ScratchJr
ScratchJr is a free, nonprofit-operated visual programming app for children ages 5-7 that teaches coding through snap-together graphical blocks. It serves families, educators, and schools globally across iOS, Android, and Chromebook, funded by donations and grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ScratchJr does
ScratchJr is a free introductory visual programming application designed for young children ages 5-7, enabling them to create interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together graphical programming blocks. The app features a simplified, developmentally appropriate interface with triggering blocks (Start on Green Flag, Start on Tap, Start on Bump, Start on Message), motion blocks, looks and sound blocks, control blocks, and end blocks, plus a paint editor for character customization and multimedia integration for voices, sounds, and photos. It is available on iOS App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore, and Chromebook, and has been translated into more than 20 languages. The product ecosystem extends beyond the core app to include the Official ScratchJr Book (No Starch Press), a 75-card Coding Cards deck, ScratchJr Connect (a curated community resource database), and PDF guides for interface, blocks, and paint editor features.
The project was developed in 2014 through a collaboration between the DevTech Research Group at Tufts University (led by Marina Umaschi Bers), the Lifelong Kindergarten group at MIT Media Lab (led by Mitchel Resnick), and the Playful Invention Company (led by Paula Bontá and Brian Silverman), with the Android version implemented by Two Sigma and graphics by HvingtQuatre Company. ScratchJr is operated by The Code-to-Learn Foundation, doing business as The Scratch Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Maryland. The app is supported financially by the National Science Foundation (NSF DRL-1118664), the LEGO Foundation, British Telecommunications, Adobe Systems, and a 2014 Kickstarter campaign that raised $77,474.
The business model is freemium with no direct revenue from the application; ongoing operations are funded through donations to the Scratch Foundation and grants. Go-to-market is product-led growth via free app store distribution, supplemented by organic social channels (Twitter, Facebook), educator webinars, press coverage (Today Show, New York Times, NPR, Forbes, CBS News, WIRED), and community events such as ScratchJr Family Days hosted at schools, museums, and community centers.
ScratchJr firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ScratchJr
- Legal name
- The Code-to-Learn Foundation d/b/a The Scratch Foundation
- Website
- https://scratchjr.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ScratchJr is a free, nonprofit-operated visual programming app for children ages 5-7 that teaches coding through snap-together graphical blocks. It serves families, educators, and schools globally across iOS, Android, and Chromebook, funded by donations and grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ScratchJr industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Educational Coding Software
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Activity Materials & Manipulatives (Hands-on Learning Kits) (EDACAJAG)
Keywords
Where ScratchJr is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
ScratchJr business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Free App Distribution: ScratchJr is offered as a completely free application with no revenue generated directly from the app. The project is supported by donations to the Scratch Foundation.
- Donations: Donations accepted through the Scratch Foundation to support ongoing development and maintenance of ScratchJr
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free App - No cost to users |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
ScratchJr product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ScratchJr is a free introductory visual programming application that enables young children (ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games by snapping together graphical programming blocks. The product is available on iPad, Android tablets, and Chromebooks, and is supported by an ecosystem of learning resources including coding cards, an official book, and a community resource-sharing platform.
Product overview
ScratchJr is a single unified educational coding product designed for young children ages 5-7. The core offering is the ScratchJr App — a free introductory programming language that enables children to create interactive stories and games by snapping together graphical programming blocks. The product ecosystem includes supplementary learning resources: the Official ScratchJr Book and ScratchJr Coding Cards (75 activity cards) for structured learning; ScratchJr Connect for sharing user-generated resources; and PDF guides for the interface, paint editor, and programming blocks. All components work together to provide a comprehensive coding education experience for early childhood.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ScratchJr Coding Cards: A deck of 75 activity cards covering fun and exciting projects designed to educate young children with ScratchJr
- The Official ScratchJr Book
Products and services
- ScratchJr App A free introductory programming app for young children (ages 5-7) that lets them snap together graphical programming blocks to create interactive stories and games. Available on iPad, Android tablets, and Chromebooks.
- ScratchJr Connect A free, curated online community database where educators and parents can share ScratchJr resources, lessons, and projects. Anyone may register for free and submit resources for approval.
- ScratchJr Interface Guide A free downloadable PDF guide explaining the ScratchJr interface, including how to save projects and navigate the application.
- ScratchJr Block Descriptions Guide A free downloadable PDF guide documenting all ScratchJr programming blocks, including triggering, motion, looks, sound, control, and end blocks.
- ScratchJr Paint Editor Guide A free downloadable PDF guide explaining the paint editor features used to create and modify characters within ScratchJr projects.
Quantifiable outcome
- Children learn to code and coding to learn - developing problem-solving, design, and creative expression skills
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use ScratchJr
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ScratchJr technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
ScratchJr partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- DevTech Research Group at Tufts UniversitycoreDevelopmental Technologies (DevTech) Research Group at the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University led by Marina Umaschi Bers. Key contributors include Amanda Strawhacker, Claire Caine, Louise Flannery, Elizabeth Kazakoff, and Dylan Portelance. This research group provided pedagogical expertise and child development research for the application.
- Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media LabcoreLed by Mitchel Resnick, with contributions from Chris Garrity, Tim Mickel, Carl Bowman, Champika Fernando, Natalie Rusk, Sayamindu Dasgupta, and Chris Graves. This group originally created Scratch and provided expertise in creative learning and programming environments.
- Playful Invention CompanycoreLed by Paula Bontá and Brian Silverman, with contributions from Jack Geddes and Adrian Gabriel. Contributed to the playful invention and design aspects of the application.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ScratchJr competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scratch: Created by the same MIT Media Lab Lifelong Kindergarten group led by Mitchel Resnick; Scratch is the age 8+ sibling product, sharing design language, community ethos, and brand.
- Lightbot: Puzzle game that teaches programming logic through visual blocks; serves a similar age range and is commonly used alongside ScratchJr in classrooms.
- Tynker: Commercial block-based coding platform for kids (ages 5+) including Tynker Junior; directly competes for the same parent/educator/tablet audience ScratchJr targets.
- CodeSpark (The Foos): Award-winning kids coding app aimed at ages 5-10 with a similar block/puzzle-based interface; targets the same pre-reader early-childhood coding niche.
- Hopscotch: iPad coding app for kids that uses a similar drag-and-drop block model, targeting the same tablet-based creative-coding use case.
- Code.org: Nonprofit promoting K-12 computer science education; offers free coding curricula and Hour of Code activities that overlap directly with ScratchJr's mission and audience.
- Kodable: K-5 coding curriculum with a self-guided game-based platform; competes for school and family adoption in the same early-childhood coding category.
Broad incumbents
- LEGO Education: LEGO Foundation is a financial backer of ScratchJr; LEGO Education's block-based STEAM kits (incl. WeDo, SPIKE) compete for the same block-based early STEM-learning mindshare and educator budgets.
- Khan Academy (Khan Academy Kids): Khan Academy Kids offers free early-childhood learning content including basic coding activities; a broader incumbent in the free early-education app space.
Emerging players
- Daisy the Dinosaur: Small, free introductory block-coding app for young kids from the makers of Hopscotch; overlaps with ScratchJr's pre-reader programming concept.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ScratchJr social profiles
Digital presenceScratchJr compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ScratchJr financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ScratchJr leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ScratchJr funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ScratchJr M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ScratchJr
What does ScratchJr do?
ScratchJr is a free introductory visual programming application that enables young children (ages 5-7) to create their own interactive stories and games by snapping together graphical programming blocks. The product is available on iPad, Android tablets, and Chromebooks, and is supported by an ecosystem of learning resources including coding cards, an official book, and a community resource-sharing platform.
Is ScratchJr a public or private company?
ScratchJr is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ScratchJr founded?
ScratchJr was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ScratchJr based?
ScratchJr is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does ScratchJr make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Free App Distribution is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are ScratchJr's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scratch, Lightbot, Tynker, CodeSpark (The Foos), Hopscotch, Code.org and Kodable. Broad incumbents are LEGO Education and Khan Academy (Khan Academy Kids). Daisy the Dinosaur is listed as an emerging player.
Does ScratchJr have an API?
No public API is recorded for ScratchJr.
What industry is ScratchJr in?
ScratchJr's product category is Children's Educational Coding Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAJAG, Student Activity Materials & Manipulatives (Hands-on Learning Kits). Its NAICS code is 33993 and its SIC code is 7372.