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What EV3 Coding Platform Should I Use?

Jan 2025

Here's a handy table to help you decide which of the many EV3 coding platforms will work for you!

	LEGO® Education EV3 Classroom V1.5.3	LEGO® Education EV3 Classroom V1.4.2	LEGO® Education EV3 Classroom Mobile App	VS Code (MicroPython with Pybricks)	Scratch 3.0	Microsoft MakeCode	Open Roberta Labs	CS-STEM Network Virtual Robot	EV3 - Basic	ROBOTC
Text-Based				MicroPython		JavaScript	Java		Small Basic	C or C++
Blocks	Scratch Style Vertical	Old LEGO Style Horizontal	Scratch Style Vertical		Scratch Style	JavaScript
Windows	Win10 v1803+, Win11	Win 7, 8, 10, 11		Win 10, 11	Available on Browser	Available on Browser	Available on Browser	Available on Browser
MacOS	Mojave 10.14+	10.6 – 10.14		MacOS 10.13+	Available on Browser	Available on Browser	Available on Browser	Available on Browser
ChromeOS						Available on Browser	Available on Browser	Available on Browser
Linux							Available on Browser	Available on Browser
iPadOS			iPadOS 13.0+
Android (Tablets)			Android 7.0+
USB								No Hub Connection
Bluetooth								No Hub Connection
Hub Simulation On Device								Simulation Only
No Additional Firmware for HUB				EV3 MicroPython image (MicroSD Card)	Hub must be updated to 1.10E	Hub must be updated to 1.10E	Hub must be updated to 1.10E			Firmware Download Needed
Set Up Ease Rating (0–5)	2–3 (depends on familiarity with installing software)	2–3 (depends on familiarity with installing software)	1	5	2 (4 if update is needed)	2 (5 if update is needed)	5	1	5	5
Pros	Scratch Style Blocks are easy to pick up for students with experience with other Scratch Style Programs		Scratch Style Blocks are easy to pick up for students with experience with other Scratch Style Programs	VS Code is a professional grade programming software and has a lot of functionality. MicroPython is one of the easier programming languages to learn and has a lot of functionality.	Lots of Scratch-EV3 integration which can be fun for students that already know Scratch	Allows JavaScript code to be translated to block code and vice versa. Has a simulation of the hub and any sensors or motors that you use in your code. Is capable of using 2D Arrays in block coding or in JS. JS coding is as easy as block coding thanks to the sidebar with click-to-type lines of code.	Includes a simulation for a car robot	Easy Access. Scratch Style Blocks. No Hub Needed. Tutorials for Coding are built in.	Allows for more in-depth text-based coding than with block coding
Cons	No text-based coding	No text-based coding. Unintuitive blocks compared to the Scratch-based version.	No text-based coding. No USB connectivity.	Requires a lot more steps to set up. Higher barrier to entry.	Limited EV3 coding capabilities. Downloaded version works best but requires Scratch Link download.	Blocks are not as smooth to use as other block-based programs	Setup and user interface are different from other programs on this list. Connection instructions are hard to find and unclear. Simulation is only for a two-motor car robot. It is unclear where to find the code editor.	Can't change the robot in the simulation. Can't use the coding interface to program a real hub.	Unpopular coding language (Small Basic). Limited platforms. Difficult to set up. Limited resources.	Not recommended. Difficult user interface. Difficult to set up. Unintuitive and outdated user interface.

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