Great LEGO Alternatives to Buy

My kids love toys that allow them to use creativity in building whatever they choose. Even as they get older, I am amazed to see my children loving building toys as tweens and teens as much as they did when they were toddlers. And my husband still loves building different creations out of bricks, blocks, sticks, and whatever else we have. In our house, we build together or alone and sometimes even get a good competition going.

I love that building toys encourage critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity all at the same time. Additionally, when assembling a specific build, kids are learning how to follow directions as well. Who knew gaining STEM skills could be so much fun? There is no limit to what kids can create with toys like these.

If you asked most people which is the most popular toy in this category, they would likely say LEGO and for good reason. Because there hundreds of LEGO sets options, that’s what people know. However, there are many other excellent comparable toys that are much less expensive. We have found the best alternatives that will still give your kids (and possibly yourself) a great toy.

How to Choose a Construction Toy Set

• Does it come with as many pieces required to build what the child wants? A toy set with few pieces likely won’t get played with for very long. Make sure you choose a set that has enough pieces to keep your child engaged and willing to play time and again.
• Is it the correct developmental level for the child? A toy that is too easy or too difficult for a child to use will be put away or discarded quickly. Look for a toy that will capture the child’s interest and not be outgrown right away.
• Are the pieces made of good, lasting materials? The last thing you want is to spend money on a toy that will be easily broken or ruined. Choose a toy made of safe, quality materials that will last.
• Will your child like building what the set can build? Many kids enjoy different themed sets. There are so many sets out there with different themes including My Little Pony, Star Wars, Transformers, the list goes on. If your child has a specific interest, look for a building set that goes along with that theme.
• Can your child use creativity with the toy? Most building toys, including those on this list, come with instructions for how to build specific things (a rocket ship, building, insect, plane, car, etc.). However, it is also good for children’s developing brains to use their own creativity in building whatever they can imagine building. Many of the kits below can build something specific as well as allowing children to use pieces to build whatever they wish.

18 Good Quality LEGO Alternatives for Kids

Nanoblock Building Kits

Pros:

• Looks like LEGOs
• Takes up less space
• Excellent detail

Con:

• Not good for younger children

My favorite LEGO alternative is Nanoblock. It is like LEGOs on a smaller scale and is a great choice for older tweens, teens, and adults. The tiny pieces make for excellent detail, and completed builds take up much less space than their LEGO counterparts. That means you can display finished builds without taking up your entire house. Nanoblock consists of 11 different types of bricks.

Kits for Nanoblock include musical instruments, world landmarks, space scenes, birthday and wedding scenes. Nanoblock themed sets include Hello Kitty, Mega Man, and Pokemon. The largest of the Nanoblock kits is Neuschwanstein Castle, with 5800 pieces.

K’NEX Building Sets

Pros:

• Options for younger and older children
• Many sets to choose from

Cons:

• Larger finished sets take up a lot of space
• Larger finished sets can be unstable

K’NEX are a building set with rods and connectors which are put together to form any number of different creations. They can be used to build anything from vehicles to roller coasters to Super Mario to anything a child can imagine. Many K’NEX sets are motorized, and the roller coaster comes with a vehicle that can ride it. Most regular K’NEX sets are made for kids 7-12, but there are more advanced options for older kids.

For younger kids, Kid K’NEX is a great option. The pieces are similar to those of regular K’NEX, but Kid K’NEX pieces are larger, which is great for preschool age kids. Kid K’NEX are recommended for ages 3-6. Kid K’NEX has sets with planes, motorcycles, trucks, unicorns, and My Little Pony.

 Meccano Erector, Robotics, and Engineering Sets

Pros:

• Many product lines and set options
• Options for older and younger children
• Robotic capabilites

Cons:

• No real options for preschoolers
• More expensive than most options on this list

Meccano has fun, exciting, and interactive building toy options for kids of many ages. Created in 1898, Meccano has perfected the art of making toys that are both enjoyable and educational. Unlike other similar toys, Meccano uses metal strips, axels, wheels gears, nuts, bolts, and a few plastic parts. It also includes robotics in some sets.

For older kids, Meccano offers several fun lines of building toys. Meccano Tech is a line of robots that you build and then program to move and complete different tasks. In this line is are the Meccano Micronoids, a finalist for 2017 Toy of the Year.

These STEM toys are so much fun to create and then watch come to life as you program them. The Mecanno Engineering and Robotics line includes aircraft, trucks, cars, motorcycles, and construction equipment for children to put together. There is also a remote control car in this line.

Younger kids will enjoy playing with the Meccano Junior line of toys. These are simpler sets with larger pieces and plastic parts. This line features a variety of vehicle sets. While Meccano recommends Meccano Junior for kids 5 and older, we find the simpler sets could be used by a 3 or 4-year-old.

CaDA Bricks

Pros:

• Lots of mechanical moving parts
• Good variety of sets to choose from

Cons:

• Bags don’t come sorted by step
• Not good for kids under 6

CaDA Bricks has a great line of products for kids ages 6 and up. Sets include various animals, amusement park rides, cars, military vehicles, transforming robots, and more. Many of the builds include mechanical parts that move. The mechanical parts use remote controls, and what kid doesn’t enjoy using a remote to make a toy move?

You will need batteries if you are building a set with mechanical parts. The more complicated builds would be challenging and fun for older teens and adults as well.

My tween and teen had a great time putting together the military tank pictured above. It was challenging but something they could do with little help. And they love that this tank can shoot plastic bullets! It has five different motors that help it drive, turn, pivot, and fire.

The look of these CaDA Bricks is really nice and the pieces fit well together. These are made of high quality plastic and the moving parts work well. With the more complicated builds, you have to be careful to follow the instructions precisely, but the instructions are very detailed and will help you get the build finished correctly.

CaDA Bricks

Kre-O Construction Sets

Pros:

• Pieces are compatible with LEGOs
• Many fun themed sets

Cons:

• Bags don’t come sorted or labeled
• No longer being made, so prices will likely go up

If you are looking for a building set that is interchangeable with LEGO pieces, Kre-O is an option. Kre-O is very much like LEGO. It has the following set options: Transformers, Battleship, Star Trek, GI Joe, Dungeons & Dragons, and CityVille Invasion. I must admit that these sets, when assembled, look pretty impressive.

My big concern is that Hasbro stopped production of Kre-O early in 2018. Unfortunately, that means prices have gone up and likely will continue to go up. It will also make it harder to find the set you want. For those reasons, I would personally go with another option on this list. However, if you can find a set at a good price, Kre-O is a fun building toy.

Brick Mates

Pros:

• Interchangeable with LEGO DUPLO, Mega Bloks, and LEGO bricks
• Puzzle pieces and bricks stay connected to the base
• Follow a template or create your own design
• 30-day money back guarantee

Cons:

• Only a few sets to choose from
• No option for older children

A great substitute for LEGOs is Brick Mates. This company has two different types of toy–Stack by Numbers and Lock & Learn Puzzles.

The Stack by Numbers are great for kids ages 5-9. Each kit has a square baseplate with a removable background and template kids can use to make a specific picture (puppy, rocket ship, race car, cupcake, or fast food picture). Each kit comes with all needed blocks as well as puffy stickers to complete the picture.

There is a plastic frame that can be added at the end if your child wants to display his or her picture. Or, kids can just use the baseplate and the blocks to make their own creations. The Brick Mates website has blank templates that can be printed. Then kids can make their own drawing to use as a template in creating their own masterpiece.  Stack by Numbers are compatible with regular LEGO bricks.

Lock & Learn Puzzles are a fun choice for kids ages 2 and up. I love puzzles for preschoolers, but I hate that the pieces fall out of the puzzles and get lost. With Brick Mates, this is no longer a problem! The puzzle pieces lock in place and won’t fall out. That means no more spending hours looking for and sorting out puzzle pieces that have been dumped out by a mischievous toddler!

These cute puzzles are great for young kids who are learning about animals, shapes, numbers. With this toy, a background template fits over the baseplate and kids fit the puzzle pieces into the appropriate space on the template. Quick release tabs make it easy to remove the pieces from the baseplate. The template can also be removed and kids can play with the puzzle pieces on the blank baseplate. The Lock & Learn Puzzles are compatiple with LEGO DUPLOs and Mega Bloks.

Brick Mates products come with a 30-day money back guarantee and a lifetime guarantee for manufacturer defects. The quality of Brick Mates is fantastic. The only downside I see with Brick Mates is that they don’t have more products. I look forward to seeing what they offer in the future.

Play Platoon Building Bricks

Pros:

• Compatible with LEGO bricks
• Look just like LEGOs
• Significantly less expensive than LEGO

Cons:

• No actual sets, only a container of blocks
• No option for younger kids

If you are looking for a bucket of generic LEGO pieces, this is the one for you. Play Platoon Building Bricks look, feel, and function just like LEGOs, but they cost a small fraction of the price. These bricks come in 10 different colors and can be used interchangeably with LEGO bricks.

There is a lifetime replacement warranty on this building toy, and Play Platoon recommends them for ages 3 and up. We find that the pieces are too small for kids that young, so we recommend them for kids 5 and up. If you are looking for a good building toy for your toddler or preschooler, check out the Mega Bloks on this list.

To be clear: This is a bucket of plain LEGO-type bricks. It is not a specific set to build a specific toy.

Mega Bloks for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Pros:

• Great for small hands
• High-quality material
• Much less expensive than LEGO DUPLOs (nearly half as expensive)

Con:

• Comes in a bag instead of a tub

Mega Bloks are a great alternative to LEGO DUPLOs. These large, colorful plastic blocks are great for kids as young as age 1. Mega Bloks are high-quality and long-lasting. We had the same set last through all four of our kids, and they were still in great shape so we donated them to another family. Mega Bloks makes several different sets for young children including dinosaurs, trains, castles, and more. There are also plain blocks that come in a bag.

Whether your toddler is building a tower or a train, Mega Bloks are a great choice. These large blocks are perfect for small hands. With Mega Bloks costing approximately half the price of LEGO DUPLOs, your wallet will thank you!

Mega Bloks and Mega Construx For Older Kids

Pros:

• Very similar to LEGOs
• Many fun options
• Much less expensive than LEGOs

Cons:

• Instructions aren’t always clear
• Some instructions only available by downloading app

Mega Bloks also makes building sets for ages 4 through adult. Some of these sets are branded Mega Blok and some are branded Mega Construx. They are built with bricks almost identical to LEGOs. These Mega Bloks range from small figures of 100 pieces to large structures of several thousand pieces.

The Mega Construx line has dozens of fun themed sets for any child’s taste. From Barbie to Call of Duty, from Pokemon to Halo, from Hot Wheels to Star Trek, and many others there is something for everyone. Unlike the Mega Bloks for younger kids, these are challenging and very fun to put together. Many of the sets come with additional figures and props.

Mega Bloks and Mega Construx are an excellent option for a LEGO alternative. Your child will love them!

Magna-Tiles Magnetic Blocks

Pros:

• Great for kids of all ages
• Safe for even very young kids
• Can create simple or elaborate designs

Con:

•  Relatively expensive per piece (but pieces are considerably larger than most)

Magnetic blocks are becoming more and more popular with kids of all ages. They are colorful basic shapes that connect through magnetic attraction. There are so many creations that can be made with these blocks. The pieces are large enough for a young child to play with safely. Older children also enjoy the intricate designs that can be created with these magnets. My 11-year-old loves this toy.

My husband and I have had fun playing with these blocks with our children (and I may or may not have been caught playing with them by myself!). Some brands of magnetic blocks have lower quality magnets that don’t work well, but the Magna-Tiles brand doesn’t disappoint. The price per piece is more expensive than most others on this list. However, the quality is considerably better than most others.

ZOOB Designer Sets

Pros:

• Larger pieces are easier for small hands
• Many different options

Cons:

• Remote control sets don’t move very well
• Instructions are hard to follow

ZOOB is a line of building toys that use colorful plastic pieces. The pieces have a ball on one end and a socket on the other so the pieces snap together. ZOOB has three separate product lines.

The ZOOB BuilderZ line has sets for building structures, animals, catapults, and other objects, some with moving parts. ZOOB RacerZ is a line of various vehicles. These vehicles can be pulled back and let go for a race against each other. Finally, ZOOB Galax-Z has space vehicles, aliens, and astronauts. Most of the ZOOB sets have several builds, meaning you can make several different creations from the same set (though usually only one at a time).

The ZOOB toys are fun, but they are definitely not my favorite on this list. My kids have enjoyed Nanoblocks, Meccano, K’NEX and magnetic blocks much more.

Lincoln Logs

Pros:

• Durable
• Easy to use
• Easy to clean up

Cons:

• Not great for older kids
• Not as versatile as other options

Lincoln Logs are an iconic toy that have stood the test of time. They are advertised as “America’s National Toy”. These simple wood log pieces are easy to put together to form buildings and towers. Each set comes with log pieces as well as wood pieces to build a roof.

While older kids can enjoy Lincoln Logs, in my opinion they are better suited to younger children. It is easy for young children to figure out how to stack the blocks. Lincoln Logs can’t build as many different types of builds as other toys, which is why I feel older kids would prefer other toys on this list.

Tinkertoys

Pros:

• Lots of pieces
• Can build a variety of creations

Cons:

• Small parts aren’t good for younger children
• Can be hard to pull pieces apart

Tinkertoys were one of my favorite toys when I was growing up. My grandma had the wood version, and I remember getting splinters from them. I was excited when I found the plastic version when I had kids of my own. These pieces  stay together well. In fact, if you put them together too well they are hard to take apart.

The system of rods, connectors, and wheels is pretty basic, but it allows for many different builds to be created. It’s fun that one set can build vehicles, structures, and other creations.

Because of the small parts and the occasional difficulty in taking pieces apart, I find Tinkertoys are better for kids over 8 years old.

VIAHART Brain Flakes

Pros:

• 500 pieces
• Good quality
• 12 different colors

Cons:

• A bit tricky to put together
• Too small for younger kids

VIAHART Brain Flakes are another good construction toy for kids. These snowflake shaped plastic pieces that fit together to form an number of different shapes and objects. Each set comes with 500 pieces of 12 different colors as well as a plastic storage container.

These interlocking discs are about 2 inches across. They can be a little bit hard put together because they have to be lined up just right. Therefore, they can be somewhat frustrating for younger kids to use. While the manufacturer recommends these for ages 3 and older, we find they are better for kids over 5.

Brain Flakes come with a booklet with building ideas. There are also more ideas online or your child will also enjoy using his or her imagination to come up with unique creations.

VIAHART offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a 90-day guarantee for manufacturer defects. Be sure you are buying from VIAHART and not from China. Otherwise you will end up with a subpar product.

IQ Builder

Pros:

• 164 pieces
• 30-day money back guarantee
• Lots of fun ideas

Cons:

• Only e-book instructions
• Many of the e-book ideas can’t be made with just one set

IQ Builder comes with 164 colorful pieces. It contains balls, wheels, wheel connectors, and ball connectors which can be used to make vehicles, structures, animals, and more. The pieces are easy to put together and take apart.

This toy is good for kids ages 5 years and older (it has small parts that aren’t good for younger kids). The plastic is lead-free, BPA-free, and pthalate-free so you can be confident it will be safe for your child to play with. IQ Builder comes in a plastic storage container. However, the container is fairly flimsy and likely won’t last very long.

Rather than a printed manual you will have to download or print the instructional e-books. They contain ideas with beginner, intermediate, and advanced options. Unfortunately, many of the ideas in these books are not possible to make unless you have more than one set of toys.

Overall, this is a pretty good option, but I would recommend one of the toys mentioned above over this one.

EMIDO Building Blocks

Pros:

• Makes a great bath toy
• Good price
• Good for group play
• 120 pieces

Con: 

• Potentially messy/hard to keep track of

This is a unique and colorful STEM toy with 120 interlocking pieces! Personally, it reminds me of a colorful coral reef or cloud. In actual fact, it can be shaped into almost any shape or shapes to make a set of designs. I see this being a draw for artistically inclined kids, but is great for teaching science and engineering as well.

Unlike traditional LEGOs where you build up in squares and rectangles, with this toy you can build 3D model in any direction. The bumpy little pieces are great for sensory seekers and for building fine motor development and dexterity. Keep in mind that the pieces are pretty tiny and should be kept away from small kids.

The pieces are made of durable BPA-free material that will snap into place well. It comes with a reusable bag to keep all the pieces together, and it’s lightweight and easy to clean. It has a 30 day guarantee, so you can see if your family enjoys it.

PicassoTiles Bristle Shape 3D Building Blocks

Pros:

• Easily connect
• Affordable price

Cons: 

• No storage box/bag included
• Older children may not be interested in these

If you’ve never handled bristle blocks before, they feature soft, rubbery bristles which stick together. I see them as a great introduction to architecture, engineering, and design since they are easy to put together. Even young toddlers can connect them with ease!

The 120 piece set even includes wheels so they can make all sorts of vehicles. The pieces come in several fun, bright colors and shapes which can be used to make countless creations. Just keep in mind that the pieces are small, making them a choking hazard for young children.

Jasonwell STEM Building Set

Pros:

• Reasonable price
• Simple enough for independent play
• Open ended

Con: 

• Misleading instruction manual

The Jasonwell set is a special toy set that preps kids for interest and skills in STEM. It’s very open ended, allowing you to create creative designs of cars, robots, dinosaurs, and more! This toy has many pieces and will allow kids to play alone or in groups. It teaches towards colors, shapes (including 3D), numbers.

It will also allow your child to work on engineering and building skills with its blocks, nuts, bolts, and wheels. It comes with a toy drill that kids from toddlers to preteens will enjoy.

This set is is lab safety tested and non-toxic. The toys are durable and washable too.

Straw Constructor Set

Pros:

• Creative construction toy
• Many pieces
• Indoor/ outdoor

Con: 

• Too lightweight for forts or added weight

What is unique about this toy is the ability to create relatively large structures. If you have an imaginative builder, this might scratch their itch to create.

It comes with 150 colorful and lightweight straws and 150 connectors of different sizes. It’s not just good for buildings and structures, you can also make tunnels, animals, letters, transportation vehicles, the sky’s the limit! This would also work well as an outdoor game, especially because the builds can get so large!

It comes with an eco friendly storage bag so you can take it on outings and trips. It’s recommended for kids around 4-8, to help with their hand-eye coordination as well as counting and colors. The straws are non-toxic and durable to endure snapping into endless shapes.

FAQs

What are the benefits of construction toys?

While there are many benefits of construction toys, experienced parents will tell you that one of the biggest benefits is that they keep children quietly entertained for hours. And not only do they promote fine motor skills as children carefully construct detailed creations, but they also help to develop problem solving skills as children figure out how to bring their visions to life.

What can kids make with building sets?

Known for their creativity, kids come up with all sorts of creations when playing with building sets. Their masterpieces range from cities to forests, robots to pets, and villains to superheroes. This is why one of the best features of building sets is their versatility and open play possibilities.

Is LEGO better than other building block brands?

While the LEGO brand has rightfully earned the reputation as a high-quality, popular toy maker, there are many other excellent building block brands out there which also offer unique, fun options for children. LEGO certainly does offer excellent building blocks, but you will discover other brands produce equally engaging toys.