Pruuva
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PRUUVA VS. RESPONDUS

Respondus locks down the browser. Pruuva opens up a conversation about what students actually know.

Respondus LockDown Browser is one of the most common exam security tools in higher education. It prevents students from navigating away from the test, blocks other applications, and disables copy-paste, screenshots, and printing. Respondus Monitor adds webcam recording and AI-based analysis of student behavior. The premise is that controlling the testing environment prevents cheating. Pruuva starts from a different premise: if a student can explain and defend their own work, that tells you more than any locked browser ever could.

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RESPONDUS'S APPROACH

Control the testing environment

  • Locks the browser during exams — students cannot open other tabs, applications, or websites.
  • Disables copy-paste, print screen, right-click, and other system functions during the exam.
  • Respondus Monitor adds webcam recording and uses AI to flag head movements, eye tracking, and disappearances from the frame.
  • Requires a downloadable desktop application — does not work on Chromebooks, many Linux distributions, or some older systems.
  • Creates a rigid, high-pressure testing environment that many students find stressful and dehumanizing.

PRUUVA'S APPROACH

Verify the student's understanding

  • No locked browsers, no blocked applications, no webcam — students complete a 15-minute adaptive conversation in any standard browser.
  • Generates follow-up questions drawn directly from the student's own submission to probe comprehension.
  • Measures whether the student can explain reasoning, apply concepts, and defend conclusions from their work.
  • Works on any device with a browser — no software installation, no compatibility issues.
  • Designed to feel like a learning experience, not a surveillance exercise.

Side by side

Respondus
Pruuva
Core philosophy
Control: lock down the environment so cheating becomes difficult
Verification: confirm understanding so cheating becomes irrelevant
What it requires
Downloadable desktop app (Windows or Mac); Respondus Monitor also requires a webcam
Any standard browser on any device — no downloads, no webcam, no special hardware
Device compatibility
Does not support Chromebooks, most Linux distributions, or tablets without workarounds
Works on any device with a modern web browser — Chromebooks, tablets, phones, or desktops
What it measures
Whether the student stayed within the locked browser; Monitor adds behavioral analysis via webcam
Whether the student can explain the concepts, reasoning, and evidence in their own submission
Student experience
Restricted, high-pressure environment — locked screen, disabled functions, potential webcam recording
A brief, flexible conversation about the student's own work — taken on their own schedule
What you get
Confirmation the browser was locked; with Monitor, flagged video segments for manual review
A comprehension report showing which concepts the student can and cannot explain

THE BOTTOM LINE

Respondus locks down the browser and hopes that prevents cheating. Pruuva verifies understanding and makes the question of cheating secondary. One controls the environment. The other measures comprehension. We believe understanding matters more than control.

Common questions

Ready to try a different approach?

Stop detecting. Start verifying. Know what your students actually understand.

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OTHER COMPARISONS

vs Turnitinvs GPTZerovs Copyleaksvs Originality.aivs AI Detectionvs Proctoriovs Honorlock