Intertwined runs entirely in a web browser, so there's nothing to install on school devices. It does need a reasonably current browser, permission to save a little data for its own site, and a network that lets it reach a short list of web addresses. This article covers all three. The address list is written so you can forward this page straight to your IT team.
Browsers
Use a current version of Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox. Chromebooks' built-in Chrome works well, and so do managed Chrome and Edge on school laptops.
Keep browsers updated. A browser that hasn't been updated in the last couple of years may load the login page but fail on everything after it.
On iPads and iPhones, use iPadOS or iOS 16 or later. Older devices that can't update to 16 can't run Intertwined reliably.
JavaScript must be turned on (it is by default).
Devices
Chromebooks, Windows laptops, and Macs run all of Intertwined, for teachers and students.
iPads and Android tablets work for students. A keyboard helps with longer written answers.
Phones work for students' lessons, quizzes, and assignments. The simulators show a lot of information at once and are more comfortable on a larger screen.
Teachers: the Teacher Portal is designed for a laptop or desktop screen. The Gradebook, reports, and simulator controls in particular need the room.
Students can find device tips written for them in Using Intertwined on a phone, tablet, or Chromebook.
Browser settings
Site data: Intertwined remembers who is signed in by saving data in the browser for app.intertwinedfinance.com. If a device or policy clears site data when the browser closes, users will need to log in every time. That's workable, but it must not block site data entirely, or nobody can stay signed in.
Private or incognito windows work. They forget the sign-in when the window closes, which makes them a good choice on shared computers.
New tabs: a few links (the help center, Terms, Privacy Policy) open in a new tab. If a pop-up blocker stops the help center from opening, the page shows an Open Help Center button to try again.
Downloads and printing: teachers download Excel files of student logins and export reports and grades, and students can print certificates. Allow downloads from app.intertwinedfinance.com.
Extensions: ad blockers and privacy extensions can hide parts of the page that load from the addresses below. If something is missing, try with extensions turned off.
Web addresses to allow (for IT)
Intertwined uses standard secure web traffic (HTTPS on port 443). Nothing else is required: no plug-ins, no special ports, no installed software. Allow the following, grouped by what each one does so you can decide on any optional ones.
Required for Intertwined to work
*.intertwinedfinance.com: the app itself (app.intertwinedfinance.com), the service the app connects to for every sign-in and every piece of class data (also under intertwinedfinance.com), the help center (help.intertwinedfinance.com), Finn AI (finn.intertwinedfinance.com), and our main website (www.intertwinedfinance.com). If you allow only one entry, make it this one; without it, users see "We couldn't reach the server" on the login page.
fonts.googleapis.com and fonts.gstatic.com: the fonts Intertwined uses. Without them pages still work but look plainer.
Course content and teacher resources
*.intertwinedfinance.net: the Teaching Toolkit, the student Glossary, OpenStax books and resources, the teacher Development and Advocacy pages, and Arcade game cover art and some games. These appear inside Intertwined pages; if they're blocked, those areas show up empty.
www.youtube.com, plus the YouTube video and image hosts it relies on (*.googlevideo.com and *.ytimg.com): lesson videos are embedded from YouTube. If your filter restricts YouTube for students, lesson videos may not play, though the rest of each lesson does.
intertwined-news-hub.lovable.app: the student News page.
Arcade games
The Arcade is a set of short financial literacy games. Some run inside Intertwined; the rest load from their own sites. Allow these if you want the Arcade to work. Some web filters file these sites under "games," so they may need an exception.
*.intertwinedfinance.net (also listed above) and *.intertwinedfinance.org
*.intertwined-finance.com
*.myintertwined.com
intertwined-pitch-pivot.lovable.app
*.dicebear.com: character pictures in one game
We add games from time to time. If a new game shows an empty frame, the address in the frame tells you which site to add.
Investing Simulator
The Investing Simulator shows charts, market news, and company information from market data providers. Allow these for classes on a plan that includes it:
*.tradingview.com and *.tradingview-widget.com
us.trendlyne.com and cdn-static.trendlyne.com
widget.finlogix.com
intertwined-top-stocks.lovable.app
Teachers only
Support chat (the chat bubble in the Teacher Portal, and the help center): *.intercom.io, *.intercomcdn.com, and *.intercomassets.com. The chat keeps a live connection open, so allow secure WebSocket (wss) connections to *.intercom.io as well.
Payments, only for teachers subscribing to Intertwined Solo themselves: the secure payment pages at checkout.stripe.com and billing.stripe.com.
Not required
Intertwined also loads analytics and error-reporting services that help us find and fix problems. Blocking them doesn't affect how Intertwined works for teachers or students, so you don't need to add them to an allow list.
Password resets and other account emails come from [email protected], with subjects such as "Reset Your Password - Intertwined Finance." Ask IT to make sure school email filters deliver messages from that address, especially to student mailboxes, or students who signed up with a school email won't be able to reset a forgotten password. Students whose accounts you created don't use email at all.
Test it on a student device
Before your first class, sign in as a test student on a school device, on the school network, and check each of these:
The login page loads and you can sign in.
A lesson with a video plays the video.
The Arcade opens a game (if you plan to use it).
The Investing Simulator shows its charts (if your plan includes it).
On your teacher account, the Teaching Toolkit loads and the chat bubble appears.
Anything that fails points straight at the group of addresses to send IT.
Common questions
Is there an app to install?
No. Intertwined runs in the browser on every device. Students and teachers go to app.intertwinedfinance.com/login.
Can we allow only app.intertwinedfinance.com?
No. The app on its own can't sign anyone in or load any class data; it needs the rest of intertwinedfinance.com too. Allowing *.intertwinedfinance.com is the minimum.
Does Intertwined work offline?
No. Students need a connection while they work, because progress is saved as they go.
Do students need an email address?
Only if they sign up themselves with a class code. If your school doesn't give students email, or you'd rather they didn't use it, create their accounts for them. See Class code or teacher-created accounts: which should I use?
Where can IT read about how student data is handled?
Our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service cover it. For a district review or a data agreement, message us.
Still stuck?
If something still won't load after IT has allowed these addresses, message us from the chat bubble in the Teacher Portal (or email [email protected] if the chat is blocked). Tell us what doesn't load, on which devices and network, and include a screenshot. See Getting help: chat, bug reports, and feature requests.