How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- ProctorU (Meazure Learning) is the established leader for live online proctoring.
- Honorlock combines AI monitoring with live proctors for balanced integrity.
- Proctorio offers automated proctoring that scales without human reviewers.
- Respondus LockDown Browser is the affordable starting point for LMS-integrated exam security.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 ProctorU | Live online proctoring | See website | No |
 Proctorio | Automated AI proctoring | See website | No |
 Honorlock | AI plus live proctors | See website | No |
 Respondus | LockDown Browser security | See website | No |
 Mercer Mettl | Assessments with proctoring | See website | No |
 ProctorExam | European online proctoring | See website | No |
 TestReach | Exam delivery and proctoring | See website | No |
 ExamSoft | Assessment management | See website | No |
 Talview | Hiring assessments proctoring | See website | No |
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We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best proctoring software
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ProctorU (now part of Meazure Learning, which also absorbed Examity) pioneered live online proctoring: real proctors watch exams via webcam, verify IDs and intervene on suspicious behavior. Universities and certification bodies trust the human layer for high-stakes exams.
Per-exam pricing adds up at scale, and live sessions need scheduling. For high-stakes exams where human judgment matters, ProctorU's live proctoring remains the standard.
What we like- Live human proctors
- Established at scale
- Now part of Meazure Learning
Watch out for- Per-exam costs add up
- Scheduling for live sessions
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Proctorio automates proctoring with AI: ID verification, browser lockdown, and machine detection of suspicious behavior, all recorded for instructor review. No human proctors means it scales to any exam volume at lower cost. LMS integrations make deployment straightforward.
Instructors must review AI flags; false positives happen. Student privacy concerns require clear communication. For large courses needing scalable exam integrity, Proctorio's automation is the efficient choice.
What we like- Fully automated
- Scales without proctors
- LMS integrations
Watch out for- AI flags need human review
- Student privacy concerns to manage
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Honorlock blends AI proctoring with on-demand live proctors: automation handles routine monitoring while humans step in for flagged events. The search-and-destroy feature finds and removes leaked exam content online. LMS integration keeps the workflow familiar.
Pricing is per-exam and quote-based. For institutions wanting automation with human backup for the moments that matter, Honorlock's hybrid balances cost and integrity.
What we like- AI monitoring with live proctor backup
- Search-and-destroy for leaked content
- Easy LMS integration
Watch out for- Quote-based
- Per-exam pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Respondus LockDown Browser is the simplest exam security: it locks the student's browser during the test, preventing new tabs, copying and printing. Respondus Monitor adds automated webcam proctoring. The LMS footprint is enormous, making deployment nearly frictionless.
LockDown alone does not watch the room; Monitor adds that. For institutions wanting affordable, easy exam security inside their LMS, Respondus is the practical starting point.
What we like- LockDown Browser prevents cheating simply
- Affordable
- Huge LMS footprint
Watch out for- Browser lockdown only
- Full proctoring needs Respondus Monitor
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Mercer Mettl (now part of Mercer) is an assessment platform with proctoring built in: coding tests, aptitude assessments, psychometric tests and domain exams delivered with AI and live proctoring options. Employers and universities run hiring and admissions assessments globally.
It is an assessment suite first, proctoring second. Pricing is quote-based. For organizations that need the tests and the proctoring together, Mettl's integrated platform avoids stitching vendors.
What we like- Full assessment platform plus proctoring
- Coding and aptitude tests
- Global delivery
Watch out for- Assessment-first
- Quote-based pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ProctorExam serves European universities and institutions with online proctoring built around GDPR compliance: ID verification, room scans and live or recorded review. The European data handling matters for institutions with strict privacy requirements.
The US footprint is smaller than ProctorU or Honorlock. For European institutions needing proctoring with proper data governance, ProctorExam's regional focus fits.
What we like- Strong European presence
- GDPR-conscious
- Flexible proctoring modes
Watch out for- Smaller US footprint
- Quote-based pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
TestReach is a full exam delivery platform with proctoring integrated: author questions, build exams, deliver remotely with invigilation or at test centers, and analyze results. Professional bodies run entire certification programs on it.
Buying the platform for proctoring alone overshoots. Pricing is quote-based. For certification bodies needing the whole exam lifecycle, TestReach's end-to-end coverage simplifies operations.
What we like- End-to-end exam platform
- Question banking
- Remote and test-center delivery
Watch out for- Quote-based
- Assessment platform commitment
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
ExamSoft (part of Turnitin) focuses on assessment management and analytics: exam creation, delivery and detailed performance data by category and learning objective. Proctoring comes through integrations and partners rather than natively.
Institutions wanting proctoring-first should look elsewhere. For programs where assessment analytics drive curriculum decisions, ExamSoft's data depth is unmatched.
What we like- Deep assessment analytics
- Category performance data
- Established in higher ed
Watch out for- Assessment-first
- Proctoring via partners
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Talview proctors assessments in the hiring context: online tests with AI proctoring plus video interviews in one platform. Employers screen candidates globally with integrity controls suited to recruitment rather than academia.
Academic exam features are thinner. For talent teams running proctored hiring assessments at scale, Talview's recruitment-native design fits the workflow.
What we like- Built for recruitment
- Video interviews plus proctored tests
- Global hiring
Watch out for- Hiring focus
- Less for academic exams
Choosing the proctoring model
Live proctoring (ProctorU) gives human judgment at higher per-exam cost. Automated AI (Proctorio) scales cheaply but needs instructor review of flags. Hybrid (Honorlock) splits the difference. Browser lockdown (Respondus) is the budget baseline. Match the model to exam stakes: finals and certifications deserve humans; weekly quizzes do fine with automation.
Privacy and student trust
Proctoring software touches real sensitivities: webcam access, room scans, ID collection, AI behavior analysis. Publish clear policies: what is recorded, where data lives, how long it is kept, who reviews flags. Offer practice exams so students test their setup. Institutions that communicate well see far fewer complaints and appeals.
Accessibility and accommodations in proctored exams
Proctoring systems create accessibility barriers by default, and accommodating them is both a legal obligation and a design challenge. Screen readers conflict with lockdown browsers. Extended time needs timer adjustments. Students with anxiety disorders may be flagged by behavior-monitoring AI for movements that are symptoms, not cheating. Breaks for medical needs look like suspicious absences to automated systems. Every one of these is predictable, which means every one should be planned for, not improvised when a student complains. The accommodation workflow must be built into the proctoring deployment from day one.
Start with the accommodation request process. Students should be able to request accommodations through a clear, private channel well before exam day, and the proctoring configuration should support the common ones natively: extended time multipliers, break allowances, screen reader compatibility modes, alternative input devices. Test each accommodation in the actual proctoring environment, not just in the LMS; the interaction between assistive technology and proctoring software is where failures occur. A screen reader that works fine in the LMS but gets blocked by the lockdown browser is a discrimination lawsuit waiting to happen. Run full practice exams with assistive technology for every accommodation type you offer.
AI flagging needs human oversight calibrated for disability. Behavior-monitoring AI trained on typical test-takers will flag atypical movements, gaze patterns and environments disproportionately. Students with tics, students testing in shared living spaces, students using assistive devices: all generate flags at higher rates. The policy must be explicit: flags are reviewed by humans who consider accommodation status before any academic judgment. Never automate accusations. Train reviewers on disability awareness specifically for proctoring contexts. And give students a way to disclose relevant conditions to reviewers privately; a student should not have to choose between privacy and fair review.
The environment requirements deserve scrutiny for equity. Proctoring systems that demand quiet private rooms with high-speed internet disadvantage students in crowded housing, rural areas, or low-income households. Institutions should provide on-campus proctored spaces as an alternative, lend equipment where needed, and avoid requirements (like room scans showing personal living spaces) that invade privacy unnecessarily. The pandemic-era shift to remote proctoring surfaced these inequities clearly; the institutions that responded well built flexibility into their policies permanently. Technology requirements should be published early with support options, not sprung on students at exam time.
Document the accessibility of your proctoring choice. Request VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) from vendors and verify WCAG claims with actual testing. Include accessibility in procurement criteria with real weight, not as a checkbox. And establish a feedback loop: after each exam period, survey students specifically about accessibility barriers in the proctoring experience, and act on what you learn. Accessible proctoring is not a separate project from proctoring; it is proctoring done correctly. The institutions that treat it as integral avoid both legal risk and the quiet exclusion of students who deserved a fair shot.
Run a full practice exam under real proctoring conditions at least a week before every high-stakes assessment. Students discover equipment problems, ID verification issues and accommodation gaps during practice, when there is time to fix them, instead of during the final, when there is not. Track practice completion rates and proactively contact students who skip it; they are disproportionately the ones who encounter problems on exam day. A mandatory practice run is the cheapest insurance against exam-day crises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does proctoring software cost?
Per-exam pricing for live proctoring typically runs several dollars to $25+ per exam depending on type. Automated tools price per student or per exam lower. Enterprise LMS-wide deals are quote-based. Model your annual exam volume before comparing.
Does proctoring software work with our LMS?
Yes. Leading tools integrate with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace and others via LTI. Confirm your LMS version and whether grade passback works during the trial.
Can students cheat with proctoring software?
Determined cheaters find ways around any system; proctoring raises the difficulty substantially. Layered approaches (browser lockdown plus AI monitoring plus question randomization) work best. Design exams that are harder to cheat: applied questions over memorization.
What equipment do students need?
A computer with webcam and microphone, plus stable internet. Mobile-only students struggle; publish minimum requirements early and offer practice exams. Accessibility accommodations must be planned, not improvised.
How are false positives handled?
AI flags suspicious behavior for human review; instructors or proctors make the final call. Establish a clear review and appeals process before going live. Never penalize a student on an AI flag alone.
Is online proctoring legal and compliant?
Yes, with proper consent, data handling and accessibility. GDPR in Europe and state privacy laws in the US apply. Verify data residency, retention policies and accessibility (WCAG) compliance with each vendor.
How we chose
We compared the proctoring tools institutions actually buy, from browser lockdown to live human proctors. Pricing is per-exam or quote-based across the category. We weighted integrity effectiveness, student experience, LMS integration and fit for different exam stakes. No hands-on testing was performed; assessments rest on documentation and public reviews.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://www.proctoru.com/
- https://proctorio.com/
- https://honorlock.com/
- https://web.respondus.com/
- https://mettl.com/
- https://proctorexam.com/
- https://www.testreach.com/
- https://www.examsoft.com/
- https://www.talview.com/en/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.