Scratch is the block-based coding language MIT built to teach kids programming, and it works. A generation of coders started here. But at some point most Scratch learners hit the same wall: the block palette runs out. They want to control real hardware, ship a real app, or move to a text-based language, and Scratch cannot follow them there. Here are seven Scratch alternatives for desktop that either replace it entirely or pick up where Scratch stops.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snap! | Older kids ready for real CS concepts | Yes, unlimited | Free | First-class functions and lists |
| mBlock | Kids with hardware kits | Yes | Free + hardware cost | Blocks that talk to Arduino |
| Alice | Storytelling in 3D | Yes | Free | Full 3D worlds and animation |
| App Inventor | Kids who want to ship a phone app | Yes | Free | Publishes to Google Play |
| Tynker | Structured curriculum for classrooms | Limited trial | $60/year | Guided courses and gamification |
| Kodu Game Lab | Windows-only game design | Yes | Free | Simple 3D world editor |
| Blockly Games | Learners who want puzzle progression | Yes | Free | Bite-size puzzle-based lessons |
Why people leave Scratch
The most common reason: kids outgrow it. Scratch’s block palette caps out around what MIT designed for 8-year-olds. Learners who want to write custom functions, work with real hardware, or ship an app to a phone hit walls that the community add-ons only partially patch.
The second: Scratch requires online use for full features. The Scratch Desktop app runs offline, but the community project sharing (the whole social side of Scratch) needs the web version. On school networks that block scratch.mit.edu, teachers lose the collaborative feature that makes Scratch fun.
Third: no built-in curriculum. Scratch itself is a canvas; MIT does not ship structured lessons. Teachers assemble curricula from ScratchEd, YouTube, and third-party providers. When a classroom needs a step-by-step course with assessments, tools like Tynker or Code.org fit better.
Fourth: no Linux desktop client. Scratch Desktop supports Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS but not Linux. Schools running Ubuntu-based images have to use the web editor or find an alternative.
1. Snap! — Best for older kids ready for real CS
Snap! is Scratch’s older sibling, built at UC Berkeley for the same drag-and-drop paradigm but with the concepts computer science majors need: first-class functions, higher-order operations, continuations, and lists as first-class values. If Scratch is elementary school, Snap! is high school.
Where it falls short: The UI is less polished and the community is smaller. Sprites and sounds do not have the same discoverability as Scratch’s asset library.
Pricing:
- Free: full desktop and web use, no paid tier
- vs Scratch: same free, more advanced concepts
Migrating from Scratch: Snap! can import Scratch 2.0 projects. Scratch 3.0 imports need manual export via SB3 and some cleanup.
Download: snap.berkeley.edu
Bottom line: Pick Snap! when your Scratch coder is asking why they cannot make their own custom blocks. Skip it for beginners under 10.
2. mBlock — Best when kids have Arduino or robotics kits
mBlock is Scratch reimagined for the hardware world. The block palette drops Scratch’s sprite abstractions and adds blocks that talk to Arduino boards, micro:bit, Makeblock robots, and generic Bluetooth modules. Blocks generate Arduino C code the learner can inspect and modify.
Where it falls short: Without hardware, it is a weaker Scratch. The generated Arduino code is functional but not idiomatic, which frustrates C-experienced parents helping their kids.
Pricing:
- Free: desktop app on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Hardware kits: $30-200 depending on set
- vs Scratch: comparable software, real hardware makes the difference
Migrating from Scratch: mBlock 5 imports Scratch .sb3 files with sprite-based projects intact. Hardware blocks obviously do not carry over from Scratch.
Download: mblock.cc
Bottom line: Pick mBlock when the kid has an Arduino kit under the tree. Skip it if you have no hardware and no plan to buy any.
3. Alice — Best for storytelling in 3D
Alice is Carnegie Mellon’s block-based programming environment focused on 3D animation and storytelling. Kids build worlds with characters, environments, and cameras, then script behaviors. The 3D aspect grabs attention that flat Scratch scenes struggle to hold with older kids.
Where it falls short: Steeper learning curve. Alice 3 is a full Java app that needs a decent computer to run smoothly. The block-to-Java transition is powerful but too much for young beginners.
Pricing:
- Free: Alice 3 desktop for Windows, macOS, and Linux
- vs Scratch: same free tier, 3D instead of 2D
Migrating from Scratch: No importer. Scratch’s 2D sprite paradigm does not translate to Alice’s 3D scenes.
Download: alice.org
Bottom line: Pick Alice if your learner is more interested in movies and stories than games. Skip it for young beginners.
4. App Inventor — Best for kids who want to ship a phone app
App Inventor was created at Google and now maintained by MIT. It is block-based like Scratch, but the output is an actual Android app that installs on a real phone. Kids design UI, hook up buttons to blocks, add sensors, and get an APK.
Where it falls short: The desktop side is the block editor (via browser or Electron wrapper); the target is Android only. iOS support arrived recently but lags. Interface is denser than Scratch.
Pricing:
- Free: full use, no restrictions
- vs Scratch: comparable free tier, real deployable output
Migrating from Scratch: No importer. The paradigms differ too much.
Download: appinventor.mit.edu
Bottom line: Pick App Inventor when your kid asks how to make a phone app. Skip it if they are still enjoying Scratch’s animation focus.
5. Tynker — Best for structured classroom curricula
Tynker wraps Scratch-like block programming inside a full curriculum for grades K-12, with guided lessons, badges, and dashboards for teachers and parents. Content ladders from Scratch-level blocks up to Python and JavaScript. The desktop app runs on Windows and macOS through an Electron shell.
Where it falls short: Not free for real use. The 14-day trial gives access to the first few courses, then the paywall kicks in. Content quality varies by unit.
Pricing:
- Trial: limited free access
- Family plan: $60/year
- School plan: quote based on seats
- vs Scratch: paid, structured, held-hand curriculum vs free blank canvas
Migrating from Scratch: Tynker imports .sb3 files. Fidelity is decent; some cloud variables and custom blocks may not translate.
Download: tynker.com
Bottom line: Pick Tynker when a parent or teacher wants a done-for-you curriculum. Skip it if the child is self-directed and Scratch works.
6. Kodu Game Lab — Best for Windows-only 3D game design
Kodu Game Lab was Microsoft Research’s block-based 3D game creator. It is more constrained than Scratch (you build a world, place characters, wire behaviors) but the 3D output impresses kids in ways 2D cannot. Still available as a free Windows download and popular in schools with older Windows machines.
Where it falls short: Windows-only. Development has slowed; the last significant release was years ago. UI is dated.
Pricing:
- Free: full functionality on Windows
- vs Scratch: less flexible but 3D instead of 2D
Migrating from Scratch: No importer. Different paradigm.
Download: Kodu Game Lab (Microsoft Research)
Bottom line: Pick Kodu when the classroom has aging Windows machines and kids want 3D. Skip it on Mac or Linux.
7. Blockly Games — Best for puzzle-based lesson progression
Blockly Games is Google’s collection of self-contained puzzle games (Maze, Bird, Pond) that teach specific programming concepts. The puzzles run in any desktop browser and gate progression on solving each level, which turns learning into a structured game.
Where it falls short: Not a full canvas. When kids finish the puzzles, there is nothing to explore. Best treated as a supplement.
Pricing:
- Free: browser-based, no account required
- vs Scratch: complementary, not a replacement for open-ended creation
Migrating from Scratch: Not applicable. Blockly Games are self-contained puzzles.
Download: blockly.games
Bottom line: Pick Blockly Games as an appetizer or Sunday-afternoon session. Skip it if the learner wants to build their own projects.
How to choose
Pick Snap! if your Scratch coder has outgrown Scratch’s ceiling. It is the natural next step and stays free.
Pick mBlock when hardware is on the table. Arduino kits and micro:bit turn abstract coding into blinking LEDs.
Pick Alice for the kid who prefers storytelling to games. The 3D world editor changes what programming feels like.
Pick App Inventor the moment “I want to make an app for my phone” comes up. It shortens the loop from block to APK to something the family can install.
Pick Tynker if you are a parent or teacher who cannot design a curriculum from scratch and needs someone else to do it.
Pick Kodu for older Windows classrooms with kids interested in game design.
Add Blockly Games to any of the above as a warm-up.
Stay on Scratch if the coder is still under 10, still enjoying the sprite-and-costume model, and not yet asking for hardware or custom functions. Scratch’s community and curated content are unmatched below that threshold.
FAQ
What comes after Scratch? Snap! is the direct next step for concept depth. mBlock and App Inventor for hardware or app deployment. Alice for 3D storytelling. Eventually all learners graduate to a text-based language: Python, JavaScript, or Lua depending on the target.
Is Snap! better than Scratch? For learners aged 12 and up, generally yes. Snap! introduces higher-order functions, first-class lists, and continuations, which are real CS concepts Scratch simplifies away. For younger kids, Scratch’s polish and community make it a better fit.
Can I use Scratch offline on Linux? Not officially. Scratch Desktop supports Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. Linux users run Scratch in the browser or use unofficial community builds. mBlock and Snap! both have first-class Linux support.
What is the best Scratch alternative for schools? Tynker for structured curriculum with teacher dashboards. Code.org’s block-based courses for free curriculum. mBlock for classrooms with robotics kits. Snap! for advanced CS.
Can Scratch projects be exported to other apps? Some. Snap! imports Scratch 2.0 and 3.0 projects. Tynker imports .sb3. Most other alternatives require rebuilding from scratch (the concept, not the app).
