Comparison

Canvas by Instructure vs Gradescope

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

Head to head
About

Canvas by Instructure

Access your courses and stay organized with this learning app. Track assignments, submit work, participate in discussions, and even study offline. It supports integrated tools and accessibility features for a seamless educational experience.

Highlights
  • View grades and track assignments
  • Submit assignments and take quizzes
  • Join class discussions
  • Download courses for offline access
  • Receive push notifications and reminders
  • Integrated classroom tools and dark mode
Features
Read full description

Your learning, anywhere. Stay connected to your courses with the official Canvas app for learners. Whether you’re in class, commuting, or offline, Canvas helps you stay organized and engaged. Note for instructors: For teaching and grading features, use the Canvas Teacher app. What you can do • Organize: View grades, track assignments, homework, and schoolwork; get reminders, push notifications and add customizable widgets for quick access • Engage: Send messages, join class discussions and collaborate with classmates in real time • Learn: Submit assignments, PDFs, docs, and media files for teachers to annotate in SpeedGrader, take quizzes, and watch videos on the go • Offline: Download full courses and keep studying even without internet • Integration & inclusivity: Use integrated classroom tools (LTIs), enjoy dark mode, and rely on built-in accessibility for everyone (VPAT 2.2 compliant) • Lifelong learning: Support for continuous learning, career-focused skill based learning programs, and AI-powered learning experience via Career experience Trusted by over 40 million learners worldwide.

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
Currently charting
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

Canvas by Instructure4 screens
Gradescope4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Canvas by Instructure at 4.7 against Gradescope's 1.4. Canvas by Instructure also leads on ratings volume (2.8M vs 231) and review sentiment (27% vs 9%). Gradescope's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 18.0). 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

Canvas by Instructure holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Canvas by Instructure has 2.8M ratings behind it against 231, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of Canvas by Instructure's written reviews are positive against 9% of Gradescope's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, Gradescope every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Canvas by Instructure versus Gradescope: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCanvas by InstructureGradescope
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.8M ratings) — better1.4 (231 ratings)
Positive reviews26.8% of reviews — better9.2% of reviews
Number of ratings2.8M — better231
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#5 — better#99
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInstructure Inc.Turnitin

Customer experience

Canvas by Instructure

All ratings2,768,036 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews1,465 reviews
Positive26.8%
Neutral12.1%
Negative61.2%

Gradescope

All ratings231 ratings
Positive7.4%
Neutral3.5%
Negative89.2%
Written reviews98 reviews
Positive9.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative83.7%

User reviews

Canvas by Instructure

From 2.8M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 📚 Easy access to course materials
  • 💻 Convenient mobile access
  • 📊 Helpful grade tracking
  • 🔔 Useful notification system

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🔁 Resets when switching apps
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate
  • 🙈 Lack of customization options
  • 🗓️ Calendar issues

Gradescope

From 231 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick and effective submission process
  • 👍 Clean and well-designed app
  • 📸 Convenient scanning and photo upload

Room to improve

  • 🔑 Frequent log-in issues and lack of session persistence
  • 📱 Suboptimal iPad and tablet experience
  • 🐛 Buggy scanning and submission functionality
  • 🤔 Lack of key features like viewing graded assignments

Bugs and requests

Canvas by Instructure

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App freezing and crashing
  • Inability to view all course content
  • Inconsistent behavior across devices
  • Unreliable assignment submission
  • Syncing issues between app and website

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved discussion board functionality
  • Ability to edit posts/comments
  • Integration with personal calendars
  • More granular notification controls

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

Canvas by Instructure

No in-app purchases

None

Gradescope

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Canvas by Instructure free?
Canvas by Instructure 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, Canvas by Instructure or Gradescope?
Canvas by Instructure is rated higher. Canvas by Instructure averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.8M ratings, while Gradescope averages 1.4 from 231 ratings.
Do Canvas by Instructure or Gradescope have ads?
Neither Canvas by Instructure nor Gradescope shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Canvas by Instructure or Gradescope?
Canvas by Instructure ships an update every 3 weeks, and Gradescope every 2 months. Most recently, Canvas by Instructure was updated on September 25, 2026 and Gradescope on September 22, 2026.
Which is more popular, Canvas by Instructure or Gradescope?
Canvas by Instructure currently peaks at #5 in the App Store charts, and Gradescope at #99. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons