Advertising disclosure: If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. How we make money
ibrick review
One kit. A new working machine every week.
Ranked #1 of 7
Weighted across 7 dimensions. How we score
What it actually is
ibrick is a weekly STEM subscription built around a single master kit rather than a new box every month. The kit holds LEGO-compatible bricks, real electric motors, gears, a battery box and organised trays. Every week the app unlocks a new 3D blueprint, and your child rebuilds the same parts into a different working machine, then watches a short animated lesson on the science behind it and takes on an engineering challenge to improve the build.
The verdict in one line
The best subscription we have found, and the best value in the category: one kit you buy once, a new working machine every week, and nothing further to pay for or find space for. Month six looks exactly like month one.
Pros and cons
What we like
- The same parts become a new machine every week, so there is no 'built it, done with it' moment
- Builds are motorised - cars, robots, a T-Rex, a zip-lining monkey - so the payoff is something that actually moves
- Interactive 3D instructions rotate and zoom, which most kids can follow without a parent sitting next to them
- One organised tray instead of a growing stack of boxes
- Every build is followed by an animated science lesson and a challenge to make it faster, taller or stronger
- Weekly cadence means roughly four new projects a month, against one from most rivals
What to know first
- The instructions live in an app, so a tablet or phone is part of the routine
- It is a subscription - the weekly content is the product, so cancelling ends the new builds
- Bricks-and-motors is one construction medium; it will not cover chemistry
- Educational claims like '70+ scientific principles' and 'STEM.org approved' come from the brand, not from independent testing
How it scores, dimension by dimension
Percentages show how much each dimension contributes to the overall score.
- Replay value10/10(18% weight)
Can the same parts become something new, or is it built once and shelved?
- STEM depth9/10(18% weight)
Is there real science underneath, or a craft project with a science label?
- Novelty cadence10/10(14% weight)
How often does something genuinely new arrive? Weekly beats monthly.
- Wow factor9/10(14% weight)
Does the finished thing actually do something? Motors, motion, reactions.
- Value for money10/10(14% weight)
Cost per hour of genuine engagement, not cost per box.
- Builds independently9/10(12% weight)
Can your child do this alone, or are you the unpaid teaching assistant?
- Clutter control10/10(10% weight)
What does your living room look like after twelve months of this?
Best for
Parents who have already watched one building set get abandoned after a weekend and refuse to fund a second.
Not for you if
A child who specifically wants chemistry, or a household that wants a screen-free activity with no app involved at all.
Is ibrick actually the right one for your child?
Five questions covering what your child already does for fun, their age, the problem you're solving and how much time you have. Two minutes.
Start the quizFree · No email required · Your answers stay in your browser
ibrick head to head
Four builds a month against one very good one
ibrick vs KiwiCoReusable machine kit against the category's best age targeting
ibrick vs MEL ScienceWeekly engineering you hand over, against monthly chemistry you supervise
ibrick vs Little PassportsWorking machines against world stories
ibrick vs Green KidThe cheapest box against the one that keeps paying off
ibrick vs LoveveryTwo products for two different childhoods
Where it sits in the field
| Kit | Score | Ages | New content | Reuses parts | Needs a parent | From | Visit brand site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ibrickOur pick | 9.6 | 5-12 | Weekly | Yes | Rarely | $27/mo | Visit |
 CrunchLabs Build Box | 8.7 | 8-14 | Monthly | Partly | Rarely | $24.95/mo | Visit |
 MEL Science | 8.4 | 5-16 | Monthly | Partly | Usually | $29.9/mo | Visit |
 KiwiCo | 8.2 | 0-16 | Monthly | Partly | Rarely | $23.95/mo | Visit |
 Little Passports | 7.9 | 3-10 | Monthly | No | Rarely | $24.95/mo | Visit |
 Green Kid Crafts | 7.8 | 2-10 | Monthly | No | Rarely | $19.95/mo | Visit |
 Lovevery | 7.7 | 0-5 | Monthly | Partly | Rarely | $36/mo | Visit |
Common questions
Who is ibrick best for?
Parents who have already watched one building set get abandoned after a weekend and refuse to fund a second.
Who should avoid ibrick?
A child who specifically wants chemistry, or a household that wants a screen-free activity with no app involved at all.
How much does ibrick cost?
Pricing shown is indicative and needs re-checking against ibrick's current offer. 14-day money-back guarantee; promotional offers vary by season.
What ages is ibrick for?
The stated range is 5-12. In our view the genuine sweet spot is 6-11, and it stretches further in both directions than most.