ClassMana vs Critter Coin

If you're looking for a classroom tool that feels like a game, Critter Coin and ClassMana are two of the most gamified options out there. They just approach it from different angles.

Critter Coin is a gamified PBIS and character-building platform for whole schools. Students earn digital coins that count toward both their House score and their own balance in a rewards store. Houses compete in rounds, students can collect critters and care for virtual pets, and an optional add-on gives the class a shared 3D world that progresses as students earn coins.

ClassMana is a gamified classroom management app built around each student's own character. Every student has an animated 3D avatar they customize and level up with Experience. They use mana for powers, protect their health, spend gold in the class shop, and team up against monsters. A single teacher can start in their own classroom, without a school-wide rollout.

ClassMana vs Critter Coin at a glance

Last updated: October 2026. Features and prices change; check each vendor's website.

See ClassMana pricing for all options. Quests are an optional ClassMana add-on; everything else is included. The School plan starts at $1 per student per year (minimum 150 students), with unlimited teachers.

Where ClassMana is different

Every student has their own hero. In ClassMana, each student customizes an animated 3D avatar and unlocks new gear across 35 levels as they earn Experience. It's their character, and it grows with them all year. That personal progression is the main reason students stay engaged long after the first weeks.

More game mechanics in the classroom. Besides Experience and gold, ClassMana has mana and powers (real classroom privileges students can unlock), and health: warnings lower health, and a student who falls redeems themselves with a positive action. Teammates can heal each other, which builds a lot of positive peer pressure.

Whole-class tools. The Monster Battle turns any review into a 3D boss fight. The Silence Challenge makes quiet work a shared goal (it even went viral on TikTok). Mystery Events add a daily surprise.

Start alone, today. You don't need school buy-in. Sign up, paste your students' first names, and run your first lesson. Students log in with their name and a login code, with no emails or personal information. If your colleagues want to join later, you can share your configuration across classes or move to the School plan.

Simple pricing. ClassMana has one price per teacher (or per student for schools), with almost everything included. Critter Coin's core is free, and you pay monthly for the add-ons you choose. That can be very affordable if you only need the core, so compare based on the features you actually plan to use.

When Critter Coin is the better choice

Critter Coin is the better fit when:

• Your school wants a house system. Houses competing in rounds across the whole building, with displays and collectible critters, is at the heart of Critter Coin.
• You need parent access. Parents can follow their child's achievements and even award coins at home (an add-on).
• You want school-wide data. The Data Insights add-on offers analytics across classes.
• You prefer no student logins. Students aren't required to have logins with Critter Coin.
• You want AI help. An AI setup wizard creates coins and houses from your mission statement, and there are other AI features.
• You need Clever or ClassLink rostering, or native mobile apps.
• You only need the free core. A school that just wants houses and a rewards store can start for free.

What ClassMana doesn't do

ClassMana has no parent messaging or parent access, no referral or discipline tracking, no school-wide PBIS analytics, no house system across a whole school and no native apps (it runs in the browser on any device). LMS integration is coming soon.

Using both together

If your school runs Critter Coin houses, you can still use ClassMana inside your own classroom, for example for avatars, powers, Monster Battles and the Silence Challenge. Keep Critter Coin for school-wide house points and ClassMana for your in-class game. Our PBIS guide explains how to align your ClassMana rewards with school-wide expectations.

FAQ

Which one is more gamified?

Both are. Critter Coin's game is centered on the school and the house: coins, house competition, collectible critters, pets and a shared world. ClassMana's game is centered on the individual student and the class: a personal 3D avatar, levels, powers, health, teams and boss battles.

Can a single teacher use ClassMana without the rest of the school?

Yes. ClassMana is designed so one teacher can start on their own. The instant tools are free, and you get a trial class you can use fully for three weeks.

Is ClassMana suitable for older students?

Yes. ClassMana is used from primary school through high school and in higher education. Older students especially like the avatar progression, powers and Monster Battles.

How do the costs compare?

ClassMana is from $65 per year per teacher, or $1 per student per year on the School plan (minimum 150 students). Critter Coin's core is free for a school's first 20,000 coins, with optional paid add-ons billed monthly. Check both vendors' pricing pages for the latest numbers.

Try ClassMana for free

See if your students love it. Start with the free instant tools or create your first class. Get started with ClassMana