Respondus Monitor
Respondus Monitor is a remote proctoring product for higher education that records students by webcam during online assessments and gives instructors flagged…
What Respondus Monitor is
Respondus Monitor is a remote proctoring product for higher education that records students by webcam during online assessments and gives instructors flagged events and results to review. It must be used with LockDown Browser, which blocks printing, copying, access to other applications, and internet searches during an exam. After a one-time installation, Monitor launches from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge when exam settings require it, then guides students through steps that include a webcam check. Listed learning-system integrations include Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Pearson MyLab and Mastering, McGraw Hill ALEKS, Cengage WebAssign and MindTap, and Hawkes Learning. The product describes support for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and iPad. Requirements include a webcam, microphone, broadband internet, and specified operating-system versions; iPadOS 15+ requires a compatible LMS integration. Students can access 24/7 real-time chat and do not need to schedule a session. A campus-wide LockDown Browser license is required, and the administrator must enable Monitor. The free institutional pilot lasts two months; student purchase is $15 a year, valid for 12 months.
Good
- Flags events and provides results for instructor review.
- Integrates with several named learning systems.
- Students have access to 24/7 real-time chat.
- Students do not need to schedule proctoring.
Watch out
- Requires LockDown Browser.
- Institutions need a campus-wide LockDown Browser license.
- A webcam, microphone, and broadband internet are required.
Who it suits
Monitor is for higher-education institutions and instructors running online assessments who need webcam recordings and flagged events for review. Students need a compatible device and an institution with the required LockDown Browser license.
Verdict
Respondus Monitor pairs webcam-based assessment recording with instructor review tools and broad listed LMS integration. It is not standalone: institutions must have the required LockDown Browser license and enable Monitor.
Plans and prices
From Respondus Monitor's own pricing page, checked 14 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free pilot | Free | Unlimited institutional use · no obligation · 2 months |
| Student Purchase | $15 a year | All Monitor courses and exams in the same institutional learning system · credit card, debit card or PayPal · 12 months (365 days) |
| Initial institutional license | $4,950 a year | Flat rate regardless of institution size · North America pricing; exclusions apply · Annual fee prorated based on license start date |
| Flat Rate | $4,950 a year | Initial licensing term · institution-size independent · LockDown Browser license required · Annual fee, prorated by license start date |
| Tiered | $5,950 a year | Base tier is 1,000 seats · additional 1,000-seat tiers cost $1,950 each · no exam-count limit |
| Tiered base | $5,950 a year | 1,000 seats · additional 1,000-seat tiers cost $1,950 each · no exam-count limit · Subsequent terms |
| Unlimited | — | Unlimited campus usage · quote based on institution type and size · LockDown Browser license required · Subsequent terms |
The facts
Each one read from Respondus Monitor's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility claim
- The feature checklist claims WCAG 2.1 Level AA and Section 508 conformance, annual third-party audits and assistive-technology integrations.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Algorithm fairness
- Respondus says its algorithms are systematically tested for fairness so age, gender, and skin tone do not impact proctoring results.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Automated proctoring
- The product performs automated video-based proctoring rather than requiring a live proctor for every session.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Compliance claims
- Respondus states that Monitor meets FERPA, GDPR, CCPA, TX-RAMP and SOC 2 requirements.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The support center lists 36 Monitor-specific articles plus separate getting-started, student, instructor, Chromebook, accessibility, Mac and iPad sections.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Hosting model
- Respondus Monitor is described in its terms as a cloud-based service combined with client software.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The product page lists Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Pearson MyLab and Mastering, McGraw Hill ALEKS, Cengage WebAssign and MindTap, and Hawkes Learning integrations.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Launch
- After a one-time installation, Monitor launches from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge when exam settings require it and guides students through a pre-exam sequence including a webcam check.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the company’s legal name as Respondus, Inc.checked 14 Oct 2026
- License constraint
- The resources page says the institution needs a campus-wide LockDown Browser license and its license administrator must enable Monitor.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License model
- The student terms grant a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license and prohibit modification, distribution, sublicensing and reverse engineering.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: accessibility and compatibility
- Northern Illinois University faculty report crashes, frozen work, incompatibility with some assistive technology and problems for students limited to Chromebooks.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: cheating bypass
- G2 reviewers report that students can use phones or other devices, so the system is not fail-safe against cheating.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: privacy concerns
- G2 reviewers raise privacy and institutional privacy-compliance concerns about recording students and proctoring data.checked 14 Oct 2026
- LMS integrations
- Documented integrations include Blackboard, Brightspace, Canvas, Moodle and Schoology, with publisher systems including ALEKS, Pearson MyLab, Hawkes Learning, Cengage WebAssign and MindTap.checked 14 Oct 2026
- LMS setup
- Blackboard Ultra requires REST API and Proctoring Service configuration; Brightspace uses an External Learning Tool, Canvas an External App, Moodle a Moodle Extension and Schoology an LTI App.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Lockdown behavior
- LockDown Browser prevents printing, copying, access to other applications, and internet searching during an online exam.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Lockdown function
- Its companion LockDown Browser blocks printing, copying, other applications and internet searches during an exam.checked 14 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser launch
- After a one-time installation, Monitor can launch from Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge when an exam requires it.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Device support
- Supported end-user environments include Windows, macOS, Chromebook and iPad.checked 14 Oct 2026
The company
- Company
- Respondus says it develops assessment applications for education, training, and certification markets and has partnered with education organizations for over 20 years.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Founded
- Respondus was founded in 2000.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists headquarters in Redmond, Washington and a company size of 51–200 employees.checked 14 Oct 2026
Money
- Limit: freezing and lag
- G2 reviewers report lag, freezing and stressful failures, especially with weak internet connections.checked 14 Oct 2026
The full review of Respondus Monitor
Respondus Monitor records webcam sessions during online exams and gives instructors flagged events and results to review. It is a stronger fit for colleges already using LockDown Browser than for students or schools seeking a standalone service. Its appeal is a no-scheduling, asynchronous workflow; its main drawback is the institutional license gate.
Overview
Monitor is built to pair with LockDown Browser, which restricts printing, copying, access to other applications and internet searching during an exam. Monitor adds webcam recording, screen recording and identity verification, then surfaces events for instructor review. That combination supports post-exam scrutiny without arranging a live proctor, but it leaves review to instructors and does not provide live oversight.
After a one-time installation, Monitor launches from Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge when exam settings call for it. Students complete a pre-exam sequence that includes a webcam check; they do not need to book a session or register on Respondus’s website. Round-the-clock real-time chat support is a practical help for students encountering setup trouble.
Key features
Recorded review and exam controls
Flagged events can help instructors direct attention to portions of a recording, while browser lockdown limits access to common sources of outside assistance during the exam. This is useful when an institution wants a recorded audit trail, but it is not a substitute for real-time intervention.
LMS workflow and device support
Integrations include Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Pearson MyLab and Mastering, McGraw Hill ALEKS, Cengage WebAssign and MindTap, and Hawkes Learning. Respondus describes native support for Windows, Mac, Chromebook and iPad. Requirements include Windows 10 or 11, macOS 12 to 26.0+, or iPadOS 15+ with a compatible LMS integration, plus a webcam, microphone and broadband internet; Chromebook requirements are also provided. The broad LMS reach is valuable for institutions already using a supported system, while the compatible-integration condition matters for iPad users.
Privacy and fairness commitments
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 for fairness so age, gender and skin tone do not affect proctoring results. Those commitments address important institutional concerns, though they do not change the product’s reliance on recorded monitoring.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Free pilot | free | Unlimited institutional use for 2 months, with no obligation. This is an evaluation window, not an ongoing free tier. |
| Student Purchase | $15 a year | Valid for 12 months (365 days); usable across courses and exams in the same learning system at the institution. LockDown Browser is required, so this fits an individual student only where the school has enabled the companion product. |
| Initial institutional license | $4,950 a year | Annual fee prorated from the license start date; flat rate regardless of institution size. North America pricing; exclusions apply. Its flat-rate structure can suit institutions seeking campus access without seat tiers. |
| Tiered | $5,950 a year | Includes a 1,000-seat base tier; each additional 1,000 seats costs $1,950, with no exam-count limit. Institutions should weigh seat growth rather than exam volume. |
| Unlimited | Custom pricing | Institution-wide use, with price based on institution type and size. This is the quote-based option for organizations seeking institution-wide coverage. |
There is no continuing free plan. Every paid route depends on LockDown Browser, and institutional deployment additionally requires a campus-wide LockDown Browser license with Monitor enabled by the license administrator. Respondus offers free training webinars, and instructors at licensed institutions can access training resources inside the LMS application.
Platforms
Platforms include Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Respondus’s device guidance also covers Chromebook and iPad, with iPad use tied to a compatible LMS integration. Students need a webcam and microphone and broadband internet.
Who it's for
Monitor makes most sense for higher-education institutions that already license LockDown Browser, use one of its supported LMS integrations and prefer recorded instructor review over scheduled live supervision. Its student purchase plan offers a route across courses within the same institutional learning system. It is a poor fit for organizations needing live proctoring or for schools unable to meet the campus-wide LockDown Browser requirement.
Pros and cons
- Pros: Flagged recordings and results give instructors a way to focus post-exam review rather than supervise sessions live.
- Pros: A wide set of named LMS integrations can fit established higher-education workflows.
- Pros: Students avoid session scheduling and receive 24/7 real-time chat support.
- Cons: It cannot be used without LockDown Browser, and institutions need a campus-wide license with Monitor enabled.
- Cons: There is no live proctoring, limiting its value when real-time intervention is required.
- Cons: The free pilot lasts only 2 months, so it does not provide ongoing no-cost use.
Alternatives
Proctorio is worth considering for buyers who want a free plan and broader platform coverage; its free tier has 7-day data retention and a limited review center, so it is oriented toward evaluation, pilots and small-scale use. ThinkExam may suit a buyer comparing a freemium assessment platform with a Standard plan priced at $3,125 a month, billed annually, for 100 users and unlimited quizzes.
Grafari offers a free plan and paid options including ANNUAL PREMIUM at $20 a month, billed $240 annually, while OctoProctor uses hours-based pricing tied to actual usage time, with fees set in the license agreement, invoice or order form. YuJa Engage is another paid option without a free plan.
Proctor360 is a paid alternative with pricing available by contacting sales or booking a demo. SMOWL is a paid option with a free trial and plans including computer monitoring or browser lock. Proctortrack offers customized quote-based pricing for organizations.
Browse Exam Proctoring Software or Online Proctoring Software for more options.
Verdict
Choose Respondus Monitor if your institution already has LockDown Browser and needs recorded webcam exams, flagged events and LMS-connected instructor review without arranging live sessions. Its post-exam workflow and institutional pricing choices are compelling in that setting. Look elsewhere if you need standalone deployment or a live proctor.
Getting started
- Visit https://web.respondus.com/he/monitor/.
- Confirm the institution has a campus-wide LockDown Browser license and its administrator has enabled Monitor.
- Install Monitor once, then launch it from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge when exam settings require it.
- Complete the guided pre-exam sequence, including the webcam check.
- Check that the device meets the applicable operating-system, webcam, microphone, broadband, and LMS requirements.
Limits worth knowing
The free pilot is free, billed 2 months, and provides unlimited institutional use with no obligation. Student Purchase costs $15 a year, is valid for 12 months (365 days), and requires LockDown Browser; institutional licenses require LockDown Browser as well.
Questions
Is there a free option?
Yes. The Free pilot costs nothing, billed 2 months, and offers unlimited use for institutions with no obligation.
How much does student access cost?
Student Purchase is $15 a year, valid for 12 months (365 days). It requires LockDown Browser and applies across courses and exams in the same learning system at the institution.
What platforms and devices are supported?
The listed platforms include Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows. The product describes native support for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and iPad; iPadOS 15+ requires a compatible LMS integration.
Does it work without LockDown Browser?
No. Monitor is a companion product and cannot be used without LockDown Browser.
Which learning systems are integrated?
Listed integrations include Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Brightspace, Pearson MyLab and Mastering, McGraw Hill ALEKS, Cengage WebAssign and MindTap, and Hawkes Learning.
Does it provide live proctoring?
No. Live proctoring is listed as unavailable; Monitor records students by webcam and provides events and results for instructor review.
