Best STEM Kits for Kids — every ranking, by use case and budget
Every kit here was bought at retail and used by real children with a parent watching. Scores are locked before any affiliate link is added; Amazon links carry our Associates tag.
KiwiCo Crates
Very Good
8.7
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
Very Good
8.9
Sphero BOLT
Good
8.4
By use case indexed
By price page 1 indexedpage 2+ noindex
In-depth stem kits for kids reviews
Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
Snap-together electronics with 101 projects — the classic that taught our 7-year-old what a circuit is in one afternoon
Read Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 ReviewKiwiCo Crates
A complete, well-designed project every month for every age from 0 to 16 — the kits our children asked about on delivery day
Read KiwiCo Crates ReviewSphero BOLT
A programmable robot ball with an LED matrix and sensors that took our 11-year-old from block code to JavaScript over two weeks
Read Sphero BOLT ReviewMEL Science
Real chemistry and physics experiments with lab-grade equipment and VR lessons — the most science per box in the test, for older kids
Read MEL Science ReviewThames & Kosmos CHEM C500
A proper beginner's chemistry set from the German lab-kit maker: 28 experiments with real reagents and a manual that explains the reactions
Read Thames & Kosmos CHEM C500 ReviewLEGO Education SPIKE Essential
The classroom LEGO robotics set for ages 6–10: motors, sensors, a hub and story-based coding lessons
Read LEGO Education SPIKE Essential ReviewOsmo Genius Starter Kit for iPad
Physical pieces the iPad camera can see — tangrams, number tiles, words and drawing — for ages 6 to 10
Read Osmo Genius Starter Kit for iPad ReviewNational Geographic Earth Science Kit
Crystals, a volcano, a geode and 15 experiments for under $30 — the best-selling starter science kit, and a fair one
Read National Geographic Earth Science Kit ReviewGuides that send readers to these rankings
The Right STEM Kit for Each Age, 5 to 14
Our picks by age band from eight tested kits, and the one mistake parents make with the age on the box.
STEM Subscription Box or One-Off Kit? What Two Weeks of Testing Showed
Cost per hour, return rate and learning depth for KiwiCo and MEL against Snap Circuits, chemistry sets and robots.