Honorlock Review: Prevent Cheating & Boost Exam Integrity with AI

Cheating ruins trust in online exams.

If you’re researching Honorlock, you’re probably dealing with worries about academic dishonesty or test security with your current setup.

That hits hard when exam integrity suffers and student trust drops—making your job feel impossible, day after day.

Honorlock attacks these pain points directly: their AI-driven proctoring, live US-based pop-in proctors, and standout features like Search & Destroy™ don’t just monitor, they actively protect your exams from leaks and cheating, all while giving students a non-intimidating experience.

In this review, I’ll break down how Honorlock helps you actually maintain exam integrity without adding admin headaches or pushing students away.

I’ll cover everything you need for your evaluation journey in this Honorlock review, from core features and real user experience to pricing, integrations, and how it compares to other proctoring players.

You’ll come away with clarity on the features you need to make secure, confident decisions around academic assessments.

Let’s get started.

Honorlock Overview

Honorlock has been a dedicated player in online proctoring since its 2014 founding. From their Boca Raton headquarters, their core mission is protecting academic integrity for remote exams.

They primarily serve higher education institutions and professional certification programs that require reliable assessment security. I think their human-centered approach to proctoring is what truly sets them apart, as it feels less intimidating for your students.

Their 2021 Series B funding was a smart move, fueling crucial platform enhancements for remote learning. I’ll explore how that investment pays off for you through this Honorlock review.

Unlike competitors that feel invasive with constant monitoring, Honorlock’s value is its unique blend of AI and human review. This “pop-in” model feels designed by people who understand the need for a respectful testing environment.

They work with hundreds of major universities and even entire state education systems. This shows me their technology and support are trusted to handle large-scale institutional deployments reliably.

I find their current strategy centers on perfecting the balance between robust security and a positive student experience. This directly addresses your institution’s need for a solution that both faculty and students can get behind.

Now let’s examine their capabilities.

Honorlock Features

Worried about online exam integrity?

Honorlock features offer a comprehensive approach to online proctoring, ensuring academic honesty with a hybrid of AI and human oversight. These are the five core Honorlock features that protect your online assessments.

1. AI Proctoring with Live Pop-In™

Tired of feeling like a surveillance state?

Pure AI proctoring can create false positives and stress students out, leading to complaints and a poor testing experience for everyone.

Honorlock’s AI monitors for suspicious behavior and, crucially, alerts a live, US-based proctor for review before any intervention. This feature avoids unnecessary interruptions by allowing human judgment to assess flagged activity, making the process less intimidating for students.

This means you get reliable integrity checks without creating an overly harsh or intrusive environment for your test-takers.

2. BrowserGuard™

Concerned about students accessing external resources?

Without strict browser controls, students can easily switch tabs or applications, compromising the fairness and validity of your online exams.

BrowserGuard™ locks down the testing environment, preventing access to unauthorized content and disabling shortcuts. What I found impressive is how it records desktops to prevent content capture, ensuring a secure and focused testing experience.

This means you can ensure students are solely focused on their exam content, maintaining a level playing field for all.

3. Identity Verification

Can you really be sure who’s taking the test?

Without proper identity checks, you can’t verify if the person taking the exam is actually the registered student, undermining the entire assessment.

Honorlock requires students to scan approved identification, verifying their identity before the exam begins. From my testing, this is a critical first step in maintaining assessment integrity, ensuring the right person is taking the test.

So you can confidently confirm the identity of your test-takers, adding a vital layer of security to your online exams.

4. Search & Destroy™

Are your exam questions leaking online?

Exam content can end up on third-party websites, compromising future assessments and making it harder to create secure tests.

This unique feature actively scours the internet to find leaked exam questions, allowing you to initiate content takedown requests when unauthorized copies are found. This is where Honorlock truly shines in proactive security.

This means you can protect the longevity and integrity of your exam questions, preventing widespread cheating over time.

5. Multi-Device and Audio Detection

Worried about hidden phones or external help?

Students often use secondary devices or get verbal assistance, which standard proctoring might miss, leading to undetected cheating.

Honorlock’s AI detects unauthorized mobile devices, even if hidden, and analyzes audio for keywords that indicate academic dishonesty. This feature provides comprehensive monitoring beyond just screen activity, catching subtle attempts at cheating.

This means you can detect more sophisticated cheating methods, ensuring a truly secure and fair online examination process.

You’ll appreciate how these Honorlock features work together to create a robust and integrated proctoring system that provides comprehensive security for your online assessments.

Honorlock Pricing

What will Honorlock really cost you?

Honorlock pricing is not publicly disclosed, reflecting a custom enterprise model that requires direct contact for a personalized quote, ensuring you only pay for what you need.

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Understanding their cost structure.

Honorlock’s pricing model is primarily based on a flat institutional fee rather than per-exam charges, making it attractive for high-volume institutions. What I found regarding pricing is that it scales with your institution’s specific needs, focusing on factors like the total number of students or exam sessions.

This means your budget benefits from a predictable annual cost, avoiding fluctuating expenses based on individual exam usage.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

Is this an effective investment?

From my cost analysis, Honorlock’s custom pricing ensures you get a solution tailored to your exact academic integrity requirements, potentially offering better value than rigid, one-size-fits-all plans. Their hybrid AI and human proctoring model justifies the investment by effectively deterring dishonesty and maintaining fairness.

The result is your institution maintains academic integrity, enhancing your reputation and the value of your certifications.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Consider total cost of ownership.

While specific implementation costs aren’t public, Honorlock’s seamless LMS integrations (Canvas, Blackboard) suggest a smoother setup, reducing potential hidden IT expenses. Budget-wise, you can expect a comprehensive quote reflecting your specific scale and student volume rather than unexpected add-ons later.

So for your finance team, it’s essential to factor in the institutional fee model for long-term budget predictability.

My Take: Honorlock’s custom pricing approach is well-suited for educational institutions of all sizes, offering a flexible and potentially cost-effective solution tailored to specific proctoring volume and needs.

The overall Honorlock pricing reflects a customized solution for academic integrity.

Honorlock Reviews

What do actual customers think?

This section dives into Honorlock reviews, analyzing real user feedback to provide a balanced view of customer experiences and what you can truly expect from the proctoring software.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users seem generally satisfied.

Honorlock generally receives positive ratings, often highlighted as “Easiest to Use” on G2. What I found in user feedback is how its simplicity and seamless integration consistently contribute to higher overall satisfaction in reviews, especially among instructors and students.

This indicates you can expect a relatively smooth experience during setup and use.

2. Common Praise Points

Users consistently love its simplicity.

Review-wise, users frequently praise the ease of the Chrome extension installation and the seamless LMS integration. From my review analysis, the 24/7 US-based support also stands out, with fast response times providing significant peace of mind for both faculty and students.

This means you can anticipate straightforward setup and reliable assistance whenever needed.

3. Frequent Complaints

Common user frustrations emerge.

Despite the positive feedback, some Honorlock reviews highlight recurring technical glitches and frequent false positives. What stands out in user feedback is how privacy concerns among students also appear consistently, particularly regarding room scans and data collection practices.

These issues are worth considering, though often manageable with communication and support.

Overall, Honorlock reviews reflect a reliable solution with minor technical and privacy concerns.

Best Honorlock Alternatives

Seeking the right proctoring solution?

The best Honorlock alternatives include several strong options, each better suited for different educational institutions, specific exam needs, and unique proctoring priorities.

1. Proctorio

Is privacy and bandwidth your top concern?

Proctorio excels when your institution prioritizes low bandwidth usage and robust end-to-end encryption for student privacy. From my competitive analysis, Proctorio emphasizes user privacy through its architecture, though Honorlock offers a more hands-on live proctoring experience. This alternative is strong for privacy-focused setups.

Choose Proctorio if your priority is minimal bandwidth and advanced encryption, accepting less live intervention.

2. Respondus Monitor

Already deeply integrated with LockDown Browser?

Respondus Monitor makes more sense if your institution heavily uses Respondus LockDown Browser and desires a familiar, integrated proctoring solution. What I found comparing options is that Respondus offers deep LMS integration and a secure browser, but Honorlock provides a more dynamic proctoring experience with AI and human pop-ins.

Consider this alternative when you prioritize a straightforward lockdown solution familiar to your users.

3. Examity

Need highly customizable, high-stakes proctoring?

Examity works well if you require highly customized proctoring settings for high-stakes exams or prefer a per-exam pricing model. Alternative-wise, Examity provides flexible proctoring packages and 24/7 scheduling, though Honorlock offers on-demand testing without scheduling and more predictable flat-rate pricing.

Choose Examity if your exams demand extreme customization and a per-exam cost structure.

4. ProctorU

Prefer continuous live human proctoring oversight?

ProctorU is a strong option if your primary concern is continuous live human oversight for every single exam. From my competitive analysis, ProctorU focuses heavily on active human monitoring, while Honorlock uses a hybrid AI-plus-human “pop-in” model that aims to be less intrusive for students.

Choose ProctorU when consistent live human proctoring is your absolute top priority.

The best Honorlock alternatives depend on your institution’s unique technical and oversight needs rather than just common features.

Honorlock Setup

How complex is Honorlock setup?

This Honorlock review will guide you through its deployment, from initial setup to long-term adoption, setting realistic expectations for what it takes to get up and running smoothly.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Getting started is quite simple here.

Honorlock setup primarily involves integrating with your existing LMS and installing a Chrome extension, making it remarkably straightforward. From my implementation analysis, many users describe the process as fast and easy, often completing the core setup within hours or days rather than weeks.

You’ll need to allocate time for instructors to enable it for specific exams and configure proctoring settings.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Minimal technical heavy lifting is required.

Your students will need the Chrome browser with the Honorlock extension, while instructors can manage settings from any browser. What I found about deployment is that Honorlock integrates seamlessly with popular LMS platforms, reducing your IT team’s burden for complex custom integrations or server installations.

Plan for basic network stability and ensure Chrome is the standard browser for students taking proctored exams.

3. Training & Change Management

User adoption is generally smooth.

While Honorlock aims for ease of use, instructors may benefit from training on its customizable settings and reviewing incident reports. From my analysis, Honorlock’s extensive knowledge base and 24/7 support significantly aid user adoption and reduce the learning curve for both faculty and students.

You’ll want to communicate clear guidelines to students about expectations and how to troubleshoot common issues during exams.

4. Support & Success Factors

Expect exceptional vendor support during deployment.

Honorlock’s 24/7/365 chat and phone support, with US-based representatives and rapid response times, is a major asset during implementation. What I found about deployment is that their highly responsive support can quickly resolve issues, ensuring minimal disruption during critical exam periods.

Plan to leverage their consistent and accessible support as a critical factor for a smooth rollout and ongoing operational success.

The overall Honorlock setup emphasizes simplicity and strong vendor support, making it a manageable addition for institutions of all sizes.

Bottom Line

Is Honorlock the right proctoring solution for you?

This Honorlock review synthesizes my comprehensive analysis into a decisive final recommendation, helping you understand who best benefits from this robust online proctoring software.

1. Who This Works Best For

Educational institutions and certification programs.

Honorlock excels for higher education, K-12 schools, and professional certification bodies needing secure, flexible online exam proctoring. From my user analysis, organizations prioritizing a hybrid AI and human proctoring approach will find this solution ideal for maintaining academic integrity in remote assessments.

You’ll succeed if your institution requires on-demand testing and seamless integration with existing Learning Management Systems (LMS).

2. Overall Strengths

Seamless LMS integration and 24/7 on-demand support.

The software stands out for its user-friendly interface, seamless integration with major LMS platforms, and consistent 24/7 support for test-takers. From my comprehensive analysis, its proactive “Search & Destroy” feature actively protects your exam content from being leaked online, a unique and significant advantage.

These strengths mean your instructors save time and your students gain flexibility, enhancing the overall online learning experience.

3. Key Limitations

Occasional technical glitches and privacy concerns persist.

While generally reliable, some users report technical issues and instances of false positives, which can lead to student frustration. Based on this review, student privacy concerns regarding room scans and data collection, though addressed by Honorlock, remain a consideration for some institutions.

I’d say these limitations are manageable trade-offs for the robust security offered, but they warrant careful communication with your students.

4. Final Recommendation

Honorlock earns a strong recommendation.

You should choose this software if your institution needs a scalable, reliable, and flexible online proctoring solution that balances security with student convenience. From my analysis, your success depends on prioritizing a blend of AI and human oversight for comprehensive exam integrity.

My confidence level is high for institutions focused on academic integrity and seeking a well-supported, on-demand proctoring solution.

Through this Honorlock review, I’ve outlined its strong value for the right institutional profile, while also highlighting key considerations for your implementation.