Tool profile
Respondus: cost, fit and limits
Respondus is a software suite made by Respondus, Inc. that includes LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor for exam integrity, plus Respondus 4 for building exams, sold to schools, districts and universities as annual site licenses.
What to know first
Respondus is the only vendor in this category that prints a license table. A Site License covers all teachers at a school or district and costs $1,695 a year under 2,500 students, rising by student count to $2,945 at 30,001 to 40,000. Above that it is by quote. A free 30-day pilot exists for the single user version of Respondus 4. The pages name no AI feature.
Respondus at a glance
| Maker | Respondus, Inc., Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | $1,695 per year (Site License, under 2,500 students) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Online Proctoring Software in 2026, rank 3 of 11 |
| Website | web.respondus.com |
Who Respondus is best for
School districts and mid-size colleges
A printed tier table by student count lets a business office budget a year ahead, and the site license covers every teacher rather than charging per exam.
K-12 and higher education under one vendor
LockDown Browser is listed for both segments, so a district with a middle school and a college can use one tool and one support contact.
Teachers who author their own question banks
Respondus 4 builds and publishes exams, and the Test Bank Network and StudyMate Campus extend that authoring side beyond proctoring alone.
Respondus plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Site License, under 2,500 students | $1,695 per year | Use of Respondus 4 by all teachers at a school or district, billed by learning system seat tier. |
| Site License, 2,501 to 10,000 students | $2,095 per year | Use of Respondus 4 by all teachers at a school or district, renewing each year on August 1 in North America. |
| Site License, 10,001 to 20,000 students | $2,545 per year | Use of Respondus 4 by all teachers at a school or district; pro-rating by academic year on request. |
| Site License, 20,001 to 30,000 students | $2,745 per year | Use of Respondus 4 by all teachers at a school or district, with a quote needed above 40,000 students. |
| Single User | Not published | Individual license for Respondus 4; price and billing basis are not shown, and the free 30-day pilot covers this version. |
Checked November 2026.
What Respondus does
- LockDown Browser
- A locked-down browser for exams that blocks other applications during a test. It is listed for higher education and for K-12, and the vendor says it is embedded in 70-plus third-party assessment platforms.
- Respondus Monitor
- Respondus Monitor is listed under higher education exam integrity as the camera-based layer for use with LockDown Browser. The pages we opened do not describe its flagging method.
- Respondus 4
- A desktop tool for creating and publishing exams to supported learning systems, which suits teachers who author large question banks offline before upload. It is licensed through the same site license.
- StudyMate Campus and Test Bank Network
- StudyMate Campus offers learning games and study tools, and the Test Bank Network is listed for higher education, so the suite extends beyond proctoring into content.
How Respondus handles your data
The privacy policy sets no fixed retention periods and says the institution can adjust how long data is stored on Respondus systems. It does not state a hosting region, a certification, or whether customer data is used to train any model. The pricing page says prices are subject to change and that annual billing renews on August 1, or January 1 for institutions outside North America. The vendor's policy was not checked for AI training, so a buyer should ask about it directly.
Where Respondus falls short in practice
- No AI named. Neither the homepage nor the pricing page names an AI feature. A buyer who wants automated flagging described in detail has to ask how Respondus Monitor reviews are produced.
- Single User price hidden. The Single User price and billing basis are not published, and the free pilot covers only that version. An individual instructor cannot see the cost before contacting the vendor.
- Fixed renewal date. Site licenses renew each August 1 in North America and January 1 elsewhere, with pro-rating only on request. A mid-year start may mean paying for months you cannot use.
Works with
Alternatives to Respondus
Respondus: common questions
How much does a Respondus Site License cost?
As of November 2026, the pricing page lists $1,695 a year under 2,500 students, $2,095 for 2,501 to 10,000, $2,545 for 10,001 to 20,000, $2,745 for 20,001 to 30,000 and $2,945 for 30,001 to 40,000. Above 40,000 the vendor asks for a quote.
Is there a free trial of Respondus?
The vendor offers a free 30-day pilot, but it covers the single user version of Respondus 4 only. It does not cover a Site License of LockDown Browser or Respondus Monitor. Ask the sales team whether a pilot of the exam integrity tools is possible for your school.
Which learning systems does Respondus work with?
The pages name Canvas from Instructure, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology and D2L Brightspace. The vendor also claims its technology is embedded in more than 70 third-party assessment platforms. Check that list against the exact learning system version you run before ordering.
When does a Respondus license renew?
Site licenses renew on August 1 in North America and on January 1 for institutions outside it. The vendor will pro-rate by academic year on request. If you buy mid-year, ask for the pro-rating in writing so the first invoice reflects the months you will actually use.
Does Respondus Monitor use AI?
The pages we opened name no AI feature for Respondus or Respondus Monitor. Monitor is listed under higher education exam integrity, but its flagging method is not described. Ask the vendor how recorded sessions are reviewed and whether an instructor sees automated flags or has to watch video.