Softwr

Education & E-Learning · head to head

Gimkit vs Blackboard

Gimkit logo

Gimkit

Education & E-Learning

Game-based learning built by students

From
Free
Rated
-
Blackboard logo

Blackboard

Education & E-Learning

Comprehensive learning platform for educational institutions

From
$10/year
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Gimkit has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Gimkit covers Game modes, Blackboard covers Course management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gimkit and Blackboard actually diverge.

Attributes where Gimkit and Blackboard differ
AttributeGimkitBlackboard
Starting priceFree$10/year
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb
Founded20171997

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education & E-Learning).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Gimkit

  • Game modes
  • In-game currency
  • Live games
  • Assignments
  • Reports
  • Question import
  • Audio questions
  • Game themes

Only in Blackboard

  • Course management
  • Assessment tools
  • Discussion boards
  • Virtual classroom
  • Gradebook
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics
  • Accessibility

Both cover

  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Gimkit

  • Review gamesnot Blackboard
  • Formative assessmentnot Blackboard
  • Student engagement
  • Test prepnot Blackboard

Blackboard

  • Course deliverynot Gimkit
  • Student engagement
  • Assessmentnot Gimkit
  • Virtual learningnot Gimkit

Both are used for student engagement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Gimkit

Nothing recorded yet. See the Gimkit review.

Blackboard

  • User interface is outdated, cluttered, and unintuitive with hidden menus and excessive clicks
  • Slow response times and platform crashes when opening multiple tabs simultaneously
  • Cannot track detailed student activity beyond most recent login information
  • Limited ability to handle large file uploads for content and assignments
  • Minimal customization options for page and template design

Pricing, plan by plan

Gimkit

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5 kits
    • Basic game modes
  • Pro$9.99/month
    • Unlimited kits
    • All game modes
    • Reports
  • School/District$undefined/month
    • All Pro features
    • Admin tools
    • Rostering

Blackboard

$10/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Blackboard review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Gimkit if

  • You need game modes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want in-game currency.

Choose Blackboard if

  • You need course management.
  • You also want assessment tools.

Questions people ask

Is Gimkit or Blackboard better?
Neither clearly leads. Gimkit starts at Free and Blackboard at $10/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gimkit or Blackboard?
Gimkit has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Gimkit and $10/year for Blackboard.
Does Gimkit or Blackboard run on more platforms?
Gimkit runs on Web, IOS, Android. Blackboard runs on Web.
Can I use Gimkit for free?
Yes. Gimkit has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Blackboard starts at $10/year.
What is Gimkit best used for?
Gimkit is most often used for review games, formative assessment, student engagement, test prep. Of those, review games and formative assessment are not what Blackboard is typically brought in for.
What can Gimkit do that Blackboard cannot?
Gimkit covers Game modes, In-game currency, Live games, Assignments. Blackboard covers Course management, Assessment tools, Discussion boards, Virtual classroom. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Blackboard: What does Blackboard LMS offer?

Blackboard is a learning management system that includes course management, assignment and gradebook tools, discussion forums, and analytics for tracking learner progress in online, hybrid, and in-person courses.

Source

Related pages

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