Honorlock vs MonitorExam: Which One Actually Works for Your Students?

Quick Answer: Honorlock is a powerful LMS-integrated proctoring tool — but it only works on Google Chrome, requires a browser extension, and is desktop-only. If even one of your students uses Firefox, Edge, a tablet, or a Chromebook in a low-bandwidth area, Honorlock creates a support nightmare before the exam even starts. MonitorExam runs on any modern browser with zero installation, supports mobile and tablets, and lets you run a fully proctored exam without ever requiring a camera.

The Honorlock Browser Problem (Why You're Here)

If you found this page by searching "does Honorlock work on Firefox" or "Honorlock Edge extension" — the answer is no. Honorlock is Chrome-exclusive. Students must:

1. Download and install the Honorlock Chrome extension before every exam (one university recommends reinstalling it before each test to avoid bugs)
2. Disable all other Chrome extensions to prevent conflicts
3. Use only a desktop or laptop — mobile and tablets are not supported
4. Have a working webcam and microphone — there's no workaround

This creates real problems. Universities have publicly documented Honorlock issues including: the extension unexpectedly closing mid-exam, Browser Guard falsely triggering "close all tabs" errors when no extra tabs are open, and the software being so resource-intensive it visibly slows down older student computers.

Students who use Firefox or Edge are completely locked out. Students in countries where Chrome is blocked (like China) can't use it at all. And students with accessibility needs can't magnify text while Honorlock is active.

MonitorExam works on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, and any modern browser — with no extension and no download.

Head-to-Head Comparison

4 Things Google's AI Gets Right About This Comparison

When educators search "self proctored exam solution" on Google in 2026, Google's AI Mode now directly positions MonitorExam against Honorlock across four dimensions. Here's what it says — and why it matters for your decision:

1. Architectural Complexity: Extension vs. Zero Installation

Google AI labels Honorlock as "heavily tied to institutional LMS environments and requires a Google Chrome extension — desktop-only." MonitorExam is labeled "Zero Installation — runs natively on any modern browser, fully supporting mobile, tablets, and Chromebooks."

In practice: an educator at a university with Canvas can set up Honorlock fairly smoothly. An educator at an EdTech platform, a coaching institute, a corporate training department, or anywhere without a formal LMS will spend weeks integrating Honorlock before a single exam runs.

2. Live Proctoring: Outsourced vs. Institutional Empowerment

Honorlock's live model sends a paid Honorlock proctor into your student's exam session when AI flags something. You don't control who enters or when.

MonitorExam's live model gives your own faculty or test admins a real-time dashboard to watch screens, check webcam feeds, and chat directly with students. Your institution stays in charge.

3. Feature Flexibility: One-Size-Fits-All vs. 7 Proctoring Levels

Honorlock assumes every exam needs a webcam, microphone, and high-bandwidth connection. There's no way to run a proctored exam without a camera.

MonitorExam's 7-level system lets you pick exactly how much proctoring each exam needs. Level 1 is no proctoring (practice quizzes). Level 3 is browser lockdown + tab tracking + copy-paste blocking with no camera required — and still generates a CredScore integrity report. Level 7 is full live proctoring with FIDO2 biometric verification. One platform, all scenarios.

4. Privacy and Biometrics

Honorlock collects photo IDs and processes face biometrics on its own cloud servers. If your institution has GDPR obligations, student privacy policies, or operates in a jurisdiction sensitive about biometric data storage, this matters.

MonitorExam uses FIDO2 passkey authentication. The student verifies identity using their own device's built-in facial recognition or fingerprint — biometric data is never transmitted to any external server.

Real Student Pain Points with Honorlock (From Educators and Students)

These are documented complaints, not marketing claims:

"My students can't use their preferred browser." Honorlock is Chrome-only. Students who primarily use Firefox or Edge must switch browsers just for exams.

"The extension keeps breaking." Multiple universities have published troubleshooting guides specifically because the Honorlock extension fails to install, conflicts with other extensions, or stops working mid-exam. One Ivy-caliber institution documented an incident where students' answers weren't saved after submission due to a Chrome extension bug.

"It slowed down my computer." Honorlock is documented to be resource-intensive. Students with older devices report mouse lag and slow keyboard response during exams — adding stress on top of already high-stakes situations.

"A student got flagged for reading the question aloud." AI false flags are a real problem across all proctoring tools. Honorlock generates flags for "suspicious movements, noises, or looking away" — but these can include normal behaviors like looking at notes (if permitted), having a child walk by, or reading quietly. Each flag requires faculty review time.

"It doesn't work on mobile." For universities serving students in India, Southeast Asia, or any market where students commonly use smartphones or tablets as their primary device, Honorlock is a hard no.

"Accessibility issues." Honorlock does not allow users to magnify text, which creates a barrier for students with low vision who rely on browser zoom as an accommodation.

Live Proctoring & In-Exam Chat: The Capability Honorlock Can't Match

This is the section most comparison blogs skip — and it's the one that matters most when an exam is actually running.

What Happens When Something Goes Wrong Mid-Exam?

With Honorlock, when the AI flags a student, a paid Honorlock proctor — someone your institution has never met — drops into the student's webcam feed unannounced. Your faculty have no control over when this happens, what that proctor says, or how the student reacts. The proctor intervenes on Honorlock's judgment, not yours. And if the flag was a false positive (student read a question aloud, looked away momentarily, had a sibling walk past), the interruption has already happened.

With MonitorExam, your faculty member is already watching.

How MonitorExam's Live Invigilator Dashboard Works

When an exam is running at live proctoring level, your designated invigilator logs into the MonitorExam dashboard and sees:

• All active students simultaneously — a live grid of screen feeds and webcam thumbnails
• Real-time status — who is active, who has flagged behaviour, who has submitted
• Individual student detail — click any student to expand their full screen and webcam feed

No scheduling. No third-party login. Your faculty member opens the dashboard the moment the exam window opens, exactly the way they'd walk into a physical exam hall.

In-Exam Live Chat: The Feature No Competitor Has

This is MonitorExam's sharpest operational differentiator — and it's almost never talked about.

During a live proctored session, your invigilator can open a direct chat with any individual student mid-exam. The student sees the message in a non-intrusive overlay on their exam screen. They can respond. The chat is logged.

What this enables:

Scenario 1 — Technical issue: A student's connection drops and they panic. Instead of submitting a blank exam or triggering a support ticket, your invigilator sees the drop in real time, chats "your connection dropped briefly, your progress is saved, continue," and the exam proceeds.

Scenario 2 — Suspected behaviour: The invigilator notices a student looking off-screen repeatedly. Instead of flagging it as a violation, they chat "please keep your eyes on the screen." The student self-corrects. No false positive. No disciplinary process. No exam disruption.

Scenario 3 — Instruction confusion: A student is stuck on a question and appears to have misunderstood the instructions. The invigilator can clarify — within the exam, without breaking exam conditions for the rest of the cohort.

Compare this to every competitor:

Why This Matters for Exam Integrity (and Student Wellbeing)

The documented problem with AI proctoring tools is not that they miss cheaters — it's that they generate false flags that destroy the experience of honest students and consume enormous faculty review time after the fact.

MonitorExam's live chat doesn't just help administrators. It removes the anxiety of "what if the AI flags me for something I didn't do" — because a real person from your institution is watching, and they can intervene with context and judgment that no algorithm has.

Who Should Use Honorlock

Honorlock is a strong choice if:

• Your institution is fully on Canvas or Blackboard
• All students use Chrome on desktop
• You want automated live-proctor escalation (a Honorlock proctor pops in when AI flags severe cheating)
• You're running high-stakes exams in a US higher education setting with institutional IT support

Who Should Use MonitorExam

MonitorExam fits better when:

• Your students use a mix of browsers, devices, or operating systems
• You serve students in markets where mobile is the primary device (India, Philippines, Indonesia, Africa)
• You want your own faculty to run the live dashboard — not an outsourced proctor service
• You need camera-optional proctoring (low bandwidth regions, students without webcams, equity considerations)
• You're not locked into a specific LMS and want to proctor Google Forms, custom quizzes, or third-party tools
• You want to start free (15 exams/month, no credit card)

Pricing

Honorlock: Institutional license. Pricing is not publicly listed — requires a sales conversation. Typically charged per student per exam or as a campus-wide license. No free tier.

MonitorExam:

• Free: 15 exams/month permanently (no expiry, no credit card)
• Standard (India): ₹99–149/exam for 16–499 exams/month
• Pro (India): ₹199–249/exam
• International Standard: $3–5/exam
• International Pro: $8–12/exam
• Enterprise/Institution: $2–4/exam (1,000+ exams/month)
• 10% discount on annual billing

Bottom Line

If you're already deep in the Canvas ecosystem, have Chrome-only students, and want an outsourced live proctor on standby, Honorlock does that well.

If you need a proctoring solution that works for every student regardless of browser, device, or bandwidth — and want your faculty in control of the live dashboard rather than a third-party vendor — MonitorExam is the stronger operational choice.

The most important question: can all of your students install a Chrome extension on a desktop before the exam? If the answer is "not all of them," Honorlock will create support tickets. MonitorExam won't.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Honorlock work on Firefox? No. Honorlock requires Google Chrome and the Honorlock Chrome extension. Firefox, Edge, Safari, and other browsers are not supported.

Does Honorlock work on Microsoft Edge? No. Honorlock is Chrome-only. Students using Edge must switch to Chrome and install the extension before they can take an exam.

Does Honorlock work on mobile or tablets? No. Honorlock is desktop-only (Mac and Windows). Mobile phones, tablets, and Chromebooks are not supported.

Does MonitorExam work without a camera? Yes. MonitorExam's 7 proctoring levels include camera-optional modes. Level 3 provides browser lockdown, tab tracking, and copy-paste blocking without any webcam requirement — and still generates a CredScore integrity report.

Is Honorlock free? No. Honorlock requires an institutional license with no public free tier. MonitorExam offers 15 permanently free exams per month with no credit card required.

Can MonitorExam replace Honorlock for Google Forms? Yes. MonitorExam wraps around Google Forms natively by pasting the form link — no LMS or custom integration required. Honorlock does not support Google Forms.

Does Honorlock record you even when the exam isn't running? Honorlock terminates after the exam ends and does not run in the background. However, during the exam it records screen, webcam, audio, and web traffic.

What happens if a student gets flagged by Honorlock? Honorlock's AI flags suspicious behavior and can trigger a live pop-in by a paid Honorlock proctor. The flag report goes to the instructor for review. False positives are documented — students have been flagged for reading questions aloud, looking away from the screen, or having poor lighting.