iClicker

iClicker is a classroom response system for instructors who want participation, attendance and performance reporting in one teaching workflow. Its broad response options and student access through apps, web or physical remotes are useful strengths, but students should confirm which subscription their course requires before paying.

Overview

Founded in 1997 and part of the Macmillan Learning family, iClicker brings live polls, quizzes, reactions, attendance and feedback together. Instructors get a gradebook with real-time reporting on student and class performance, attendance and participation. That combination suits courses where instructors want to track engagement as well as ask questions; students face a less predictable buying decision because their course determines whether a subscription is needed.

Key features

Instructors can ask multiple-choice, multiple-answer, short-answer, numeric, target, formula or symbol, and anonymous questions. The range supports more than quick knowledge checks, while anonymous prompts give students a way to respond without identifying themselves. Quiz mode and slide integrations fit the polling tools into instruction, though iClicker is most compelling when those activities are part of a broader attendance and reporting workflow.

The AI Question Creator can generate up to 50 questions using uploaded files as context. Attendance supports in-person and virtual classes, with Pulse adding auto-run sessions and late-arrival tracking. These tools can reduce manual session management, while the gradebook gives instructors a live view of performance and participation.

Students can participate in the mobile app, student web app or with physical iClicker remotes. The mobile app supports Apple and Android smartphones. Instructors can connect Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by D2L and Moodle, with roster and grade sync, CSV integration and single sign-on. That integration range is a practical fit for established course workflows.

The institutional offering describes AWS hosting, firewall protection, segregated Virtual Private Cloud architecture and third-party penetration testing, along with FERPA and FIPPA compliance and 1EdTech Data Privacy Certification. The mobile and web platforms were independently audited to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Support includes articles, tutorials, customer support, training and access to specialists.

Pricing

iClicker is freemium, but its free instructor account does not amount to a free student subscription. The instructor plan is free, billed always free, and provides instructor access. Institutional enterprise plans use custom pricing for departmental and institutional access.

Student plans are priced for U.S. customers, and international and partner pricing requires contacting iClicker. The enrolled course determines which subscription, if any, a student needs:

• iClicker Pulse — 6 months: $4.99 a month, with attendance tracking, auto-run class sessions and late-arrival tracking. It fits students who need Pulse attendance tools, but does not include the Pro feature set.
• iClicker Pulse — 12 months: $7.99 a month, billed annually, with the same attendance features. The annual billing term matters for students choosing a longer commitment.
• iClicker Pro — 6 months: $15.99 a month. It includes LMS grade and attendance sync, live polling and quizzing, assignments, study tools, focus reports, group learning and emoji reactions. This is the fuller student toolkit, at a substantially higher monthly price than Pulse.
• iClicker Pro — 12 months: $24.99 a month, billed annually, with the same Pro features. Students should check their course requirement before choosing the longer term.

Since course requirements determine whether a subscription is necessary, students should not buy a plan solely on the assumption that every class uses the same access level.

Platforms

iClicker is available on Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Instructor desktop software for iClicker Cloud runs on Windows 10 or newer and macOS 12 or newer. Student mobile access is for Apple and Android smartphones, with the web app and physical remotes as alternatives.

Who it's for

iClicker is a strong fit for instructors who want varied classroom questions, attendance tracking and live participation reporting, especially when their institution already uses one of its LMS integrations. It also accommodates students who prefer web access or a physical remote to a phone. It is less suitable for students seeking a predictable standalone purchase, since the course sets the subscription requirement and Pro carries a higher price than Pulse.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Multiple question formats, anonymous responses, quizzes and slide integrations support more varied classroom interaction than polling alone.
• Pro: Attendance tools cover in-person and virtual classes, while Pulse adds auto-run sessions and late-arrival tracking.
• Pro: Mobile, web and physical remote participation give students different ways to respond.
• Pro: LMS connections, roster and grade sync, CSV integration and single sign-on suit courses with established digital workflows.
• Con: Students must verify the course's subscription requirement before buying; an instructor's free account does not settle student access costs.
• Con: Pro is considerably more expensive than Pulse, so students who only need attendance features may pay for capabilities they do not need.

Alternatives

Poll Everywhere is worth considering for a freemium response system with a free trial; its Intro plan allows a maximum audience of 40, or 700 for 30 days, and includes 10 AI prompts per month.

Votinova offers a free plan for 50 participants per session, six question types and one simultaneous session, which may suit smaller sessions with a defined cap.

Kahoot! is an option for a classic live quiz format, with its free Go plan supporting up to 40 participants and quiz and true-or-false questions.

Mentimeter may suit presentations built around varied slide types; its free plan allows 50 participants per month and 23 slide types.

AhaSlides has a free plan for up to 50 participants, five quiz questions and three poll questions, with unlimited presentations per month.

Particify offers a free plan for rooms of up to 200 participants, with unlimited rooms and question series, making it an alternative when room capacity matters.

Vevox provides a free plan for 100 participants and one user, a fit for those limits who want a web-based option.

Pigeonhole Live offers a free Starter plan for 100 participants and one user, with unlimited Q&As, polls, chats and surveys.

For broader comparisons, see Audience Response Systems and Student Response Systems.

Verdict

Choose iClicker if you teach a course that benefits from varied student responses, attendance tracking and connected reporting, particularly when LMS sync and multiple participation methods matter. Its central advantage is the breadth of the classroom workflow; its main drawback for students is course-dependent access and the higher cost of Pro. Confirm the course requirement first, and look elsewhere if you need a straightforward student purchase or only a capped, lightweight polling plan.