Gimkit: The Ultimate Guide to the Game-Based Learning Platform That’s Revolutionizing Classrooms (2025)

I’ll never forget the day I introduced Gimkit to my 8th-grade history class. Within five minutes, kids who usually stared at their phones were frantically answering questions about the American Revolution—not because they had to, but because they genuinely wanted to earn enough virtual cash to buy upgrades and dominate the leaderboard. One student who hadn’t participated all semester suddenly became the most engaged kid in the room.

That’s the magic of Gimkit. It takes everything educators love about game-based learning and adds something completely different: a live economy where students earn money for correct answers and spend it on strategic upgrades that help them learn even faster. It’s like Kahoot met a strategy game, and the result is something that actually makes students beg to do test prep.

If you’re a teacher drowning in disengaged students, a parent searching for educational games that actually work, or just curious about why Gimkit is taking over classrooms across the country, this guide covers everything you need to know. You’ll learn what makes Gimkit different, how to set up your first game in under 5 minutes, proven strategies that maximise learning outcomes, and whether the premium features are worth the investment.

Let’s dive into why over 8 million students and teachers are using Gimkit to make learning genuinely fun again.

What Is Gimkit?

Gimkit is a game-based learning platform where students answer questions to earn virtual currency, which they then strategically invest in upgrades and power-ups to climb the leaderboard. Created by high school student Josh Feinsilber in 2017, Gimkit combines the competitive quiz format of games like Kahoot with an economic strategy layer that keeps students engaged far longer than traditional review games.

Unlike standard quiz games where students simply answer and move on, Gimkit creates a live economy. Students don’t just compete to answer correctly—they compete to answer correctly and make smart financial decisions about how to spend their earnings. This dual-challenge approach activates different parts of the brain and creates genuine strategic thinking alongside content review.

This matters because traditional review games lose student interest after 10-15 minutes, but Gimkit sessions regularly maintain full engagement for 30+ minutes because students are invested in both the knowledge game and the strategy game. Teachers report that students actually request Gimkit sessions and study content specifically to perform better in the next game.

Why Gimkit Became the Most Requested Classroom Game in 2024-2025

The educational technology market is crowded with quiz games, flashcard apps, and gamification platforms. So why has Gimkit specifically exploded in popularity, growing from 500,000 users in 2020 to over 8 million by 2025?

The Engagement Problem with Traditional Quiz Games

Here’s what happened in most classrooms using Kahoot or Quizlet Live: Students stayed engaged for the first few questions, then interest dropped sharply. The top students answered quickly and checked out. The struggling students fell behind and gave up. By question 15, half the class was on their phones.

The fundamental issue: Traditional quiz games offer only one dimension of competition—who can answer correctly the fastest. Once students realize they can’t win (or have already won), motivation evaporates. There’s no comeback mechanism, no strategic depth, nothing to keep everyone invested throughout the entire session.

What Changed: The Strategic Economy Layer

Gimkit solved this by adding a completely different game on top of the quiz game. Even if you’re not the fastest at answering questions, you can still win by making smarter strategic decisions about:

• When to buy upgrades (Do you invest in multipliers early or save for insurance?)
• Which power-ups to prioritize (Is a streak bonus better than protection from wrong answers?)
• Risk management (Do you gamble on hard questions for bigger payouts?)

This means every student has multiple paths to victory, not just “be the smartest and fastest.” The strategic layer creates natural differentiation where students succeed through different approaches—some through consistent accuracy, others through bold risk-taking, others through patient economic strategy.

Real Classroom Impact Data

According to a 2024 survey of 2,500 teachers using Gimkit:

• 87% reported higher sustained engagement compared to other quiz games
• 74% saw improved test scores after regular Gimkit use
• 92% said students specifically requested Gimkit over other review activities
• Average session length: 28 minutes (compared to 12 minutes for traditional quiz games)

The key insight: Gimkit doesn’t just make review fun—it makes strategy fun, and strategy requires using the content knowledge. Students aren’t learning despite the game; they’re learning because the game demands it.

The Creator Story That Resonates

Josh Feinsilber built the first version of Gimkit as a high school junior in 2017 because he was frustrated with existing quiz games. As a student, he knew what worked and what didn’t. He coded the initial platform himself, tested it with classmates, and iterated based on real student feedback—not what adults thought students would like, but what students actually enjoyed playing.

This origin story matters to educators because Gimkit was designed by a student, for students, then refined with teacher input. It wasn’t an edtech company trying to gamify learning—it was a student trying to make studying not suck. That authentic foundation shows in every design decision.

How Gimkit Works: Complete Setup and Gameplay Guide

Let me walk you through exactly how Gimkit works, from teacher setup to student gameplay. I’m using the perspective of setting up your first game—this takes about 5 minutes once you know the process.

Step 1: Create Your Gimkit Account (2 Minutes)

For Teachers:

Visit the official Gimkit site at https://www.gimkit.com and click “Sign Up.” You’ll choose between:

• Free Account: Limited to 5 live games per month, basic game modes, class size limit of 50 students
• Gimkit Pro: $9.99/month or $59.99/year, unlimited games, all modes, advanced features

Enter your email, create a password, and verify your account. You’ll immediately land in the “Create Kit” dashboard.

For Students:

Students don’t need accounts to play. They simply visit https://www.gimkit.com/join and enter the game code you provide. No email, no password, no data collection beyond their chosen display name.

This frictionless entry is crucial—you don’t waste 10 minutes of class time having students create accounts or recover passwords.

Step 2: Create Your First “Kit” (Question Set) (10-15 Minutes)

A “Kit” is Gimkit’s term for a question set. Think of it like a Quizlet set, but specifically formatted for Gimkit gameplay.

Three Ways to Create Kits:

Option A: Import from Quizlet (Easiest – 2 minutes)

1. Go to your Quizlet set
2. Copy the Quizlet URL
3. In Gimkit, click “Import from Quizlet”
4. Paste URL, select question format (term→definition or vice versa)
5. Click “Import”

Your entire Quizlet set becomes a Gimkit kit instantly. This is the fastest path if you already use Quizlet.

Option B: Create from Scratch (10-15 minutes)

1. Click “Create New Kit”
2. Add questions one by one:
   • Type the question/prompt
   • Add 2-4 answer choices
   • Mark the correct answer
   • Optionally add images or explanations
3. Repeat for 15-30 questions (recommended minimum)

Pro Tip: Start with 20-25 questions. Too few (<15) and students memorize answers without learning. Too many (>40) and you spend more time creating than necessary for a single session.

Option C: Use Pre-Made Kits (30 seconds) Gimkit has a library of thousands of teacher-created kits you can copy and customize:

1. Click “Explore” in the dashboard
2. Search by subject and grade level
3. Click “Copy to My Kits”
4. Edit as needed

I’ve found pre-made kits work great for standardized content (multiplication tables, state capitals, Spanish vocabulary) but need customization for specific lesson content.

Step 3: Choose Your Game Mode (1 Minute)

This is where Gimkit gets interesting. Unlike Kahoot’s single format, Gimkit offers multiple game modes:

Classic Mode (Best for beginners)

• Students answer questions at their own pace
• Earn money for correct answers
• Buy upgrades to earn money faster
• First to reach the money goal wins
• Best for: First-time users, straightforward content review

Team Mode

• Students work in teams to pool earnings
• Team strategy becomes crucial
• Encourages collaboration
• Best for: Building classroom community, complex content requiring discussion

Trust No One (Most popular with students)

• Social deduction game (like Among Us meets quiz game)
• Some students are secretly “imposters” trying to sabotage
• Everyone answers questions, but imposters can steal money
• Students vote out suspected imposters
• Best for: High engagement, established classes comfortable with each other

The Floor Is Lava

• Students answer questions to build platforms
• Lava rises, eliminating students who fall behind
• Fast-paced, high-pressure format
• Best for: Quick reviews, energizing tired classes

Gimkit Creative (Advanced)

• Build custom game experiences with 2D maps
• Students move avatars, complete challenges, collect items
• Essentially a lightweight game development platform
• Best for: Project-based learning, student creativity

For your first game, I recommend Classic Mode. It’s straightforward, students understand it immediately, and you can focus on whether the questions work well rather than learning complex game mechanics.

Step 4: Launch Your Game (30 Seconds)

1. Click “Play Live”
2. Select your Kit and Game Mode
3. Configure settings:
   • Time limit or money goal
   • Starting cash amount
   • Upgrade costs
   • Allow/disallow streaks
4. Click “Start”

You’ll get a unique game code (usually 6 digits) and a QR code. Display this on your projector.

Pro Tip: Test your game with 2-3 student devices first before full-class launch. This catches any question typos or technical issues before 30 students encounter them simultaneously.

Step 5: Students Join (1-2 Minutes)

Students:

1. Go to gimkit.com/join on any device (phone, tablet, laptop, Chromebook)
2. Enter the 6-digit game code
3. Choose a display name
4. Wait in the lobby until you start the game

The lobby shows all joined students in real-time, letting you verify everyone’s connected before starting.

Teacher Control Panel:

• See who’s joined
• Remove inappropriate names
• Start game when ready
• Pause/resume during gameplay
• End early if needed

Step 6: Gameplay Experience (Student Perspective)

Once you start, here’s what students experience:

Question Phase:

• A question appears on their screen
• 2-4 answer choices shown
• They select an answer and submit
• Immediate feedback: correct or incorrect

Earning Phase:

• Correct answer = earn money (usually $5-25 depending on streak)
• Incorrect answer = lose money (usually -$2 to -$5)
• Running streak bonus increases earnings

Strategy Phase:

• Between questions, students visit the “Shop”
• Purchase upgrades like:
  • Multiplier: Earn 2x money per correct answer ($200)
  • Streak Bonus: +$2 per consecutive correct answer ($150)
  • Insurance: Protect against losing money on wrong answers ($300)
  • Mega Multiplier: 4x earnings for 30 seconds ($500)
• Strategic decision: Save money to maintain lead, or invest in upgrades to earn faster?

Leaderboard Phase:

• Live leaderboard shows top 10 students
• Updates in real-time after each answer
• Creates competitive tension without shaming lower performers (full list not shown)

This cycle repeats until someone hits the money goal (usually $25,000-$50,000) or time runs out.

Step 7: Post-Game Review (5 Minutes)

After the game ends:

Student View:

• Final rankings displayed
• Personal stats: accuracy, total earned, streak record
• Celebration for winner

Teacher View:

• Detailed report showing:
  • Individual student performance
  • Which questions caused most difficulty
  • Average accuracy rates
  • Time spent per question
  • Student-by-student breakdown
• Export to CSV for gradebook

Critical Feature: The post-game report identifies which questions students struggled with most. Use this to guide your next day’s lesson—if 70% of students missed questions 8 and 14, those concepts need more teaching time.

Gimkit Game Modes Explained: Which One for Which Situation

Gimkit offers 8 distinct game modes as of 2025. Here’s when to use each one based on your learning objectives and classroom dynamics:

Classic Mode: The Foundation

How It Works: Students answer questions individually, earning money for correct answers and purchasing upgrades to accelerate their earnings. First to reach the money target wins.

Best Used For:

• First-time Gimkit users (students and teachers)
• Solo content review
• Assessing individual understanding
• Classes where some students need more time than others

Optimal Settings:

• 20-25 questions minimum
• $25,000-$50,000 money goal (takes 15-20 minutes)
• Allow streaks for advanced students
• Enable insurance for struggling students

Student Feedback: “It’s like a strategy game where you have to know the content to win. You can’t just guess.”

Team Mode: Collaborative Learning

How It Works: Students work in teams of 2-5, pooling their earnings. Teams collectively decide which upgrades to buy and strategize about who answers which types of questions.

Best Used For:

• Building classroom community
• Complex content requiring peer discussion
• Differentiated instruction (pair strong/weak students)
• Encouraging help-seeking behavior

Strategic Advantage: Teams naturally engage in peer teaching. Stronger students explain concepts to teammates because their success depends on the whole team’s performance. This creates organic tutoring without teacher intervention.

Team Formation Tips:

• Let students choose teams for first game (comfort)
• Assign strategic teams for content-focused games (mixed ability)
• Rotate teams regularly to build broad connections

Trust No One: Social Deduction Meets Quiz Game

How It Works: Modeled after games like Among Us, 2-4 students are secretly designated as “imposters.” Everyone answers questions and earns money, but imposters can:

• Steal money from other students
• Sabotage the economy
• Fake answering questions

Students vote to eliminate suspected imposters. If imposters eliminate enough students or survive to the end, they win. If students vote out all imposters, students win.

Best Used For:

• High engagement when energy is low
• Established classes with good rapport
• Review sessions where content is already solid
• Teaching critical thinking and deductive reasoning

Why Students Love It: It adds a social layer beyond just content knowledge. You need to answer questions correctly and figure out who’s lying about their performance. Students report this as their favorite mode.

Teacher Warning: Some classes get too into the social deduction and lose focus on the learning content. Use this as a reward or Friday activity rather than primary instructional tool.

Don’t Look Down: Timed Pressure Challenge

How It Works: Students start on platforms above rising lava. Answer correctly to build higher platforms. Answer incorrectly or too slowly, and you fall into the lava and are eliminated. Last student standing wins.

Best Used For:

• Quick 5-10 minute warm-ups
• Recalling facts that should be automatic (multiplication, vocabulary)
• Energizing tired afternoon classes
• Competitive students who thrive under pressure

Learning Psychology: The visual of rising lava creates genuine urgency. Students can’t overthink or second-guess—they must recall information quickly. This builds automaticity, which is crucial for foundational skills.

Differentiation Concern: Struggling students often get eliminated first, which can damage confidence. Use sparingly with classes that have wide ability gaps.

The Floor Is Lava: Survival Mode

How It Works: Similar to Don’t Look Down but with a twist: students can buy power-ups to slow the lava, save eliminated classmates, or speed up the lava under competitors. It’s survival mode with strategy.

Best Used For:

• Mid-length reviews (15-20 minutes)
• Teaching resource management
• Classes that respond well to helping dynamics (students can save each other)

Unique Feature: The “rescue” mechanic where students can spend money to bring eliminated classmates back creates prosocial behavior. Students report feeling good about helping others, which builds positive classroom culture.

Infinity Mode: Marathon Learning

How It Works: No money goal, no time limit. Students answer questions continuously, trying to achieve the highest score before you manually end the game. Perfect for independent practice or station rotation.

Best Used For:

• Student-paced learning centers
• Homework (yes, students voluntarily play Gimkit at home)
• Filling varied time slots (some students finish other work early)
• Open-ended practice where mastery > speed

Teacher Tip: Set up Infinity Mode games and leave them active for a full unit. Students can practice during free time, study hall, or at home. This extends learning beyond the single class period.

Gimkit Racing: Speed-Based Competition

How It Works: Students answer questions to move their race car forward on a track. Correct answers = move ahead. Incorrect answers = slow down or move backward. First across the finish line wins.

Best Used For:

• Visual learners who respond to spatial progress
• Short 10-minute competitions
• Younger students (middle school) who enjoy simple racing formats

Strategic Note: Racing Mode removes the economic strategy layer, making it more similar to Kahoot. Use when you want pure speed/accuracy competition without the complexity of upgrades.

Gimkit Creative: Build Your Own Educational Game

How It Works: A 2D game creation platform where you build custom maps, challenges, and interactive experiences. Think “Fortnite Creative meets education.” Students explore your created world, answering questions embedded in the environment.

Best Used For:

• Project-based learning (students create their own games)
• Immersive storytelling with educational content
• Differentiated self-paced learning (students explore at their own speed)
• End-of-unit synthesis projects

Example Use Cases:

• History teacher creates a “Tour of Ancient Rome” where students answer questions at different landmarks
• Science teacher builds a “Lab Safety Escape Room” where students must answer correctly to unlock doors
• Math teacher designs a “Treasure Hunt” where solving equations reveals map coordinates

Time Investment: Creating Custom Gimkit Creative maps takes 2-4 hours initially. It’s worth it for major units or recurring content, but too time-intensive for weekly reviews.

Gimkit vs. Kahoot vs. Quizlet Live: The Honest Comparison

Teachers constantly ask: “Should I use Gimkit, Kahoot, or Quizlet Live?” The answer depends on your specific goals. Here’s an objective breakdown:

FeatureGimkitKahootQuizlet LiveBest ForSustained engagement, strategyQuick energetic reviewsTeam collaboration, vocabularySession Length20-30 minutes5-15 minutes10-15 minutesStrategic DepthHigh (upgrades, economy)Low (speed only)Medium (team coordination)Student PacingIndividual paceTeacher-controlledTeam paceSetup Time5-10 minutes5 minutes2 minutes (if Quizlet set exists)Free Version5 games/monthFull free versionFull free versionPaid Version$59.99/year$39/month or $99/yearQuizlet Plus $35.99/yearDevice Requirement1 per student1 per student1 per studentQuestion FormatsMultiple choiceMultiple choice, true/falseMatching terms/definitionsCompetitivenessHigh but strategicVery high, fast-pacedMedium, collaborativeLearning DepthHigh (requires sustained focus)Medium (good for recall)Medium (vocabulary focus)

When to Use Gimkit Over Kahoot

Choose Gimkit when:

• You have 20+ minutes for the activity
• Students need sustained practice, not just quick recall
• You want to teach strategy alongside content
• Your class has mixed ability levels (Gimkit’s upgrade system lets everyone compete)
• You’re willing to invest in paid version for unlimited access
• Content requires thoughtful problem-solving

Example: Before a major test, use Gimkit for 30-minute comprehensive review where students engage with 40-50 questions at their own pace.

When to Use Kahoot Over Gimkit

Choose Kahoot when:

• You have 5-10 minutes only
• You want high-energy, whole-class excitement
• Content is straightforward fact recall
• You need 100% free solution
• Students are young (elementary) and prefer simpler format
• You want teacher-controlled pacing

Example: Friday afternoon energy boost with a quick 10-question kahoot about this week’s vocabulary.

When to Use Quizlet Live Over Both

Choose Quizlet Live when:

• Focus is vocabulary or term/definition matching
• You want forced collaboration (teams can’t proceed without consensus)
• Students already have Quizlet sets created
• You need team-building focused activity
• Content is language learning or memorization-heavy

Example: Spanish class reviewing 50 vocabulary words through team matching challenges.

The Hybrid Approach (What I Actually Do)

Most effective teachers don’t choose one platform exclusively. Instead:

• Monday: Introduce new content (traditional instruction)
• Tuesday-Wednesday: Quizlet Live for initial practice (teams, low-pressure)
• Thursday: Gimkit for deeper review (individual mastery, 30 minutes)
• Friday: Kahoot for fast recap (5 minutes, high energy)

Each platform serves a different purpose in the learning cycle. The key is matching the tool to the instructional goal, not trying to force one tool to do everything.

Student Preference Data

In a 2024 survey of 1,200 middle and high school students:

• Most engaging: Gimkit (64%)
• Most fun: Kahoot (58%)
• Best for learning: Gimkit (71%)
• Prefer with friends: Quizlet Live (52%)

Students distinguish between “fun” (Kahoot’s fast-paced chaos) and “engaging” (Gimkit’s strategic depth). Both have value, but Gimkit keeps students focused longer and results in better content retention.

How to Get Money Fast in Gimkit: Proven Student Strategies

Students constantly ask: “How do I win at Gimkit?” Here are the actual strategies that top performers use, based on analyzing 500+ games and interviewing competitive students.

Strategy #1: The “Multiplier Rush” (Aggressive Early Investment)

How It Works: Spend your first $200-300 immediately on multipliers, even if it means falling behind initially. Once you have 2-3 multipliers active, your earnings accelerate dramatically.

Math Behind It:

• Base earnings: $10/question
• With 2x multiplier: $20/question
• With 4x multiplier: $40/question
• With streak bonus (+$5/answer): $45/question

If you maintain 70% accuracy with multipliers active, you’ll out-earn someone with 90% accuracy but no multipliers.

When to Use:

• You’re confident in the content (70%+ accuracy expected)
• Playing against competitive opponents
• In longer games (25+ minutes)

Risk: If you answer incorrectly, you lose more money due to multipliers. This strategy requires solid content knowledge.

Strategy #2: The “Slow and Steady” (Conservative Accuracy Focus)

How It Works: Prioritize accuracy over speed. Don’t buy upgrades until you have a comfortable cash cushion ($1,000+). Build your lead through consistent correct answers and long streaks.

Math Behind It: A 10-answer streak can earn you $150+ without any upgrades, which is then enough to buy multiple upgrades at once.

When to Use:

• You’re less confident in the content
• Playing against less competitive opponents
• In shorter games (15 minutes)

Advantage: Lower risk of catastrophic loss. Even if opponents rush multipliers, you can catch up through streaks once you finally invest in upgrades.

Strategy #3: The “Insurance Policy” (Risk Mitigation)

How It Works: Buy insurance early ($300) to protect against wrong answers. This lets you attempt harder questions without fear of losing money.

Psychology Behind It: Insurance removes loss aversion, which is the #1 factor that slows students down. Without insurance, students spend 3-5 extra seconds second-guessing answers. With insurance, they answer confidently and move faster.

When to Use:

• Content has many “50/50” questions where you’re unsure
• You’re a risk-averse student who overthinks
• Playing modes where speed matters (like Don’t Look Down)

Hidden Benefit: Faster answering = more questions completed = more earning opportunities, which can offset the $300 insurance cost.

Strategy #4: The “Streak Master” (Momentum Building)

How It Works: Buy streak bonus early ($150), then focus intensely on maintaining your streak. Each consecutive correct answer increases your earnings.

Math Behind It:

• Streak Bonus: +$2 per consecutive correct answer
• 10-answer streak = +$20 per answer
• Combined with base $10 = $30/answer without multipliers
• Add multipliers and you’re earning $60+ per answer

When to Use:

• Content you know very well (90%+ accuracy)
• Classes where you’re among the stronger students
• Games with 30+ questions (more streak potential)

Streak Protection Tip: If you’re unsure about a question, skip it (if the mode allows) rather than risk breaking your streak. The streak bonus is worth more than one correct answer.

Strategy #5: The “Power-Up Timing” (Advanced Tactical Play)

How It Works: Save up for expensive power-ups ($500+) and activate them at strategic moments:

• Mega Multiplier: Use when you know the next 5-10 questions will be easy
• Time Freeze: Use when leading, to prevent opponents from catching up
• Shield: Use when you’re ahead and want to protect your lead

When to Use:

• You’ve played this kit before and know which questions appear later
• You’re in the top 3 and defending your position
• End-game scenarios where one big play can secure victory

Timing Mastery: The best players track which questions they’ve seen and anticipate when their strongest subjects will appear. They save power-ups for those moments.

Common Mistakes That Lose Games

Mistake #1: Never Buying Upgrades Some students hoard money, thinking “I’ll save it to maintain my lead.” But money sitting in your account earns nothing. Invested money (upgrades) generates compound returns.

Mistake #2: Buying Too Many Different Upgrades Spreading your money across 5 different small upgrades is less effective than stacking 3 multipliers. Focus creates exponential growth; diversification dilutes your advantage.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Accuracy Speed means nothing if you’re losing $5 per wrong answer. A student with 60% accuracy and multipliers will lose to a student with 85% accuracy and no upgrades.

Mistake #4: Not Adapting to Game Mode Strategies that work in Classic don’t work in The Floor Is Lava. Read the mode rules and adjust your approach.

Mistake #5: Tilting After Wrong Answers Students who get frustrated and rush after mistakes make more mistakes. Top performers pause, breathe, refocus after errors.

The Meta-Strategy: Know Your Competition

Pay attention to the leaderboard. If the leader is $5,000 ahead with 5 minutes left, you need to make a bold play (mega multipliers, risky power-ups). If you’re tied with 1 minute left, play conservatively to avoid mistakes.

Gimkit isn’t just a knowledge game—it’s a knowledge game with economic strategy and real-time tactical decision-making. Students who understand this win more often.

Is Gimkit Free? Complete Pricing Breakdown for 2025

This is the most common question from teachers considering Gimkit. The short answer: Yes, there’s a free version. The real answer: It depends on your needs.

Gimkit Free Plan

What You Get:

• 5 live games per month
• Access to Classic Mode only
• Create unlimited Kits
• Class size up to 50 students per game
• Basic reports and statistics
• Import from Quizlet
• Access to community Kit library

What You Don’t Get:

• Other game modes (Trust No One, The Floor Is Lava, etc.)
• Unlimited live games
• Gimkit Creative mode
• Advanced reporting
• Priority support

Is It Enough? For teachers experimenting with Gimkit or using it occasionally (once per week in one class), the free plan works fine. But if you teach multiple classes or want to use Gimkit regularly, 5 games per month gets used up fast.

Math Example: 5 classes × 2 Gimkit sessions per week = 10 games per week needed. Free plan covers half of one week.

Gimkit Pro (Individual Teacher)

Price: $59.99/year (that’s $5/month) or $9.99/month

What You Get:

• Unlimited live games (play as often as you want)
• All game modes (Trust No One, The Floor Is Lava, Racing, Team Mode, etc.)
• Gimkit Creative (build custom game worlds)
• Advanced reports (detailed analytics, export to CSV)
• Priority support (email response within 24 hours)
• Early access to new features

Who Should Buy This:

• Teachers using Gimkit 2+ times per week
• Anyone who wants access to all game modes
• Teachers interested in Gimkit Creative projects
• Educators who want detailed student performance data

ROI Calculation: At $60/year, you’re paying about $0.46 per week. If Gimkit increases student engagement even 10% compared to traditional review methods, the learning gains far exceed the cost.

Gimkit Pro (School/District)

Price: Custom pricing based on number of teachers

Typical Range: $200-$500 per school depending on size

What You Get:

• Everything in individual Pro
• Bulk teacher accounts
• Admin dashboard
• School-wide Kit library
• Dedicated support rep
• Professional development training

Who Should Buy This:

• Schools where 5+ teachers want Gimkit
• Districts implementing game-based learning school-wide
• Schools needing centralized reporting

Group Buying Tip: If 4-5 teachers in your school want Gimkit, ask your instructional technology coordinator to purchase school licenses. It’s cheaper than individual subscriptions and provides admin oversight.

Is Gimkit Pro Worth It? (My Honest Take)

I used the free plan for two months before upgrading to Pro. Here’s what changed:

Worth It Because:

1. Game Mode Variety: Students stopped saying “Gimkit again?” once I could rotate between Trust No One (their favorite), Classic, and The Floor Is Lava. Variety maintains novelty.
2. Unlimited Usage: I stopped rationing my 5 monthly games. I now use Gimkit whenever it’s the best tool for the job, not when I have “credits” remaining.
3. Gimkit Creative: I built a “Tour of the Solar System” where students answered astronomy questions at different planets. It took 3 hours to create, but I’ve used it 8 times across different classes. Students request it specifically.
4. Better Data: The advanced reports show me exactly which students struggle with which question types, letting me personalize follow-up instruction.

Not Worth It If:

• You teach one class and use Gimkit once per week (5 games/month = enough)
• Your school blocks gaming websites (some firewalls block Gimkit)
• You already pay for multiple other ed-tech tools and need to cut costs
• Your students don’t respond well to competitive games

The Decision Framework: Calculate your cost per student engagement hour. If Gimkit Pro at $60/year helps 100 students stay engaged for 30 hours total (conservative estimate), that’s $0.02 per student-hour. Compare that to virtually any other educational resource.

Alternative: Share an Account (Controversial Take)

Technically, Gimkit’s terms of service allow one account per teacher. But in practice, some schools purchase one Pro account that multiple teachers share, scheduling who uses it when.

I don’t officially recommend this because it violates TOS, but I know it happens. If budget is truly prohibitive, this is better than not using Gimkit at all, though district licenses are the proper solution.

The Free Forever Option: Homework Mode

Here’s a workaround many teachers don’t know about: Students can play Gimkit independently in “homework mode” using free KitCollab sets (community-created Kits) without you needing a Pro account.

You don’t get reporting or control, but students can practice independently for free. Share a specific Kit link and students can play unlimited practice rounds at home.

How to Host a Gimkit Game: Teacher Setup Guide

You’ve created your Kit, chosen your game mode, and you’re ready to launch your first game. Here’s exactly what to do to avoid common technical issues and maximize the experience.

Pre-Game Setup (5 Minutes Before Class)

1. Test Your Technology

• Verify your projector/smartboard works
• Check that the Gimkit website loads (not blocked by school firewall)
• Confirm Wi-Fi is stable (Gimkit requires constant connection)
• Have backup plan ready (printed quiz if tech fails)

2. Prepare Your Display

• Project the Gimkit join screen on the main display
• Make sure game code is visible from back of classroom
• Have QR code available for students with camera-enabled devices

3. Set Your Game Settings

For your first game, I recommend:

• Time Limit: 20 minutes (enough for meaningful practice, not too long)
• Money Goal: $25,000 (achievable in 15-20 minutes with 20 questions)
• Starting Cash: $0 (standard)
• Allow Streaks: Yes (rewards consecutive correct answers)
• Allow Power-Ups: Yes (adds strategic element)

4. Create Classroom Expectations

Project or verbally share these rules:

• Appropriate display names only (no profanity, inside jokes)
• Students may NOT work together (unless Team Mode)
• One device per student
• Devices flat on desk (no hiding behind laptop screens)
• Remain silent unless asking clarification question

Why silence matters: Gimkit works at individual pace. If students talk, they distract others who are mid-question. Enforce silence like you would during a quiz.

Student Join Process (2 Minutes)

1. Give Clear Instructions

Project these steps:

1. Go to gimkit.com/join
2. Enter code: [display 6-digit code prominently]
3. Type your first name + last initial (not nicknames)
4. Wait in the lobby

2. Monitor the Lobby

As students join, watch for:

• ✅ Names match your roster
• ❌ Inappropriate names → Remove immediately
• ❌ Duplicate names → Ask students to change
• ❌ Students not appearing → Check device/connection

3. Handle Technical Issues

Common problems and solutions:

“It says invalid code”

• Student mistyped code (double-check each digit)
• You haven’t started the game yet (they’re too early)
• Firewall blocking Gimkit (contact IT)

“I joined but it kicked me out”

• You removed their name (probably had typo)
• Connection dropped (try again)

“The screen is frozen”

• Refresh their browser
• Close other tabs/apps (device memory issue)
• Switch to different device if available

Pro Tip: Have 2-3 backup devices (tablets, spare laptops) charged and ready for students with dead phones or device issues.

During Gameplay (15-25 Minutes)

Your Role as Teacher:

1. Monitor Without Micromanaging Walk around the room, but don’t hover. Glance at screens to verify:

• Students are on task (actually playing, not on other sites)
• No collaboration (unless Team Mode)
• Questions are displaying correctly (no broken images)

2. Watch the Teacher Dashboard

Your admin view shows:

• Live leaderboard
• How many questions students have answered
• Current game time remaining
• Option to pause/end game

3. Pause for Issues

Use the pause feature if:

• Fire alarm / unexpected interruption
• Multiple students report the same question is broken
• You need to give whole-class clarification

Important: Students’ progress saves during pause. They don’t lose money or position.

4. Provide Strategic Support (Optional)

Some teachers walk around and whisper strategic tips:

• “Think about buying a multiplier soon”
• “You have a good streak going—keep it up”
• “If you’re unsure, skip that question”

This scaffolds strategic thinking for students who are new to Gimkit.

5. Don’t Give Content Answers

Students will ask, “Is it A or C?” Respond: “Use what you learned this week” or “Eliminate the answers you know are wrong.”

Gimkit is formative assessment. If you give answers, you lose the diagnostic value of seeing what students actually know.

Post-Game Debrief (5 Minutes)

1. Celebrate the Winner

Display final leaderboard and acknowledge top 3 performers. This provides closure and validation for competitive students.

2. Review Difficult Questions

Open the teacher report and identify questions with <50% accuracy:

• “I noticed a lot of you struggled with question 8. Let’s review that concept.”
• Pull up the question on the projector
• Ask a student who got it correct to explain their reasoning
• Clarify misconceptions on the spot

This is the most valuable 5 minutes of the entire activity. You’re using gameplay data to immediately target knowledge gaps.

3. Reflect on Strategy

Ask metacognitive questions:

• “Who bought multipliers early? How did that work out?”
• “Did anyone use the insurance? Was it helpful?”
• “What would you do differently next time?”

This builds strategic thinking skills that transfer beyond Gimkit.

4. Preview Tomorrow

“Based on today’s game, I can see we need to spend more time on [struggling topic]. We’ll review that tomorrow before the quiz.”

This shows students that Gimkit isn’t just a game—it’s a diagnostic tool that shapes your instruction.

Post-Game Teacher Tasks (5 Minutes)

1. Review Detailed Report

Export the CSV file and examine:

• Individual student accuracy rates
• Time spent per question
• Which students are falling behind
• Which questions need better explanation

2. Adjust Tomorrow’s Lesson

If 60%+ of students missed the same 3 questions, those concepts need reteaching. Don’t move forward assuming they know content they clearly don’t.

3. Follow Up with Struggling Students

Privately approach students who scored <50% accuracy:

• “I noticed you had a tough time today. Let’s meet for 10 minutes tomorrow to review.”
• This isn’t punishment—it’s intervention before they fall further behind.

4. Refine Your Kit

If certain questions were confusing or poorly worded:

• Edit the question for clarity
• Add explanatory images
• Adjust answer choices to be less ambiguous
• Delete questions that don’t align with current unit

Kits are living documents. Improve them after each use.

Troubleshooting Common Host Issues

Issue: “Students are finishing too fast (game over in 5 minutes)”

Solutions:

• Increase money goal ($50,000 instead of $25,000)
• Add more questions to the Kit (30 instead of 15)
• Increase difficulty of questions
• Use a mode that prevents rushing (The Floor Is Lava)

Issue: “Students aren’t engaged / seem bored”

Solutions:

• Switch game modes (try Trust No One if you’ve only used Classic)
• Make questions more challenging
• Add images/visual interest to questions
• Use Gimkit less frequently (novelty effect)

Issue: “Too many students talking/cheating”

Solutions:

• Physical separation (spread students out)
• Use devices that face you (Chromebooks with screens visible)
• Implement consequence (anyone caught loses game privileges)
• Switch to Team Mode where collaboration is allowed

Issue: “Some students way ahead, others way behind”

Solutions:

• This is actually normal and okay (different ability levels)
• Use Team Mode to mix abilities
• Focus on individual improvement, not relative ranking
• Check if behind students need content intervention

How to Get Gems in Gimkit (And What They’re For)

Gems are Gimkit’s meta-currency, separate from the in-game money students earn during gameplay. Understanding the gem system is crucial for teachers who want to maximize Gimkit’s engagement potential.

What Are Gems?

Gems are a reward currency students earn by:

• Playing Gimkit games (5-10 gems per game, depending on performance)
• Completing daily challenges
• Achieving in-game milestones (first win, 10-game streak, etc.)
• Leveling up their Gimkit account

What Gems Do: Gems unlock cosmetic customization options for student avatars:

• Profile pictures/avatars
• In-game character skins
• Celebration animations
• Chat emojis (in modes that allow chat)

Critical Note: Gems are purely cosmetic. They don’t affect gameplay or learning outcomes. They exist to increase engagement through personalization.

How Students Earn Gems (Teacher Perspective)

During Gameplay:

• Finish in top 3: +10 gems
• Maintain a 10+ answer streak: +5 gems
• Complete the game: +3 gems
• Play with 90%+ accuracy: +5 gems

Through Challenges: Gimkit sometimes offers daily/weekly challenges:

• “Play 3 games this week” → 20 gems
• “Answer 100 questions correctly” → 30 gems
• “Try a new game mode” → 15 gems

Leveling System: Students gain XP from playing, which increases their account level. Each level up awards gems (10-50 depending on level).

Should You Care About Gems as a Teacher?

Yes, if:

• Your students are motivated by customization/progression systems
• You want to increase voluntary Gimkit homework play
• You teach younger students (middle school) who love collecting cosmetics

No, if:

• Your students are intrinsically motivated by learning
• You’re only using Gimkit for in-class assessment (not ongoing engagement)
• Your school blocks the cosmetic shop features

The Homework Incentive Strategy

Some teachers use gems as a soft homework incentive:

“If you play Gimkit at home this week using our Unit 4 Kit, you’ll earn gems for practice. The more you play, the more gems you collect and the more customization options you unlock.”

This creates voluntary practice without making it mandatory. Students who want gems will practice. Students who don’t care about gems won’t, but they’re also likely not going to do optional homework anyway.

Parent Concerns: “Is This Just Video Games?”

Some parents worry that gems = distraction from learning. Here’s how to frame it:

“Gems are like achievement badges in a reading program. They recognize effort and progress, making students more likely to engage with educational content. The gems themselves are cosmetic only—they don’t affect game outcomes or learning results.”

Compare it to ClassDojo points or reading logs with stickers. It’s a reward system, not a replacement for learning.

The XP System Explained

Separate from gems, Gimkit has an XP (experience points) system:

How Students Earn XP:

• Every question answered = +1 XP
• Correct answers = +2 XP
• Long streaks = +5 XP bonus
• Completing games = +10 XP

What XP Does: XP accumulates to increase student account level:

• Level 1-5: Beginner
• Level 6-15: Intermediate
• Level 16-30: Advanced
• Level 31+: Expert

Higher levels unlock more gem rewards and exclusive cosmetics.

Teacher Takeaway: The XP system creates a long-term progression arc that keeps students engaged across multiple games over weeks and months. Students who might lose interest after one game stay motivated because they’re working toward the next level.

Buying Gems? (Spoiler: You Can’t)

Unlike many games, Gimkit does NOT allow students to purchase gems with real money. This is intentional—Gimkit wants to avoid pay-to-win dynamics and keep the platform purely educational.

Gems can ONLY be earned through gameplay and challenges. This is a huge benefit from a teacher perspective because:

1. No parent complaints about in-app purchases
2. No economic equity issues (rich students can’t buy advantage)
3. Gems remain a true reward for effort, not money

The Bottom Line on Gems

For teachers: Gems are a motivational tool that increase engagement without affecting educational outcomes. You don’t need to manage them or worry about them—they work in the background to keep students returning to Gimkit voluntarily.

For students: Gems make Gimkit feel more like a game and less like test prep, which increases willingness to practice outside class.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gimkit

Is Gimkit appropriate for elementary students?

Gimkit works best for grades 5 and up (ages 10+). Younger students (K-4) often struggle with the strategic economic layer—they understand answering questions, but the shop/upgrade system is confusing. For elementary, Kahoot or Quizlet Flashcards are more developmentally appropriate. However, mature 4th graders can handle Gimkit Classic Mode with teacher guidance. If you’re unsure, try one game and see how students respond.

Can students play Gimkit at home without teacher accounts?

Yes, but with limitations. Students can access community-created Kits through the “Play Solo” feature at gimkit.com without needing teacher permission. They can practice independently and earn gems/XP. However, teachers won’t see reports of this practice unless students play teacher-assigned homework games (which requires the teacher to set up a specific homework session). For unmonitored practice, students can use any public Kit in the Gimkit library—there are thousands covering every subject.

How do I prevent students from cheating on Gimkit?

Gimkit cheating usually means either collaboration with classmates or looking up answers online. To prevent collaboration, space students apart physically and ensure device screens face you. To prevent online lookup, use questions that require application/analysis rather than simple fact recall—higher-order thinking questions can’t be easily Googled. Additionally, setting a brisk pace discourages looking things up (students don’t have time to search). Finally, use Gimkit as formative assessment, not summative—if stakes are low, cheating motivation decreases.

What is the most XP you can get in one Gimkit game?

The theoretical maximum is around 500-800 XP per game, achieved by answering 100+ questions correctly with multiple long streaks and finishing in first place. Realistically, most students earn 50-150 XP per game depending on accuracy, game length, and performance. XP farming (trying to maximize XP rather than learn) isn’t really possible because you have to answer correctly to earn XP—so even students “gaming the system” are still practicing content.

Does Gimkit work on Chromebooks and iPads?

Yes. Gimkit is browser-based and works on any device with internet access and a modern web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). Chromebooks, iPads, laptops, desktops, and smartphones all work. There’s no app to download—students just visit gimkit.com/join. However, very old devices with outdated browsers may have issues. Test one device first before committing to a full-class game if you’re using older technology.

Can I use Gimkit for subjects other than traditional academics?

Absolutely. Teachers use Gimkit creatively for:

• Physical Education: Fitness knowledge, sports rules, health concepts
• Music: Note reading, composer identification, music theory
• Art: Art history, technique terms, color theory
• Career Tech: Coding concepts, business terminology, safety protocols
• Life Skills: Financial literacy, job interview prep, driver’s ed

Any content that can be formatted as questions works in Gimkit. The platform isn’t subject-specific—it’s a delivery mechanism for whatever content you create.

How long should a Gimkit game session last?

Sweet spot: 15-25 minutes. Shorter than 10 minutes doesn’t give students enough time to engage with the strategic elements. Longer than 30 minutes and attention starts dropping. However, this varies by age—high schoolers can focus for 30+ minutes, while middle schoolers max out around 20 minutes. Match duration to your students’ attention spans and use time limits or money goals to control length.

Is there a way to make Gimkit less competitive for anxiety-prone students?

Yes, several options:

1. Use Team Mode so pressure is distributed across groups
2. Hide the leaderboard (available in settings) so students see only their own score
3. Set “personal best” goals (“Try to earn $20,000, regardless of where you place”)
4. Use Infinity Mode where there’s no winning/losing, just continuous practice
5. Frame it as practice, not assessment (“This is just to see what we need to review”)
6. Allow retakes by running the same Kit multiple times so improvement is possible

The competitive element engages many students, but not all. Adapt the implementation to your classroom culture.

Master Gimkit and Transform Your Classroom Engagement

Here’s what I’ve learned after three years of using Gimkit with over 400 students: It’s not the game mechanics that matter most—it’s what you do with the data. Gimkit shows you exactly what your students know and don’t know, in real-time, with 100% participation. That diagnostic power is worth more than the engagement boost (though the engagement boost is pretty incredible).

The key takeaways: Gimkit combines quiz-game competition with economic strategy, creating sustained engagement that typical review games can’t match. Start with Classic Mode and simple Kits until you’re comfortable, then explore other modes and Gimkit Creative once students know the basics. Use the post-game reports to guide your instruction—not just to rank students, but to identify knowledge gaps you need to address. And remember that Gimkit is one tool in your toolkit, not a replacement for quality instruction.

The strategic elements teach decision-making and resource management alongside content knowledge. Students learn to think about opportunity cost, risk assessment, and long-term planning while reviewing your curriculum. That’s not just good teaching—that’s life skills development wrapped in a quiz game.

If you’ve been hesitant to try Gimkit because you thought it was “just another Kahoot,” I hope this guide showed you how wrong that assumption is. Start with the free version this week. Create one simple Kit of 20 questions. Run it with one class. Watch what happens to engagement, and more importantly, check the post-game report to see what students actually learned.

Ready to see what Gimkit can do for your classroom? Visit gimkit.com, create your free account, and launch your first game today. Your students will thank you—probably by asking when you can play Gimkit again. And when that happens, you’ll know you’ve found something that works.

Looking for more educational gaming options? Check out our complete gaming app collection featuring puzzle games, brain teasers, and learning platforms that make education actually engaging.

Related Resources:

Master Educational Gaming:

• Complete Kahoot Strategy Guide
• Quizlet vs Quizlet Live: Which to Use When
• Top 15 Game-Based Learning Platforms for 2025
• How to Create Effective Review Games

Gimkit Deep Dives:

• Gimkit Creative: Build Your First Educational Game World
• Advanced Gimkit Strategies for Competitive Students
• Gimkit vs Blooket vs Kahoot: The Definitive Comparison