Fact-checked 13 October 2026.
PaperSurvey is a Remark Office OMR alternative for teams preparing a new survey round who want browser access, generated printable forms, and paper and web responses together. Remark Office OMR remains a strong option when you need a Windows workflow, control over existing form layouts, or data processing on your own systems.
Check compatibility first: PaperSurvey reads completed forms generated by PaperSurvey. Importing questions from a Word or PDF questionnaire creates an editable survey; it does not make previously printed Remark forms scannable. Plan the change before distributing your next batch, and keep already-completed Remark forms in your existing processing workflow. See our form compatibility requirements.
Remark Office OMR vs PaperSurvey
This comparison uses published capabilities, not a head-to-head performance test. For Remark's specifications, see its feature list and product comparison. PaperSurvey's help center and plans describe its workflow and limits.
| Decision | Remark Office OMR | PaperSurvey |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Windows desktop application | Browser application for Windows, Mac, and Linux |
| Preparing forms | Design forms externally and configure recognition templates | Create or import questions, then generate PaperSurvey's printable layout |
| Getting scans in | Direct TWAIN scanning or image/PDF files from copiers and scanning apps | Upload scans in the browser; email and Dropbox workflows are also available |
| Handwriting | ICR through your separately obtained Microsoft Computer Vision account | Recognition included within the plan's monthly handwritten-field allowance |
| Reviewing answers | Exception correction and data validation | Review recognized answers against scan images and correct them |
| Exports | 35+ formats, including Excel, CSV, SPSS, and databases | Spreadsheet and statistical exports, including Excel, CSV, SPSS, and R |
| Staff access | Licensed Windows installations; check your institutional agreement | Included accounts vary by plan; configure access for your team |
| Paper and web | Paper forms; online collection uses a separate Remark product | Both response channels can feed the same survey dataset |
Remark also offers Remark Test Grading, a separate cloud product focused on assessments.
When keeping Remark makes sense
Keep an established system on your shortlist if your operators know it, your forms are validated, and its outputs already feed your reports. Rebuilding those assets has a cost. A working departmental license may also make the marginal cost of another project low; the University of Toronto, for example, describes Remark as centrally funded and free to departments.
Local processing can be a requirement rather than an inconvenience. Remark describes keeping data within the customer's systems. Its optional Microsoft handwriting integration introduces a separate service to assess. PaperSurvey processes uploaded forms in the cloud: review our security information and AI disclosure against your requirements.
Where PaperSurvey can be a better fit
Consider PaperSurvey when colleagues need to build, upload, review, and export from different computers. Generated layouts remove the separate recognition-template setup for forms created in PaperSurvey. The trade-off is adopting that layout for future collection.
Handwritten comments are another reason to test the workflow. PaperSurvey includes transcription within plan allowances, with answers available for review beside their scans. Measure correction time on your actual question types and handwriting. Neither a feature list nor an accuracy claim tells you how much review your survey will require.
For recurring workshops, explore the training feedback workflow. You can inspect sample Excel, CSV, and SPSS exports with a questionnaire preview and codebook before signing up. These files contain fictional responses exported through PaperSurvey; they illustrate the output structure and do not compare recognition performance with Remark.
In a 15 July 2021 Capterra review, Cindy B., a director of sales and marketing in hospitality, reported previously entering more than 600 surveys manually each week. She considered Remark Office OMR and chose PaperSurvey for its options and value, while noting a learning curve. Capterra labels her review non-incentivized. This is a historical customer's experience, not a current performance benchmark or a claim that she migrated from Remark.
Compare capacity and total cost
Remark's store sells a license per Windows PC. New purchases include one year of maintenance; subsequent support and updates depend on the maintenance policy. Include any upgrade, training, additional installations, and handwriting-service costs in your estimate.
PaperSurvey has recurring subscriptions with separate page, handwriting, and account limits. At the fact-check date, the base configurations were:
| Plan | Pages per month | Handwritten fields per month | User accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1 |
| Enterprise | 5,000 | 9,000 | Up to 5 |
| Enterprise Plus | 10,000 | 18,000 | Up to 15 |
Check current pricing for billing terms, capacity options, and features. API access is listed under Enterprise Plus. Team access is not unlimited.
For example, 800 three-page questionnaires consume 2,400 pages. If each has six handwritten fields, allow for 4,800 fields as well. Check the month in which you will process them, rather than averaging a seasonal project across a year. Add printing, scanning, and measured review time to either software estimate.
Using Remark Office OMR 10 or earlier?
Gravic's August 2026 notice warned that server changes planned for late September could affect Office OMR version 10 and earlier. It directs customers to discuss their version and upgrade options, including version 12.
This is a sensible point to compare an upgrade with a change of workflow. Ask Remark or your dealer what your installation needs. Do not assume the notice means every legacy installation has stopped working. Then test whether rebuilding the next questionnaire in PaperSurvey offers enough benefit to justify the transition.
Pilot the next collection round before switching
- Preserve the current project. Keep your source forms, templates, exports, response coding, and reporting requirements. Choose a future collection round for the pilot.
- Rebuild one questionnaire. Import or enter its questions in PaperSurvey, check wording and answer codes, and generate a new printable form. Inspect page breaks and comment space.
- Create a practice batch. Complete 10–20 fictional responses with skipped questions, corrected marks, and different handwriting. Record the intended answers.
- Use your equipment and staff. Scan, upload, and review the batch. Have a second colleague try the handoff. Record setup and correction time.
- Check the final export. Verify response counts, identifiers, missing values, and numeric codes in the analysis tool you use. Confirm that the chosen plan covers the full round.
Start a 14-day trial to test a new questionnaire. For compatibility or plan questions, contact us with a blank form, expected page volume, handwriting needs, and number of reviewers before distributing your surveys.