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Education · head to head

Gimkit vs Open edX

Gimkit logo

Gimkit

Education

Game-based learning built by students

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Open edX logo

Open edX

Education

Open-source platform powering online learning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • They diverge on capability: Gimkit covers Game modes, Open edX covers Course authoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gimkit and Open edX actually diverge.

Attributes where Gimkit and Open edX differ
AttributeGimkitOpen edX
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
Founded20172012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).

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 Open edX

  • Course authoring
  • Interactive videos
  • Assessments
  • Discussions
  • Certificates
  • Analytics
  • Mobile apps
  • xBlocks

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 Open edX
  • Formative assessmentnot Open edX
  • Student engagementnot Open edX
  • Test prepnot Open edX

Open edX

  • MOOC creationnot Gimkit
  • Corporate trainingnot Gimkit
  • Blended learningnot Gimkit
  • Degree programsnot Gimkit

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.

Open edX

  • No license fees for software but requires separate spending on hosting, infrastructure, and maintenance
  • Customization and support from third-party providers requires additional investment

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

Open edX

Free
  • Self-HostedFree
    • Full platform
    • Community support
    • All features
  • Managed Hosting$undefined/month
    • Hosted solution
    • Support
    • Maintenance

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.
Gimkit review

Choose Open edX if

  • You need course authoring.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want interactive videos.
Open edX review

Questions people ask

Is Gimkit or Open edX better?
Neither clearly leads. Gimkit starts at Free and Open edX at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gimkit or Open edX?
Gimkit starts at Free and Open edX at Free.
Does Gimkit or Open edX run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Gimkit for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Open edX is typically brought in for.
What can Gimkit do that Open edX cannot?
Gimkit covers Game modes, In-game currency, Live games, Assignments. Open edX covers Course authoring, Interactive videos, Assessments, Discussions. Both handle Web support, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Open edX: How much does Open edX cost?

Open edX software itself is completely free with no license fees. Organizations must cover their own hosting, infrastructure, maintenance, and customization costs.

Source
Open edX: Are there hosting options for Open edX?

Open edX offers three deployment options: self-hosted (organizations deploy independently), managed providers (third-party companies offer cost-effective managed services), and a free sandbox for testing.

Source
Open edX: What does free mean for Open edX?

There are no license fees to use the Open edX software. Organizations can download and deploy it independently or use managed hosting providers for a fee.

Source
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