and Google store.
Quick Tip: Also check out Free Coding Websites for Kids.
5. GoldieBlox: Adventures in Coding
Learn the fundamentals of coding for kids like sequencing skills with this story based free coding app for kids.
Designed by Goldieblox, an award winning company that aims at promoting and empowering girls in STEM fields, this programming game will get little girls, as young as 4 year olds, intrigued and interested in this fun education app for kids.
Available on iOS.
Quick Tip: Inspire your girls with these Trailblazing Women Innovators who are shattering the glass ceilings.
6. Daisy The Dinosaur
Who wouldn’t love to code when there is a dinosaur to teach you. This free coding app for kids uses drag and drop blocks to teach sequencing and conditionals to kids between 5 and 7 years.
Perfect for children starting their coding adventure! Available on Apple Store.
7. Run Marco
This is a great coding app for 4 year olds that uses Blockly programming language to teach coding skills. It is available in numerous languages like Spanish, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Brazilian and many more.
Featured on the official website of Hour of Code, it is one the best coding apps for kids.
8. Code Spark Academy
Introduce young children to coding games with this coding app for 5 year olds. This interactive, fun coding app teaches children computer science basics and introduces them to STEM learning through games and story-telling.
Available on both Apple and Google store.
9. Stencyl
This is a free kid-friendly game creation app that will leave your kids hooked to coding. Its block coding application allows users to create games across various platforms like iOS, iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and even HTML5.
And that’s not all! This powerful coding application for teens even allows students to create their own blocks using text based coding.
10. Move the Turtle – Learn to Code
Move the turtle is a coding app for primary students that offers a step by step guide to computer programming basics. Winner of Parent’s Choice Gold Awards, it follows an intuitive approach to teach coding besides building critical thinking skills.
The only flip side is that it is currently available only on the App Store.
11. Spritebox
Spritebox is a super fun way to learn coding for beginners. This coding game app has an interactive interface that will get kids hooked in the first run.
This coding app for elementary students starts with simple coding challenges using blocks and progresses to textual commands. Children will learn sequencing, loops, basic Jawa and Swift syntax along with procedures and parameters.
12. Box Island
This is an award winning coding app that teaches programming fundamentals through an exciting 3D game interface. One of the best coding apps for 9 year olds, it teaches algorithm design, loops, sequencing, conditional statements as well as debugging.
This mobile app teaches coding through 100 game levels. The first 10 levels are free while the remaining are paid. You can unlock the paid levels according to the skill set of your kids or simply opt to unlock the entire game levels at a reasonable price.
Available both on the App Store and Google store.
13. Lightbot
Lightbot is a fun coding game app for kids that is widely used by educators. It is a pocket friendly app that teaches real coding concepts through game play.
Available for both Apple and Android users, it is available in numerous languages like Spanish, Polish, Russian, Italian, French, Korean, Thai, Malay, Hindi to name a few.
14. Nancy Drew – Mystery Coding Game
Nothing is more exciting than solving a mystery! This narrative based coding game involves unlocking a mystery based on the clues and makes coding for kids highly interesting.
Not only will your kids learn to code with this coding app but also hone their critical reasoning and problem solving skills.
Tip: Pair this coding app with the basics of Crime Scene Investigation for Kids to sharpen your child’s logical thinking skills.
15. Tynker
Coding for kids could not get easier than this. Tinker is one of the most popular coding websites for kids and a favourite with many teachers & parents.
This comprehensive coding app allows children to learn to code and even create their own apps & animations. It progresses to teach children programming languages like Javascript, Python and Swift. Suitable for kids 6 years and above.
16. Coda Game
Coda game is a paid coding app for elementary students that allows them to code their own games using drag and drop programming language. It has visually attractive graphics that let kids design appealing games.
Besides teaching computer programming, this app also sneaks in cool STEM skills and concepts. Compatible with both iOS and Android.
17. SoloLearn
SoloLearn is one of the best free coding apps for kids 10 years and above who are ready to dive into serious computer programming and learn coding languages like python, C++, Java, Swift, Machine learning to list a few.
It provides certification at the end of each course and is a valuable resource for teachers and students.
SoloLearn offers personalised learning experience and 24/7 free peer support that makes it stand out among other coding apps for students.
18. Hopscotch Programming for Kids
This is a highly creative coding app for middle school students allows them to animate their drawing and code their own games.
Hopscotch is a multiple award winning app that will help your kids enhance their coding skills as well as express their creativity using scratch programming.
It comes with a free 7-day trial that allows kids to test this paid coding app. Available only on the App Store.
