How To Use The 5 Best Free Online Gradebook Tools for Teachers
1. LearnBoost
About LearnBoost
LearnBoost is a free online gradebook and roster for teachers. Its clean, simple interface makes it easy to use for all educators, regardless of technological skill.
How to Use LearnBoost
Click the link above and visit the LearnBoost homepage. Locate the green "Sign Up" banner to the right of the screen. Enter in your information, or sign up through Facebook or Google+. LearnBoost will then redirect you to your dashboard. Once you have arrived at your dashboard, LearnBoost will take you through a quick tutorial of all its features. Continue to click "Next" until you reach the end of the tutorial, then click "Finish." Once you arrive back at the dashboard, click the "Add Class" button. Type the class name, subject, course number, school session, grade level, and start and end date. Then click "Save." In order to begin creating your gradebook, mouse over the name of your class, and when the "Gradebook" button appears, click it. In order to start with your gradebook, you'll need to add an assignment to grade and a class roster. To add an assignment, click the "Add Assignment" button, type in an assignment title, type, points possible, due date, and State Standards if you choose. Then click "Save." To add a class roster, click on the "Administration" tab, scroll down to "Class Roster," click the pink "Add" ribbon, type in a first and last name, and an ID number, email, and phone number if you choose. Then click "Save." Once you have added all your students to the roster, go back to your gradebook, enter their grades, and click save. LearnBoost will then calculate a percentage and a letter grade! Continue this process for all future assignments!
2. ThinkWave
About ThinkWave
ThinkWave is an educational technology company that provides an online gradebook for free. The setup process is simple and the clean interface of the gradebook makes it easy to navigate.
How to Use ThinkWave
Visit ThinkWave by clicking the link above. Locate the orange "Start Gradebook" button on the right side of the screen and click it. You will now be taken to a page to create your account. Enter the required information and click "Continue." On the next page, specify the term structure at your school and click "Continue." On the next page, enter a class name, and specify your grading scale. Then click "Continue." On the following page, determine the type of grades that you will use for the class as well as assignment types. Specify whether you want to average the grades between quarters and click "Continue." Now add some students to the class and click "Continue." You will now be taken to a page to add an assignment to the gradebook. Type in the assignment name, specify the type of assignment it is, enter in a date, description, and determine how it will be graded. After completing these steps, click "Save." ThinkWave will now take you to your gradebook. It is unlikely that you only have three students in your class, so click the "Create New Student" button under your gradebook and add more students to your class. Now your gradebook is set up and ready to go! Just add assignments as necessary and type in students' grades!
Create the best Course for your School with the Right Vendor
3. JumpRope
About JumpRope
JumpRope is a website that allows teachers to create gradebooks for free. JumpRope's ability to separate a course into Units and add Standards makes it ideal for the highly organized teacher.
How to Use JumpRope
Click the link above and visit the JumpRope site. Find the text that reads "JumpeRope is free for teachers! Sign up today." Enter your first and last name and an email address, and then click the orange "Get Started" button. JumpRope will then take you through a few more steps to setup your account, follow the site's directions until you arrive at your Teacher Dashboard.JumpRope will then take you through a tutorial for a quick overview of the site's features. Once you are done, it's time to create a course. To do this, click the "Create a Course" link under the checklist. Type in the course name, select a content area, band then add students by typing their names, then pressing the "enter" key to continue adding names. Once you have completed this step, click the "Save" button. Now click the "Grade" tab at the top of the dashboard, select your course from the dropdown menu, and create a new unit by clicking "Create new Unit" dropdown menu and providing the necessary information. After you do this, select your course again as well as your unit. JumpRope will now prompt you to create some Assessments to grade. Click the blue "Access Planning Tool" button in order to begin this process. Select which type of assessment you would like to create from the "New Assessment" dropdown menu. Specify the details of the assessment, add some standards, and then click "Done." JumpRope will now redirect you to your gradebook where you can now manage your class's grades and assignments!
4. Engrade
About Engrade
Engrade is a simple gradebook that makes the transition from paper to digital extremely easy.
How to Use Engrade
Click the link above and visit the Engrade site. Find the yellow button to the top right of the screen that reads "Free Gradebook." Engrade will direct you to the signup page. Enter the required information and then click "Create my Account." Engrade will now direct you to the page in which you are able to create your class. Enter your class information, then click "Next." On the next page, specify your grading scale, then click "Next." On the next page, type in student names with ID numbers and click "Next." Engrade will now take you to your gradebook. Before entering grades, you must create an assignment to grade. Do this by clicking the "New Assignment" button to the top left of the gradebook. Type in the assignment information and then scroll to the bottom of the screen. Under "Student Scores," enter the score that each student received on the assignment, then click "Submit." Repeat this process for any future assignments!
5. Jupiter Ed
About Jupiter Ed
Jupiter Ed offers a very thorough and precise gradebook to educators for free.
How to Use Jupiter Ed
Visit Jupiter Ed by clicking the link above. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Jupiter Grades." Once directed to the Jupiter Grades page, locate the "Pricing/Free!" tab and click it. Find the "Free" option on the pricing page and click "Start." For this article, we will be discussing the "Gradebook" feature. If you wish to add the "Learning Management System" later, you are able to. Check "Gradebook" and then click "Start." On the next page, specify that you are a teacher, accept the terms of service, and then click "OK." Next, provide an email address for verification and click "Send." Check the inbox of the email you provided, find the email from Jupiter Ed and click the verification link found within it. Now choose your username and password, then click "Next." On the next page, enter your first and last name, display name, and role; then click "Next." Now enter your school and its location and click "Next." Next, provide your school's information and click "Next." On the next page, specify which grade level you teach and click "Next." On the next page, determine how often you would like to start a new gradebook and specify the manner in which you want your grades calculated and click "Next." Now enter the dates of your school's semester/trimester/year and click "Next." On the next page, type in the subjects you teach and click "Next." Jupiter Ed will now ask whether you would like to watch a tutorial at this time, or later. Either option is fine. Once you end up back at your dashboard, click the "Setup Students" button to add students to your classes. Enter the names of your students, check the classes that they are in, and click "add." Once you are done adding students, click the "Class" tab, and then click the "New Assignment" button. Here you will input information about the assignment as well as student grades. Once you are done, click the "Done" button on the top right of the screen. Do this for any future assignment to maintain your gradebook.
How To Choose The Right Online Gradebook
With several available online gradebook tools for teachers, the right choice depends on your classroom setup. Here are the key factors to consider before committing to any platform.
Ease Of Use
If a tool requires a tutorial just to enter a grade, most teachers will abandon it within a week. The best online gradebook tools for teachers have clean interfaces that make sense from the first login. Adding students, creating assignments, and entering grades should all be straightforward. The whole point is to save time, not to create new administrative tasks competing for attention alongside lesson planning and student support.
Grade Calculation Features
Make sure the tool you choose can handle your grading structure, whether that means weighted categories, point-based systems, or standards-referenced grading. Some platforms automatically calculate running averages and letter grades as you input scores, which is a genuine time-saver during report card season. If your school uses a specific grading scale, confirm the platform allows for customization before you commit to it.
Parent And Student Access
Many online gradebook tools for teachers include a portal where parents can log in to check grades in real time, reducing the emails you receive about missing assignments. Students who can see their own progress tend to be more accountable, too. Check whether parent and student access is included in the free plan or requires an upgrade.
LMS Integration
If your school uses a learning management system (LMS) like Google Classroom or Canvas, choose a gradebook that integrates with it. Manually transferring grades between two systems creates extra work and increases the chance of errors. Some tools automatically sync assignments and scores. Check which integrations are supported before making a decision.
Data Privacy And Security
Student data is sensitive, and teachers are responsible for handling it correctly. Before using any online gradebook tool, review its privacy policy and check whether it complies with FERPA. Reputable platforms are transparent about how they store data and whether they share it with third parties. Free tools sometimes offset costs by monetizing user data. Reading the fine print is always worth a few minutes.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Switching to a digital gradebook removes many headaches, but only if you use it correctly. These are the mistakes teachers most commonly make.
Delaying Grade Updates
Real-time visibility is one of the biggest advantages of going digital, but it disappears the moment grades start pulling up. Entering scores within a day or two of returning work keeps your gradebook current and useful. It also significantly reduces the last-minute scramble that tends to hit around report card time when everything gets entered at once.
Using Incorrect Grade Categories
Setting up the wrong categories or skipping them entirely leads to grades that do not reflect actual performance. If your school weights tests differently from homework or projects, that structure needs to be in the gradebook from day one. Trying to fix misconfigured categories mid-semester creates confusion that is hard to undo.
Ignoring Parent Communication
Most platforms include built-in notification features that alert parents when a grade drops or an assignment goes missing. Ignoring or disabling these removes a valuable layer of communication that the tool is ready to handle for you. Regular grade visibility tends to reduce the number of difficult conversations at parent-teacher conferences and helps families stay involved in their child's progress.
Not Backing Up Grade Data
Even reputable platforms can experience outages or data loss. Most online gradebook tools allow you to export grades as a spreadsheet or PDF. Doing this at the end of each grading period ensures you always have a backup regardless of what happens on the platform's end.
Alternatives To Free Online Gradebook Tools
Free tools are a great starting point, but three other options are worth knowing about depending on your school's setup.
Gradebooks Included In LMS Platforms
Platforms like Google Classroom, Canvas, and Schoology include built-in gradebooks that sync directly with assignments created inside the system. If your school already uses one of these, the built-in option is often the most convenient choice since everything lives in one place.
School Information Systems
Platforms like PowerSchool or Infinite Campus handle attendance, scheduling, and grading in one place. If your school subscribes to one, you may already have access to the gradebook through your institutional login. These systems are more robust than standalone free tools, though they come with a steeper learning curve.
Spreadsheet-Based Gradebooks
Google Sheets and Excel remain popular for teachers who want full control over their gradebook structure. With the right formulas, a spreadsheet can handle weighted averages and automated letter grade calculations. The tradeoff is that there is no built-in parent portal or LMS integration; everything is manual. For teachers comfortable with spreadsheets, this approach still works well.
Free Educational Technology
Don't be afraid to take the plunge from paper to digital! Doing so will make your class more organized and will save you much headache and stress in the long run. Use these 5 Best Free Gradebook Tools for Teachers in order to make the switch as painless as possible!
