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Live My Robots
Updated Oct 29, 2026

LEGO SPIKE is retired. What to buy instead

Researched by Riley Hart · updated Oct 29, 2026 · every fact links to its source · we may earn a commission

  1. Our pickMakeblock mBot2about $150 · ages 8+ · Easy

    The closest family swap for SPIKE Prime. Makeblock lists it at $149.99, rated 8+, and says it works with LEGO bricks and more than 500 Makeblock parts.

    Check price on Amazon →
  2. Sphero BOLT+about $199 · ages Grades 3 to 10Check price
  3. Makeblock Codey Rockyabout $140 · ages 6+Check price
Short answer

LEGO Education stopped selling SPIKE Prime and SPIKE Essential on June 30, 2026, and the best replacement for most families is the Makeblock mBot2: $149.99 at Makeblock, rated 8+, coded with blocks and then Python. The runner up is the Sphero BOLT+ at $199 on Sphero's store, rated for grades 3 to 10, for kids who want to start coding right away with nothing to build.

SPIKE sets you already own keep working, because LEGO says the SPIKE app gets support until June 30, 2031. If you need a new robot now, buy a Makeblock mBot2 for ages 8 and up, or a Makeblock Codey Rocky for ages 6 and up if you were shopping for SPIKE Essential. LEGO's new Computer Science and AI kit starts at $339.95, but it is built for classrooms of four students per kit, not for one child at home.

KitPriceMaker ageReplacesCodingSold to families?
Makeblock mBot2 $149.99 (Makeblock)8+SPIKE PrimeBlocks, Python, Arduino C++Yes
Sphero BOLT+ $199 (Sphero)Grades 3 to 10SPIKE PrimeDraw, blocks, JavaScript, PythonYes
Makeblock Codey Rocky $139.99 (Makeblock)6+SPIKE EssentialBlocks, PythonYes
Finch Robot 2.0 with micro:bit $180 (RobotShop, Stemfinity)Grades K to collegeSPIKE Essential and PrimeFinchBlox, MakeCode, Snap!, Python, JavaYes
LEGO Education Computer Science and AI kit $339.95 (K to 2), $429.95 (3 to 5), $529.95 (6 to 8)Grades K to 8Both SPIKE sets, in schoolsBlocks in Coding Canvas, Python packageSold for classrooms

Prices from maker and store pages read October 29, 2026, before tax and shipping. Sale prices change often. Findings come from the makers and stores cited, not from hands on testing.

Kit finder: 4 questions

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Answer the 4 questions and your best matches show up here.

Our picks

Prices change. We may earn a small commission, your price stays the same.

#1
#1

Makeblock mBot2

about $150on Amazon

A small aluminum robot car with a CyberPi controller, color screen, ultrasonic sensor and four color line sensor.

Ages 8+Difficulty EasyLearns Block coding, Python
Great if: your child liked coding SPIKE Prime motors and sensors and wants to grow into Python.
Check price on Amazon
Why we picked it

The closest family swap for SPIKE Prime. Makeblock lists it at $149.99, rated 8+, and says it works with LEGO bricks and more than 500 Makeblock parts.

#2
#2

Sphero BOLT+

about $199on Amazon

A rolling coding robot that kids program in the free Sphero Edu app.

Ages Grades 3 to 10Difficulty EasyLearns Draw and block coding, JavaScript and Python
Great if: you want coding on day one with no build, or you teach a class that shares robots.
Check price on Amazon
Why we picked it

A sealed, waterproof robot ball with a 128 by 128 pixel screen. Sphero sells the single robot for $199 and rates it for grades 3 to 10.

#3
#3

Makeblock Codey Rocky

about $140on Amazon

A small two part robot: Codey is the brain with a LED face, Rocky is the driving base.

Ages 6+Difficulty EasyLearns Block coding, Python
Great if: your child is 6 to 9 and wants a cute robot with a face and sounds.
Check price on Amazon
Why we picked it

The best match for families who were shopping for SPIKE Essential. Makeblock lists it at $139.99 and rates it 6+, with a path from blocks to Python in mBlock 5.

#4
#4

Finch Robot 2.0 with micro:bit

about $180on Amazon

A palm sized classroom robot built on a BBC micro:bit, with light, distance and line sensors.

Ages Grades K to collegeDifficulty EasyLearns Icon blocks for pre readers, MakeCode and Snap!
Great if: you teach mixed ages or want Python and Java on the same robot.
Check price on Amazon
Why we picked it

One robot that covers both SPIKE Essential and SPIKE Prime ages. BirdBrain says it works from kindergarten to college, and Stemfinity lists it at $180 with 7+ hours of battery.

#5
#5

LEGO Education Computer Science and AI Kit

from $339.95on Amazon

Classroom kits with LEGO bricks, motors, a color sensor and lessons for teachers.

Ages Grades K to 8Difficulty EasyLearns Block coding, Loops and conditionals
Great if: you run a school, club or FIRST LEGO League team and want to stay with LEGO.
Check price on Amazon
Why we picked it

LEGO's own successor to SPIKE. Single kits cost $339.95 for grades K to 2, $429.95 for grades 3 to 5 and $529.95 for grades 6 to 8, and each kit serves four students.

Learn as you build · Builder Club

Your kid learns how robots really work

Builder Club turns a kit into real learning: one step at a time, with progress you both can see.

  • Step by step build screens with a check after every step
  • Photo help the moment you get stuck
  • Progress, levels and badges for each kid
  • A new project every month for the same kit
  • Works for parents who have never built anything

What happened to LEGO SPIKE

On January 12, 2026, LEGO Education announced its new Computer Science and AI kits and said the SPIKE portfolio would retire. That includes SPIKE Prime (45678) and SPIKE Essential (45345).

LEGO Education's SPIKE update page says sales ended June 30, 2026. The SPIKE Prime product page on education.lego.com is now marked Retired.

This follows the end of LEGO Mindstorms in 2022. Families who moved from Mindstorms to SPIKE now need a second replacement.

Do old SPIKE sets still work?

Yes. LEGO says the SPIKE app will keep getting support until June 30, 2031. After that date the app stays online but gets no updates or bug fixes.

FIRST LEGO League teams can keep using SPIKE through the 2027 to 2028 season, per LEGO Education. Teams can use the new Computer Science and AI kits starting with the 2026 to 2027 season.

If your child already has a SPIKE set, there is no rush to replace it. Buy a new robot only when you need a second one or a different age range.

Should you buy a leftover SPIKE set?

Usually not. LEGO no longer sells new SPIKE sets, so remaining boxes come from other sellers at high prices.

BrickFact lists SPIKE Essential at a $319.95 original price, and it tracked a new set at $626.99 on Amazon. It lists SPIKE Prime at a $399.95 original price, with secondary market sales averaging around $494.

At those prices an mBot2 plus extra parts costs far less. If you still want SPIKE, check that the hub and battery are in the box before you pay.

Can families buy the new LEGO Computer Science and AI kit?

The kit is listed on education.lego.com, but it is designed for classrooms. LEGO says students work in groups of four, and each kit comes with Teacher Portal lessons.

The 3 to 5 kit has 321 bricks, a double motor and a color sensor. It needs one laptop, Chromebook or iPad per group for coding in LEGO's Coding Canvas app. LEGO also mentions a Python package for advanced learners.

For one child at home, a $150 to $200 coding robot gives more robot for the money. The LEGO kit makes sense for schools and clubs.

How to pick a SPIKE replacement

Match the robot to the SPIKE set you meant to buy. Prices change often, so check before you buy.

  • Was buying SPIKE Prime for ages 10 and up: Makeblock mBot2.
  • Was buying SPIKE Essential for ages 6 to 9: Makeblock Codey Rocky.
  • Wants to code right away with no build: Sphero BOLT+.
  • Teaches mixed ages, or wants Python and Java: Finch Robot 2.0.
  • Runs a school program or FIRST LEGO League team: LEGO Education Computer Science and AI kit.
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Questions parents ask

Is LEGO SPIKE Prime discontinued?

Yes. LEGO Education stopped selling SPIKE Prime and SPIKE Essential on June 30, 2026. The SPIKE app keeps getting support until June 30, 2031.

What is replacing LEGO SPIKE?

LEGO Education's Computer Science and AI kits, which start at $339.95 per kit for grades K to 2. They are built for classrooms, with four students sharing each kit.

What should I buy instead of SPIKE Prime for my kid?

The Makeblock mBot2 is the best swap for most families. It costs $149.99 at Makeblock, is rated 8+, works with LEGO bricks and grows from blocks to Python.

What is a good alternative to SPIKE Essential for a 6 year old?

The Makeblock Codey Rocky is rated 6+ and costs $139.99 at Makeblock. Kids code it with blocks in mBlock 5 and can switch to Python later.

Will my child's SPIKE set stop working?

No. LEGO says the SPIKE app gets support until June 30, 2031, and the app stays online after that without updates. FIRST LEGO League allows SPIKE through the 2027 to 2028 season.

Why is SPIKE Essential so expensive on Amazon now?

LEGO stopped selling it, so only leftover stock remains. BrickFact lists a $319.95 original price and tracked a new set at $626.99 on Amazon.

Can I buy the LEGO Computer Science and AI kit for home?

It is listed on education.lego.com from $339.95, but it is designed for groups of four students with teacher lessons. For one child, a Makeblock mBot2 at $149.99, rated 8+, is a better value.

Is Sphero BOLT+ a good SPIKE alternative for a classroom?

Yes. Sphero BOLT+ costs $199 for one robot or $3,499 for a 15 robot Power Pack, and Sphero rates it for grades 3 to 10. Kids code it in the free Sphero Edu app with draw, blocks, JavaScript or Python.

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Sources

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