MARLVEL

Swift Playground vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Swift Playground's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Swift Playground
This App
Sololearn: Learn to Code
Nemesis
Brilliant: Learn by doing
Contender
Mimo: Learn Coding/Programming
Contender
Encode: Learn to Code
Peer
Tynker: Coding for Kids
Peer
Codecademy Go
Peer
Khan Academy
Peer
Grasshopper
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperJatisari Inovasi StudioSololearn IncBrilliant.orgMimo GmbHUpskew Pty. Ltd.TynkerCodecademy, LLCKhan AcademyGrasshopper
CategoryEducationEducationEducationEducationEducationEducationEducationEducationBusiness
PlatformiOSAndroid, iOSAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOS
Store Metrics
Rating3.7 / 54.8 / 54.7 / 54.9 / 54.8 / 54.6 / 54.8 / 54.6 / 54.8 / 5
Ratings Count1,84680,68728,593107,0396,25718,15237,732105,04745,641
PriceFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateSep 13, 2016Oct 23, 2017Jun 19, 2015Aug 22, 2016Feb 1, 2017Mar 5, 2014Aug 2, 2018Mar 11, 2012Feb 19, 2013
Last UpdatedMar 17, 2026Apr 25, 2026Apr 16, 2026May 4, 2026Feb 14, 2026Apr 8, 2026Feb 6, 2026Feb 24, 2026Apr 17, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentiment-mixed-negativepositive--positive-
Score-45/100-35/10085/100--78/100-
Praises-
  • Beginner-friendly coding lessons provide an accessible entry point for learning multiple programming languages
-
  • Interactive learning methods make complex coding concepts accessible for absolute beginners
  • Bite-sized lesson format
--
  • High-Quality Free Education
  • Effective Learning Content
-
Complaints-
  • Aggressive monetization and tiered subscription models restrict access to essential learning content
-
  • Aggressive monetization via the new key system restricts daily learning progress
  • Heart-based life system
--
  • Login and Authentication Issues
  • Technical Performance and Bugs
-
Requests-
  • Video-based course content requested to supplement existing text-based programming lessons
-
  • Modular app design to allow usage of specific hardware without full suite installation
  • Cloud-save functionality
----
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • System-level integration with iOS SDK enables real-world app building
  • iCloud synchronization reduces friction between iPad and Mac workflows
  • Apple-created curriculum ensures high-fidelity alignment with professional SwiftUI standards
  • Community-driven social layer increases time-in-app
  • 20+ language library provides broad market reach
  • B2B dashboard enables enterprise revenue streams
-
  • Integrated mobile IDE enables daily practice habits by removing desktop hardware dependency
  • AI-assisted development tools differentiate the curriculum from syntax-only competitors
  • Gamified streak counters reinforce daily open-app habits
  • 15-minute lesson structure reduces cognitive load
  • Built-in mobile editor enables practical application
  • Gamified streaks drive daily habit formation
  • Strong brand authority and partnerships with major IP holders like LEGO and Minecraft.
  • Comprehensive curriculum that scales from age 5 to 18.
  • Cross-platform synchronization (Web/iOS) improves user retention.
-
  • Unrivaled free access model with high brand trust
  • Advanced AI tutoring integration (Khanmigo)
  • Comprehensive, expert-created video and exercise library
-
Weaknesses
  • 3.7-star rating indicates friction in the learning experience
  • Lack of community-driven code review limits social retention
  • Hardware-locked to Apple devices
  • Frequent app crashes during lesson progression
  • Aggressive paywall expansion limits free-tier utility
  • Poor billing support responsiveness
-
  • New key-based monetization system restricts daily learning sessions
  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap indicates platform-specific stability regressions
  • Bloated application size forces unnecessary storage usage
  • Heart-based life system limits practice time
  • No cloud-save functionality for progress sync
  • 0.23-star rating gap between iOS and Android
  • Heavy reliance on subscription revenue may alienate budget-conscious families.
  • Minecraft modding is limited to iPad, creating a fragmented experience for non-iPad users.
-
  • Critical authentication and login stability issues
  • Mobile app performance and latency compared to web
  • Less granular skill tracking than commercial rivals like IXL
-
Pricingfreefreemiumfreemiumsubscriptionfreemiumsubscriptionfreemiumfreesubscription
Momentum-ActiveIntenseActiveMaintenance-ActiveMaintenanceIntense
Update Cadence-5 versions, ~6d avg5 versions3 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~11d avg5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~7d avg-5 versions5 versions, ~93d avg5 versions

Compare Swift Playground head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Swift Playground, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0