Scratch

Create stories, games, and animations. Share with others around the world.

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Overview

Scratch is a free programming language and online community where you can create your own interactive stories, games, and animations. It is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge. Scratch is designed especially for ages 8 to 16 but is used by people of all ages. Millions of people are creating Scratch projects in a wide variety of settings, including homes, schools, museums, libraries, and community centers.

✨ Key Features

  • Visual, block-based coding
  • Online community for sharing and collaboration
  • Extensive library of sprites, sounds, and backdrops
  • Supports over 70 languages
  • Works offline
  • Integrates with hardware like micro:bit and LEGO MINDSTORMS

šŸŽÆ Key Differentiators

  • Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases
  • Massive and active online community for project sharing and inspiration
  • Developed and maintained by the MIT Media Lab, a reputable non-profit

Unique Value: Provides a completely free, highly accessible, and creative environment for kids to learn computational thinking and coding fundamentals within a massive global community.

šŸŽÆ Use Cases (5)

Introductory coding for K-12 students Creating interactive stories and animations Building simple games After-school coding clubs Classroom tool for STEM/STEAM education

āœ… Best For

  • Used by millions of children worldwide for learning coding fundamentals.
  • Integrated into school curricula globally for computer science education.

šŸ’” Check With Vendor

Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:

  • Developing commercial-grade software
  • Advanced text-based programming
  • Building complex, performance-intensive games

šŸ† Alternatives

Tynker Blockly Code.org

Unlike many competitors that operate on a freemium model, Scratch is entirely free. Its focus is more on creative expression and less on a structured, linear curriculum.

šŸ’» Platforms

Web Desktop (Offline Editor) Android (ScratchJr)

āœ… Offline Mode Available

šŸ”Œ Integrations

LEGO MINDSTORMS micro:bit Google Classroom

šŸ›Ÿ Support Options

  • āœ“ Email Support

šŸ”’ Compliance & Security

āœ“ GDPR āœ“ COPPA

šŸ’° Pricing

Contact for pricing
Free Tier Available

Free tier: None, Scratch is completely free.

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