Our verdict on Gradescope
Gradescope is the standard for grading exams and problem sets at universities, cutting grading time with consistent rubrics and AI-assisted answer groups. The free Basic plan is useful, but AI grading needs an Institutional licence.
What is Gradescope?
Gradescope is an online grading platform from Turnitin for paper-based, online and programming assignments.
Students or instructors upload work, and Gradescope lets graders mark question by question with dynamic rubrics. Changing a rubric item updates every submission it applies to, which keeps grading fair and fast.
Institutional features add AI-assisted grading: answer groups cluster similar responses so you can grade a whole group at once, and AI roster matching links scanned exams to students. It also supports programming assignments with autograders and bubble sheets.
Basic is free for individual instructors with core rubric grading. The Institutional plan, priced on request, adds AI-powered grading, LMS integration, SSO and admin dashboards.
Gradescope at a glance
| Made by | Turnitin |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2014 |
| Category | AI Grading Platform |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android (student app) |
| Free plan | Yes |
| Pricing | Free Basic; Institutional on request |
| Website | gradescope.com |
Gradescope key features
Dynamic rubrics
Edit a rubric once and update all grades.
AI answer groups
Grade similar answers together.
Programming autograders
Automatically test code submissions.
Bubble sheets and online assignments
Multiple formats in one tool.
Regrade requests
Structured student appeals.
Analytics
Question-level statistics to spot gaps.
Who Gradescope is best for
University instructors
Large STEM courses and exams.
Teaching assistants
Fast, consistent shared grading.
Computer science courses
Autograded programming work.
Departments
Standardised assessment workflows.
Gradescope pros and cons
What we like
- Major time savings on grading
- Consistent, transparent rubrics
- Strong for STEM and code
- Free Basic plan
What could be better
- AI grading requires Institutional
- Less suited to essays
- Scanning paper exams takes setup
- Pricing not public
Gradescope pricing
Basic
Rubric grading, PDF assignments, regrades and exports.
Institutional
AI grading, answer groups, LMS, SSO and admin tools.
An Institutional trial is available. Prices checked November 2026. AI pricing changes often, so confirm on the official Gradescope site.
How to get started with Gradescope
- Create a free instructor account.
- Upload an assignment template and set up questions.
- Grade with rubrics, then publish results to students.
Gradescope alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Gradescope | Instructors grading exams, problem sets and code at scale | Free Basic; Institutional on request |
| Khanmigo | AI teaching assistant for K-12 | Free for teachers |
| MathGPT | Step-by-step math help for students | Free, paid plans |
| Carnegie Learning | Adaptive math practice | School licences |
| Century | Adaptive learning for schools | School licences |
Gradescope FAQ
Is Gradescope free?
Yes. The Basic plan is free. AI-assisted grading is part of the Institutional plan.
Who owns Gradescope?
Gradescope is owned by Turnitin.
Does Gradescope use AI?
Yes. Institutional plans include AI-assisted answer groups and roster matching.
Can Gradescope grade code?
Yes. Programming assignments can be autograded.
Sources: Gradescope pricing. Reviewed by the Digicrusader editorial team. Compare more options in our directory of 1,000+ AI tools.
