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Head-to-head · STEM Education Platforms

Scratch vs Labster

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Scratch #2 in STEM Education Platforms 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 6 features Visit Scratch
Labster #6 in STEM Education Platforms 8.4/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 6 features Visit Labster

Scratch leads on 1 check, Labster on 0, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreScratch · 8.8/10
  • Free planonly Scratch

Scratch scores higher on our rubric for stem education platforms: 8.8 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Scratch offers free plan; Labster doesn't.

Scratch is the better fit for free creative coding for beginner learners. Labster is the better fit for institutions teaching science through virtual labs.

  • Scratch fits best

    Free creative coding for beginner learners

  • Labster fits best

    Institutions teaching science through virtual labs

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Scratch 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Labster 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.4
Ranking #2 in STEM Education Platforms #6 in STEM Education Platforms
Best for Free creative coding for beginner learners Institutions teaching science through virtual labs
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan Pricing on request
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Android Web
Support Community, Docs Email, Live chat, Docs
Integrations 2 integrations 5 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Scratch 0/6 · Labster 0/6
Virtual labs Not checked yet Not checked yet
Engineering projects Not checked yet Not checked yet
Coding/robotics curriculum Not checked yet Not checked yet
Teacher dashboard Not checked yet Not checked yet
Standards alignment Not checked yet Not checked yet
VR support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Student seats Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Build interactive stories, games, animations, art, music, and dance projects
  • Starter projects and tutorials help learners explore by making
  • Share projects and connect them to hardware or web services with extensions
  • 300+ interactive science simulations across multiple subjects
  • Automatic grading, customizable quizzes, and real-time student feedback
  • Integrates with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L Brightspace, and Schoology
Cons
  • Its focus is introductory programming rather than broad STEM instruction
  • Projects use Scratch's visual, block-based programming language
  • Sharing and member feedback are tied to its online community
  • No permanent free plan
  • Pricing is customized by program or institution
  • Requires web access and is centered on virtual science simulations
Our verdict

Scratch gives young people a visual, block-based way to learn programming by making interactive stories, games, animations, and other projects. Designed especially for ages 8 to 16, it combines a creation environment with an online…

Read the review →

Labster provides interactive virtual science labs for high schools, colleges, and universities. Its catalog spans biology, chemistry, physics, health sciences, and related STEM courses, with 300+ simulations and guided inquiry activities.…

Read the review →
  1. ScratchSTEM Education Platforms 8.8Free plan
  2. LabsterSTEM Education Platforms 8.4Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Scratch — where it wins

    • Build interactive stories, games, animations, art, music, and dance projects
    • Starter projects and tutorials help learners explore by making
    • Share projects and connect them to hardware or web services with extensions

    Where it doesn't

    • Its focus is introductory programming rather than broad STEM instruction
    • Projects use Scratch's visual, block-based programming language
    • Sharing and member feedback are tied to its online community

  • Labster — where it wins

    • 300+ interactive science simulations across multiple subjects
    • Automatic grading, customizable quizzes, and real-time student feedback
    • Integrates with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, D2L Brightspace, and Schoology

    Where it doesn't

    • No permanent free plan
    • Pricing is customized by program or institution
    • Requires web access and is centered on virtual science simulations
  • Scratch8.8/10 · Free plan

    A free block-based coding environment for building and sharing creative projects.

    Visit ScratchFull verdict →
  • Labster8.4/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad library of guided science simulations with LMS-based teaching and assessment tools.

    Visit LabsterFull verdict →

More comparisons

All STEM education platforms comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update