Scratch vs Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

Struggling to choose between Scratch and Microsoft MakeCode Arcade? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Scratch is a Education & Reference solution with tags like visual-programming, game-development, animation, education, blockbased.

It boasts features such as Visual programming language, Drag and drop interface, Online community, Can create games, animations, music, stories, Sprite editor, Sound editor, Supports user generated content sharing and pros including Free and open source, Easy to learn, Promotes computational thinking, Large online community for sharing projects and ideas, Runs in web browser so works across platforms.

On the other hand, Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a Games product tagged with coding, block-coding, game-design, retro, arcade.

Its standout features include Block coding interface, Sprite editor, Sound effects, Music, Hundreds of game examples, Remixable games, Multiplayer support, Works on phones, tablets, and desktop browsers, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Easy to use block coding, Great for beginners, Large library of examples, Active community support.

Feature	Scratch	Microsoft MakeCode Arcade
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Education & Reference	Games

Product Overview

Scratch

Description: Scratch is a free visual programming language and online community that makes it easy for anyone to create interactive games, animations, and more. It uses a drag and drop interface with colorful blocks that snap together to build programs.

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

Description: Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a free, open-source web-based platform that allows users to create retro arcade games using block coding. It features Sprite Editor, sound effects, music, overlays and hundreds of game examples to remix.

Key Features Comparison

Scratch Features

• Visual programming language
• Drag and drop interface
• Online community
• Can create games, animations, music, stories
• Sprite editor
• Sound editor
• Supports user generated content sharing

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade Features

• Block coding interface
• Sprite editor
• Sound effects
• Music
• Hundreds of game examples
• Remixable games
• Multiplayer support
• Works on phones, tablets, and desktop browsers

Pros & Cons Analysis

Scratch

Pros

• Free and open source
• Easy to learn
• Promotes computational thinking
• Large online community for sharing projects and ideas
• Runs in web browser so works across platforms

Cons

• Limited capabilities compared to text-based languages
• Not suitable for complex or large programs
• Web-based so requires internet connection
• Can be slow with complex projects

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

Pros

• Free and open source
• Easy to use block coding
• Great for beginners
• Large library of examples
• Active community support

Cons

• Limited functionality compared to advanced game engines
• Games can only be played in browser
• Limited customization options
• No monetization options

Pricing Comparison

Scratch

• Free

Microsoft MakeCode Arcade

• Free
• Open Source