Comparison

ZipGrade vs BYB Backpack

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

Head to head
About

ZipGrade

Instantly grade multiple-choice tests and quizzes using your device's camera. This app offers a fast and accurate way for educators to assess student work, with features for organizing and exporting results. It provides immediate feedback to inform lesson planning and assignments.

Highlights
  • Instant grading with device camera
  • Supports multiple choice tests and quizzes
  • Organizes and exports results (PDF, Excel)
  • Free answer sheet templates available
  • Companion website for data management
  • Stores results by student, subject, and quiz
Features
Read full description

Teachers can grade multiple choice tests, quizzes, and assessments instantly in the classroom by using their iPhone or iPad's camera as a scanner. It is the most cost effective, fastest, and most accurate way to grade tests in the classroom or where ever you are. -------------------------------------------------------- * Free answer sheets available in several formats and sizes up to 100 questions (including custom form wizard) * Organizes results for reporting and exporting via PDF and Excel-readable format * Uses student ID numbers or written name of student for reporting. * Use companion website (www.zipgrade.com) to manage your data and upload student lists and review results in dozens of reports and exports. -------------------------------------------------------- Use for exit tickets, formative assessments, or regular quizzes. Stores results by students, subject, and quiz. By giving teachers the flexibility to grade papers instantly anywhere, ZipGrade provides immediate feedback on current knowledge and can be used to better focus lessons and assignments. Download ZipGrade free with access to all features and website, but limited to 100 scans per month. After you've used it for a class or two, use the in-app purchase a non-recurring subscription with unlimited scanning.

About

BYB Backpack

This application allows users to remotely control a two-channel signal generator for TTL signals. It enables the generation of square-wave pulses with adjustable frequency, pulse width, and duration, ideal for electronics projects.

Highlights
  • Remote TTL signal generation
  • Control two independent square-wave pulses
  • Adjustable frequency
  • Adjustable pulse width
  • Adjustable duration
  • Requires BYB remote signal generator hardware
Features
Read full description

BYB Backpack is an educational wireless stimulus generator developed by Backyard Brains. Connect to a BYB Backpack board over Bluetooth, choose a preset frequency, or configure frequency, pulse width, duration, gain, and random mode. A compatible board is required. Original device development was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH (award R43MH093334).

Screenshots

ZipGrade3 screens
BYB Backpack1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ZipGrade at 4.9 against BYB Backpack's 3.0. ZipGrade also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 11 months) and ratings volume (37K vs 2). BYB Backpack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. ZipGrade sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BYB Backpack asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ZipGrade holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZipGrade has 37K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZipGrade ships an update every 6 weeks, BYB Backpack every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ZipGrade versus BYB Backpack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZipGradeBYB Backpack
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (37K ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews85.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings37K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 11 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better13.1
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZipGrade LLCBackyard Brains

Customer experience

ZipGrade

All ratings36,274 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews509 reviews
Positive85.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative11.0%

BYB Backpack

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

ZipGrade

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Scanning issues with flat surface detection
  • Incorrect answer marking due to eraser marks

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to change question point values in bulk
  • Option to create/edit answer keys on website
  • Support for non-multiple choice question types
  • Improved data export/integration with other systems

BYB Backpack

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

ZipGrade

One-time1
  • Add 1 year of use$6.99
None

BYB Backpack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZipGrade free?
ZipGrade is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BYB Backpack free?
BYB Backpack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ZipGrade or BYB Backpack?
ZipGrade is rated higher. ZipGrade averages 4.9 out of 5 from 37K ratings, while BYB Backpack averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ZipGrade or BYB Backpack have ads?
Neither ZipGrade nor BYB Backpack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZipGrade or BYB Backpack?
ZipGrade ships an update every 6 weeks, and BYB Backpack every 11 months. Most recently, ZipGrade was updated on October 30, 2026 and BYB Backpack on October 24, 2026.

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