WeDo 2.0 vs SPIKE Essential now both kits are retired
LEGO has stopped selling both WeDo 2.0 and SPIKE Essential. What that means for software, for buying used kits, and which one to keep.
By RoboGuru Team 4 min read
LEGO no longer sells either kit. The WeDo 2.0 Core Set is discontinued and its app is retired, and SPIKE Essential was withdrawn from sale on 30 June 2026. If you already own one of them, keep it: the hardware still works. The real difference now is software. SPIKE Essential keeps LEGO’s official app until 2031, while WeDo 2.0 depends on other software such as Scratch 3 or RoboGuru for WeDo 2.0.
Key facts
- WeDo 2.0 Core Set (45300): discontinued (LEGO Education). Mobile apps retired in 2024; store listings said downloads would end on 31 July 2026 (App Store).
- SPIKE Essential (45345): direct sales of the whole SPIKE portfolio ended on 30 June 2026. The SPIKE App is supported until 30 June 2031 (LEGO Education).
- LEGO’s current line: Computer Science and AI, announced in January 2026 (LEGO.com).
How did we get here?
For several years, LEGO and its resellers presented SPIKE Essential as the next step for WeDo 2.0 classrooms (Erin Krespan, Duck Learning). Schools that planned to “upgrade later” assumed SPIKE Essential would be around for a long time.
That changed in 2026. LEGO announced its Computer Science and AI kits in January and retired the entire SPIKE portfolio at the end of June (LEGO Education, Brick Fanatics). So the advice “move from WeDo 2.0 to SPIKE Essential” is out of date. Neither kit is a current LEGO product.
What is the software situation for each kit?
WeDo 2.0
- Official app: retired. The mobile apps were pulled in January 2024, given a reprieve, and their listings said they would stay available until 31 July 2026 (Spectrum Educational, Google Play). The last Android update was in November 2024 (APKMirror).
- Chromebooks: the WeDo 2.0 Chromebook app is a Chrome App, and Google ends Chrome Apps for education and enterprise in October 2028 (Google support).
- Scratch 3: a free WeDo 2.0 extension, with platform limits (no iPad, no Linux). See our Scratch guide.
- RoboGuru for WeDo 2.0: an independent, paid replacement for the official app. It uses block-based programming and runs on iPhone and iPad, Android, a Web editor, Windows, macOS and Linux.
SPIKE Essential
- Official app: the SPIKE App is still supported, and LEGO says that support continues until 30 June 2031 (LEGO Education).
- After 2031: LEGO has not said what happens next. Plan on roughly five years of official software from now.
The short version
| | WeDo 2.0 | SPIKE Essential | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Sold new by LEGO | No (discontinued) | No (retired 30 June 2026) | | Official app | Retired, no updates | Supported until 30 June 2031 | | Other software | Scratch 3, RoboGuru for WeDo 2.0 and others | Not covered here |
Should I buy used WeDo 2.0 or SPIKE Essential kits?
Both kits now only come second-hand or from remaining reseller stock. That is not necessarily a bad thing: classroom robotics hardware is durable, and a used kit can be very good value. A few checks help.
Before you buy any used kit
- Test the electronics. Ask the seller to show the hub turning on and connecting to an app, and the motor running. Check that every sensor in the parts list is there.
- Look at the battery compartment. Leaked batteries leave corrosion on the contacts.
- Count the parts. Use the official parts list or building instructions to check what is missing.
- Ask about the software. Find out which app the seller used, and check that the same software runs on your devices before you pay.
Buying used WeDo 2.0
Schools bought WeDo 2.0 as class sets, so used kits often come in batches. A Core Set is designed for two pupils (Science Sparks), so a class of 24 needs about twelve. Because LEGO’s app is retired, budget for software that works on your devices.
Buying used SPIKE Essential
SPIKE Essential has the advantage of official software until 2031. Weigh that against the price and the fact that the kit is also retired. If you already run WeDo 2.0 lessons, mixing the two systems in one room means two sets of software and two sets of lesson plans.
Which should I keep?
If you own WeDo 2.0: keep it. Replacing a working class set with another retired kit rarely makes financial sense. A class set of LEGO’s new Computer Science and AI kits costs $2,249 to $3,499 for 24 students at list price (LEGO Education 45520), and we found no evidence that the new kits work with WeDo 2.0 hubs. Spending on software instead of hardware keeps the kits on your shelf in use.
If you own SPIKE Essential: keep it too. The SPIKE App is supported until 2031, so you have years of use ahead.
If you own both: use them side by side for different age groups or projects, and plan the software for each separately.
If you own neither: compare the cost of a used kit plus software with LEGO’s current line. Our discontinuation timeline sets out what has changed and when.
Frequently asked questions
Is SPIKE Essential still sold?
No. LEGO Education ended direct sales of the whole SPIKE portfolio, including SPIKE Essential, on 30 June 2026. LEGO says the SPIKE App stays supported until 30 June 2031.
Should I replace my WeDo 2.0 kits with SPIKE Essential?
For most schools and families, no. SPIKE Essential is now retired too, so replacing working WeDo 2.0 kits with second-hand SPIKE Essential kits swaps one retired product for another. Keeping the kits you own and choosing current software is usually the cheaper move.
Which has better software support in 2026?
SPIKE Essential, on paper. LEGO still supports the SPIKE App until 2031, while the official WeDo 2.0 app is retired. WeDo 2.0 now relies on other software such as Scratch 3 or RoboGuru for WeDo 2.0.