Our winner
- Ages
- 5–16
- New content
- Monthly
- Format
- Monthly experiment kit + VR/AR app lessons
- From
- $29.9/mo
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MEL Science vs Little Passports
Serious chemistry against light-touch discovery
vs
- Ages
- 3–10
- New content
- Monthly
- Format
- Story-led monthly kit + booklets and simple experiments
- From
- $24.95/mo
The two ends of the category: the most rigorous product we cover against the gentlest. They overlap only at the youngest edge of MEL's stated range.
What it really comes down to
Rigour vs accessibility
MEL Science demands supervision, attention and a real interest in science. Little Passports demands almost nothing from the parent and very little from the child. What you get out scales accordingly.
Scored side by side
| Dimension | MEL Science | Little Passports |
|---|---|---|
| Replay value18% | 7 | 6 |
| STEM depth18% | 10 | 8 |
| Novelty cadence14% | 8 | 8 |
| Wow factor14% | 10 | 8 |
| Value for money14% | 8 | 9 |
| Builds independently12% | 7 | 10 |
| Clutter control10% | 9 | 7 |
| Overall | 8.4 | 7.9 |
Choose MEL Science if…
- The child is 10+ and genuinely into science
- You want real experiments, not demonstrations
- You are supplementing a curriculum
Choose Little Passports if…
- The child is 3-7
- You want stories and light activities
- You want zero supervision and zero mess
Our verdict
As science education, MEL Science is far stronger. As an easy, charming subscription for a young child, Little Passports does what it sets out to do. They are not really competing for the same purchase.
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Common questions
Can a 6-year-old do MEL Science?
The stated floor is 5, but in practice most under-10s need heavy parental involvement and the content lands better from 10 upward.
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/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 |