TAO vs FastTest

TAO9.1Visit FastTest9.0Visit

Higher score TAO #4 in Online Exam Software 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit TAO

vs

FastTest #5 in Online Exam Software 9.0/10 From $6,750/yr ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit FastTest

• TAO fits best

  Open-source, flexible exam delivery

• FastTest fits best

  Psychometric and adaptive testing teams

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Side by side

Feature	TAO 9.1/10 Visit ↗	FastTest 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	9.0
Ranking	#4 in Online Exam Software	#5 in Online Exam Software
Best for	Open-source, flexible exam delivery	Psychometric and adaptive testing teams
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	€499/mo	From $6,750/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Tickets, Community, Docs	Email, Phone, Docs
Integrations	9 integrations	3 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features TAO 0/5 · FastTest 5/5
Integrated proctoring	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Identity verification	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Question bank	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
API access	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Bulk question import	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Candidate limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Delivery modes	Not checked yet	Browser_desktop
Our review
Pros	Free self-hosted Community Edition with open-source assessment tools Supports branching, adaptive tests, partial credit, and weighted responses Offers LTI, QTI, analytics, accessibility tools, and proctoring workflows	Blueprint, adaptive, multistage, and LOFT testing support Remote proctoring with AI flagging, live proctors, and review workflows REST APIs, QTI, embeddable delivery, and paper exam publishing
Cons	Self-hosted deployment requires an organization to manage its own environment Service desk support and cloud hosting start with an annual paid plan Enterprise features such as multi-tenancy and private hosting require customization	Starting price is $6,750 per year Annual billing may not suit short-term or occasional exam programs Broad high-stakes feature set may exceed lightweight quiz requirements
Our verdict	TAO is an open-source computer-based testing platform for educators, assessment professionals, education ministries, higher-education institutions, professional associations, and public-sector employers. It covers assessment authoring,… Read the review →	FastTest is an online assessment platform for organizations that run high-stakes or large-scale exams. Its audience includes certification bodies, government agencies, educational institutions, and workforce testing programs. The product… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• TAO — where it wins

  • Free self-hosted Community Edition with open-source assessment tools
  • Supports branching, adaptive tests, partial credit, and weighted responses
  • Offers LTI, QTI, analytics, accessibility tools, and proctoring workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosted deployment requires an organization to manage its own environment
  • Service desk support and cloud hosting start with an annual paid plan
  • Enterprise features such as multi-tenancy and private hosting require customization

• FastTest — where it wins

  • Blueprint, adaptive, multistage, and LOFT testing support
  • Remote proctoring with AI flagging, live proctors, and review workflows
  • REST APIs, QTI, embeddable delivery, and paper exam publishing

  Where it doesn't

  • Starting price is $6,750 per year
  • Annual billing may not suit short-term or occasional exam programs
  • Broad high-stakes feature set may exceed lightweight quiz requirements

• TAO9.1/10 · Free plan

  A flexible exam platform with strong authoring, delivery, scoring, and analytics options.

  Visit TAOFull verdict →
• FastTest9.0/10 · From $6,750/yr

  A strong fit for teams building secure, adaptive, and psychometrically informed exams.

  Visit FastTestFull verdict →