iClicker vs Open Response
iClicker
iclicker.comOpen Response
osu-mc.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | iClicker | Open Response |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 1 |
| Spec score · Audience Response Systems | 9.2 (#5) | 8.4 (#40) |
| Spec score · Student Response Systems | 9.0 (#4) | 8.7 (#9) |
| Accessibility | The institutional page says the mobile and web platforms were independently audited to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. | The project says full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance is pending a complete audit. |
| Analytics | The instructor gradebook provides real-time reporting on student and class performance, attendance, and participation. | The project lists grading and analytics for polling sessions. |
| Founded | 1997 | 2021 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Live polling | Yes | Yes |
| Purpose | iClicker is a student response system for classroom engagement, including polling, reactions, attendance, and feedback. | Open Response is a free, open-source web-based classroom polling system intended to support real-time classroom engagement. |
| Quiz mode | Yes | Yes |
| Support | iClicker offers support articles, tutorials, customer support, training, and access to iClicker specialists. | The project directs users to its GitHub issues and discussions for questions and additional information. |
Plans
iClicker
- iClicker Pulse — 6 months$4.99 a month
- iClicker Pulse — 12 months$7.99 a month
- iClicker Pro — 6 months$15.99 a month
- iClicker Pro — 12 months$24.99 a month
- Instructor accountFree
- iClicker Pulse — 6 months$4.99, paid once
- iClicker Pulse — 12 months$7.99, paid once
- iClicker Pro — 6 months$15.99, paid once
- iClicker Pro — 12 months$24.99, paid once
- Institutional enterprise plansPriced on request
In their own words
iClicker
iClicker is a student response system for classroom polling, quizzes, attendance, reactions and feedback. Instructors can ask multiple-choice, multiple-answer, short-answer, numeric, target, formula or symbol questions, including anonymous questions. Its AI Question Creator can generate up to 50 questions and use uploaded files as context. Attendance tracking covers in-person and virtual classes; iClicker Pulse lists auto-run sessions and late-arrival tracking. An instructor gradebook provides real-time reporting on student and class performance, attendance and participation. Integrations include Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by D2L and Moodle, plus roster and grade sync, CSV integration and single sign-on. Students can respond through mobile or web apps or physical remotes. Instructor desktop software is available for Windows and Mac, with Windows 10 or newer and macOS 12 or newer listed as minimum requirements. The instructor account is free, while student subscription needs depend on the enrolled course. Listed U.S. student plans start at $4.99/mo; international and partner pricing requires contacting iClicker. The maker says it is part of the Macmillan Learning family and was founded in 1997.
Open Response
Open Response is free, open-source polling software for real-time classroom engagement. Instructors can run polls with multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions, and participants receive live feedback through WebSockets. The project also lists quiz mode, grading, analytics, and role-based access for students, instructors, and administrators. It includes a RESTful API and a WebSocket server. Canvas compatibility comes through CSV export of participation and grades. Open Response is listed for web, Linux, macOS, and Windows, and institutions can self-host it on a server with Docker and Docker Compose. Its interface is described as responsive and mobile-ready. The project was founded in 2021 and is targeting small-scale beta testing in the 2026–2027 academic year. Several items remain incomplete or planned: open-ended, sketch, and location questions are unsupported; roster management and email notifications are in development; test coverage is incomplete; and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and FERPA-related SSO work are pending.