Kritik vs. CoStudy: Two approaches to peer evaluation.
Kritik built a sophisticated peer assessment platform with innovative calibration features. Credit where due. Here's how the two tools differ.
A note on Kritik: Kritik introduced a three-stage peer assessment workflow that goes beyond simple evaluation. Their calibration system and gamification features represent genuine innovation in how students engage with peer feedback. We respect the pedagogical thinking behind their platform.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Kritik | CoStudy |
|---|---|---|
| Peer evaluation | ||
| Group teammate evaluation | ||
| Student cost | ||
| Roles-based evaluation | ||
| Mid-project check-ins | ||
| Team health dashboards | ||
| Canvas LTI 1.3 | ||
| Student feedback reports | ||
| AI features | ||
| Calibration scoring | ||
| Custom rubrics | ||
| Free for professors |
What Kritik gets right
Three-stage assessment workflow (submit, evaluate, evaluate the evaluations) builds metacognitive skills and teaches students to think critically about feedback quality.
Kritik Score calibration system rewards accurate reviewers and discourages gaming, creating accountability in the peer review process.
VisibleAI tracks AI usage in student work, a relevant feature as AI tools become increasingly common in academic settings.
Gamification through badges and points increases student engagement with the evaluation process and motivates thorough reviews.
Where CoStudy is different
No student fees. Ever.
Kritik charges students $29 per course. Multiple professor reviews cite this as the primary adoption barrier. One wrote they wouldn't ask students to pay for two software subscriptions in the same semester. CoStudy is free for students, always.
Built for teammates, not assignments
Kritik excels at peer review of submitted work like papers and presentations. CoStudy is built for evaluating teammate contributions within group projects. They solve different problems with different tools.
Mid-project intervention, not post-mortem
Kritik evaluations happen after submission. CoStudy's formative check-ins surface team dysfunction while there's still time to fix it. Professors see real-time dashboards showing which teams need attention now.
No IT department required
Kritik's Canvas integration requires institutional IT admin to configure permissions. CoStudy's LTI 1.3 works without IT gatekeeping. Professor signs up, connects Canvas, done.
Roles-based evaluation
CoStudy lets professors define team roles and evaluate students based on their specific responsibilities. A project manager is evaluated on coordination. A developer is evaluated on technical contribution. Kritik evaluates all students on the same criteria regardless of role.
Considering a switch?
We'll help you get set up. Most professors are running their first CoStudy assessment within 15 minutes. Book a call and we'll walk you through the transition.