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Proctorio Review: Overview, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2025

Online exam integrity shouldn’t be this stressful.

If you’re trying to maintain trust in remote assessments, picking the right proctoring tool is suddenly a critical decision. That’s probably why you’re researching Proctorio right now.

The reality is, unsecure or clunky proctoring tools waste your time and put your exam credibility at risk—not to mention the constant anxiety about cheating slipping through the cracks.

Proctorio approaches this problem with flexible, AI-driven proctoring, customizable settings, and deep LMS integration—so you can secure exams, verify identity, and spot plagiarism, all without overwhelming your workflow. I’ve tested how their system actually performs and where it stands out.

In this review, I’ll dig into how Proctorio can actually protect exam credibility and whether its features solve those daily pain points that most reviewers gloss over.

In this Proctorio review, you’ll get details on features, pricing, integration, hidden frustrations I found, and how it measures up to competitors—so your evaluation is thorough.

You’ll come away knowing the features you need to confidently choose a remote proctoring tool that really fits your program.

Let’s dig into the details.

Quick Summary

  • Proctorio is an automated and live remote proctoring system that helps institutions secure online exams and verify test-taker identity.
  • Best for educational institutions and organizations needing scalable, customizable exam integrity solutions.
  • You’ll appreciate its flexible settings and seamless LMS integration that allow tailored exam security with minimal setup effort.
  • Proctorio offers tiered pricing based on user volume or per exam, with no free trial but demos available upon request.

Proctorio Overview

I’ve followed Proctorio since they started in 2013. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, their mission is to secure online exams and protect academic integrity for learning institutions.

They primarily serve higher education and corporate clients needing to proctor assessments at scale. What I find unique is their focus on fully automated proctoring, which integrates directly into the learning management systems your team already uses.

Their recent partnerships integrating AI for plagiarism detection are a smart strategic move. Through this Proctorio review, you’ll see how this creates a more comprehensive integrity solution.

Unlike competitors that heavily push human-led services, Proctorio bets on scalable automated monitoring. I particularly appreciate their deeply customizable security and privacy settings, giving you exact control over the testing environment your students experience.

You’ll find them working with over 4,000 universities, K-12 districts, and global certification programs. This scale demonstrates a market trust and reliability that I find very reassuring.

From my analysis, their current strategy is all about leveraging AI for superior automation and deeper LMS integration. This directly addresses your need for secure testing at scale without burdening your staff with administrative overhead.

  • 🎯 Bonus Resource: While we’re discussing secure testing, understanding how to build effective exams is equally important. My article on best exam builder software covers this in detail.

Now, let’s explore their core features.

Proctorio Features

Dreading your next online exam due to cheating concerns?

Proctorio features offer a comprehensive approach to online exam integrity, focusing on deterrence and verification. Here are the five main Proctorio features that solve critical assessment challenges.

1. Automated Proctoring

Is constant human oversight just not scalable?

Relying on live human proctors for every online exam can be incredibly costly and logistically challenging. This limits how many assessments you can offer.

Automated Proctoring provides a software-based solution, recording student activity for later review by instructors, without requiring a live proctor. I found that Proctorio flags suspicious behaviors like looking away or opening new tabs, streamlining review. This feature effectively expands your capacity for online assessments.

This means you can scale your online exams without increasing overhead, making remote learning more accessible.

2. Live Proctoring

Need real-time intervention during high-stakes exams?

For critical assessments, simply reviewing recordings after the fact might not be enough. You might need immediate action to maintain integrity.

Live Proctoring is a premium add-on feature where human proctors continuously monitor test-takers, allowing for immediate intervention. What I appreciate is how this mimics the control of an in-person exam, perfect for crucial tests. This feature ensures real-time oversight for maximum security.

So, for your most important exams, you gain the confidence of human supervision, ensuring absolute integrity.

3. Identity Verification

Worried about imposters taking your online exams?

Identity fraud in online assessments undermines the credibility of your certifications and academic programs. You need to be sure it’s the right person.

Identity Verification ensures the test-taker is the registered student by capturing and comparing their ID card. From my testing, the optional Live ID verification adds an extra layer of human-verified security before the exam begins. This feature prevents unauthorized access.

This means you can confidently assert that the person completing the assessment is truly the enrolled student, upholding program integrity.

4. Lock Down Settings

Are students accessing unauthorized materials during exams?

The open nature of online environments makes it easy for students to cheat by accessing external resources. This compromises exam fairness and validity.

Lock Down Settings secure the exam environment by disabling various functions like new tabs, printing, or clipboard use. This is where Proctorio shines, as you can customize settings to mimic a closed-book exam environment. This feature limits a student’s ability to cheat.

What you get is an online exam environment that closely resembles a traditional in-person test, reducing opportunities for academic dishonesty.

5. Originality Verification

How do you detect plagiarism in submitted assignments?

Plagiarism remains a significant concern in online learning, making it hard to trust the originality of student work. You need a reliable detection method.

Originality Verification scans submitted assignments for similarities with other documents, generating a Similarity Score. I found this feature particularly useful for maintaining academic integrity beyond just exams. It integrates directly with your LMS.

This means you can proactively detect potential plagiarism, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of all student submissions.

  • 🎯 Bonus Resource: While discussing ensuring the originality of submissions, my analysis of best online proofing software is equally important for creative reviews.

Pros & Cons

  • ✅ Highly effective at deterring and detecting various forms of cheating.
  • ✅ Offers extensive customization options for varied exam security needs.
  • ✅ Integrates smoothly with popular Learning Management Systems for easy setup.
  • ⚠️ Users frequently report technical issues with the browser extension.
  • ⚠️ Significant student privacy concerns due to extensive monitoring capabilities.
  • ⚠️ Can cause increased stress and anxiety for test-takers.

These Proctorio features work together to create a robust ecosystem for online assessment integrity, ensuring the validity of your remote learning programs.

Proctorio Pricing

Budgeting for a proctoring solution can be complex.

Proctorio pricing operates on a custom quote basis, tailored mainly for institutions rather than individual students, requiring you to contact their sales team for precise costs.

Cost Breakdown

  • Base Platform: Custom quote (Approx. $8-10 per user/year or $3-5 per exam)
  • User Licenses: Volume-based pricing ($8-10 per user/year for automated proctoring)
  • Implementation: Included with annual fee (onboarding, setup, support)
  • Integrations: Varies by LMS platform (e.g., McGraw Hill Connect packages)
  • Key Factors: Student volume, exam volume, live human verification, specific features

1. Pricing Model & Cost Factors

Understanding Proctorio’s model.

Proctorio’s pricing structure primarily offers two main models: per student/per year or per exam. What you pay depends heavily on your institution’s size and how many assessments you need proctored. Features like live ID verification are additional costs, impacting your total budget.

From my cost analysis, this means your expenses directly reflect your specific usage and institutional scale.

2. Value Assessment & ROI

Is this an investment worth it?

Proctorio helps maintain academic integrity, which can prevent costly issues like credential devaluation and potential legal challenges. Compared to manual proctoring, their automated system offers significant scalability and cost-efficiency benefits for your institution, especially with high exam volumes.

This means your budget gets a robust solution that secures assessments while reducing human resource overhead.

3. Budget Planning & Implementation

Consider all your costs.

Beyond the core per-user or per-exam fees, factor in potential add-ons like live ID verification, which increases your overall Proctorio pricing. From my cost analysis, while implementation is generally included, your institution might pass these costs directly to students, impacting their financial burden.

So for your business, accurately forecasting student or exam volume is crucial for precise budget allocation.

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My Take: Proctorio’s pricing strategy focuses on flexibility for institutions, making it ideal for universities and colleges seeking scalable, integrity-focused proctoring solutions that adapt to varied needs.

The overall Proctorio pricing reflects flexible enterprise value aligned with your academic needs.

Proctorio Reviews

What do customers actually think?

This section provides an honest look at Proctorio reviews, analyzing real user feedback to help you understand what actual customers think about the software.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

User sentiment is quite mixed.

From my review analysis, Proctorio generally receives varied feedback, with satisfaction often depending on individual technical setups and expectations. What I found in user feedback is that users appreciate its core functionality, but their overall experience is heavily influenced by technical stability and comfort with monitoring.

This suggests your technical readiness and privacy comfort will shape your satisfaction.

2. Common Praise Points

Users praise its integrity and flexibility.

What stands out in customer feedback is how users consistently highlight Proctorio’s effectiveness in deterring cheating and ensuring exam integrity. Review-wise, the ability to customize proctoring settings and its seamless integration with LMS platforms like Canvas are also frequently mentioned as major benefits.

This means you can expect a robust tool for maintaining academic honesty and flexible exam delivery.

3. Frequent Complaints

Technical issues and privacy are hot topics.

Most frequently, I found users report recurring technical difficulties with the Chrome extension and connectivity issues during exams. What I noticed in user feedback is that privacy concerns and increased test anxiety due to constant monitoring are also significant pain points for many students.

These challenges are often reported as significant blockers, not just minor inconveniences for test-takers.

What Customers Say

  • Positive: “Proctorio is an easy-to-use system… allowing you to take your exam anywhere, at any time, while still being proctored.” (Official documentation)
  • Constructive: “I was stressing out the whole time, because I felt as if any movement I made would be considered a red flag.” (User feedback from Reddit)
  • Bottom Line: “The only way for it to work was for me to force quit all of my apps… Then, you have to do a 360 of your room, and that made me very uncomfortable.” (User feedback from Reddit)

Overall, Proctorio reviews show a balance between effective proctoring and user apprehension, highlighting areas for improvement.

Best Proctorio Alternatives

Considering other online proctoring options?

The best Proctorio alternatives offer varied approaches to exam integrity, suiting different institutional needs, budgets, and technical preferences for your online assessments.

1. Meazure Learning

Prioritizing human-based live proctoring for high-stakes exams?

Meazure Learning offers comprehensive live proctoring with human intervention, a preference for some institutions handling critical assessments. From my competitive analysis, Meazure Learning excels in live human oversight, providing immediate intervention during exams, although Proctorio offers competitive live options too.

You should choose Meazure Learning if your institution prioritizes real-time human monitoring and has a long track record.

2. Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor

Need a simpler, more budget-friendly automated proctoring solution?

Respondus offers a cost-effective, often free solution for institutions, focusing on automated-only proctoring and simplicity. What I found comparing options is that Respondus is significantly more budget-friendly for institutions, making it a strong alternative for lower-stakes or web-based tests where live monitoring isn’t essential.

Consider this alternative when cost-effectiveness and straightforward automated proctoring are your primary drivers.

3. Honorlock

Seeking a balance of AI efficiency and human oversight?

Honorlock emphasizes a “test-taker friendly” approach with on-demand proctoring and a blend of AI flagging and human review. Alternative-wise, Honorlock balances AI efficiency with human review effectively, aiming for a less intrusive student experience while maintaining exam integrity.

Choose Honorlock if you prioritize a system that aims for student comfort with robust AI and human validation.

4. AutoProctor

Looking for a simple, reliable, and affordable automated solution?

AutoProctor positions itself as an easy-to-use and affordable fully automated AI proctoring service. From my competitive analysis, AutoProctor provides straightforward automated proctoring at a lower price point, an appealing alternative for smaller institutions or individual instructors without complex requirements.

You’ll want to consider AutoProctor for its simplicity and affordability, especially when advanced customization isn’t essential.

Quick Decision Guide

  • Choose Proctorio: Highly customizable settings and robust anti-cheating features
  • Choose Meazure Learning: Extensive human live proctoring and established reputation
  • Choose Respondus LockDown Browser & Monitor: Cost-effective, simple automated proctoring
  • Choose Honorlock: Balance of AI efficiency and human review for student comfort
  • Choose AutoProctor: Simple, affordable, fully automated proctoring for basic needs

The best Proctorio alternatives depend on your specific institutional needs, budget, and desired oversight level.

Proctorio Setup

What about Proctorio’s deployment process?

This Proctorio review section analyzes what it truly takes to deploy and adopt the software. I’ll cover the setup, requirements, and challenges so you know what to expect.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Is Proctorio hard to set up?

For institutions, Proctorio implementation involves integrating with your LMS via LTI or APIs, a process that requires Proctorio Support. What I found about deployment is that instructor setup within the LMS is straightforward, mostly checking a box and adjusting settings.

You’ll need to coordinate with IT and Proctorio to handle the initial institutional-level integration.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Expect some technical homework for users.

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Your students will need Google Chrome or Edge, the Proctorio extension, a working webcam, and microphone. From my implementation analysis, a stable internet connection is also crucial, with minimum download speeds of 0.768 Mbps and upload speeds of 0.384 Mbps recommended for smooth operation.

Prepare to communicate these clear technical requirements to all users and address potential hardware or connectivity gaps.

3. Training & Change Management

User adoption needs clear communication.

Instructors need training on customizable settings for exam integrity, while students need clear instructions on expectations and troubleshooting. My analysis shows clear guides prevent student anxiety and common issues, especially regarding privacy perceptions and technical hiccups during exams.

You’ll want to provide comprehensive guides and FAQs for both instructors and students to ensure a smooth transition.

4. Support & Success Factors

How well does Proctorio support deployment?

Proctorio offers 24/7 live chat for test-takers and email support. What I found about deployment is that institutional support is critical for exam re-entry as Proctorio agents cannot grant these permissions, highlighting a shared responsibility.

Plan to integrate Proctorio’s support with your existing institutional help channels for a cohesive support experience.

Implementation Checklist

  • Timeline: Weeks for institutional setup, days for instructor rollout
  • Team Size: IT for LMS integration, instructional design for training
  • Budget: Primarily software costs; minimal additional setup fees
  • Technical: Chrome/Edge, webcam, mic, stable internet for users
  • Success Factor: Clear communication and user training on expectations

Overall, Proctorio setup is relatively streamlined for instructors, but requires coordinated effort for institutional integration and comprehensive user communication.

Bottom Line

Does Proctorio deliver on its promises?

My Proctorio review synthesizes whether this proctoring solution fits your institution’s specific needs for academic integrity, balancing powerful features with common user concerns.

1. Who This Works Best For

Institutions prioritizing robust online exam integrity.

Proctorio is ideal for higher education, K-12, and corporate institutions administering high-stakes online examinations requiring strong anti-cheating measures. From my user analysis, organizations prioritizing highly customizable proctoring settings and seamless LMS integration will find it particularly effective.

You’ll succeed if your institution values comprehensive monitoring and is prepared to address student privacy concerns with clear communication.

2. Overall Strengths

Unmatched customization and comprehensive proctoring capabilities.

The software shines with its highly customizable settings, offering a blend of automated monitoring, live proctoring options, and seamless LMS integration for academic integrity. From my comprehensive analysis, its ability to deter cheating effectively stands out for institutions needing a robust solution across various exam types and security levels.

These strengths allow your institution to maintain educational standards while offering flexible online assessment options to students.

  • 🎯 Bonus Resource: Speaking of managing institutional needs, you might also be interested in my guide on best billing software.

3. Key Limitations

Recurring technical issues and persistent privacy concerns.

Users frequently report technical issues with the browser extension and experience anxiety due to constant monitoring, leading to a strained user experience. Based on this review, student privacy concerns remain a notable drawback despite Proctorio’s emphasis on data encryption and not selling user data, impacting overall user perception.

I’d say these limitations necessitate clear communication and robust IT support from your institution to mitigate student frustration and foster acceptance.

4. Final Recommendation

Proctorio is recommended with significant considerations.

You should choose this software if your institution needs a scalable, feature-rich proctoring solution and can manage the technical support and communication around student concerns. From my analysis, its comprehensive integrity features justify the investment for high-stakes online assessments, provided you are ready for user feedback.

My confidence level is high for institutions focused on robust security but drops for those prioritizing simpler, less intrusive monitoring.

Bottom Line

  • Verdict: Recommended with reservations
  • Best For: Higher education and corporate institutions needing robust exam integrity
  • Business Size: Scalable for institutions of any size from colleges to large universities
  • Biggest Strength: Highly customizable settings and comprehensive cheating deterrence
  • Main Concern: Recurring technical issues and student privacy anxiety
  • Next Step: Request a demo and plan for student support and communication

This Proctorio review shows its value for dedicated integrity in online exams, while also highlighting important considerations around user experience and privacy that demand your attention.

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