LockDown Browser vs Top Hat
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.
Top Hat
Enhance your learning experience with interactive resources, in-class participation tools, and dynamic digital textbooks. Engage with professors and peers, and test your knowledge with quizzes and polls to improve comprehension and retention.
- Follow lecture slides on your device
- In-class response system
- In-app discussions with peers and professors
- Dynamic, interactive digital textbooks
- Take polls and quizzes
- Access graded and non-graded homework
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Top Hat is the perfect companion app to our comprehensive assessment platform that helps you learn better before, during and after class. Top Hat makes learning fun and engaging (seriously!) and sets you up for success, helping you connect with your professors, your peers and the content you’re learning in and out of the classroom. Here’s what Top Hat offers you: Compelling resources, delivered on your smartphone or laptop: • Follow your prof’s lecture slides on your own device • Contribute in class with an easy-to-use response system that’s always with you • Participate with your profs and peers using in-app discussions Content tailored to your course: • Experience dynamic, interactive textbooks loaded up with images, videos, audio clips and more • Read your digital materials from anywhere and keep them forever Quizzes, tests and polls that improve learning comprehension: • Challenge yourself by taking polls and quizzes on your own devices • Improve your knowledge retention with interactive assessment elements • Check for gaps in your understanding with graded and non-graded homework and short quizzes Thanks for using Top Hat. As you experience the app, we’d love to get your feedback: support@tophat.com or follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @TopHat
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Top Hat at 4.6 against LockDown Browser's 1.2. Top Hat also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#147 vs unranked). LockDown Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, 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.
Top Hat holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Top Hat has 23K ratings behind it against 3.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of LockDown Browser's written reviews are positive against 14% of Top Hat's.
LockDown Browser ships an update every 5 weeks, Top Hat fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LockDown Browser | Top Hat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.2 (3.9K ratings) | 4.6 (23K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 7.8% of reviews | 14.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3.9K | 23K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #147 — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 17 MB | 162 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Respondus Inc. | Top Hat Monocle |
Customer experience
LockDown Browser
Top Hat
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
Top Hat
From 23K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive interface
- 👍 Useful for attendance and in-class quizzes
- 💡 Potential for interactive learning
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🔒 Privacy concerns with location tracking
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
Top Hat
Reported bugs
3 issues- Answers not registering correctly
- Slides not loading properly on mobile devices
- Inconsistent performance across platforms
Requested features
3 requests- Add page numbers and search functionality to ebooks
- Improve syncing between mobile and web versions
- Allow more flexible location settings for attendance
In-app purchases
LockDown Browser
No in-app purchases
Top Hat
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is LockDown Browser free?
Is Top Hat free?
Which has better reviews, LockDown Browser or Top Hat?
Do LockDown Browser or Top Hat have ads?
Which is updated more often, LockDown Browser or Top Hat?
Other comparisons
