Grade AI vs. ZipGrade: which phone grading app fits your class?
Both apps grade paper multiple-choice tests with a phone camera. A fair comparison of answer sheets, student identification, versions, results and price, and when each one is the better choice.
In short: ZipGrade and Grade AI both scan paper answer sheets with a phone. ZipGrade prints generic answer grids with up to 100 questions, supports more answer types and is very cheap. Grade AI prints one sheet per student with the questions, the student's name and a QR code on it, drafts questions with AI if you want, and shows what the class got wrong; it is limited to 20 questions with answers A to D and costs more. Information about ZipGrade comes from zipgrade.com, checked in October 2026.
The short version
- Long tests, many answer types, lowest price: ZipGrade.
- Short tests, questions and names on the sheet, two versions, AI drafts: Grade AI.
Both work offline on the phone, and both let you scan sheets printed on ordinary paper.
Side by side
| ZipGrade | Grade AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | iPhone, Android, website | iPhone, Android, web app |
| What is printed | An answer grid (20, 50 or 100 questions, or a custom form) | One sheet per student: name, QR code, the questions and the answer circles |
| Questions on the sheet | No, they go on a separate paper | Yes |
| Questions per sheet | Up to 100 | Up to 20 on A4, 12 on A5, 10 on half of A4 |
| Answer types | Multiple choice, true/false, matching, numeric grid | Multiple choice, A to D |
| Who wrote this sheet | Student bubbles an ID number (50 and 100 question forms), or you print forms with student details | Name printed on the sheet, QR code holds the student and version |
| Versions | Key versions | Two versions, A and B, you decide who writes which |
| Writing the questions | You | You, or AI drafts them from a topic or your notes |
| Results | Item analysis, standards tagging, CSV export | Grades on your scale, answer breakdown A to D, "Reteach tomorrow", who has not written yet |
| Export to other systems | CSV | No export |
| Price | 100 papers a month free; unlimited for $6.99 a year (US) | 14 days free once, then a monthly subscription ($9.99 a month in the US) |
Where ZipGrade is stronger
- Long tests. Forms for 50 and 100 questions. Grade AI stops at 20 questions on A4.
- More answer types. True/false, matching and numeric answers. Grade AI reads only A to D.
- Price. A free tier with 100 papers a month and an inexpensive yearly plan.
- Export. CSV export of the results for other systems. Grade AI does not export.
- Any question paper. Because the grid is generic, you can use it with questions from a textbook or an existing worksheet.
Where Grade AI is stronger
- One paper per student. The questions are on the answer sheet, so students answer next to the question instead of copying letters from one paper to another.
- Names already printed. Each sheet carries the student's name and a QR code. There is no ID number to bubble in, and scanning in any order still puts every grade with the right student.
- Two versions without extra work. You choose who writes A and who writes B, the QR code tells the scanner which key to use, and with AI version B gets its own questions on the same material. More in Two versions of a test.
- AI drafts. Questions from a topic, or from photos, PDFs and Word documents of your notes. You check and edit them before printing. More in AI test questions from your notes.
- Results built for the next lesson. For every question you see how many students chose A, B, C and D, and a "Reteach tomorrow" card shows the question the class found hardest.
- Ten languages and grading scales for ten countries, including the printed sheets.
Which one should you choose?
Choose ZipGrade if your tests are long, use true/false or matching questions, or come from a textbook with its own question paper, and if price matters most.
Choose Grade AI if you give short tests to whole classes, want students to have one sheet with the questions on it, want two versions against copying, or want help writing the questions. You can try it free for 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can Grade AI read ZipGrade answer sheets?
No. Grade AI reads only the sheets it prints itself, because it uses their corner squares and QR code.
Is ZipGrade free?
ZipGrade's website lists 100 graded papers a month for free and unlimited grading for $6.99 for one year (US price, at the time of writing).
Does Grade AI have a free version?
Every account can try Grade AI free once: 14 days, or 30 days with a partner code. After that it is a paid subscription, priced by country.
Do students need devices with either app?
No. In both apps students answer on paper and only the teacher uses a phone.
Try it on your next test.
Set up a class, print the sheets, see how long it takes. Scanning happens on the phone. Building and printing work in the browser too.