Most teachers have used ClassDojo at some point. It's free, it's familiar, and parents already know how it works.
But ClassDojo isn't for every classroom. Some teachers find the parent messaging overwhelming. Others worry about data privacy after the platform's policy changes. A growing number simply want something that feels less like a behaviour tracker and more like a game their students actually want to play.
If you're looking for alternatives, here are five worth trying in 2026 — what they do well, who they're best for, and what they cost.
1. PetClass — Virtual pets your students will work for
PetClass turns your classroom reward system into a virtual pet collection. Students earn points for good behaviour, completed work, or whatever you want to reward — and those points hatch eggs into pets, unlock charms, and eventually reveal rare and legendary pets. Lose points for off-task behaviour, and the pets revert to eggs. The motivation is built in.
What teachers like: there's no parent app to manage, no messaging inbox to keep up with, and the focus stays on the student-teacher relationship in the classroom. The visual progression (eggs → pets → charms → legendaries) gives students something tangible to work toward. Printable trading cards and class certificates make it easy to celebrate progress.
2. LiveSchool — Points without the parent communication overhead
LiveSchool focuses on what ClassDojo's point system does well, without the social media-style parent feed. Teachers award and deduct points, set up rewards stores, and pull behaviour reports. Schools can roll it out across departments with shared point systems.
It's a heavier system than PetClass — better suited to middle and high schools where multiple teachers share students and need consistent tracking. Younger grades may find it less visually engaging.
3. ClassCraft — Full RPG-style gamification
ClassCraft turns your classroom into a role-playing game. Students choose characters (warriors, mages, healers), form teams, and earn experience points for good behaviour and academic work. Bad behaviour costs them health points. Teams have to work together because if one student loses all their health, the whole team takes a hit.
The mechanics are deep and the buy-in from older students is strong — but the setup is significant, and the fantasy theme isn't a fit for every classroom or every grade level.
4. Bloomz — Parent communication first
Bloomz is essentially the parent communication half of ClassDojo, done well. Photos, announcements, sign-ups for parent-teacher conferences, behaviour notes, and translation built in. The behaviour rewards are there but secondary.
If you're moving away from ClassDojo because of the rewards system but want to keep the parent-facing tools, Bloomz is the cleanest swap.
5. Class Charts — Behaviour tracking with serious reporting
Class Charts is widely used in UK schools and increasingly in Australia. It's stronger on reporting than on student-facing engagement — teachers log positive and negative behaviour, seating plans are managed automatically, and admin can pull detailed reports on behaviour trends across classes and year groups.
Students see their points but the experience is fairly plain. The real power is for school leadership tracking patterns over time.
How to choose
A quick way to narrow it down:
- You want students excited and motivated → PetClass or ClassCraft, depending on age group
- You want simple points tracking, no extras → LiveSchool
- You only used ClassDojo for messaging parents → Bloomz
- Your school needs reporting and admin tools → Class Charts
The honest truth is that no single app replaces everything ClassDojo does — it's bundled a lot into one product. But that's often why teachers leave: they don't need the bundle, they need one thing done really well.
Ready to make rewards fun again?
PetClass is free to try with no credit card required. Hatch your first pets in under five minutes.
Try PetClass free →Last updated: June 2026