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MEL Science leads on wow factor
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MEL Science and Green Kid Crafts both land in the same basket for parents shopping subscription kits, but they are built for different children. MEL Science is real chemistry, real reagents, plus VR lessons, aimed at ages 5-16. Green Kid Crafts is eco-conscious STEAM boxes, and the cheapest way in, aimed at ages 2-10. They overlap between 5 and 10, which is where this comparison actually matters.
What it really comes down to
Does the finished thing actually do something? Motors, motion, reactions. On this measure we score MEL Science 10/10 against Green Kid at 7/10 - 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.
| Dimension | MEL Science | Green Kid |
|---|---|---|
| Replay value18% | 7 | 6 |
| STEM depth18% | 10 | 8 |
| Novelty cadence14% | 9 | 8 |
| Wow factor14% | 10 | 7 |
| Value for money14% | 9 | 9 |
| Builds independently12% | 7 | 10 |
| Clutter control10% | 9 | 7 |
| Overall | 8.7 | 7.8 |
MEL Science, on our scoring — 8.7 against 7.8. 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.
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We score MEL Science higher — 8.7 against 7.8 — mainly on wow factor. Neither is our overall pick for most families.
MEL Science states 5-16, with a sweet spot of 10-16, where the chemistry track really opens up. Green Kid Crafts states 2-10, with a sweet spot of 4-8, where the craft-and-science blend lands best.
Green Kid Crafts, starting around $19.95/mo on an annual plan. From $37.50/mo, depending on the track and subscription length. Roughly $19.95-$24.95/mo depending on term and tier - the lowest entry price of anything we cover. Confirm current pricing before subscribing.
| 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 |
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