GradeOrbit vs GradeDrive
Per-page pricing against per-script pricing, at real script lengths.
Information about GradeDrive checked 19 October 2026
In short
GradeDrive is cheaper for short scripts, and can be at 24 pages. GradeOrbit charges the same for every script whatever its length, so a 40-page mock costs less than on any paid GradeDrive plan, and it marks every subject.
About GradeDrive
GradeDrive is a UK AI marking tool for GCSE and A-level Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. You upload scanned papers and your mark scheme, and it charges by the page.
What one script costs
One student’s script at four lengths, from a short quiz to a long mock booklet.
| Tool | 2 pages | 6 pages | 24 pages | 40 pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GradeOrbit | 13.9p–16.7p | 13.9p–16.7p | 13.9p–16.7p | 13.9p–16.7p |
| GradeDrive | 1.2p–2p | 3.6p–6p | 14.4p–24p | 24p–40p |
GradeOrbit
Individual plans from £5 to £25 a month, for 30 to 180 credits. 1 credit marks one student’s script, whatever its length. Schools pay £10 per teacher a month, billed annually, with unlimited marking and AI detection on every seat.
1 credit per script costs 13.9p–16.7p on a monthly plan used in full, or 20p if you go over your allowance. School seats have no per-script charge.
GradeDrive
Free for 100 pages (a one-off allowance), then £10, £15 or £30 a month for 1,000, 2,000 or 5,000 pages.
From 0.6p a page (the £30 plan) to 1p a page (the £10 plan), with the allowance used in full.
Published accuracy
Studies differ in subject, exam board, sample size and who ran them, so read the figures side by side rather than as a ranking.
GradeOrbit
- GCSE Maths (Pearson Edexcel): 96% of marks within 1 mark of the senior examiner, agreement score (QWK) 0.92, across 69 marks.
- GCSE English (Eduqas): 83% of marks within 1 mark of the senior examiner, agreement score (QWK) 0.96, across 98 marks.
Measured 18 October 2026 on exam board exemplar scripts. We ran the study ourselves; the method and limits are on our accuracy page.
GradeDrive
GradeDrive publishes two September 2026 case studies against official AQA marks: GCSE Physics (71 items, QWK 0.885, 91.5% within 1 mark) and A-level Maths (185 parts, QWK 0.864, 93.0% within 1 mark). It discloses that a co-founder co-wrote both.
Side by side
| GradeOrbit | GradeDrive | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Yes: Per script: 1 credit, any length | Partly: Per page |
| Pages per script | Yes: Up to 50 on individual accounts; no limit for schools | Not found: No page limit stated; files up to 500 MB |
| Subjects | Yes: Any subject, KS3 to A-level and BTEC | Partly: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, GCSE and A-level |
| Handwritten scripts | Yes: Scanned or photographed whole scripts | Yes: Scanned PDF uploads |
| Mark schemes | Yes: Ready-made GCSE mark schemes, or your own criteria | Yes: Upload your own mark scheme |
| Published accuracy figures | Yes: Against senior examiners, GCSE Maths and GCSE English | Yes: Two case studies, co-written by a co-founder |
| AI detection | Yes: 1 credit a check on individual plans; unlimited for schools | Not found: Not mentioned on its homepage or pricing page |
| MIS sync | Yes: Wonde, on school accounts | Not found: Not mentioned on its homepage or pricing page |
| Student data | Yes: Individual accounts: work not kept, names redacted in your browser. Schools: kept under a DPA | Yes: Says EU/EEA hosting and never trains on your data |
| Free trial | Yes: 10 free credits for teachers; 30-day trial for schools | Yes: 100 free pages that do not expire |
Where GradeDrive is strong
- Cheaper than a per-script price for short scripts.
- Publishes accuracy case studies and is open about who wrote them.
- Says it is hosted in the EU/EEA and never trains on your data.
Where GradeOrbit is different
- GradeOrbit charges per student script, not per page, so a 40-page mock costs the same as a 2-page quiz.
- GradeOrbit marks every subject, including English, humanities and languages.
- GradeOrbit school seats include unlimited marking and AI detection, with Wonde roster sync.
Which should you choose?
- GradeDrive may suit you if
- You mostly mark short science or maths papers and want the lowest cost per page.
- GradeOrbit may suit you if
- You mark long mocks, or subjects beyond science and maths, and want one price per script.
Sources
- GradeDrive homepage (checked 19 October 2026)
- GradeDrive pricing (checked 19 October 2026)
- GradeDrive accuracy (checked 18 October 2026)
- GradeDrive subjects (checked 18 October 2026)
Everything about GradeDrive on this page comes from its own public pages on the date shown, and may have changed since. We have not used GradeDrive’s product. GradeDrive is a trademark of its owner and is named here only to compare. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.