Software advice
Best AI Online Proctoring Software in 2026
AI online proctoring software watches a remote test taker through a webcam, microphone and screen capture, verifies identity, restricts the browser and flags suspicious behavior for review by a person. It is not a quiz builder or a learning system, though it plugs into both, and an AI flag is a prompt for review, not proof of cheating.
Quick answer
Inspera ranks first for its stated EU hosting and named integrations. Honorlock is the pick for AI monitoring with live human proctors, and Respondus suits schools that want a printed annual price for a lockdown browser.
A registrar or exam office buying proctoring faces three questions: how much monitoring the exam really needs, what happens to the recordings, and which learning system it must plug into. Vendors promise AI flagging, but their pages say little about retention, model training or where video is stored. This ranking weighs what each vendor states about monitoring methods, data handling, certifications and named integrations, and it counts missing prices against a tool only as far as they block comparison. We read vendor pages in November 2026 and ran no product, so speed and accuracy claims are the vendors' own. Treat every statement below as a starting point for your own pilot, not as a test result.
The 11 best AI online proctoring software in 2026, ranked
There is no score. Vendors can pay for more visibility on this website, for example a higher place in a ranking or more room on a page. Commercial relationships can also affect which products we feature and how prominently. How we rank.
| # | Tool | Best for | Free plan | Entry price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inspera | Universities and assessment bodies that want proctoring inside a full digital exam platform | No | Quoted |
| 2 | Honorlock | Colleges that want AI monitoring backed by live human proctors who can step in | No | Quoted |
| 3 | Respondus | Schools and districts that want a lockdown browser with a printed annual price | Trial | $1,695 per year (Site License, under 2,500 students) |
| 4 | Proctor360 | Certification programs that mix automated sessions, live check-in and multi-camera setups | No | Quoted |
| 5 | Proctortrack | Institutions that want biometric identity checks and data held in an EU or Canadian region | No | Quoted |
| 6 | Talview | Hiring and certification teams that also need identity checks and deepfake detection | No | Quoted |
| 7 | Proctorio | Universities that want detailed, configurable exam settings and regional recording storage | No | Quoted |
| 8 | Digiexam | Canvas schools that need a lockdown layer without live or AI proctoring | No | $1,496 per year for Lockdown (25% off Year One) |
| 9 | Kryterion | Certification bodies that combine remote proctoring with test centers and psychometric support | No | Quoted |
| 10 | Mercer | Mettl | Employers that need proctored hiring and skills tests more than classroom exams | No | Quoted |
| 11 | ProctorFree | Small programs that want on-demand proctoring with an automated or human-assisted option | No | Quoted |
- 1
Inspera ranks first because its security page answers the questions an exam office asks. All Assessment Cloud data is hosted in the European Union on AWS, Cyber Essentials Plus is claimed, and five learning systems are named. Proctoring runs as a module with adjustable monitoring levels. The gaps are missing prices and retention beyond a seven-day backup window.
Strong on
- Live or recorded proctoring with camera, microphone, screen recording and room scanning, adjustable per exam context
- Security page states EU-only hosting for Assessment Cloud data and names AWS as operator
- Integrity Browser and similarity checking sit in the same product family
Weak on
- No price figures are published, only a demo request
- Proctoring is a module of Inspera Assessment or an LMS, not a standalone service
Skip it if: Teams that only want a cheap lockdown browser for existing quizzes, or buyers who need a printed price before talking to sales. No prices are published. The vendor claims no hidden costs and routes buyers to a demo booking.
- 2
Honorlock takes second place because the proctoring design is the most complete on the list: AI watches continuously and a human can pop in live. SOC 2 Type 2 is claimed on the homepage and four learning systems are named. It loses ground on documentation, since the privacy policy links returned errors during our check and retention is unverified.
Strong on
- Live Pop-In lets a human proctor join a session while AI handles ongoing monitoring
- Cell phone detection, second camera video, ID verification and BrowserGuard are listed
- Homepage claims SOC 2 Type 2 and names Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace and Moodle
Weak on
- No published prices in any segment; quotes only
- Privacy policy pages could not be opened, so retention and AI training terms are unchecked
Skip it if: Buyers who need written retention and data-use terms before a demo, or those who want to see prices up front. Every segment is a custom quote. The vendor says support and a customer success manager carry no extra fee.
- 3
Respondus sits third because it is the only vendor here that prints a tier table: $1,695 a year under 2,500 students, rising to $2,945 at 30,001 to 40,000. LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor cover higher education and K-12. The vendor names no AI feature and no retention periods, so it ranks below tools with documented monitoring.
Strong on
- Site License prices are published for five student-count tiers, from $1,695 to $2,945 a year
- LockDown Browser serves higher education and K-12, with Respondus Monitor listed for exam integrity
- Works with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology and D2L Brightspace
Weak on
- No AI feature is named on the pages we opened
- Above 40,000 students the price is by quote, and renewal falls on August 1 in North America
Skip it if: Institutions that want live human proctors or documented AI flagging, because the pages describe neither. Site License fee rises with student count; Single User pricing is not published. A 30-day pilot covers Respondus 4 only.
- 4
Proctor360 ranks fourth for the clearest data statements among the quote-only vendors. It says test-taker sessions are not used to tune its AI, sets a six-month default storage period and shows a SOC 2 logo. Auto-proctoring, live sessions and a multi-camera headset are all offered. Prices and hosting region are missing, which holds it below the top three.
Strong on
- AI auto-proctoring with automated check-in, ID verification and incident flagging
- Page states that test-taker sessions are not used to tune the AI
- Multi-cam Live uses a cell phone as a second camera, plus a 360 headset option
Weak on
- Prices are not published and the pricing page returned a 404
- No learning systems are named, only a general claim of broad LMS support
Skip it if: Schools that need a named LMS list or a stated hosting region before signing anything. Pricing is described only as per-session, with a one-time self-serve option for student-pay exams. Only a free demo is offered.
- 5
Proctortrack ranks fifth. Its privacy policy gives concrete numbers: proctored activity data is held up to 180 days, and EU and Canadian sponsors can have regional storage. Biometric baselines (face, ID and knuckle) drive continuous identity checks, which some institutions will treat as a cost. It lists no certifications and names no learning systems, which leaves buyers to ask for both.
Strong on
- Privacy policy sets 180-day default retention and offers EU and Canada regions
- Veripass compares exam data against a baseline face, ID and knuckle scan
- ProctorDIY covers K-12 live proctoring through a Chrome plugin
Weak on
- No prices are published; the site offers a demo request only
- Biometric baseline scans are part of the design, which raises consent questions
Skip it if: Programs that cannot collect biometric data from test takers, or that need a certification named on the vendor pages. No plans or prices are published. The only call to action is a demo request.
- 6
Talview ranks sixth because it is broader than a proctoring tool and less focused as one. Alvy handles proctoring, Verity checks identity and deepfakes, and a Proctoring API exists, the only one on this list. The pricing page states a candidate minimum and pilot charges. Retention is only called configurable, and certification logos carry no detail.
Strong on
- Alvy offers automated, record-and-review or live proctoring with face match and liveness
- Verity runs ID authenticity checks, face match and deepfake detection
- Proctoring is available for MS Teams, MS Forms and Google Forms, plus an API
Weak on
- Minimum commitment of about 150 to 200 candidates a year
- Retention is called configurable with no default period, and hosting region is not stated
Skip it if: Small programs below 150 candidates a year, or teams that want one flat published price. Priced per feature unit with bundles, quoted on request, with a minimum of about 150 to 200 candidates yearly.
- 7
Proctorio ranks seventh. The privacy policy is specific: ID data kept up to a year, institutional data 30 days after termination, and recordings stored in the US, Europe and Canada. The product offers many configurable settings, such as full screen enforcement and desk scan. It names no learning systems on the pages we opened, and its AI claims stay general.
Strong on
- Settings include Block Downloads, Disable Clipboard, Force Full Screen and a desk scan at the start
- Privacy policy states storage in the US, Europe and Canada, with Canadian data kept in Canada
- AuthorProof and Behavior Tracker add writing and activity validation
Weak on
- No prices, plans or free trial are published anywhere
- No learning systems are named on the pages we opened, only a setting
Skip it if: Buyers who want a named integration list and printed prices before contacting the vendor. No prices are published. The calls to action are talk to sales and create an institution account.
- 8
Digiexam ranks eighth because it is a lockdown product more than a proctoring one. Lockdown has a printed price, unlimited exams and a one-click launch inside Canvas. It blocks other apps and sites but names no camera or AI monitoring. Only Canvas is described, so schools on other systems have little to check and must ask the vendor directly.
Strong on
- Lockdown launches inside Canvas quizzes and assignments with one click
- Unlimited exams are included with no per-exam fees
- Users can sync from Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra ID
Weak on
- No camera, live or AI monitoring is described for Lockdown
- Only Canvas is described as supported, and the Exam Platform price is not shown
Skip it if: Programs that must record the test taker or verify identity during the exam. Lockdown is billed annually and scales by student count. Exam Platform has no published price.
- 9
Kryterion ranks ninth. Its strength is the full testing service: remote proctoring with human oversight and AI assistance, test centers, event-based testing, the Webassessor platform and psychometrics. The homepage shows SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI DSS logos. It publishes no prices, retention or hosting details on the pages we opened, and names no integrations.
Strong on
- Remote proctoring sits beside test centers, event-based testing and private test sites
- Webassessor gives item-level control, and psychometric analysis is offered
- Homepage shows SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI DSS logos
Weak on
- No prices, retention or hosting details on the pages we opened
- Integrations are described only as working with your systems
Skip it if: Course-level exam use inside an LMS, since the vendor is oriented to credentialing programs. No prices appear on the pages we opened. A pricing page is linked but was not read.
- 10
Mercer | Mettl ranks tenth because proctoring is one part of an assessment suite aimed at hiring. AI and human-based proctoring run through a secured exam browser, alongside coding tests in 20-plus languages. The footer shows ISO 27001 and GDPR badges that the page does not explain. Named integrations are recruiting systems, not learning systems.
Strong on
- AI and human-based proctoring through a secured exam browser
- Coding assessments are auto-graded across more than 20 languages
- Page claims MFA, SAML 2.0 and annual penetration tests
Weak on
- Quote-only pricing with no plan names or trial
- Footer certification badges are not explained and retention is not stated
Skip it if: Universities that need proctoring built around course quizzes and a learning system. Pricing is personalised through a quote form. No plan names, billing basis or trial are published.
- 11
ProctorFree ranks last. It offers on-demand proctoring at any hour, both automated and human-assisted, and names eight learning systems from Canvas to Jenzabar. The pricing page returns a 404, no AI feature is named, and no certification is claimed. Raw data beyond six months needs a separate agreement, which buyers should plan around when they set retention rules.
Strong on
- On-demand proctoring needs no scheduling and runs at any hour, day or night
- Works with Canvas, Moodle, Brightspace, Open LMS, Skilljar and Jenzabar
- Offers both fully automated and human-assisted proctoring as separate services
Weak on
- No prices are published and the pricing URL returned a 404
- No certification is claimed and retention beyond six months needs an agreement
Skip it if: Buyers who need documented AI monitoring or a stated certification such as SOC 2. No amounts are published. The homepage promises prices that match your budget and offers a free demo.
How these AI online proctoring software were judged
How reliable is AI flagging in online proctoring?
The vendors do not publish accuracy figures, so judge flagging by what the product does with a flag. Honorlock pairs AI monitoring with live human proctors, and Proctor360 offers auto-proctoring plus live sessions. Proctortrack and Talview run face matching against a baseline or ID. Respondus and Digiexam describe lockdown with no AI named. Inspera describes AI-based estimation of generative AI use in text. Ask each vendor how a flag reaches a human, and run a pilot with test takers who wear glasses, share a room or use a slow connection, since those cases trigger most false flags.
How much does online proctoring software cost?
Most pricing is hidden. As of November 2026, Respondus prints Site License fees from $1,695 to $2,945 a year by student count, and Digiexam shows $1,496 a year for Lockdown after a 25% first-year discount. Honorlock, Proctorio, Proctortrack, Inspera, Kryterion and Mercer | Mettl publish no amounts. Proctor360 says per-session pricing, and Talview prices per feature unit with a minimum of about 150 to 200 candidates a year. Pricing models differ, so ask each vendor for a quote on the same 1,000-exam scenario and compare the totals.
Where do proctoring recordings go and how long are they kept?
Recordings of faces and rooms are the sensitive part. Inspera states EU-only hosting. Proctortrack offers EU and Canada regions and keeps proctored activity up to 180 days by default. Proctorio names storage in the US, Europe and Canada. Proctor360 sets six months and says sessions do not tune its AI. ProctorFree allows deletion of raw streams and needs an agreement beyond six months. Honorlock's privacy pages did not open during our check, and several vendors state no region. Request the retention schedule and deletion process in writing.
How hard is it to switch proctoring vendors?
Switching costs sit in the learning system setup and in student habits more than in data. Add-on tools such as Respondus, Honorlock and Proctorio attach to quiz settings, so changing vendor means reconfiguring each exam. Platform tools such as Inspera hold the question banks, so leaving means exporting items and rebuilding delivery. Annual licenses are common, and Respondus renews each August 1 in North America. Talview exposes a Proctoring API, the only one stated here. Before signing, ask for a recording export format and a deletion confirmation at contract end.
Which proctoring tool fits your institution or program?
Match the tool to the exam stakes. A university using Canvas with mixed course quizzes fits Respondus, Honorlock or Digiexam Lockdown. A European institution that needs EU hosting looks first at Inspera. Programs worried about impersonation look at Proctortrack, Proctor360 or Talview. Certification bodies with test centers fit Kryterion, and employers hiring at volume fit Mercer | Mettl or Talview. Small programs without a budget process can start with ProctorFree. Check the learning system list first, because several vendors name none.
How to choose an AI online proctoring tool in three steps
- Decide the monitoring level per exam type. Sort your exams into low, medium and high stakes before you talk to vendors. A weekly quiz may only need a lockdown browser such as Respondus or Digiexam Lockdown. A final exam may justify recording, ID checks and room scans through Honorlock, Proctorio or Inspera. A certification may need live proctors. Each step up adds cost, recorded video and test-taker stress, so assign the lightest level that answers the cheating risk you actually have, and write that policy down before the pilot starts.
- Pilot with real test takers and a human review queue. Run one pilot exam with fifty or more students on their own devices, including older laptops and shared rooms. Count how many sessions each tool flags, how many flags an instructor dismisses, and how long review takes per session. Ask the vendor who sees flags first: Honorlock offers live proctors, Proctor360 offers live sessions and Talview offers record-and-review. Also record support response during the exam window, because a stuck student at the start of a timed test is the failure everyone remembers.
- Get retention, hosting and consent terms in writing. Ask each shortlisted vendor for the recording retention period, the storage region, the deletion process and whether recordings are used to train models. Proctortrack and Proctorio publish retention periods, Proctor360 states a six-month default, and Inspera states EU hosting. Several others state nothing on the pages we read. Pair the answers with your own consent notice for test takers, and check whether biometric scans are involved, since that triggers stricter rules in some jurisdictions. Keep the vendor's answers with the signed contract.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI online proctoring software in 2026?
Inspera ranks first here because it states EU-only hosting for its assessment cloud, names five learning systems and offers adjustable monitoring levels. Honorlock is the pick for AI monitoring combined with live human proctors, and Respondus suits schools that want a printed annual price for a lockdown browser.
Can AI proctoring tell the difference between cheating and normal behavior?
Not reliably on its own. Vendors describe flagging of potential incidents but publish no accuracy rates, and Proctor360 calls its output flagged incidents for review. A flag should send a session to a person. Plan an instructor review step and an appeal route before any penalty is applied to a student.
Which proctoring tools work inside Canvas, Moodle and Blackboard?
Respondus names Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology and D2L Brightspace. Honorlock names Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace and Moodle, and Inspera adds Sakai. ProctorFree lists Canvas, Moodle and Brightspace. Digiexam describes Canvas only. Proctorio, Proctortrack and Kryterion name no learning systems on the pages we opened, so ask them for a list.
Which online proctoring software publishes its prices?
Only two do in part. Respondus lists Site License fees from $1,695 to $2,945 a year by student count, and Digiexam lists $1,496 a year for Lockdown with a first-year discount. The rest are quote based, so compare them with a written quote for the same exam volume.
Does online proctoring software store biometric data?
Some does. Proctortrack builds a baseline from face, ID and knuckle scans and keeps identity profile data up to one year, while Talview runs face match with liveness. Proctorio keeps ID verification data up to one year. Ask any vendor whether your test takers must consent and whether scans are deleted.
Is there free online proctoring software?
No tool here has a free plan. Respondus offers a 30-day pilot for the single user version of Respondus 4, and the rest offer demos only. Digiexam says no credit card is needed for early access. Budget for a paid pilot if you want real students on the system.
How long do proctoring vendors keep exam recordings?
It varies. Proctortrack states up to 180 days by default, Proctor360 states six months, and Proctorio ties retention to the institution or the law. ProctorFree may delete raw streams at any time and needs an agreement beyond six months. Honorlock, Kryterion and Mercer | Mettl state no period on the pages we read.
Is online proctoring allowed under GDPR for European students?
This site does not give legal advice, and the vendor pages we read did not settle the question. Several vendors reference GDPR, and Inspera states EU-only hosting. Your institution still needs a lawful basis, a data processing agreement and a clear notice for students. Ask your data protection officer before any pilot.