Comparison of online exam tools for professional certifications
Online exam tools compared across GDPR compliance, proctoring, panel deliberation, capacity, and 5-year evidence retention for European certifications.
Reading time : 7 minutes
May 19, 2026
Comparison of Proctoring Solutions for Online Exams
Before choosing a proctoring solution, one question must be answered: do you already have an exam platform, or are you looking to manage everything from a single tool?
The answer radically changes the type of solution to select. An organisation that already uses Moodle, an internal LMS, or another assessment tool does not need to change platforms – it needs a proctoring capsule that plugs into it. An organisation starting from scratch, or looking to unify exam creation, administration, and surveillance in one system, needs a complete platform.
This comparison covers both cases, with the reference players in the European and international market.
1. Proctoring Capsule vs Complete Platform: The Distinction That Changes Everything
The Proctoring Capsule
A proctoring capsule is a specialist tool that adds a surveillance layer to an existing exam platform. It handles only monitoring: identity verification, video recording, anomaly detection, incident reporting.
What the capsule does not do: create questions, administer assessments, manage candidate lists, process scripts, publish results. These functions remain in the existing platform.
The right choice when: the organisation has already invested in a pedagogical platform and does not want to change it. It is only looking to secure remote assessments.
The Complete Platform
A complete platform covers the full exam cycle: question creation, session configuration, candidate management, real-time administration, marking, results publication – with proctoring natively integrated.
The right choice when: the organisation has no exam platform, or wants to migrate to a single tool to avoid friction between multiple systems.
2. The Specialist Proctoring Capsules
Proctorio
Proctorio is one of the most widely used AI proctoring capsules in the Anglo-Saxon academic world. It operates as a browser extension (Chrome) and integrates natively with Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard. AI monitors webcam, microphone, and screen activity, generating an asynchronous anomaly report.
Key strength: very fast deployment, scalable, wide LMS integration library.
Main limitation: data hosting outside the EU – problematic for European institutions subject to GDPR. No live proctoring. No French or Spanish-speaking support.
ProctorU
ProctorU is an American capsule specialising in real-time human proctoring. Trained invigilators supervise exams via video call, with different options: full live, record-and-review, or automated. Used notably for international professional certifications.
Key strength: high security level thanks to human supervision. Recognised by many anglophone certification bodies.
Main limitation: high cost, English-only support, data hosting outside the EU.
Certyx
Certyx is a French AI proctoring capsule, designed explicitly for the European regulatory framework. The platform applies AES-256 encryption, hosts data in France, and configures in approximately 2 minutes. Its hybrid model distinguishes the AI’s work (technical sorting, integrity report) from the teacher’s decision (final arbitration).
Key strength: native GDPR compliance, very fast setup, 24/7 French-speaking support. Specifically detects generative AI use (ChatGPT) during assessments.
Main limitation: no live human proctoring. Suited to intermediate stakes – less dimensioned for national competitive exams or highly regulated certifications.
ProctorWe by TestWe
ProctorWe is the proctoring capsule developed by TestWe. It stands out from other capsules through two characteristics: explicit compliance with European data protection authority guidance on remote exam surveillance, and the availability of 3-stream live proctoring.
Two modes are available:
– PRO-VIEW: automated asynchronous monitoring. AI records the session, analyses behaviour, generates a reviewable post-exam incident report.
– PRO-LIVE: real-time monitoring with 3 simultaneous streams – video (webcam), audio, and screen sharing. A human invigilator intervenes directly on incidents.
Key strength: the only player in the European market combining an independent capsule, 3-stream live proctoring, and certified data protection compliance. Integrates with any existing exam platform. 128,552 supervised assessments facilitated in 2024.
Main limitation: if the organisation has no exam platform yet, ProctorWe alone is insufficient – full TestWe platform should then be considered.
3. Summary Comparison
| Solution | Type | Deployment | Live supervision | GDPR/DPA compliance | EN/FR support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proctorio | AI capsule | Browser extension | No (asynchronous) | Partial (non-EU hosting) | Yes (EN) | Anglo-Saxon LMS, international universities |
| ProctorU | Live capsule | SaaS | Yes (human) | Partial | Yes (EN) | English-language certifications, international high stakes |
| Certyx | AI + hybrid capsule | SaaS, 2-min setup | No (AI report) | Yes (France, AES-256) | Yes (FR) 24/7 | Training providers, universities, intermediate stakes |
| ProctorWe (TestWe) | AI + live capsule | SaaS, any platform | Yes (PRO-LIVE, 3 streams) | Yes (EU DPA certified) | Yes | EU/FR institutions with existing platform, high stakes |
| TestWe (complete platform) | All-in-one platform | SaaS + offline mode | Yes (PRO-LIVE integrated) | Yes (EU DPA certified) | Yes | No existing platform, large volumes, multi-vertical |
4. When to Opt for a Complete Platform Rather Than a Capsule
The Limits of a Capsule Alone
If the organisation has no reliable upstream exam platform, adding a proctoring layer serves no purpose. Assessment security begins with question security (random draw, controlled access), session administration (candidate management, time limits, incidents), and end-to-end traceability – not only with video surveillance.
A capsule that monitors well a poorly organised exam produces anomaly reports with no evidential value.
The 3 Cases Where the Complete Platform Is the Right Choice
The organisation has no exam platform yet. Deploying a capsule first requires having a tool to create and administer assessments. If that tool does not exist or is insufficient, starting directly with a complete platform avoids stacking disparate components.
Exams take place both in-person and remotely. Offline mode – a platform feature, not a capsule feature – is essential for in-room assessments where the network connection is shared between hundreds of candidates. SaaS capsules cannot function without internet.
End-to-end traceability is required. For certification bodies, contestable assessment boards, or audit-subject competitive exams, traceability must cover the full cycle: question creation, access, session, marking, results. A capsule covers only one fragment of this chain.
TestWe: Platform or Capsule Depending on Needs
TestWe offers both options from the same infrastructure. Organisations that already have an exam platform can deploy only ProctorWe as a GDPR-compliant surveillance capsule. Those starting from scratch or looking to unify their framework opt for TestWe as a complete platform – with PRO-LIVE proctoring natively integrated.
« TestWe is one of the few European players able to guarantee remote supervision services aligned with French and European data protection regulations. »
TestWe, EU DPA compliance
Conclusion
Choosing a proctoring solution starts with an architecture question, not a features question.
- You already have an exam platform: a capsule is sufficient. Certyx for intermediate stakes with fast setup and no live proctoring needed. ProctorWe for high stakes with real-time human supervision (PRO-LIVE) and certified EU compliance.
- You have no platform: a capsule alone does not solve the problem. A complete platform like TestWe covers the full cycle – with proctoring integrated.
- Your exams are both in-room and remote: only a platform with native offline mode covers both contexts without network incident risk.
For more on proctoring levels and how to choose, see our guide on assessment with proctoring.
FAQ
What is the difference between a proctoring capsule and a complete platform?
A proctoring capsule adds a surveillance layer to an existing exam platform. It handles only monitoring: identity verification, recording, anomaly detection. A complete platform covers the full exam cycle: question creation, administration, marking, and integrated proctoring.
What is ProctorWe?
ProctorWe is the proctoring capsule developed by TestWe. It integrates with any existing exam platform and offers two modes: PRO-VIEW (asynchronous AI monitoring) and PRO-LIVE (real-time monitoring with 3 simultaneous streams – video, audio, screen). It is certified compliant with European data protection authority guidance on remote exam supervision.
Is Proctorio GDPR-compliant for European institutions?
Proctorio hosts its data outside the EU, which raises GDPR compliance concerns for European institutions. European solutions (Certyx, ProctorWe, TestWe) host their data in France or within the EU and document their compliance explicitly.
Can ProctorWe be used without the TestWe platform?
Yes. ProctorWe is an independent capsule that can be added to any existing exam platform. If the organisation has no exam platform yet, the full TestWe platform should be considered instead.
How to choose between Certyx and ProctorWe?
Certyx is suitable for intermediate stakes with fast setup and no live proctoring requirement. ProctorWe is the appropriate choice for high-stakes exams that require real-time human supervision (PRO-LIVE) and certified EU data protection compliance at scale.
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