Respondus Monitor

Overview

Monitor is a companion to LockDown Browser, not an independent proctoring product. LockDown Browser prevents printing, copying, access to other applications and internet searching during an exam; Monitor adds webcam monitoring, screen recording and identity verification. The combination supports review after an assessment, but there is no live proctoring, so it does not meet a requirement for real-time human oversight.

Once installed, Monitor launches from Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge when an exam's settings call for it. Students complete a pre-exam sequence that includes a webcam check, without scheduling a session or registering on Respondus's website. Its integrations include Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Pearson MyLab and Mastering, McGraw Hill ALEKS, Cengage WebAssign and MindTap, and Hawkes Learning.

Key features

Recorded sessions and flagged events

Webcam recording, screen recording and identity verification give instructors material to assess after the exam, while flagged events and results can direct attention to relevant portions. This is a practical fit for courses that can rely on later review; it is less suitable when decisions must be made during the exam.

Browser controls and exam launch

LockDown Browser restricts common routes to outside information and other applications during an exam. Monitor's launch from supported browsers and guided webcam check help fit the process into an LMS exam workflow. The trade-off is dependence on the companion browser and institution configuration, not a standalone setup.

Student help and institutional support

Students can reach 24/7 real-time chat support, which gives them a help channel during setup or exam access. Respondus also offers free training webinars, with additional training resources in the LMS application for instructors at licensed institutions. The company develops assessment applications for education, training and certification, and says it has partnered with education organizations for over 20 years.

Privacy and fairness

Respondus says its security and privacy coverage includes FERPA, GDPR, CCPA, HECVAT, SOC 2 and TX-RAMP. It also says its algorithms are systematically tested so age, gender and skin tone do not affect proctoring results. These commitments matter to institutions assessing compliance and fairness, though they do not change the product's reliance on recorded review.

Pricing

Respondus offers a free pilot, student purchase, and institutional licensing. The campus-wide LockDown Browser license and administrator enablement are prerequisites for institutional use, so the student price is not a way to bypass that deployment requirement.

Plan	Price and terms	Best fit
Free pilot	Free; billed 2 months. Unlimited use for institutions, with no obligation.	Institutions evaluating the service before committing to a license.
Student Purchase	15.00 USD per year; valid for 12 months (365 days). Use across courses and exams in the same learning system at the institution; LockDown Browser required.	A student needing access across that institution's courses in one learning system.
Initial institutional license	4950.00 USD per year; annual fee prorated based on license start date. Flat rate regardless of institution size; North America pricing, exclusions apply.	Institutions seeking a flat annual fee rather than seat tiers.
Tiered	5950.00 USD per year for a base tier of 1,000 seats; each additional 1,000-seat tier costs $1,950. No exam-count limit.	Institutions that can plan around seat increments and want exams uncapped by count.
Unlimited	Custom pricing; institution-wide use, with pricing based on institution type and size.	Institutions seeking institution-wide use and prepared to request a quote.

The pilot is the lowest-commitment way for an institution to evaluate Monitor, but it lasts only two months. The student option covers a year and use across courses within one learning system, not unrestricted access across systems. Institutional buyers should compare the flat-rate license with the 1,000-seat tiers against their enrollment and budget; the tiered plan charges more for each added seat block even though it has no exam-count limit. Unlimited has custom pricing.

Platforms

Respondus identifies Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows platforms. Its product page describes native support for Windows, Mac, Chromebook and iPad, while technical requirements include Windows 10 or 11, macOS 12 to 26.0+, and iPadOS 15+ with a compatible LMS integration. A webcam, microphone and broadband internet are required; Chromebook requirements also apply. Institutions should verify supported devices and LMS compatibility before relying on a particular student device.

Who it's for

Monitor fits colleges and other higher-education institutions that already have a campus-wide LockDown Browser license, can enable Monitor through their license administrator, and prefer recorded evidence for instructor review. It can suit students taking supported online exams who need a no-scheduling workflow and access to chat support. It is not the right fit for institutions that need live proctoring or cannot meet the licensing and device requirements.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Combines browser restrictions with webcam and screen recording, identity verification, and flagged events for instructor review.
• Pros: Integrates with a broad set of named LMS and course platforms, including Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle and Brightspace.
• Pros: Students do not schedule sessions, and 24/7 chat support is available.
• Pros: The free two-month institutional pilot allows evaluation without obligation.
• Cons: Monitor cannot be used without LockDown Browser, and institutions need a campus-wide license with Monitor enabled.
• Cons: There is no live proctoring; instructors review recordings and flags after the exam.
• Cons: Device compatibility depends on operating system requirements and, for iPad, a compatible LMS integration.

Alternatives

Compare the broader Exam Proctoring Software and Online Proctoring Software directories if you want to survey the category.

• ThinkExam is a freemium alternative with Android, iOS and web support; its Standard plan is 3125.00 USD per month billed annually for 100 users.
• Proctorio offers a free plan for evaluation, pilot programs and small-scale use, with seven-day data retention and a limited review center.
• Grafari is a paid alternative with a free plan and free trial; its annual premium option is 20.00 USD per month, billed $240 annually.
• SMOWL offers computer monitoring or browser lock, in-person digital exams and LMS integration, with custom pricing for SMOWL CLASS.
• ProctorFree is another paid option with a free trial.
• OctoProctor uses hours-based pricing billed on actual usage time and supports up to 1,500 simultaneous users.
• Gauge Online is a paid option with a free trial and a Professional plan starting at 750.00 USD per year.
• Proctor360 offers remote proctoring services with pricing available by contacting sales or booking a demo.

Verdict

Choose Respondus Monitor if your institution already licenses LockDown Browser and wants webcam-based, post-exam review integrated with its supported learning systems. Its strongest reason to choose it is the pairing of browser controls, recorded evidence and flagged events without session scheduling. Look elsewhere if you need live proctoring or cannot meet its institutional licensing and device prerequisites.