Comparison

UIC SAFE vs Gradescope

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

UIC SAFE

This official campus safety app connects students, faculty, and staff to university security systems. It offers real-time location sharing, emergency alerts, and direct communication with campus police for enhanced safety.

Highlights
  • Emergency call button
  • Real-time location sharing with friends
  • Instant safety notifications and alerts
  • Live chat with campus police
  • Anonymous tip reporting
  • Emergency preparedness guidance
Features
Read full description

UIC SAFE is the official safety app of University of Illinois at Chicago. It is the only app that integrates with UIC's safety and security systems. The Office of Preparedness and Response, along with the Office of Public and Government Affairs, and the UIC Police Department, have worked to develop a new mobile application that provides students, faculty and staff with added safety on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus. The new app is just one part of a number of strategies being implemented to enhance public safety and emergency preparedness on- and off-campus. The apps user-friendly interface allows users to easily connect and share their location with family and friends in real-time as they walk and report information to UIC Police, anonymously if needed. UIC SAFE features include: -Emergency call button: contact UIC Police quickly for help in an emergency. -Friend Walk: Send your location to a friend, who can watch you walk home in real-time. -Safety notifications: receive instant notifications, emergency UIC ALERTs, and instructions when on-campus emergencies occur. -Chat with UIC Police: Communicate live with a UIC Police officer via chat. -Emergency Contacts: Contact the correct services for the UIC area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern. -Tip Reporting: Multiple ways to report a safety/security concern directly to UIC Police. -Emergency Preparedness Protractive Measures: Learn what to do in case of an emergency. -Campus safety resources: access all important safety resources and student and employee services. Download today and ensure that you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.

About

Gradescope

Easily upload assignments for courses using this app. Submit files from your device or scan your work directly. Assign pages for variable-length assignments and resubmit if needed before the deadline.

Highlights
  • Upload assignments
  • Scan documents with camera
  • Select existing files
  • Assign pages for variable-length assignments
  • Resubmit assignments
  • View submitted and graded assignments
Features
Read full description

Students, upload your assignments to Gradescope more easily than ever before! If your instructor uses Gradescope for your assignments, you can now upload your submission with our mobile app. After installing and opening the app, login to see your Gradescope courses and assignments. To upload a submission, click on the assignment in the “Not Submitted” tab and either “Select File” to select an existing file from your device or “Scan” all pages of your completed work using your iPhone’s camera. Once you submit your file(s), for templated assignments, you’re all set. For variable-length assignments, “Assign pages” to indicate where your answer for each question appears within your submission. It’s that easy! After confirming, your assignment then moves to the “Submitted” tab. If needed, you can resubmit your assignment until the due date your instructor set has passed. Once it is graded and grades are published for the assignment, it then moves to the “Graded” tab. Note: For V1 of the app, you will be directed to our mobile website for any advanced functionality, including viewing feedback and submitting timed, programming, or online assignments. Stay tuned for future updates that will allow you to do even more with our mobile app!

Screenshots

UIC SAFE4 screens
Gradescope4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: UIC SAFE at 3.6 against Gradescope's 1.4. UIC SAFE also leads on review sentiment (36% vs 9%). Gradescope's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (269 vs 24). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

UIC SAFE holds the better App Store score, 3.6 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gradescope has 269 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of UIC SAFE's written reviews are positive against 9% of Gradescope's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

UIC SAFE ships an update every 4 months, Gradescope every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
UIC SAFE versus Gradescope: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUIC SAFEGradescope
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (24 ratings) — better1.4 (269 ratings)
Positive reviews36.4% of reviews — better8.7% of reviews
Number of ratings24269 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better13.4
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoTurnitin

Customer experience

UIC SAFE

All ratings24 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative63.6%

Gradescope

All ratings259 ratings
Positive7.3%
Neutral3.5%
Negative89.2%
Written reviews104 reviews
Positive8.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative84.6%

Bugs and requests

UIC SAFE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Gradescope

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Camera flash issues during scanning
  • Photos not uploading in correct order
  • Inconsistent download button behavior

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to sort assignments by due date
  • Integration of tools for instructors
  • Improved iPad and tablet optimization

In-app purchases

None

UIC SAFE

No in-app purchases

None

Gradescope

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is UIC SAFE free?
UIC SAFE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gradescope free?
Gradescope is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, UIC SAFE or Gradescope?
UIC SAFE is rated higher. UIC SAFE averages 3.6 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Gradescope averages 1.4 from 269 ratings.
Do UIC SAFE or Gradescope have ads?
Neither UIC SAFE nor Gradescope shows ads.
Which is updated more often, UIC SAFE or Gradescope?
UIC SAFE ships an update every 4 months, and Gradescope every 2 months. Most recently, UIC SAFE was updated on October 16, 2026 and Gradescope on October 22, 2026.

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