9 Best AI For Automating Feedback On Student Assignments

Grading is eating your life. You know it, your family knows it, and that pile of ungraded assignments definitely knows it. But what’s worse than the time it consumes is the nagging feeling that your rushed feedback isn’t helping students improve. The mental load is exhausting-trying to be thorough, consistent, and timely all at once seems impossible. That’s why the best AI for automating feedback on student assignments feels like finding water in a desert. These 9 tools don’t just speed up grading; they fundamentally transform how we support student learning.

EssayGrader

When it comes to the best AI for automating feedback on student assignments, EssayGrader stands out as the heavyweight champion. Trusted by over 30,000 educators worldwide, this platform has processed more than half a million essays-and for good reason.

What makes EssayGrader special is its ability to mimic YOUR grading style. Instead of forcing you to adapt to some generic AI approach, it lets you upload your own rubrics and grading criteria. This means the feedback actually sounds like it came from you, not some robot.

Key Features:

• Custom rubric creation that matches your exact grading criteria
• Class-based essay grading for efficient batch processing
• Built-in AI detection to catch students using ChatGPT
• Essay summarizer that gives you the TL;DR version
• Bulk upload feature for processing multiple assignments at once

Pricing:

While EssayGrader doesn’t publicly list their pricing on the search results I found, they do offer a free trial that lets you test the platform before committing.

Pros:

• Reduces grading time by a whopping 95% (from 10 minutes per essay to just 30 seconds!)
• Maintains consistency across all assignments, even when you’re tired
• Provides specific, actionable feedback rather than generic comments
• Works for primary school through college-level writing

Cons:

• May require some initial setup time to create custom rubrics
• Premium features likely require a paid subscription

EssayGrader is best for teachers who grade a high volume of written assignments and want to maintain their personal grading standards while saving massive amounts of time.

Gradescope

Gradescope by Turnitin is the MVP for large class sizes and diverse assignment types. If you’re teaching hundreds of students or need to grade everything from essays to coding projects, this is your new best friend.

What I love about Gradescope is its question-by-question approach rather than student-by-student grading. This means you grade all responses to question 1, then all responses to question 2, and so on-ensuring consistency across the board.

Key Features:

• AI-powered grouping of similar student responses
• Handwriting recognition for paper-based assignments (yes, really!)
• Code autograding for programming assignments
• Built-in plagiarism detection powered by Turnitin
• Seamless integration with Canvas, Blackboard, and Google Classroom

Pricing:

Gradescope offers a limited free version for individual teachers, but full access requires an institutional license. You’ll need to contact them for specific pricing.

Pros:

• Dramatically speeds up grading for large classes
• Works with handwritten assignments (a rare feature!)
• Excellent for STEM subjects with its code evaluation tools
• Strong LMS integration makes workflow smooth

Cons:

• Full features require institutional purchase
• Learning curve can be steeper than some alternatives
• Less customization for feedback compared to some competitors

Gradescope is best for university professors, high school teachers with large class loads, or anyone teaching computer science courses who needs automated code evaluation.

CoGrader

When it comes to essay grading, CoGrader hits the sweet spot between automation and human oversight. This tool focuses specifically on written assignments and provides structured feedback that students can actually use to improve.

I particularly appreciate CoGrader’s “glows and grows” approach-highlighting what students did well alongside areas for improvement. This positive-first feedback model tends to be better received by students than pure criticism.

Key Features:

• Customizable rubric-based grading
• Strengths-based feedback system
• AI detection for plagiarism and AI-generated content
• Google Classroom and Canvas integration
• Class performance insights and analytics

Pricing:

CoGrader offers a free plan that allows up to 100 student submissions per month. Their paid plan starts at $15/month for 300 essays, with school-wide licenses available for larger implementations.

Pros:

• Can reduce grading time by up to 80%
• Provides constructive, actionable feedback
• Free tier is generous enough for small classes
• Strong analytics help identify class-wide learning gaps

Cons:

• Focused primarily on written assignments
• Limited integrations compared to some competitors
• May require fine-tuning to match your grading style

CoGrader is best for English teachers, humanities instructors, or anyone who assigns a high volume of essays and written responses.

Formative AI

Formative AI takes a different approach to automated feedback by focusing on real-time, interactive assessments. Rather than just grading completed work, this platform allows you to create dynamic exercises that provide immediate feedback as students work.

This immediate response loop is incredibly powerful for learning-students don’t have to wait days to find out if they’re on the right track. The platform’s integration with OpenAI also means you can auto-generate lessons, assignments, and even hints.

Key Features:

• Real-time interactive student exercises
• OpenAI integration for content generation
• Comprehensive analytics dashboard
• Automated grading with personalized feedback
• Progress tracking against educational standards

Pricing:

Formative AI offers a free Bronze plan with unlimited lessons, assignments, and assessments. Their Silver plan costs $15/month and adds advanced grading tools and question types. A Gold plan with custom pricing includes their most advanced features.

Pros:

• Real-time feedback creates a more responsive learning environment
• Generous free tier with essential features
• Tracks student progress against standards automatically
• Saves time with auto-generated content

Cons:

• Limited customization for generated assignments
• Interface may be challenging for younger students
• Some advanced features require paid plans

Formative AI is best for teachers who want to create an interactive, responsive classroom environment with immediate feedback loops rather than traditional assignment submission and grading.

Automated Feedback by FeedbackFruits

Automated Feedback by FeedbackFruits takes a comprehensive approach to assignment evaluation. What sets this tool apart is its ability to assess over 20 different writing criteria-from structure and clarity to citations and academic integrity.

I’m particularly impressed by how this platform can be integrated as a pre-step to any assignment. Students receive AI-powered feedback before final submission, which means they can improve their work before you ever see it. This creates a powerful learning opportunity and ultimately leads to higher quality submissions.

Key Features:

• AI-powered feedback on 20+ writing criteria
• Citation and academic integrity checking
• Pre-configured templates for instant setup
• Integration as a pre-step to any assignment
• Optional Turnitin plagiarism detection

Pricing:

FeedbackFruits doesn’t list specific pricing in the search results, but they appear to offer institutional licensing rather than individual teacher subscriptions.

Pros:

• Comprehensive assessment across multiple writing dimensions
• Improves student work before submission
• Encourages self-reflection and revision
• Easy setup with pre-configured templates

Cons:

• Likely requires institutional purchase
• May have a steeper learning curve than simpler tools
• Limited information about customization options

Automated Feedback is best for institutions looking for a comprehensive solution that improves student work quality while reducing instructor grading time.

Brisk Teaching

Brisk Teaching is an AI teaching assistant that goes beyond just grading to provide comprehensive support for educators. What makes it stand out is its ability to modify reading difficulty levels and provide personalized feedback based on individual student needs.

The platform integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace tools like Docs and Classroom, making it particularly convenient for teachers already using these systems. I appreciate how it helps create engaging content like quizzes and interactive activities in addition to providing feedback.

Key Features:

• AI-powered lesson plan creation
• Automated student assessment tools
• Performance tracking and analytics
• Adaptive and personalized learning paths
• Google Workspace integration

Pricing:

Brisk Teaching offers a free plan with basic features and a Premium plan for schools and districts that includes targeted feedback, student intervention ideas, and alignment with educational standards. The paid plan costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year.

Pros:

• Comprehensive teaching support beyond just grading
• Adapts content to different reading levels
• Familiar interface for Google Workspace users
• Affordable pricing for individual teachers

Cons:

• Potential over-reliance on AI-generated content
• May not always be precise with complex subjects
• Some features could potentially limit student creativity

Brisk Teaching is best for educators looking for an all-in-one AI assistant that helps with content creation, assessment, and personalized learning paths.

Blackboard Learn

Blackboard Learn is one of the most established platforms in the educational technology space, and its AI assessment tools have become increasingly sophisticated. While many know Blackboard as a learning management system, its automated feedback capabilities deserve attention in their own right.

The platform excels at creating, distributing, and managing various types of assessments-from tests and quizzes to surveys and assignments. What I particularly value is the centralized location for all course materials and the integrated Gradebook that makes tracking student progress efficient.

Key Features:

• Centralized course materials and assignments
• Real-time interaction through discussion boards
• Integrated Gradebook for efficient grade management
• Multiple assessment formats
• Instant feedback options for students

Pricing:

Blackboard typically requires an institutional license, with pricing based on the size of the institution and specific features needed.

Pros:

• Comprehensive ecosystem for course management
• Strong integration between assessment and other course elements
• Familiar interface for many educators and students
• Robust grade tracking and reporting

Cons:

• Requires institutional purchase
• Can be less intuitive than newer, more focused tools
• May offer less specialized feedback than dedicated grading platforms

Blackboard Learn is best for institutions already using the Blackboard ecosystem who want to leverage its integrated assessment and feedback tools rather than adopting a separate platform.

Mentimeter

Mentimeter takes a unique approach to automated feedback by focusing on interactive presentations and real-time assessment. While not a traditional grading tool, its AI-powered features make it valuable for gathering immediate student feedback and providing instant assessment.

What makes Mentimeter stand out is its AI Menti Builder and AI Quiz Generator, which can create engaging, interactive content tailored to any grade level or age group. This makes it perfect for classroom games, team-building activities, or quick knowledge checks.

Key Features:

• AI-powered interactive presentation development
• AI-generated, customizable quizzes
• Interactive Q&A, polls, and surveys
• Anonymous response collection
• Real-time results visualization

Pricing:

Mentimeter offers a free version to start, with paid plans beginning at $11.99 per presenter per month.

Pros:

• Highly engaging for students
• Provides immediate feedback during lessons
• Anonymous responses encourage participation
• Simple pricing structure compared to alternatives

Cons:

• Not designed for traditional assignment grading
• Limited depth of feedback compared to dedicated grading tools
• Requires internet access during class time

Mentimeter is best for teachers who want to incorporate more interactive assessment and immediate feedback into their classroom activities rather than focusing solely on traditional assignment grading.

StarGrader

StarGrader positions itself as an AI grading assistant specifically built for higher education. Unlike generic AI tools, StarGrader is designed to understand and evaluate the complexity of high school and university-level work.

What impresses me about StarGrader is its subject expertise across diverse academic fields-from literature and history to STEM subjects. The platform understands discipline-specific terminology and can evaluate complex arguments and critical thinking in academic papers.

Key Features:

• Advanced analysis of complex arguments and critical thinking
• Subject-specific expertise across academic disciplines
• Customizable academic standards and grading criteria
• PDF, Word, and Docx file support
• Personalized feedback generation

Pricing:

StarGrader doesn’t list specific pricing in the search results, but they appear to offer a free trial or demo option.

Pros:

• Specifically designed for higher education complexity
• Understands discipline-specific terminology and concepts
• Adaptable to different academic standards
• Supports multiple file formats

Cons:

• May be less suitable for elementary or middle school assignments
• Limited information about integration capabilities
• Unclear pricing structure

StarGrader is best for high school and university educators who need an AI grading tool that can handle the complexity and depth of higher-level academic work.

Comparison Of The Best AI For Automating Feedback

Finding the best AI for automating feedback on student assignments ultimately depends on your specific needs as an educator. The technology continues to evolve rapidly, so keep exploring new options as they emerge. Your future self (and your students) will thank you for embracing these time-saving, feedback-enhancing tools.