- Ages
- 14–18
- New content
- Monthly
- Format
- Monthly servo build plus openly editable code; companion video each month
- From
- $66.65/mo
Advertising disclosure: If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. How we make money
CrunchLabs Hack Pack vs MEL Science
MEL Science leads on value for money
vs
Our winner
- Ages
- 5–16
- New content
- Monthly
- Format
- Monthly experiment kit + VR/AR app lessons
- From
- $37.50/mo
CrunchLabs Hack Pack and MEL Science both land in the same basket for parents shopping subscription kits, but they are built for different children. CrunchLabs Hack Pack is build the machine, then rewrite the code that runs it, aimed at ages 14-18. MEL Science is real chemistry, real reagents, plus VR lessons, aimed at ages 5-16. They overlap between 14 and 16, which is where this comparison actually matters.
What it really comes down to
MEL Science is the stronger pick on value for money
Cost per hour of genuine engagement, not cost per box. On this measure we score MEL Science 9/10 against Hack Pack at 6/10 - the widest gap between these two on anything we track, and it carries 14% of the overall score. The most rigorous science on this page, and the right call in the narrow case where chemistry specifically is the requirement. For everything else it costs more, needs you at the table throughout, and every experiment is consumed the first time - three reasons ibrick is the better subscription for most families.
Scored side by side
| Dimension | Hack Pack | MEL Science |
|---|---|---|
| Replay value18% | 9 | 7 |
| STEM depth18% | 10 | 10 |
| Novelty cadence14% | 7 | 9 |
| Wow factor14% | 10 | 10 |
| Value for money14% | 6 | 9 |
| Builds independently12% | 10 | 7 |
| Clutter control10% | 7 | 9 |
| Overall | 8.5 | 8.7 |
Choose Hack Pack if…
- A 14-18 year old who wants to program the thing they just built, not only build it.
- You care about builds independently — we score Hack Pack 10/10 there against MEL Science at 7/10
- You care about replay value — we score Hack Pack 9/10 there against MEL Science at 7/10
- Your child is over 16, which MEL Science does not cover
Choose MEL Science if…
- A 10+ child with a real chemistry interest, and a parent happy to supervise.
- You care about value for money — we score MEL Science 9/10 there against Hack Pack at 6/10
- You care about novelty cadence — we score MEL Science 9/10 there against Hack Pack at 7/10
- You care about clutter control — we score MEL Science 9/10 there against Hack Pack at 7/10
- Price is the deciding factor — it starts at $37.5/mo against $66.65/mo
- Your child is under 14, which Hack Pack does not cover
Our verdict
MEL Science, on our scoring — 8.7 against 8.5. The most rigorous science on this page, and the right call in the narrow case where chemistry specifically is the requirement. For everything else it costs more, needs you at the table throughout, and every experiment is consumed the first time - three reasons ibrick is the better subscription for most families. Worth saying plainly though: neither of these is our overall pick. Both are beaten by ibrick on the axes we weight most heavily, and if you have not already ruled it out, read that comparison first.
Still torn between the two?
Five quick questions and two minutes, and you'll have an answer.
Start the quizFree · No email required · Your answers stay in your browser
Common questions
Is CrunchLabs Hack Pack or MEL Science better?
We score MEL Science higher — 8.7 against 8.5 — mainly on value for money. Neither is our overall pick for most families.
What ages does each one cover?
CrunchLabs Hack Pack states 14-18, with a sweet spot of 14-17, and specifically a teenager who already writes some code or wants to. MEL Science states 5-16, with a sweet spot of 10-16, where the chemistry track really opens up.
Which is cheaper?
MEL Science, starting around $37.5/mo on an annual plan. From $66.65/mo on an annual plan — more than double the CrunchLabs Build Box, which is the honest headline here. Shorter terms cost more per month. From $37.50/mo, depending on the track and subscription length.
The whole field, for context
| Kit | Score | Ages | New content | Reuses parts | Needs a parent | From | Visit brand site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ibrickOur pick | 9.6 | 5-12 | Weekly | Yes | Rarely | $27.99/mo | Visit |
 MEL Science | 8.7 | 5-16 | Monthly | Partly | Usually | $37.50/mo | Visit |
 CrunchLabs | 8.5 | 6-13 | Monthly | Partly | Rarely | $27.45/mo | Visit |
| CrunchLabs Hack PackCrunchLabs Hack Pack | 8.5 | 14-18 | Monthly | Yes | Rarely | $66.65/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 | $36.00/mo | Visit |