Best Safe Exam Browser Alternatives in 2026
The top Safe Exam Browser alternatives are Respondus LockDown Browser, Prometric Secure Proprietary Browser and ExamOnline: 15 lockdown browser software our editors would look at instead of Safe Exam Browser, in our ranking order.
Safe Exam Browser: A free, configurable lockdown browser for institutions running web-based exams. Where it falls short: coverage is limited to windows, macOS, and iOS.
Switching from Safe Exam Browser? For most lockdown browser software buyers the best Safe Exam Browser alternative is Respondus LockDown Browser, built for mature institutions needing broad LMS support. ThinkExam has a free plan.
Why People Look for a Safe Exam Browser Alternative
- Coverage is limited to Windows, macOS, and iOS
- Some blocking controls depend on configuration or platform support
- Organizations must manage exam-specific configurations and integrations
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallRespondus LockDown Browser8.9
Mature institutions needing broad LMS support
Visit Respondus LockDown Browser - Best free optionThinkExam7.9
Has a free plan
Visit ThinkExam
All 15 Safe Exam Browser Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forMature institutions needing broad LMS support
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.3
A broad-platform exam browser for institutions using major LMS platforms.
- Blocks copy and printing
- Blocks screen capture
- Blocks app switching
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Respondus -
Best forEnterprise testing with integrated proctoring
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.3
A controlled exam desktop with authentication, proctoring, analytics, and support.
- Blocks copy and printing
- Blocks app switching
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Prometric -
Best forOrganizations wanting lockdown plus proctoring
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.3
A broad assessment suite for organizations needing lockdown controls and proctoring.
- Blocks copy and printing
- Blocks screen capture
- Blocks app switching
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit ExamOnline -
Best forCredentialing programs needing secure assessment
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.3
A broad assessment suite for organizations running secure, credentialed programs.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Questionmark -
Best forAssessment teams needing offline secure delivery
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.3
A broad assessment suite with secure offline delivery, mixed grading, and deep reporting.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit ExamSoft -
Best forEducation teams needing full assessment workflows
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.3
A broad exam platform for education teams that need lockdown, grading, monitoring, and LMS connectivity.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Digiexam -
Best forProctored exams with a free starting tier
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.3
A broad proctoring suite with free plans, mobile support, and LMS integrations.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Think Exam -
Best forEmployers needing assessment and proctoring breadth
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.3
A broad assessment platform with browser lockdown, proctoring and reporting for employers.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Mercer | Mettl -
Best forProctored exams with strong basic lockdown
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.3
A focused lockdown browser for supervised exams with broad restriction and monitoring controls.
- Blocks copy and printing
- Blocks screen capture
- Blocks app switching
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forOpen-source assessment platforms with lockdown needs
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 7.6 vs 7.3
A flexible assessment platform with lockdown-related workflows, self-hosting, and strong authoring depth.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit TAO -
Best forRecruiting teams needing detailed exam controls
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 7.5 vs 7.3
Detailed exam controls and recruiting integrations, limited to Windows and macOS.
- Blocks copy and printing
- Blocks screen capture
- Blocks app switching
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit XoLock -
Best forSmall teams wanting a free testing entry point
- Better than Safe Exam Browser:
- Editor score 7.4 vs 7.3
A broad assessment platform with a free starting point and paid testing capacity.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit TestInvite -
Best forSurpass customers needing resilient delivery
A lockdown client for Surpass Platform exams with offline delivery and response upload.
- Offline assessment mode
- Blocks app switching
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit Surpass -
Best forInspera Assessment users needing offline exams
A configurable Windows and macOS lockdown browser for Inspera-based exams.
- Offline assessment mode
- Blocks app switching
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Inspera -
Best forLinux institutions wanting a free open option
A free, open Linux option with broad lockdown controls, but not exam-ready yet.
- Blocks copy and printing
- Blocks screen capture
- Blocks app switching
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit OpenLock
Safe Exam Browser Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Safe Exam Browser?
Respondus LockDown Browser: #1 in our Lockdown Browser Software ranking, with an editor score of 8.9 out of 10. A broad-platform exam browser for institutions using major LMS platforms.
Is there a free alternative to Safe Exam Browser?
Yes. ThinkExam, TAO, TestInvite and OpenLock have a free plan or a free tier.
Why do people look for Safe Exam Browser alternatives?
Coverage is limited to Windows, macOS, and iOS; Some blocking controls depend on configuration or platform support; Organizations must manage exam-specific configurations and integrations.
How do I switch from Safe Exam Browser?
Export your data from Safe Exam Browser (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Safe Exam Browser.
How to Switch from Safe Exam Browser
- Export your data from Safe Exam Browser (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Safe Exam Browser.
Safe Exam Browser vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported platforms | Blocks app switching | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Safe Exam Browser | Yes | Free | Windows, macOS, iOS | Yes | 7.3 |
| 1 | Respondus LockDown Browser | No | Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iPadOS | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 2 | Prometric Secure Proprietary Browser | Windows, macOS | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 3 | ExamOnline | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 4 | Questionmark | 8.2 | ||||
| 5 | ExamSoft | 8.1 | ||||
| 6 | Digiexam | No | 8.0 | |||
| 7 | ThinkExam | Yes | 7.9 | |||
| 8 | Mercer | Mettl | 7.8 | ||||
| 9 | PSI Secure Browser | Windows, macOS, Ubuntu Linux | Yes | 7.7 | ||
| 10 | TAO | Yes | €499/mo | 7.6 | ||
| 11 | XoLock | No | $900 usage-based | Windows, macOS | Yes | 7.5 |
| 12 | TestInvite | Yes | $900/yr | 7.4 | ||
| 13 | Surpass SecureClient | Windows, macOS, iOS/iPad | Yes | 7.1 | ||
| 14 | Inspera Integrity Browser | Windows, macOS | Yes | 7.0 | ||
| 15 | OpenLock | Yes | Free | Linux | Yes | 6.8 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update