# Canvas by Instructure vs Gradescope

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Canvas by Instructure | Gradescope |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-by-instructure/id480883488/reviews)** | [1.4 (231 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradescope/id1563280912/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8M** | 231 |
| Positive reviews | **26.8% of reviews** | 9.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | #99 |
| Size | 209 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instructure Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/418441198) | [Turnitin](https://appshunter.io/developer/657602527) |

## What reviewers say

### Canvas by Instructure

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/canvas-by-instructure/id480883488)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Education, #201 Top Free (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


### Gradescope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradescope/id1563280912)

**Currently charting:** #99 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔑 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*