ClassMana vs ClassBank
Both ClassBank and ClassMana give students a currency to earn and spend. But the experience around that currency is very different.
ClassBank is a digital classroom economy. Students have checking and savings accounts, hold classroom jobs, receive paychecks, and can pay bills, rent or fines. It combines behavior management with financial literacy role-play, and it has a free tier for individual teachers.
ClassMana is a gamified classroom management app. Students have an animated 3D avatar that levels up with Experience, use mana for powers, and spend gold in a class shop. The economy is one part of a bigger game that also includes health, teams, Monster Battles, the Silence Challenge and quests.
In short: ClassBank is about money. ClassMana is about the adventure, with a lighter economy built in.
ClassMana vs ClassBank at a glance
| Feature | ClassMana | ClassBank |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Classroom gamification and motivation | Classroom economy and financial literacy |
| Class currency | ✅ Gold (plus Experience and mana) | ✅ Classroom money |
| Class store | ✅ Class shop | ✅ Class store (inventory tracking in Pro) |
| Bank accounts, savings and interest | ❌ | ✅ Interest in Pro |
| Classroom jobs and salaries | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bills, rent and fines | ❌ | ✅ Optional |
| Animated, customizable 3D avatars | ✅ 35 levels of gear, plus pets | ❌ |
| Levels and powers (classroom privileges) | ✅ | ❌ |
| Boss battle review game | ✅ Monster Battle | ❌ |
| Quests / learning adventures | ✅ Optional add-on | ❌ |
| Co-teachers | ✅ | ✅ In Pro |
| School dashboards | ❌ | ✅ School plan |
| Teacher mobile app | ❌ Mobile-friendly web app | ✅ Free iOS app |
| Free option | ✅ Instant tools free, 3-week trial class | ✅ Free teacher plan, unlimited students |
| Paid pricing | From $65 per year per teacher | Pro: $100 per year or $12.50 per month |
Last updated: October 2026. Features and prices change; check each vendor's website.
See ClassMana pricing for all options. The ClassMana School plan starts at $1 per student per year (minimum 150 students), with unlimited teachers.
Where ClassMana is different
The economy is part of a game. In ClassMana, students earn gold (for example for academic milestones) and spend it on items you add to the class shop. But gold is only one of the things they work for. Rewards give Experience, which levels up their animated 3D avatar and unlocks new gear across 35 levels.
Powers instead of purchases. Besides the shop, students earn mana and spend it on powers: real classroom privileges like choosing their seat or listening to music during independent work.
Less bookkeeping. ClassMana doesn't have paychecks, rent or interest to manage. For many teachers that's a plus: you can run it in seconds between activities. For teachers who want to teach money management, it's a minus (see below).
Teamwork and class moments. Teams, health and healing powers make students look out for each other. The Monster Battle turns review into a 3D boss fight, and the Silence Challenge makes quiet work a shared goal.
Simple student setup. Paste your students' first names and they log in with their name and a login code. No student emails or personal information needed.
When ClassBank is the better choice
ClassBank is the better fit when:
- Financial literacy is a learning goal. Bank accounts, savings goals, interest, salaries and bills teach real money concepts that ClassMana doesn't cover.
- You want classroom jobs. ClassBank has jobs like Banker, Librarian or Store Clerk, with automatic paychecks.
- You want a free tool with unlimited students. ClassBank's free teacher plan has no student limit.
- You prefer a calm, non-game feel. If avatars and boss battles aren't your style, a realistic economy may suit your class better.
What ClassMana doesn't do
ClassMana has no banking, jobs, salaries or interest. It also has no parent messaging, no referral or discipline tracking, no school-wide PBIS analytics and no native apps (it's a web app that works on any device). LMS integration is coming soon.
Using both together
Some teachers like the idea of a realistic economy and a game. That's possible, but running two currencies can get confusing. If you try it, keep them clearly separated: for example, ClassBank for jobs and money lessons, and ClassMana for behavior, teamwork and review games. For most classes, we'd recommend picking the one that best fits your main goal.
FAQ
Does ClassMana have a classroom economy?
Yes, a lighter one. Students earn gold and spend it in a class shop with items you define. There are no bank accounts, jobs or bills.
Which is better for teaching financial literacy?
ClassBank. It's designed around money concepts like saving, interest and paying bills. ClassMana focuses on motivation, behavior and engagement.
Which one keeps students engaged longer?
That depends on your students. ClassMana is designed around long-term progression: 35 levels of avatar gear, powers, pets and regular whole-class events like Monster Battles and Mystery Events. Students who enjoy video games usually love it.
Can I use ClassMana in middle and high school?
Yes. ClassMana is used from primary school through high school and even in higher education.
Try ClassMana for free
Try the free instant tools, or create a trial class and use it fully for three weeks. Get started with ClassMana