Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Scratch VS W3Schools

Compare Scratch VS W3Schools and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Scratch logo Scratch

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

W3Schools logo W3Schools

W3Schools is a web developers information website, with tutorials and references on web development...
  • Scratch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • W3Schools Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-25

Scratch features and specs

  • Engaging Interface
    Scratch offers a visually appealing and user-friendly interface that makes it accessible for kids and beginners to learn programming concepts.
  • Community Support
    The platform has a large and active community where users can share projects, get feedback, and collaborate with others, fostering a sense of community and support.
  • Educational Value
    Scratch is designed with a strong pedagogical foundation, helping users to develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and creativity.
  • Drag-and-Drop Programming
    The block-based coding in Scratch eliminates syntax errors and simplifies the process of learning programming logic, making it ideal for beginners.
  • Free to Use
    Scratch is completely free to use, which makes it accessible to a wide audience without any financial barriers.
  • Portable
    Being web-based, Scratch can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, providing ease of access and flexibility.

Possible disadvantages of Scratch

  • Limited Advanced Capabilities
    Scratch is mainly designed for beginners and might not offer the depth or complexities needed for more advanced programming projects.
  • Performance Issues
    Larger projects can sometimes become slow or unresponsive, particularly on less powerful devices.
  • Simplified Programming
    The drag-and-drop nature of Scratch, while educational, might limit exposure to the syntax and intricacies of written programming languages.
  • Internet Dependency
    Scratch primarily requires an internet connection, which could be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Age Focus
    The platform is highly targeted towards younger audiences, which might not be appealing or suitable for older learners or adults seeking beginner resources.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any online community, there are potential privacy and security risks, especially for younger users, which require careful monitoring and guidance.

W3Schools features and specs

  • Beginner-Friendly
    W3Schools offers tutorials and examples that are straightforward and easy to understand, making it accessible for absolute beginners.
  • Interactive Learning
    Provides a hands-on learning experience with Try-It-Yourself editor, which allows users to edit code and see results in real-time.
  • Wide Range of Topics
    Covers a broad spectrum of web development technologies including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, PHP, Python, and more.
  • Free Access
    Most of the content on W3Schools is available for free, making it a cost-effective resource for learning web development.
  • Regular Updates
    Content is regularly updated to reflect the latest standards and practices, ensuring learners have current information.

Possible disadvantages of W3Schools

  • Lack of Depth
    While good for beginners, more advanced developers might find the material too basic and lacking in depth.
  • Criticized for Inaccuracy
    Some industry professionals have pointed out occasional inaccuracies in tutorials and examples, which could hinder learning.
  • Limited Community Interaction
    The platform does not offer forums or a strong community aspect, limiting opportunities for peer interaction and support.
  • Ads and Subscription Content
    The free version includes ads, and some advanced content is behind a paywall, which might be a deterrent for some users.
  • Not Comprehensive for Backend Development
    While it's strong in front-end technologies, its coverage of backend development tools and practices is not as extensive or detailed.

Scratch videos

Scratch 3.0 Review: My Thoughts About Scratch 3.0

More videos:

  • Review - Numark PT01 Scratch Review
  • Review - Meguiar's scratch X 2.0 review

W3Schools videos

W3Schools is just... Better

More videos:

  • Review - Learn Web Designing from scratch || Website Review || W3Schools || OhMyCode!
  • Review - Is the W3Schools PHP Certification Worth it?
  • Review - W3schools Spaces Review
  • Tutorial - How to Learn Any Programming Language using w3schools

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Scratch and W3Schools)
Kids Education
100 100%
0% 0
Online Learning
0 0%
100% 100
Game Development
100 100%
0% 0
Education
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 Scratch and W3Schools

Scratch Reviews

  1. Pratham shah
    · nothing at none ·
    TOO GOOD

    It is just awesome. you can make so many things WITHOUT A TEAM! If you are starting then this is an awesome place to start at.

    🏁 Competitors: Python, Java, Code.org
    👍 Pros:    Good UI|Remix|Works perfectly|100% free|Many, many languages

Top 15 educational software to streamline the learning process
Scratch lets students create interactive stories, games, and animations. The coding projects allow students to experiment and express their ideas, developing 21st-century skills like computational thinking and creativity. Scratch introduces students to programming, STEM and digital literacy in a fun way.
16 Scratch Alternatives
It can even permit anyone to access its junior program through which kids can learn how to make any app by taking their focus on the study related to programming. Scratch also comes with facilitating users with the permission to mix all the programming blocks so that they can create multiple characters for singing, jumping, dancing, moving, and more.
Coding Websites That Help Kids Learn Programming In A Fun Way in 2023
Scratch, created by MIT students, teaches coding by allowing students to create tales, games, and animations using programming blocks. There is a vibrant online community as well as a step-by-step tutorial to assist those who are just getting started. Students can also use an offline editor to revise their work. ScratchJr, a simplified version of the software, is targeted at...
20 Best Scratch Alternatives 2023
Unlike Scratch, Snap targets not only kids but also high school and college students. The platform provides a solution for serious computer science study, while Scratch focuses on just the basics.

W3Schools Reviews

  1. Arya Deep Singh
    Simple

    Simple and Modest approach articles are better prepared for young learners.


Best Alternatives to LeetCode For Data Science
W3Schools, as one of the best alternatives to LeetCode, claims to be the world's largest web developer site. It's a simple and no-frills tool to learn web development skills including Python and SQL. Their methods and approach to learning work for many people. Their teaching method is simple and basic. The courses on W3Schools are outlined from simplest to most advanced...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Scratch should be more popular than W3Schools. It has been mentiond 569 times since March 2021. 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.

Scratch mentions (569)

  • TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale
    I anticipate my kid needing to live in a word with capitalism, it doesn't ncessarily mean that they need a Mastercard at 4 years old. Same with many other things: condoms, keys to a car, access to alcohol. There is a time for everything, and at the age of 4, a young human probably has not yet maxxed out on analog stimuli opportunities. I learned YouTube when it came out in 2006 and I was 21. I've got 19 years of... - Source: Hacker News / 24 days ago
  • How I Got Started in IT: My Journey to Becoming an Apprentice Support Engineer 🚀
    I've always been fascinated by the technology. I spent many hors playing video games and the first dive into the world of development was when I had to code a game on Scratch. The excercise looked pretty easy: Create a Tamagotchi-like game. Let me tell you - It wasn't easy at all for someone of a young age! There were many things that I needed to pay attention to: Things I have never heard of before! - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Principles of Educational Programming Language Design
    I would be surprised if your first program was C++? Specifically, getting a decent C++ toolchain that can produce a meaningful program is not a small thing? I'm not sure where I feel about languages made for teaching and whatnot, yet; but I would be remiss if I didn't encourage my kids to use https://scratch.mit.edu/ for their early programming. I remember early computers would boot into a BASIC prompt and I... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • There is no such thing as a global method (in Ruby)
    I've been teaching a teenager how to code with smalltalk (Scratch): https://scratch.mit.edu/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    A good place to start with kids that age is Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
View more

W3Schools mentions (187)

  • Is getting a Degree a good thing for Web Developers?
    I myself, in 2009, started my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Northumbria (in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom) in Web Design & Development. On this degree program we learned how to create websites (both static and dynamic using databases etc.), applications (desktop as well as web based), multimedia (images, video and audio), how to plan and implement a project, work as part of a team of... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • 🔥 Top 10 Best Websites to Learn Coding for Free! 💻
    W3schools W3schools is a classic resource for learning web development. With its extensive tutorials and references on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and more, it's a go-to destination for beginners and professionals alike. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Where is the best place to learn web-development?
    I learned from W3Schools. I know it has a bad rep, but seriously. I was 10 years old and was on this site constantly learning stuff. Worth checking out. They have live code editors that allow you to test/modify code immediately in your browser. Source: over 1 year ago
  • I'm 14 and want to be a programmer but I don't know what kind of programmer.
    Go to w3schools.com, and use it as a reference for the upcoming HTML/CSS/JavaScript steps. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Anyone still using PHP to build side projects or webapps
    YES! I'm using PHP to build my Search Engine for Kids Activities (http://twkids.app) and its been great! I love PHP as there's no other language that provides the same simplicity and immediacy of results. I tried learning multiple frameworks but it was just too overwhelming and complicated. With PHP, its very easy to just get started as you can mix it right into your html. I just learned the basics on... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Scratch and W3Schools, you can also consider the following products

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

Free Code Camp - Learn to code by helping nonprofits.

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

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.

GDevelop - GDevelop is an open-source game making software designed to be used by everyone.

Treehouse - Treehouse is an award-winning online platform that teaches people how to code.