LEGO alternatives: COBI, Mould King, CaDA and more
Next to LEGO there is a whole world of brick building sets. This is what the best-known other brands make and what to check before you buy.
Why there are so many brick brands
Many manufacturers make bricks with studs. Brand names, figures and designs are each brand’s own, which is why every brand has its own themes and figures.
Some brands say their bricks work with other brands’ bricks. In practice the fit can be a little tighter or looser: for a model built from one box that does not matter, for mixing bricks it can.
COBI
COBI is a Polish company with its headquarters in Warsaw and a factory in Mielec. Its largest series is the World War II Historical Collection; there is also a Great War Historical Collection with the first tanks and aircraft.
COBI holds licences from, among others, JEEP, The Boeing Company and McLaren Racing, and says its blocks are fully compatible with other brands of construction blocks. Its age markings differ per set (the IS-2 tank, for example, is 9+).
Technical sets
Technical building sets are cars, trucks, cranes and machines built with gears and axles; some come with motors, a battery box and a remote control. Mould King and CaDA each have their own page in our building sets section.
These sets can be large. Motorised sets need batteries or a rechargeable battery box; the product information and the box tell you which.
Sluban, BanBao and Reobrix
Sluban, BanBao and Reobrix each have their own page on ToySetFox, with their sets listed by set number.
Compare their sets as you would any other: by set number, piece count and the age marking on the box.
MEGA and Plus-Plus
MEGA is a Mattel brand. MEGA BLOKS First Builders are large blocks for toddlers, while MEGA sets for older children include licensed themes such as Pokémon.
Plus-Plus comes from Holbæk, Denmark, and works differently: it started with one shape, and children build 2D and 3D designs by slotting the pieces together. Plus-Plus BIG, with pieces of 50 by 30 mm, is for children from one year.
What to check before you buy
Look at the age marking, the piece count and whether the set needs batteries. For a present, a set a child can finish in an afternoon can work better than a huge box.
Compare by set number: brick brands reuse names, but the set number identifies one box. ToySetFox shows the shop prices per set, and the manufacturer’s recommended price where it is published.
Frequently asked questions
Do COBI bricks fit LEGO?
COBI says its blocks are fully compatible with other brands of construction blocks. Other makers state their own compatibility; check the box.
Are LEGO alternatives safe?
Toys sold in the EU must meet the same toy safety rules and carry a CE mark, whatever the brand. Buy from a shop that sells in the EU and check the CE mark and the age marking on the box.
Which brands make technical sets with motors?
Check the product information: it shows whether a set has a motor and which batteries it needs. Technical and metal construction kits, such as fischertechnik and Meccano, have their own category on ToySetFox.
Browse on
ToySetFox sells and tests nothing itself. This guide sums up what the manufacturers publish. Always follow the age marking and the warnings on the box.
More guides
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- Magnetic building explained: tiles, Geomag and safety Magnetic building sets click together without a plan. This is how the main kinds differ and what to look out for with magnets at home. Read the guide
