Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Code.org VS Microbit

Compare Code.org VS Microbit and see what are their differences

Code.org logo Code.org

Code.org is a non-profit whose goal is to expose all students to computer programming.

Microbit logo Microbit

BBC's handheld, programmable computer given free to UK kids
  • Code.org Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24
  • Microbit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04

Code.org features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Code.org provides free resources and courses to ensure that computer science education is accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform has a highly intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which is especially beneficial for young learners and beginners.
  • Comprehensive Curriculum
    Code.org offers a wide range of courses that cover fundamental concepts in computer science, from basic coding to more advanced topics like artificial intelligence.
  • Interactive Learning
    The platform incorporates interactive elements such as puzzles and games to make learning more engaging and enjoyable for students.
  • Professional Development
    Code.org provides resources and training programs for teachers, helping them integrate computer science into their classroom curriculum.
  • Community Support
    The platform has strong community support, including forums and user groups, which allows for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.

Possible disadvantages of Code.org

  • Limited Depth
    While Code.org is excellent for beginners, it may not offer enough depth for advanced learners who seek more challenging content and robust problem-solving exercises.
  • Internet Dependency
    The platform requires a stable internet connection for most activities, which may not be feasible in areas with limited access to technology.
  • Standardized Curriculum
    The standardized curriculum may not fully align with the specific learning needs or interests of every student, making it less customizable.
  • Overemphasis on Visual Learning
    The heavy reliance on visual and interactive elements might not be suitable for all learning styles, particularly for those who prefer text-based or auditory learning.
  • Resource Limitations for Advanced Topics
    While the platform covers a broad range of topics, the depth and resources available for more specialized or advanced topics are limited compared to more specialized platforms.

Microbit features and specs

  • Educational Tool
    Micro:bit is designed as an educational tool to teach coding and basic electronics, making it accessible for students, educators, and beginners.
  • Ease of Use
    The Micro:bit platform offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop coding environment with support for block-based languages like Microsoft MakeCode and text-based languages such as Python and JavaScript.
  • Affordability
    Micro:bit is relatively inexpensive compared to other microcontroller platforms, making it accessible for schools and hobbyists with limited budgets.
  • Wide Range of Features
    It includes sensors, LEDs, buttons, and communication capabilities such as Bluetooth, enabling a variety of creative projects without needing additional hardware.
  • Community Support
    Micro:bit has a large and active community, offering extensive resources, tutorials, and support for new users.

Possible disadvantages of Microbit

  • Limited Processing Power
    Micro:bit has limited processing capabilities compared to more advanced microcontrollers, which can restrict complex computations and multitasking abilities.
  • Limited Memory
    The device has a small amount of RAM and storage, which can limit the size and complexity of programs that can be run on it.
  • Peripheral Expansion
    While it includes several inbuilt features, additional interfacing and peripheral expansion require extra hardware and can be more complex than with other platforms.
  • Small Display
    Micro:bit's small 5x5 LED matrix, while useful for basic output, is limited in its display capabilities and unsuitable for detailed visual information.
  • Limited Power Supply Options
    The power supply options for Micro:bit are somewhat limited, which can affect its use in mobile or long-term battery-powered projects without enhancements.

Code.org videos

Programming For Kids: Scratch vs Code.org

More videos:

  • Review - What is code.org?
  • Review - Code.org Review and Short Description

Microbit videos

No Microbit videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Code.org and Microbit)
Online Learning
100 100%
0% 0
Education
76 76%
24% 24
Kids Education
80 80%
20% 20
Kids
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Code.org and Microbit

Code.org Reviews

  1. Aaryan Mantri
    · policeman at hello.com ·
    Code.Org Review

    Code.org is much easier to use than Thunkable.First of all names say everything.Second,it has more modes than just "drag-and-drop".

    👍 Pros:    Pretty design|Price|Easy layout
    👎 Cons:    Unproffesional|Lack support by phone|No sign up cost

16 Scratch Alternatives
Code.org is an online marketplace that can empower students, specifically students, to get detailed knowledge regarding the principles of the computer sciences. This platform can let its users access the free coding lessons so that everyone with the seek can get their required data without paying anything. It can even permit schools to add more about computer science and the...
20 Best Scratch Alternatives 2023
Nevertheless, the platform has the stats to prove its dependability. More than 67 million people use Code.org, including over two million teachers. In addition, the platform records over 208 million projects so far.

Microbit Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
Founded in 2016, Microbit Portal is an online education-based organization in the UK that can help numerous users gain knowledge of the This platform can let its users have the education of creating software and hardware so they can have the excitement of seeking technology. It can even permit clients to access the easy-to-use educational resources, as it can support...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Code.org seems to be a lot more popular than Microbit. While we know about 385 links to Code.org, we've tracked only 21 mentions of Microbit. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Code.org mentions (385)

  • Behold
    Code.org uses an extremely outdated version of javascript, It's so hard to access data in array, im basically forced to do this. Cant wait to ditch this shit. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Animation Software for Kids?
    I'm not sure if your 4.5yo is old enough to try Scratch[1] but nothing is too young these days. My elder got into Scratch around that time. These days, my younger one is into https://code.org and she make things go around, do stuffs, etc. 1. https://scratch.mit.edu. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Please help me with my code.org project. I cant post on the code.org forum bc its only for teachers
    So I am using code.org to make a platforming game, and if I am halfway off of a platform I slide off of it. Idk if this is a quirk with code.org or if I did something wrong. You can check the hitboxes by pressing debug sprites in the bottom right corner. Source: over 1 year ago
  • [Grade 9 Digital Literacy] How do I view the assessment on code.org
    My school hosts the unit tests for digital literacy on code.org as the "assessment day" at the bottom of the unit. Is there any way to view the test before it is unlocked by the teacher on a student account? Source: over 1 year ago
  • Advice for my autistic son
    My four year old was kicked out of his preschool class, and the school recommended I set him up with applied behavioral analysis. Though it hurt to read the email from the school, I don't blame them at all, he does have impulse control issues and doesn't always pay attention when others are talking to him. He sometimes also throws things and apparently pushed another student once. Outside of the social... Source: over 1 year ago
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Microbit mentions (21)

  • Impl Snake For Micro:bit - Embedded async Rust on BBC Micro:bit with Embassy
    The BBC Micro:bit is a small educational board. It is equipped with an ARM Cortex-M4F nRF52833 microcontroller, a 5⨉5 LED matrix, 3 buttons (one of which is touch-sensitive), a microphone, a speaker, Bluetooth capabilities, and much more. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • A 15 pound computer to inspire young programmers (2011)
    [Disclaimer: I work at the BBC.] ...later on, the BBC made[0] the micro:bit[1], another £15 (well, around £15 back then for the V1) computer to inspire young programmers. Funny to think that little did the BBC know that they'd be creating their own cheap computer. [0]: Well, the BBC didn't _make_ it exactly — rather, the development and manufacturing was subcontracted to third-party companies (though some people... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • And DigTech teachers willing to share?
    Https://microbit.org/ are really good in my experience too, maybe a little bit dated now and they seem to have lost momentum, but they're super cheap and providing something physical that you can actually code is pretty exciting to a lot of kids. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • google developed course on Rust
    Comprehensive Rust 🦀: Bare-Metal: a 1-day class on how to use Rust for bare-metal development. You will learn what no_std is and see how you can write firmware for microcontrollers (a micro:bit) and well as how to write drivers for a more powerful application processor (using Qemu). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Sony backs Raspberry Pi with fresh funding, access to A.I. chips
    Kids in the UK (and elsewhere?) can access the Micro:bit computer[0], while not the same and powerful/extendable as R Pi - it is cheap, good and plenty available. It includes a LED display and motion sensor. Kids can program it using "block coding", or write Python code that runs with the help of MicroPython[1]. [0] https://microbit.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Code.org and Microbit, you can also consider the following products

Scratch - Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.

Codecademy - Learn the technical skills you need for the job you want. As leaders in online education and learning to code, we’ve taught over 45 million people using a tested curriculum and an interactive learning environment.

Lego Boost - Build + Code + Play

Free Code Camp - Learn to code by helping nonprofits.

CodeCombat - Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game.

280 Elephant Arm by myCobot - Six-axis collaborative robot