11 Power-Packed Gamification Plugins for WordPress

61% of retail businesses say that their biggest challenge is customer retention.

Are you struggling to keep your website visitors engaged too? 

Retention is considered a key factor in boosting customer loyalty and if you are not giving due importance to retaining customers, you could be losing out on nearly half of your revenue! 

So, if customer retention is your goal, gamification might be the solution you’re looking for! 

By adding game elements to your website, you can create a more interactive and enjoyable experience for your users.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll introduce you to 11 power-packed gamification plugins for WordPress that can help you do just that. 

Whether you’re a business coach, herbalist, or corporate trainer, these plugins can help you keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

First, let’s learn a bit more about gamification.

What is gamification?

Gamification is the process of applying game design principles and mechanics to non-game contexts, such as education, marketing, or employee training. 

It involves incorporating elements of games into everyday tasks to make them more interactive, engaging, and enjoyable. 

In eLearning, gamification is a popular technique used to increase student engagement, motivation, and learning.

The goal of gamification is to:

• Make learning fun and interactive.
• Encourage learners to stay engaged with the material.
• Motivate students to complete their course.

There are several proven benefits of gamification, such as increased learner retention and efficient progress tracking. 

Gamification helps make the learning process more enjoyable, which makes it more likely that learners will remember the material and retain it for a longer period of time. 

It also encourages learners to stay engaged with the material, reducing the likelihood of dropouts.

Elements like progress bars, badges, and point systems provide learners with a sense of accomplishment and motivate them to complete tasks and progress through the course. 

This can boost their confidence, leading to a more positive learning experience.

Let’s take a look at some more benefits of gamification in greater detail.

Benefits of gamification

Gamification has become a popular technique in many industries due to its potential to increase engagement, improve learning outcomes, enhance motivation, increase productivity, and improve user experience. 

By incorporating game-like elements into non-game contexts, such as online courses, membership programs, or coaching programs, businesses can improve user engagement, loyalty, and customer lifetime value (CLTV).

Here is an overview of some of the benefits of gamification.

Increased engagement

Gamification helps make non-game activities more fun and interesting, so participants are more likely to stay engaged and committed to the activity. 

For example, using badges or user rewards can motivate participants to complete tasks or reach goals, while leaderboards can foster healthy competition among participants. 

By making the experience more engaging, users are more likely to stay involved, which can lead to increased loyalty and customer lifetime value.

Improved learning outcomes 

Game mechanics such as feedback, rewards, and challenges can help learners better retain and apply new knowledge and skills. 

Take the example of Duolingo, which uses gamification to teach languages. 

The app makes use of badges and points to motivate learners to complete lessons and practice daily. 

It also offers immediate feedback and visual progress markers, which helps motivate learners to continue learning and retain the material.

Enhanced motivation

Gamification provides intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to participants, improving their commitment to an activity and increasing their sense of achievement. 

Think of how Fitbit motivates users to exercise more by setting daily step goals. 

It also awards users badges for hitting milestones and has social sharing options that let them share their fitness achievements with their friends. 

Seeing visible proof of their progress can help encourage users to exercise more frequently and help them become fitter.

Increased productivity 

One by-product of encouraging participants to complete tasks or meet goals more efficiently is that it can help businesses improve productivity and reduce inefficiencies. 

For instance, Trello uses gamification to manage projects by providing badges for completing tasks on time and reward users for consistently meeting deadlines. 

This encourages users to complete tasks more efficiently, improving productivity and leading to overall business growth.

Improved user experience

Making non-game applications more user-friendly and enjoyable can help businesses increase user satisfaction and loyalty. 

For instance, Nike’s Run Club app uses gamification to create a more enjoyable running experience, providing personalized coaching, regular notifications, and virtual rewards for completing goals. 

This encourages users to continue using the app and promotes brand loyalty as well.

11 power-packed gamification plugins for WordPress

Now that we’ve explored the benefits of gamification in eLearning, let’s dive into some power-packed gamification plugins for WordPress. 

These plugins can help you incorporate game mechanics into your website, making it more engaging, interactive, and fun for your users. 

From quizzes and leaderboards to badges and rewards, each plugin offers a unique set of features and benefits that can help you achieve your gamification goals. 

Let’s take a look!

1. AccessAlly

AccessAlly is a powerful and scalable all-in-one plugin that includes a built-in learning management system (LMS) gamification plugin for WordPress. 

It has an extensive list of features, making it one of the best plugins for LMS gamification, as it enables you to create, sell and promote online courses, coaching, and memberships while also offering many integration options.

Here are some of AccessAlly’s key gamification features:

A robust points and credits system 

This enables learners to accumulate points for specific actions, such as logging in, completing a module, submitting a task, and more. 

These points can be tied to a monetary reward if needed, which can be a great motivator for learners. 

For instance, consider how an online course on digital marketing could offer paid quizzes with monetary rewards for top performers.

Ability to award badges

With AccessAlly, you can design badges to award users as they progress through their online course or activity, such as new member badges and quick learner badges. 

Badges can be a great way to incentivize learners and recognize their achievements. 

For example, an online course on language learning could award badges for successfully mastering certain phrases or concepts.

Leaderboard feature

Leaderboards are proven to motivate students to compete with each other by ranking them according to their results/points. 

This feature can create a sense of competition and urgency, which can drive learners to engage with the course and complete their tasks quickly.

Surprises and prizes 

This feature is another great way to incentivize learners. 

AccessAlly offers two examples of this reward system. The first is surprise bonus content that learners can access when they complete a lesson or module. 

The second is real redeemable prizes that learners can win when they complete set actions, or by redeeming points for rewards.

Choose your own adventure

One of AccessAlly’s benefits is that it allows learners to select the routes they take throughout their eLearning experience to create a sense of fun and adventure. 

Users can also unlock pathways based on the content they complete and previous pathway choices. 

This feature can create a sense of exploration and adventure, making the learning experience more engaging and exciting, paving the way for developing a loyalty program.

Progress bars 

AccessAlly offers progress bars that keep learners motivated to complete their learning, and can easily be optimized for mobile learning.

 Other interactive elements, such as ‘mark as done’ buttons, downloadable certificates, and interactive shortcodes, are also available.

Reporting dashboard

AccessAlly’s reporting dashboard is compatible with a number of WordPress themes and allows you to see how much or little students are engaging with their programs and gamified elements, such as quiz scores and real-time progress reports. 

This data can help you understand what elements are working and what needs improvement to keep users engaged and build revenue.

In terms of pricing, AccessAlly licenses start at $99 per month, which makes it a great investment for anyone looking to create a gamified eLearning experience that keeps users engaged and motivated.

2. BadgeOS

BadgeOS is a WordPress plugin that is dedicated solely to gamification. 

It is designed to help users create a fun and interactive online learning environment that motivates and rewards learners as they progress through their courses.

Here are some of the best features of BadgeOS:

• Customizable badges, rewards, and ranking systems. 
• Ability for users to create their own badges and customize them to suit their specific needs.
• An achievements widget that allows learners to view their progress and achievements at a glance.
• A wide range of shortcodes, which can be used to display badges, achievements, and other gamification elements throughout the course.

Having said that, one of the downsides of BadgeOS is that it is not an all-in-one solution. Users need to use a separate LMS plugin, like LearnDash, to create their courses. 

This can be inconvenient for some users, especially those who are looking for a more streamlined solution.

3. GamiPress

GamiPress is a popular open-source gamification plugin for WordPress, which integrates with popular WordPress plugins such as WooCommerce and The Events Calendar. 

It also offers a variety of features that enable website owners to implement gamification techniques, such as:

• Customizable digital rewards like points, achievements, and rankings.
• Ability for users to set deadlines for activity completion.
• Suitability for a wide range of websites, from bloggers to online stores and business sites.
• Free basic functionality, which makes it an affordable option for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Easy to use and customize, allowing users to tailor the plugin to meet their specific needs.

However, with GamiPress, users require at least one premium platform to create, host, and promote their courses. 

The free version of the plugin also has limited functionality, and users may need to purchase add-ons for more advanced features.

4. WP Optin Wheel

The fourth plugin in our list for the best WordPress gamification plugins is – WP Optin Wheel – a unique gamification plugin that focuses on email marketing and lead generation. Here are some of the pros and cons of using this plugin:

• WP Optin Wheel provides an interactive and engaging way to capture email addresses and generate leads for your business.
• The plugin comes with predefined themes that can be easily customized to match your branding and style.
• The plugin has multilingual support, which means you can reach a broader audience with your gamified opt-in forms.

On the other hand, WP Optin Wheel has some drawbacks, such as, primary focus on email marketing and only one form of gamification in the free version.

WP Optin Wheel can be a good option for users looking for a gamification plugin that can help optimize their course marketing efforts, but may be less suitable for users who want advanced course gamification features.

5. OptinMonster

OptinMonster is a popular WordPress plugin that helps website owners and marketers create effective lead generation campaigns. 

With OptinMonster, users can create customizable opt-in forms, pop-ups, and other lead-capture forms to grow their email lists and improve conversion rates.

Here are some of its advantages in terms of gamification:

• OptinMonster offers a wide range of email capture options, including gamified wheels, lightbox popups, and more.
• The plugin provides over 100 templates, making it easy to create professional-looking opt-in forms.
• OptinMonster’s geolocation targeting feature can help businesses tailor their opt-in forms to specific audiences, increasing the chances of conversions.

However, OptinMonster’s gamification feature is limited to a wheel game, which may not appeal to all audiences or fit with all website designs. 

In addition, although OptinMonster is priced starting at $9 per month, this is comparatively more expensive than other solutions on this list, considering its gamification limits.

6. WPAchievements

WPAchievements is a dedicated gamification plugin that can help make your website more engaging and interactive. 

With various achievement types, such as interactive quests, rankings, and custom badges, this plugin offers a wide range of gamification options for your site.

Some of the key features of WPAchievements are:

• It integrates with several popular platforms such as BuddyPress, LearnDash, and WooCommerce, allowing you to add gamification to different types of websites, including e-commerce, membership sites, and online learning platforms. 
• It offers a free and a premium version, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Overall, if you’re looking to add gamification to an existing eLearning website and want a flexible and customizable tool, WPAchievements is a decent option to consider.

7. RafflePress

RafflePress is a WordPress plugin that enables website owners to create and run giveaways and contests to increase engagement, social media following, and lead generation. 

With RafflePress, users can easily create and manage their own contests with customizable templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and a variety of entry options.

Let’s take a look at some of its benefits

• Drag-and-drop giveaway builder, making it easy to create contests and giveaways without any coding knowledge.
• Variety of giveaway templates, helping to save time and effort.
• 1-Click Entries make it easy for users to enter giveaways and contests, which can help to increase participation rates.
• Social media integrations, which can help to amplify giveaways and reach a wider audience.
• Integration with marketing and CRM tools, making it easier to track and manage leads.

The plugin does have some shortcomings in terms of gamification. 

It is focused solely on giveaways and contests, so it’s not suitable for those who want to add general gamification functionality to their site. Secondly, it only has a premium version.

8. myCred

myCred is a gamification plugin for WordPress that offers a detailed points-based system for building customer loyalty and engagement. 

It has many features, such as:

• A detailed points-based system that can be customized to your needs.
• Ability to integrate with many WordPress plugins and extensions, as well as multiple payment gateways.
• Users can purchase and exchange points for money, which can lead to increased customer loyalty and repeat purchases.
• Offers rankings, badges, and a reward points system, which can be motivating for users.
• Ability to sell content for points, which can be a good way to generate revenue.
• Comes with both free and pro versions, starting from $149 per annum.

Of course, it’s not an all-in-one gamification tool and is better suited for those looking to implement a detailed points-based system rather than multiple gamification elements. 

Secondly, it may not be suitable for users who don’t want to offer monetary rewards as part of their gamification strategy.

9. WPForms

WPForms is a popular drag-and-drop form builder tool for WordPress that comes with beginner-friendly gamification elements. Here are some pros and cons of the plugin:

Pros of WPForms:

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface that allows users to create various types of forms, including contact forms, registration forms, order forms, and more.
• Includes gamified surveys and polls that can increase engagement and participation from users.
• Integrates with popular email marketing tools, payment processors, and CRM software.
• Comes with pre-built form templates that can save time and effort when creating forms.
• Offers conditional logic, allowing forms to show or hide fields based on user responses.

WPForms can be a great choice for those looking primarily for a form-building tool with basic gamification features. 

However, while WPForms is beginner-friendly, it does not provide advanced gamification features that some other plugins on this list offer.

10. CaptainUp

CaptainUp is a cloud-based gamification platform designed to help businesses maximize user retention by rewarding users for engaging in content. 

It offers a wide range of customization options, including out-of-the-box functionality, user analytics, widgets, localization, and custom themes and designs. 

It’s ideal for websites that want to implement multiple gamification elements and closely monitor how users interact with them.

Some pros of CaptainUp include:

• CaptainUp offers extensive customization options, allowing businesses to tailor gamification elements to their specific needs and goals.
• The platform provides pre-built gamification elements, including badges, levels, and points, to help businesses get started quickly.
• CaptainUp provides detailed analytics on user engagement, allowing businesses to track user behavior and identify areas for improvement.
• The plugin offers a range of widgets, including leaderboards and activity feeds, to help businesses showcase user engagement and encourage participation.
• It supports multiple languages, making it ideal for businesses with a global audience.
• Businesses can use CaptainUp to create custom themes and designs to match their brand identity and make gamification elements more engaging.

CaptainUp is a powerful tool for improving user engagement and retention, and it has been used by a number of prominent companies across various industries.

However, the platform is quite complex, and its relatively high pricing might put off small businesses or those on a tight budget.

11. H5P

H5P is a browser-based plugin that lets you create and share interactive content on your website. 

This plugin is ideal for educators and trainers who want to incorporate interactive content to facilitate a variety of learning styles. 

It’s a cost-effective way to create high-quality content that is compatible with WordPress, Drupal, and Moodle. 

The benefits of H5P include:

• It offers a wide range of interactive content types like quizzes, flashcards, and memory games that you can create without any coding knowledge.
• The plugin is compatible with WordPress, Moodle, and Drupal, allowing you to create interactive content across multiple platforms.
• H5P is a cost-effective way to create and embed high-quality interactive content into your landing pages without the need for expensive software or hiring developers.
• The plugin is updated regularly and has in-depth tutorials.
• Interactive content created with H5P is responsive and can be easily viewed on any device, from desktop to mobile.

Having said that, H5P may not be the best option for those who don’t offer live online teaching programs. In addition, creating complex interactive content may require some knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. 

While the plugin offers a variety of interactive content types and has strong social community support, it may not be as customizable as other plugins or software.

How to choose the right gamification plugin for your business

When choosing a gamification plugin for your WordPress site, make sure to evaluate the game mechanics, integrations, customizations, and analytics, along with support and documentation, before making a final decision.

Each plugin has its unique features and strengths that cater to different business needs, so it’s essential to choose the one that aligns with your goals, target audience, and overall strategy.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one system that allows you to build, sell, and promote online courses, coaching, and memberships, AccessAlly is the clear choice. 

With its comprehensive set of features, integrations, and support, it’s a great option for businesses of all sizes looking to incorporate gamification into their WordPress website.

Gamify your WordPress website with AccessAlly

Gamification is an effective way to engage your audience, increase retention rates, and promote brand loyalty. 

Of all the gamification plugins mentioned above, AccessAlly stands out as one of the best choices for a comprehensive LMS solution. 

It offers built-in gamification features, including quizzes, progress tracking, certificates, and achievements, that can help take your online courses, coaching, and memberships to the next level.

Give AccessAlly a try today and see how it can help you enhance your online learning experience. 

Whether you’re an educator, coach, or business owner, AccessAlly can help you create a more engaging and rewarding learning environment for your audience!