Honorlock is the best online assessment and proctoring software for most colleges in 2026, and Respondus LockDown Browser is the best pick for smaller schools on a budget because its pricing is public and modest. Honorlock wins by pairing AI flags with human review, so students are not interrupted unless something looks wrong.
The right tool depends on the stakes. Proctorio suits large programs that want fully automated monitoring. Meazure Learning, which runs ProctorU, fits exams that need a live human watching. ExamSoft serves professional schools with accreditation reporting, and Talview fits credentialing bodies and employers.
Before you sign, check accessibility and privacy. Ask how each tool handles students with accommodations, what data it records, and how long recordings are kept.
Our top pick
Honorlock
AI flags with human review, so honest students take exams without interruption.
Quick picks
Best overall
Best on a budget
Best automated
Best live proctoring
Best for high-stakes exams
How we ranked these tools
We scored each tool on five criteria: fit for academic and credentialing exams, depth of security and assessment features, pricing and value, ease of use for students and faculty, and support. We based the scores on vendor documentation, published pricing, and public user reviews. Prices reflect published rates as of October 2026, so confirm the current price with each vendor.
The 6 best online assessment and proctoring tools
1. Honorlock
Best for colleges that want AI plus human review
Our rating4.7 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Honorlock combines AI monitoring with live human proctors who pop in only when the AI flags something, which keeps most exams quiet for students. Its browser guard and desktop app block other sites, chatbots, and AI assistants, and it detects phones and smartwatches. It also works with publisher platforms such as McGraw Hill Connect and Pearson MyLab. Pricing is quote-only, with flat-rate annual licensing or FTE, per-student, or per-exam tiers for higher education. Expect a sales process before you see a number.
Pros
- AI flags reviewed by live human proctors
- Blocks AI assistants and detects phones
- Supports major publisher exam platforms
Cons
- No published pricing
- Webcam monitoring still worries some students
Key features
- Live pop-in proctors
- Browser guard and desktop app
- Device detection
- ID verification and room scan
2. Respondus LockDown Browser
Best on a budget
Our rating4.6 / 5
Starting price$3,295 / year
Free planFree pilot (2 months)
Respondus is the rare proctoring vendor with a public price list. LockDown Browser locks students into the exam inside your LMS, with campus licenses from $3,295 a year for up to 2,000 FTE. Respondus Monitor adds webcam proctoring at a flat $4,950 for the first institution-wide term, and students can also buy it for $15 per year. Schools with LockDown Browser get 200 free Monitor seats each year. It only works with LMS quizzes, such as Canvas, Moodle, and Brightspace.
Pros
- Published, predictable pricing
- Free two-month pilot
- 200 free Monitor seats each year
Cons
- Works only with LMS-based quizzes
- No live human proctors
- Monitor is a separate license
Key features
- Locked exam browser
- Webcam proctoring with Monitor
- LMS integrations
- Student self-purchase option
3. Proctorio
Best for fully automated proctoring at scale
Our rating4.4 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Proctorio runs entirely as a browser extension for Chrome and Edge, so there is no separate app for students to install. It uses automated monitoring of webcam, microphone, browser activity, and system processes, with no live human proctors. Instructors choose which checks to turn on for each exam. Institutions buy an annual license, and pricing is quote-only. Because no human watches in real time, instructors must review flagged recordings themselves, which adds work after big exams.
Pros
- Runs as a browser extension
- Per-exam control over which checks run
- Annual institutional licensing
Cons
- No live proctors
- Instructors review flags themselves
Key features
- Automated webcam and audio monitoring
- Browser lockdown
- ID verification
- Flag review dashboard
4. Meazure Learning
Best for live human proctoring
Our rating4.3 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Meazure Learning operates ProctorU, a well-known live online proctoring service. It offers live, recorded, and automated proctoring, so a program can match security level to the stakes of each exam. Live sessions use webcam access, screen sharing, and sometimes remote control of the student’s computer. Pricing is per session and quoted, with live proctoring the most expensive mode. Costs rise with exam volume, which suits credentialing programs and graduate exams more than weekly quizzes.
Pros
- Live human proctors for high-stakes exams
- Live, recorded, and automated modes
- Well-known ProctorU brand
Cons
- Per-session costs climb with volume
- Scheduling adds friction for students
Key features
- Live proctoring
- Recorded and automated review
- Identity verification
- Test center services
5. ExamSoft
Best for high-stakes exams in professional programs
Our rating4.2 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
ExamSoft, owned by Turnitin, is built for programs where exam integrity and item analysis matter most, such as law, nursing, and medical schools. Its Examplify app locks down the device and runs the exam locally, so students need internet only to download the exam and upload the encrypted answers. Faculty get detailed item and outcome reporting for accreditation. Pricing is quote-only. It is more assessment system than proctoring add-on, so it is overkill for routine course quizzes.
Pros
- Exams run offline once downloaded
- Strong item analysis for accreditation
- Well established in professional schools
Cons
- No published pricing
- More than most course quizzes need
Key features
- Examplify secure exam app
- Offline testing
- Item and outcome analytics
- Remote proctoring options
6. Talview
Best for credentialing and hiring assessments
Our rating4.1 / 5
Starting priceCustom pricing
Free planNo
Talview serves certification bodies and employers as well as education, with proctoring and assessment for remote testing and recruitment. Programs can choose the proctoring mode and add feature modules as needed. Pricing is custom and depends on volume, proctoring mode, and modules, with per-candidate pricing for hiring use. It fits organizations that test candidates outside a campus LMS. Schools that only need quiz lockdown inside Canvas or Moodle will find simpler, cheaper options above.
Pros
- Serves both education and hiring
- Choice of proctoring modes
- Modular feature set
Cons
- Custom pricing only
- Less focused on campus LMS quizzes
Key features
- AI and live proctoring
- Identity verification
- Secure browser
- Candidate assessments
Compare the top proctoring tools
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honorlock | Colleges that want AI plus human review | Custom pricing | No | 4.7 |
| Respondus LockDown Browser | Best on a budget | $3,295 / year | Free pilot (2 months) | 4.6 |
| Proctorio | Fully automated proctoring at scale | Custom pricing | No | 4.4 |
| Meazure Learning | Live human proctoring | Custom pricing | No | 4.3 |
| ExamSoft | High-stakes exams in professional programs | Custom pricing | No | 4.2 |
| Talview | Credentialing and hiring assessments | Custom pricing | No | 4.1 |
How to choose online proctoring software
Match security to the stakes
A weekly quiz rarely needs a live proctor. Use a lockdown browser for low-stakes work and save live or AI-plus-human proctoring for finals, licensure prep, and certification exams, where the extra cost is justified.
Check your LMS and publisher content
Confirm the tool works with your LMS and with any publisher platforms your faculty use. Respondus works only inside LMS quizzes, while Honorlock also supports several publisher exam platforms.
Plan for accommodations and privacy
Ask how the tool handles extra time, assistive technology, and students without a quiet room. Review what video and data it stores, who can see it, and how long it is kept.
Model cost on real exam volume
Per-exam pricing looks cheap until a large course runs five proctored tests. Count exams per term and compare per-session quotes with flat annual licenses.
Frequently asked questions
What is online proctoring software?
Online proctoring software supervises exams taken remotely. Depending on the tool, it locks the browser, records webcam and screen activity, verifies student identity, and flags suspicious behavior for review by AI, a live proctor, or the instructor. Many schools use it alongside an LMS quiz tool.
How much does online proctoring cost?
Costs vary by model. Respondus LockDown Browser starts at $3,295 a year for a campus of up to 2,000 FTE, and Respondus Monitor starts at $4,950 for the first institution-wide term. Honorlock, Proctorio, Meazure Learning, ExamSoft, and Talview quote prices on request.
Can proctoring software detect AI tools like ChatGPT?
Some can block them. Honorlock’s browser guard and desktop app block chatbots and AI assistants, and lockdown browsers stop students from opening other tabs. No tool can fully stop a second device, so device detection and room scans matter for high-stakes exams.
Do you need live proctors or is AI enough?
AI monitoring is enough for most course exams, as long as someone reviews the flags. Live proctors make sense for licensure, certification, and other high-stakes tests where an incident must be stopped in the moment rather than reviewed later. Many programs mix both, using AI for routine tests.
Is online proctoring fair to students?
It can be, with care. Offer practice exams, publish clear rules, and provide accommodations for students with disabilities or poor home internet. Treat AI flags as prompts for human review, not as proof of cheating, and give students a way to appeal.
Keep reading
Buyer’s guide
How to Choose Online Assessment and Proctoring Software in 2026
A practical guide to proctoring software: matching security to exam stakes, LMS fit, privacy, accessibility, pricing models and how to run a pilot.
Comparison
Honorlock vs Respondus LockDown Browser: Which Wins in 2026?
Honorlock suits colleges that want AI monitoring with human review, while Respondus LockDown Browser suits schools wanting low, published prices.
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