# Nearpod vs LockDown Browser

The clearest difference is rating: Nearpod at 3.1 against LockDown Browser's 1.2. Nearpod also leads on review sentiment (41% vs 8%) and device support (3 vs 1). LockDown Browser's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nearpod sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $159.99 per year. LockDown Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nearpod holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 1.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 3.9K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Nearpod's written reviews are positive against 8% of LockDown Browser's.

Nearpod ships an update monthly, LockDown Browser every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nearpod | LockDown Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.1 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearpod/id523540409/reviews)** | [1.2 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lockdown-browser/id659101775/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.9K | **3.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **41.1% of reviews** | 7.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 27 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nearpod](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441232331) | [Respondus Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/365544611) |

## What reviewers say

### Nearpod

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearpod/id523540409)

This app empowers K-12 teachers to create interactive, student-centered lessons that boost engagement and deepen understanding across all subjects. It offers tools for real-time assessment, flexible teaching modes, and integration with popular platforms, making instruction more effective.

**Highlights:** Interactive lesson creation, Live and student-paced modes, Polls, quizzes, and VR activities, Real-time formative assessments, Integration with Google Slides, YouTube, LMS, Library of 22,000+ lessons

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| to Nearpod Gold Edition | $159.99 | per year |
| NPP "Authors: Decimals and Fractions" | $2.99 | one-time |
| NPP "Authors: Drawing Inferences" | $4.99 | one-time |
| NPP "Authors: Energy " | $4.99 | one-time |
| NPP "Authors: What are Cells?" | $4.99 | one-time |
| NPP "Authors: The Rock Cycle" | $4.99 | one-time |
| Social Studies: Causes of the American Revolution | $4.99 | one-time |
| Authors: Subtraction with Regrouping Part 1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Authors: What Makes a Tree Trunk? | $4.99 | one-time |
| Authors: Reading Maps | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging and interactive
- 👍 Great for student participation
- 💡 Useful for differentiated instruction
- 🚀 Effective for virtual/hybrid learning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Limited functionality in mobile app
- 🔍 Clunky and unintuitive user interface
- 🔍 Reliability issues, especially on iPads

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save progress and resume lessons
- Drawing/annotation tools not working as expected
- Login issues, especially with Google accounts
- Slides not syncing properly across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to create and edit content on mobile app
- More question types beyond multiple choice
- Improved device compatibility and cross-platform support
- Enhanced student reporting and analytics


### LockDown Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lockdown-browser/id659101775)

This application creates a secure browser environment for online exams, preventing access to other applications, websites, or device functions. It ensures the integrity of assessments by locking users into the exam until submission. It is compatible with specific learning systems and can be used with proctoring systems if enabled by an instructor.

**Highlights:** Locks down exam environment, Prevents switching applications, Blocks access to other URLs, Disables screenshots, Prohibits copying or printing, Integrates with learning systems

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works well on iPad
- 🔒 Secures exams
- 👍 Helpful for online tests

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Locks down devices too aggressively
- 👎 Unreliable and glitchy
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive
- 🔋 Drains device battery

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to load tests and quizzes
- Prevents device power off and exit
- Incompatible with other apps like Canvas
- Randomly kicks users out of exams

**Requested features**

- Improved compatibility with iPads
- Better error handling and recovery
- Streamlined setup and onboarding
- More user-friendly interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nearpod free?

Nearpod is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LockDown Browser free?

LockDown Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Nearpod or LockDown Browser?

Nearpod is rated higher. Nearpod averages 3.1 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while LockDown Browser averages 1.2 from 3.9K ratings.

### Do Nearpod or LockDown Browser have ads?

Neither Nearpod nor LockDown Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nearpod or LockDown Browser?

Nearpod ships an update monthly, and LockDown Browser every 5 weeks. Most recently, Nearpod was updated on September 25, 2026 and LockDown Browser on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*