CodeGrade vs PrairieLearn
CodeGrade
codegrade.comPrairieLearn
prairielearn.comSide by side
| Figure | CodeGrade | PrairieLearn |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 9 |
| Spec score · Automated Grading Software | 8.4 (#6) | 8.1 (#15) |
| Security | CodeGrade says it follows privacy by design and privacy by default and is fully ISO 27001 certified. | PrairieLearn, Inc. states that it has a SOC 2 Type I attestation for Security and encrypts customer data at rest and data in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher. |
| Support | The Free plan includes community support, while Starter and Advanced list unlimited support and onboarding or course setup assistance. | Support options include documentation, a Slack community, GitHub Discussions, weekly Zoom office hours and workshops, and email support. |
Plans
CodeGrade
- FreeFree
- AI Assistant Add-on$15, paid once
- Starter$24, paid once
- Advanced$39, paid once
- Institutional licensingPriced on request
PrairieLearn
- FreeFree
- PrairieTest Starter$3 a year
- PrairieTest Small$5 a year
- PrairieTest Medium$7 a year
- Basic$8, paid once
- PrairieTest Large$10 a year
- PrairieTest Enterprise$15 a year
- Premium$16, paid once
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
CodeGrade
CodeGrade is an online coding education environment combining an autograder, browser editor, interactive terminal, and AI assistant. The autograder gives instant feedback across more than 175 programming languages. Students work in a real Ubuntu environment without installing software, connect GitHub or GitLab repositories, and submit through Git pushes. Instructors can configure AI behavior per assignment, review conversation logs, comment on code lines, reuse feedback snippets, and support peer review. LTI integrations connect with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Sakai, and Open edX, including grade and roster synchronization. Exam controls include session lockdown, IP restrictions, access passwords, and proctoring integrations. A full API supports course setup automation and analytics retrieval. The Free plan costs nothing and allows up to 50 students per course, with editor, drag-and-drop autograding, inline feedback, rubrics, GitHub integration, and community support. Starter costs $24, paid once per student/course; Advanced costs $39, paid once.
PrairieLearn
PrairieLearn is an online assessment and learning system for instructors creating educational resources, assignments, practice, and tests. Instructors write questions as code; the system can generate and grade variants automatically and provide real-time feedback. Students can continue trying new variants until they achieve mastery. Supported response formats include numerical, multiple-choice, checkbox, dropdown, graphical, code, and ordered-block answers. The platform is described for in-class activities, homework, practice, proctored tests, and bring-your-own-device tests. It connects with learning management systems through LTI 1.3 for assignment linking and grade syncing, with integration primarily designed and documented for Canvas; its importer accepts QTI 1.2 content. PrairieLearn is open source and can be run or modified on institutional or individual infrastructure. The free plan covers instructors and courses with up to 20 students in each term. For larger courses, Basic costs $8, paid once per student and Premium costs $16, paid once per student. Local development is supported on macOS, Linux, or Windows inside WSL 2; Windows without WSL 2 is not supported for local installation.