Starting a brand-new littleBits program in 2026?
Our position, and other voices worth reading before you decide.
Our position
Probably not. If you do not already have littleBits in-house and your teacher is not already trained on them, one of the modern alternatives is a safer bet for a fresh start.
This is not about whether littleBits is a good product - the STEAM Student Set is still a capable kit, and kids who use it learn real electronics concepts. It is about platform risk. The ecosystem has visibly contracted over the years since the Sphero acquisition. Buying into a platform that is shrinking is different from buying into one that is growing. For a new program with no legacy investment, Makey Makey, Snap Circuits, and micro:bit all have more confident five-year outlooks.
Other voices
Reputable sources worth reading before you decide. Labels reflect our honest read of each source's general stance, not direct quotes.
Sphero changes to littleBits apps
Broadly agreesSphero's own support page documents the app consolidation. That is not a signal of a growing platform.
Schools that love what littleBits does well
Nuanced / mixedThe snap-together 'no-solder electronics' concept is genuinely elegant, and some teachers who have used littleBits for years strongly prefer it over any alternative. That preference is real. It also depends on Sphero continuing to support the line, which is the uncertainty.
Teachers already committed to littleBits
Pushes backFor a teacher with a working littleBits curriculum and years of accumulated expertise, staying on the platform is reasonable. The advice changes for a fresh-start decision.