EssayGrader vs Smartschool (2026): Pricing, Features & Which to Choose

Who comes out ahead

Based only on the facts in our directory. The right pick still depends on the job you need done.

Lower starting price
Not comparable
Not comparable: Smartschool does not list a price
Free plan
Tie
Both have one
Higher rating
Smartschool
3.6 against 4.0
Same job?
Yes
Both are Education tools

Side by side

Compared on	EssayGrader	Smartschool
Our rating	3.6	4.0Better
Starts at	$19.99/mo	Free
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Category	Education	Education
Plans	From $19.99/mo	Free
Key features	AI grading benchmarked within 1 point of teacher scores 94% of the time Built-in AI writing detection with sentence-level highlights Plagiarism checking against web sources and other student work Handwriting recognition for scanned, hand-written essays 800+ curriculum-aligned rubrics plus custom rubrics, with LMS integration	Handwritten work submitted and assessed Guided questioning instead of answer-giving Content aligned to state standards Real-time class performance data for teachers Tutoring in 200-plus languages, three difficulty levels
Pros	Benchmarked accuracy claim (94% within 1 point of teacher scores), not just a marketing claim Already at meaningful scale - 200,000+ teachers, 10,000+ schools Combines grading, AI detection, and plagiarism checking in one tool	Reads the working, where the errors that matter actually live Guides with questions rather than supplying answers Free for individual teachers to start
Cons	Free tier capped at 100 essays total, not a renewing monthly allowance Handwriting recognition accuracy for messy handwriting isn't independently verified AI-detection features carry the same false-positive risk as any AI-text detector	District pricing is by demo with no figures published Handwriting recognition on genuinely messy work is imperfect Maths only
Company	EssayGrader	Smartschool

Prices come from each vendor's pricing page, last checked 20260826. Check the vendor before you buy.

FAQ

Questions people ask

Is EssayGrader better than Smartschool?

In our reviews EssayGrader scores 3.6 and Smartschool scores 4.0. The better pick depends on the job. EssayGrader: 94% of the time, EssayGrader's scores land within 1 point of a teacher's own - bulk-grade essays, catch AI-generated writing and plagiarism, synced to your LMS. Smartschool: Maths tutor that reads handwritten working and guides students with questions, not answers.

Which is cheaper, EssayGrader or Smartschool?

EssayGrader: from $19.99/mo. Smartschool: free.

Do EssayGrader and Smartschool have free plans?

Yes, both have a free plan.

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