ZipGrade vs BYB Backpack
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
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.
- Remote TTL signal generation
- Control two independent square-wave pulses
- Adjustable frequency
- Adjustable pulse width
- Adjustable duration
- Requires BYB remote signal generator hardware
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. ZipGrade sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BYB Backpack asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
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.
| Parameter | ZipGrade | BYB Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (37K ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 37K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks — better | Every 11 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 13.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ZipGrade LLC | Backyard Brains |
Customer experience
ZipGrade
BYB Backpack
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
ZipGrade
- Add 1 year of use$6.99
BYB Backpack
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ZipGrade free?
Is BYB Backpack free?
Which has better reviews, ZipGrade or BYB Backpack?
Do ZipGrade or BYB Backpack have ads?
Which is updated more often, ZipGrade or BYB Backpack?
Other comparisons















