Once student marks are entered into gradebook software the time consuming calculations are taken out of the analysis of those marks. This can yield insight into what each student's needs are by performing calculations that would have been too time consuming or complicated to be done manually. As with any tool a software based gradebook must save you time. It is a logical extension to say the gradebook that saves you the most time is the one that would be most effective for you. One of the draw backs to gradebook software is multiple entry of information.
Most teachers use a paper source document and then transcribe marks to their computer for analysis.
If your school uses one of these SIS's your best choice has been made for you even if your school has not purchased the gradebook component yet. To get the most out of any software based gradebook takes a year or two because you may only use some features at the end of a grading period, semester, or year. If you spend a year learning a different gradebook software package and your school then decides to purchase the recommended package you may feel you have wasted a lot of time. Not all Gradebook software is created equal and that's good. Not all classrooms are created equal and gradebook software can be developed for a single or multiple subject classroom.