SMOWL
SMOWL provides digital exam proctoring for educational institutions, certification bodies, and businesses, for both online and in-person exams.
What SMOWL is
SMOWL provides digital exam proctoring for educational institutions, certification bodies, and businesses, for both online and in-person exams. Its Computer Monitoring can record applications, browsing activity, connected devices, and generative AI use during an exam. Browser Lock can block actions such as opening new tabs, leaving the test screen, or using unauthorized shortcuts. Identity checks compare a webcam image with an identity document; periodic images and an optional second camera can show the test taker’s surroundings. After exams, reports categorize detected incidents and include visual evidence and descriptions for review. SMOWL lists integrations with Moodle, Canvas, Open LMS, Classe365, and Blackboard, and names D2L as a certified LMS partner. A trial offers 25 licenses for 21 days through mySmowltech; free integration requires administrator permissions on an LMS. Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android are supported, with Chrome or Firefox recommended. Computer monitoring in SMOWL CLASS, PLUS, and PRO requires a desktop application, while webcam monitoring alone does not. Pricing is available on request, and no free plan is listed.
Good
- Reports include incident descriptions and visual evidence.
- Offers Browser Lock and identity checks.
- Lists integrations with several learning management systems.
- Trial offers 25 licenses for 21 days.
Watch out
- Pricing is available on request.
- No free plan is listed.
- Some computer monitoring requires a desktop application.
- Trial integration requires LMS administrator permissions.
Who it suits
SMOWL suits educational institutions, certification bodies, and businesses conducting online or in-person exams. It also serves organizations running professional training, personnel selection, or online assessments.
Verdict
SMOWL offers multiple proctoring options, LMS integrations, and post-exam reports for organizations that conduct assessments. Before choosing it, check the licensing details, required monitoring setup, and administrator permissions for integration.
Plans and prices
From SMOWL's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| SMOWL Class 5000 | $7,500 a year | 5,000 exam-session licenses · $1.50 per license · 12-month contract |
| SMOWL+ 5000 | $15,000 a year | 5,000 exam-session licenses · $3.00 per license · 12-month contract |
| SMOWL Pro 5000 | $25,000 a year | 5,000 exam-session licenses · $5.00 per license · 12-month contract |
| SMOWL PLUS | Priced on request | Webcam authentication · device and environment monitoring · optional Browser Lock |
| SMOWL PRO | Priced on request | Second-camera supervision · optional human review · API report customization · user- or activity-based licensing |
| Activity-based license | Priced on request | One monitored activity per user · suited to admissions, single assessments, certifications and selection tests |
| User-based license | Priced on request | Unlimited activities per user during the contracted period |
| SMOWL CLASS | Priced on request | Computer Monitoring or Browser Lock · in-person digital exams · LMS integration |
| SMOWL ENTERPRISE | Priced on request | Live human proctoring · direct chat · incident intervention · enterprise support |
The facts
Each one read from SMOWL's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and LTI
- SMOWL offers API access for custom LMS work and LTI integration; technical implementation guides are available inside the logged-in mySmowltech portal.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Compliance
- SMOWL identifies GDPR, FERPA, CCPA, and the European Union AI Act as regulatory frameworks addressed on its privacy page, and describes its proctoring as ISO 27001 and ENS certified.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Computer monitoring
- SMOWL CM can detect virtual machines, unauthorized applications and generative-AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Core monitoring
- Its options include identity authentication, webcam and microphone supervision, computer and browser monitoring, environment checks and incident reports.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Data hosting
- The privacy policy says AWS servers are in the European Union and that customer data is not transferred outside the EU.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Deployment model
- AWS Marketplace describes SMOWL as SaaS deployed on AWS, with recurring contract usage and possible additional AWS infrastructure costs.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation access
- Integration, API, configuration and administration guides require mySmowltech login, while general help material is available through a Help Center.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Environment checks
- Environment monitoring can use a second camera, such as a phone or tablet, to show the test taker’s surroundings.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Environment scan
- An optional second camera on a phone or tablet checks the workspace for other people or devices.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Extension requirements
- The browser extension works on Chrome and Edge plus Chromium browsers such as Opera, Brave and Vivaldi, while Safari and Firefox are unsupported for that extension.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Funding
- Dealroom lists a May 2022 seed round of €1.7 million involving Wayra, Social Stock Exchange and Sparkmind.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Identity checks
- SMOWL can compare a webcam image of the test taker with an identity document and take periodic images during the exam.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Identity verification
- The authentication feature compares a live face image with an identity document and takes periodic snapshots during the activity.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation limit
- SMOWL CLASS, PLUS, and PRO require a desktop application for computer monitoring, while webcam monitoring alone requires no installation.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The service lists Moodle, Canvas, Open LMS, Classe365 and Blackboard integrations, with certified integrations for Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard and D2L.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: connectivity
- The Gartner review said teacher-student screen sharing was uneven and students periodically lost connection during tests.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: feature coverage
- Capterra’s catalog indicates SMOWL has online tests, live proctoring and violation tracking but lacks test or quiz creation and its listed data-security feature.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: integrations and dashboard
- The Gartner review cited integration problems and limited dashboard access as obstacles.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Browser Lock
- The SMOWL browser extension can block tabs, windows, copy/paste, printing and prohibited shortcuts while recording forced-close attempts.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company legal name
- The website identifies the controller as Smiley Owl Tech, S.L., with Spanish tax number B75073452.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists Smowltech as a privately held company with 51–200 employees.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Founded
- Smowltech was founded in 2012.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- The registered office is Calle Arturo Campión 22, 20018 Donostia/San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain.checked 15 Oct 2026
Money
- Free trial
- Institutions can test 25 licenses for 21 days through mySmowltech, with administrator permissions needed for LMS integration.checked 15 Oct 2026
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