# Blackboard vs Gradescope

The clearest difference is rating: Blackboard at 4.6 against Gradescope's 1.4. Blackboard also leads on ratings volume (443K vs 259) and chart position (#112 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

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

Blackboard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackboard has 443K ratings behind it against 259, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Blackboard's written reviews are positive against 9% of Gradescope's.

Blackboard ships an update monthly, Gradescope every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackboard | Gradescope |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (443K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861/reviews)** | [1.4 (259 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gradescope/id1563280912/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **443K** | 259 |
| Positive reviews | **14.2% of reviews** | 9.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | **#112** | — |
| Size | 172 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Anthology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676499025) | [Turnitin](https://appshunter.io/developer/657602527) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackboard/id950424861)

**Currently charting:** #112 Top Free · Education (US App Store)

This app connects students and instructors to their institution's learning management system. Access course materials, submit assignments, track grades, and communicate with peers and instructors on the go.

**Highlights:** Course updates and announcements, Assignment submission and testing, Grade tracking, Discussion board management, Material organization, Real-time notifications

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure login process
- 💡 Helpful for busy students

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Constant need to re-login
- 🕰️ Slow loading times
- 📱 Not optimized for mobile/tablets

**Reported bugs**

- Activity stream not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior across mobile and web
- Inability to view full assignment details

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize course order
- Improved notifications and alerts
- Split-screen functionality for multitasking
- Offline access to course materials


### Gradescope

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

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 Blackboard free?

Blackboard 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, Blackboard or Gradescope?

Blackboard is rated higher. Blackboard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 443K ratings, while Gradescope averages 1.4 from 259 ratings.

### Do Blackboard or Gradescope have ads?

Neither Blackboard nor Gradescope shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Blackboard or Gradescope?

Blackboard ships an update monthly, and Gradescope every 2 months. Most recently, Blackboard was updated on October 16, 2026 and Gradescope on October 13, 2026.

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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.*