LockDown Browser vs Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LockDown Browser
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.
- Locks down exam environment
- Prevents switching applications
- Blocks access to other URLs
- Disables screenshots
- Prohibits copying or printing
- Integrates with learning systems
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LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the exam environment within specific learning and assessment systems. When LockDown Browser is used during an online exam, you are unable to go to other URLs, switch applications, take screenshots, copy questions or print. It essentially locks you into the exam until it’s submitted for grading. Important: This application can only be used with the Respondus Monitor proctoring system if your instructor has enabled the use of an iPad for the exam. If your instructor hasn't enabled the use of an iPad for the exam, you will be unable to use this application with it. While LockDown Browser isn’t the most exciting app available, it does make online assessments possible. And, hey, you can download it for free. This is NOT a limited-feature version and there are NO advertisements of any type.
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource
Access and read Elsevier textbooks on your iOS device. Download books for offline study, search your entire library, and add notes and highlights. Sync your progress across devices for a seamless learning experience.
- Download books for offline reading
- Search entire library
- Create notes and highlights
- Sync across devices
- Pinch to zoom figures
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Use Elsevier® eBooks to download and access Elsevier textbooks on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Read your books online or offline, search across your full library, and create notes and highlights to help you study. Elsevier eBooks Features: • Download books to your iOS device for easy online or offline reading. • Simple, user-friendly navigation and a clean reading experience. • Search inside your current book or across your full library. • Select text to create notes or highlights from your mobile device. • Tap to open figures, view captions and pinch to zoom. • Sync your bookmarks, last page read and all of your notes and highlights between your iOS device and our desktop or web-based Elsevier eBooks apps. Requirements: • Elsevier eBooks account • Access to one or more Elsevier textbooks • iOS 17+
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource at 4.7 against LockDown Browser's 1.2. Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource also leads on review sentiment (16% vs 8%). LockDown Browser's advantage is update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.9K and 9.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of LockDown Browser's written reviews are positive against 16% of Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource's.
LockDown Browser ships an update every 5 weeks, Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LockDown Browser | Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.2 (3.9K ratings) | 4.7 (9.2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 7.8% of reviews | 16.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.9K | 9.2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 188 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Respondus Inc. | Elsevier Inc. |
Customer experience
LockDown Browser
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource
User reviews
LockDown Browser
From 3.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Works well on iPad
- 🔒 Secures exams
- 👍 Helpful for online tests
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Locks down devices too aggressively
- 👎 Unreliable and glitchy
- 💤 Slow and unresponsive
- 🔋 Drains device battery
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource
From 9.2K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient digital access
- 📚 Helpful study tools (e.g., flashcards)
- 👍 User-friendly interface
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent login issues
- 📱 Poor mobile app experience
- 🔍 Difficult navigation and book access
- 🔊 Subpar text-to-speech quality
- 💻 Compatibility problems across devices
Bugs and requests
LockDown Browser
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
4 requests- Improved compatibility with iPads
- Better error handling and recovery
- Streamlined setup and onboarding
- More user-friendly interface
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource
Reported bugs
3 issues- Repeated sentence/paragraph playback
- Highlighted text disappearing across devices
- Inability to download or access purchased books
Requested features
5 requests- Allow handwritten notes and annotations
- Improve page-turning and scrolling functionality
- Enhance diagram and image viewing experience
- Integrate seamless cross-device synchronization
- Provide more customization options (e.g., font, layout)
In-app purchases
LockDown Browser
No in-app purchases
Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is LockDown Browser free?
Is Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource free?
Which has better reviews, LockDown Browser or Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource?
Do LockDown Browser or Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource have ads?
Which is updated more often, LockDown Browser or Elsevier eBooks on VitalSource?
Other comparisons
