ZipGrade is a well-known phone grading app, and for many teachers it is a perfectly good choice. People look for an alternative for a few specific reasons: a monthly paper limit, a form that tops out at a hundred questions, or the wish for negative marking and a question paper writer in the same tool.
This is a fair comparison, dated October 2026. ZipGrade’s figures come from its public pricing page; check it before you decide, because plans change.
At a glance
| ZipGrade | ScanScore | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | Android only |
| Free plan | About 100 papers a month | Unlimited scanning |
| Question forms | 20, 50 and 100 questions | Any number up to 200 |
| Options per question | Check the form you print | 4 (A–D) or 5 (A–E) |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
| Question paper writer | No | Yes, on credits |
Reasons teachers switch
- Volume. A teacher with several classes can pass 100 papers in a month quickly. ScanScore has no cap, so the number stops mattering.
- Longer papers. A 150- or 200-question mock exam does not fit a 100-question form. ScanScore’s sheet holds up to 200 on one side of A4.
- Negative marking. Fractional negative marking and per-question marks are built in. See negative marking explained.
- Question papers. If you also write the paper, ScanScore can generate it with a key and a matching sheet.
Reasons to stay with ZipGrade
Being straight about it matters more than a sales pitch:
- You use an iPhone or iPad. ScanScore does not scan on iOS. This is the biggest reason, and it is a good one.
- Your forms are already printed and working. Switching has a cost, and a working routine is worth keeping.
- Your needs are small. A short quiz a few times a month fits comfortably inside a free allowance.
If you do switch
- Re-create one exam in ScanScore: name, question count, answer key.
- Print the new sheet. The sheets are not interchangeable, so students need ScanScore’s own.
- Import your class list from a CSV or Excel file so roll numbers show names.
- Export a CSV when you need to share results elsewhere.
More comparisons
The wider field — including GradeCam, Gradescope and desktop software — is covered in the best OMR scanner app comparison. For why scanning can be unlimited, read the unlimited free scanner explainer.
Keep reading: Top five OMR scanner features