Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Thunkable is one of those rare apps that actually delivers on the promise of 'educational screen time.' It's not edutainment—it's a legitimate development tool that happens to be accessible to kids.

The live testing feature is genuinely cool: you make changes on the web platform, and they appear instantly on your phone. That feedback loop keeps kids engaged while teaching them real programming logic without the syntax headaches.

The main caveat: this isn't pick-up-and-play entertainment. Kids need some initial guidance (whether from a parent, teacher, or online tutorial) to get started, and they need the patience to debug when things inevitably break. Common Sense Education points out the lack of built-in classroom supports, which means you're not getting lesson plans or scaffolded projects out of the box.

But for the right kid—one who asks 'how did they make that?' about their favorite apps, or who wants to build something rather than just consume content—this is gold. They're learning UI design, logic, problem-solving, and gaining confidence that they can create real things. That's worth way more than another hour of YouTube.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10-17, particularly kids who've shown interest in coding, game design, or how apps work. Younger kids (8-9) can use it with adult support. Older teens and adults use it for prototyping and learning app development, so it has staying power beyond elementary school.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Thunkable promotes constructive, creative screen time focused on building and problem-solving. The platform encourages logical thinking and perseverance without competitive pressure or social comparison mechanics. It's fundamentally about creation rather than consumption, which is emotionally healthy for kids learning tech skills.

Imaginative

92

This is a no-code app builder that lets kids turn ideas into actual functioning mobile apps. The live testing feature means instant feedback on creative decisions. It's pure creative expression with real-world output—kids can literally build anything they can imagine, from games to utilities to passion projects. The drag-and-drop interface removes coding barriers while teaching computational thinking.

Safe

85

As a development tool, Thunkable avoids the typical app safety pitfalls—no ads, no in-app purchases targeting kids, no social features or chat. The app itself is just a testing environment for projects built on the web platform. Kids mode is available. Main concern is that kids could theoretically build apps with unsafe features or access inappropriate APIs, but that requires intentional effort and parent/educator oversight.

Enriching

94

This is genuine STEM education disguised as creative play. Kids learn programming logic, UI/UX design, problem-solving, and debugging—all marketable skills. Common Sense Education notes it allows students to 'learn and apply programming in all-in-one environment.' The real-world application is immediate: kids can share functional apps with friends and family. Builds confidence, persistence, and technical literacy.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Kids build actual functioning mobile apps without writing code—drag-and-drop interface makes programming concepts accessible to beginners
Live testing feature means instant gratification: change something on your computer, see it update immediately on your phone
Teaches genuine marketable skills (UI design, logic, debugging, computational thinking) while feeling like creative play
No social pressure, ads, or monetization schemes—just pure building and learning
Works on both Android and iOS, so kids can share their creations with friends and family

⚠

What to Watch For

Common Sense Education notes there aren't built-in classroom supports, so kids may need adult guidance or a structured curriculum to get the most out of it
Has a learning curve—this isn't a one-tap game, it requires patience and problem-solving when things don't work
Requires account creation and login, so standard privacy conversations apply
Best for kids who already show interest in tech or coding; might not hook kids looking for instant entertainment

Conversation Starters

"What kind of app would you want to build? Something to solve a problem you have, or just something fun?"
"Show me what you're working on—walk me through how you made that button do that thing."
"What was the hardest bug you had to fix today? How did you figure it out?"
"If you could add any feature to your favorite app, what would it be? Could you build that in Thunkable?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic