Learning Through Play: Which App is More Fun and Effective – Kahoot or The Smartestway?

How can you motivate a child to learn when attention spans are short and there’s a lot of study material to cover? As digital tools increasingly integrate into education, parents and teachers are looking for ways to make learning engaging, interactive, and effective. Two popular tools promising higher motivation and better understanding are Kahoot and The Smartestway. Both use gamification, quizzes, and interactive exercises, but they differ in approach, goals, and impact on the learning experience. This article compares them so you can choose what your child truly needs.

What is Kahoot?

Kahoot is a gamified learning app based on quizzes, which can be created by teachers, parents, or students themselves, or selected from a library of millions of questions. Its hallmark is a dynamic, competitive approach that brings extra energy into classrooms and living rooms.

How parents use it

Kahoot is simple for parents to use. You just need a phone, tablet, or computer. You can solve quizzes with your child, check knowledge before tests, or simply enjoy playful learning together. Its biggest advantage is flexibility: you can create quizzes on any topic your child is currently studying. However, Kahoot works best as a tool for knowledge reinforcement, not necessarily for deep understanding.

What attracts students?

• Students enjoy Kahoot for its competition, animations, colorful elements, and point scoring.
• Quizzes are usually timed, encouraging quick thinking and focus.
• It’s often used in classrooms to support group participation and instant knowledge checks.

What is The Smartestway?

The Smartestway is a comprehensive digital learning tool that helps children understand, reinforce, and review material through a structured, personalized learning path. The AI learning assistant, Smarty, guides children through exercises, checks their knowledge, and generates tasks from their own notes - without grades but with continuous feedback and encouragement.

Parents have complete oversight and can actively participate in their child's education

• Have an overview of the child's learning progress.
• Visibility of upcoming tests, material covered, and areas needing more practice.
• Ability to send praise and motivational messages, boosting engagement.
• The Smartestway allows parents to be active participants in their child’s learning process, not just observers.

The student has the tools for serious but fun independent learning

• Access to personalised study plans and trackable preparation for upcoming tests.
• Ability to select notes and topics for review.
• Step-by-step guidance from Smarty through interactive exercises focused on what they haven’t mastered yet.
• Continuous advice and reminders to support progress at their own pace.

Primerjava: Kahoot vs. The Smartestway

1. Learning through play

Both apps are based on learning through play. Kahoot focuses on competitiveness and speed, while The Smartestway focuses on personalisation and long-term progress. Kahoot emphasises quick knowledge testing, while The Smartestway emphasises structured understanding of the material.

2. Parental involvement

At The Smartestway, parents have access to an advanced progress overview. They can see how much time their child has spent learning, which topics they are struggling with, when they have tests, and they can send encouraging messages.

At Kahoot, parental involvement is more passive - they solve quizzes together with their child, but they don't have a comprehensive overview of their progress.

3. User experience

Both apps are easy to use, feature fun graphics, and are suitable for quick quizzes. The Smartestway offers a more in-depth approach and independent learning with Smarty.

4. Adaptability

Kahoot allows you to create your own quizzes, but it is not able to automatically adjust the difficulty level. The Smartestway automatically analyses the child's knowledge and, based on this, generates tasks that are aimed at improving weak points.

Kahoot and The Smartestway offer two different, yet complementary, approaches to digital learning. Kahoot is ideal for fast, playful knowledge checks, group activities, quiz preparation, or fun family learning evenings. The Smartestway is better for serious yet enjoyable learning progress, allowing independent, systematic advancement with parental involvement. It offers a deeper approach that helps children truly understand the study material and not just, not just memorise it.

CTA button: Try The Smartestway - completely free.

‍