Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Altius Test Prep vs Magoosh
Altius Test Prep vs Magoosh: the differences
| Compare |  Altius Test Prep |  Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $301 | $149Lower |
| Prices by exam | mcat: $301 | GRE: $149 (1 month) / $179 (6 months); GMAT: $219 (Math + IR) / $249 (Premium) / $599 (Live + Premium) |
| Access period | 12 months | 1 to 12 months |
| Full-length practice tests | 1 to 10Higher | 6 |
| Guarantee terms | 90th-percentile or 12-point increase if 100% complete | 7-day "No questions asked" money-back guarantee, plus +5 points improvement on your previous GRE test, guaranteed |
| Money-back period | 14 to 30 daysHigher | 7 days |
| Practice questions | Not confirmed | 1,600 |
Same on both: Live classes (Yes), Score guarantee (Higher score), Free trial (Yes), Tutoring add-on (Yes).
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Key differences
- Price from is lower at Magoosh: $149 vs $301.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at Altius Test Prep: 1 to 10 vs 6.
- Money-back period is higher at Altius Test Prep: 14 to 30 days vs 7 days.
- Support channels: only Altius Test Prep offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Magoosh offers Chat, Help centre.
- Founded is lower at Altius Test Prep: 2005 vs 2009.
- Exams: only Magoosh offers Act, Gmat, Gre.
Our verdict on each
Altius Test Prep
Altius Test Prep runs a single exam line with 12 months of access, live classes and a free trial, so it suits candidates who want a structured plan rather than a question bank. The catch is entry price: fees start at $301, well above the cheaper rivals listed here.
Magoosh
Magoosh suits candidates who want broad exam choice, a refund window and a score improvement promise in one purchase. Entry pricing of $149 runs above the cheapest rivals, but 6 full length tests and a 7 day guarantee settle it for planned test takers.
Score breakdown
| Area | Altius Test Prep | Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry at $301 sits well above rivals at $49, though 14 to 30 days of access add value. | 8.9HigherEntry starts at $149, above $12.99 and $49, with a 7 days window. |
| Offer | 9.1HigherLive classes, a free trial, a tutoring add on and 1 to 10 full length tests give a wide package. | 8.9Covers act, gmat and gre, ships 6 full length tests and 1,600 practice questions, plus live classes and a tutoring addon. |
| Trust | 8.7Higherhigher score guarantee with 90th-percentile or 12-point increase if 100% complete, a 14 to 30 day refund window and email and phone support. | 8.5Operating as Magoosh, Inc. in the US since 2009, with support on email, chat and help centre. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Altius Test Prep | Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 13 of 21 | 15 of 21 |
Choosing between them
Pick Altius Test Prep if full-length practice tests and money-back period matter most.
Pick Magoosh if cost and price from matter most.
Also worth a look
TicketSchool has money-back period at 60 days, against 14 to 30 days for Altius Test Prep and 7 days for Magoosh.
TicketSchool reviewSources behind this comparison
Altius Test Prep
- altiustestprep.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Magoosh
- gre.magoosh.com: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- gmat.magoosh.com: 3 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- magoosh.com: 2 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Mcat | Act, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, SatCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Magoosh, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2005Lower | 2009 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | Magoosh | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $301highest quarter | $149above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 12 monthsabove the median | 1 to 12 monthsabove the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | Not confirmed | 1,600below the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 1 to 10above the median | 6below the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | 14 to 30 daysat the median | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Altius Test Prep
Pros
- A single payment covers 12 months of access plus full length tests in the range 1 to 10.
- Live classes sit in the offer rather than behind a separate tier, and support runs on email and phone for anyone who wants a person on the other end.
- A free trial and a 14 to 30 day money back window mean you can test the course first, at or above the 14 day site median.
Cons
- The entry price of $301 sits far above Zebra Education at $49 and Testprep Training at $12.99.
- Coverage is narrow: the exams listed are mcat, with no wider catalogue to move to inside the same purchase.
- Full length tests sit at the low end of 1 to 10, under the 8 median across test prep listings.
Magoosh
Pros
- Covers act, gmat and gre under one provider, so a change of exam does not mean a change of platform
- A 7 day money back guarantee sits alongside a guaranteed score improvement on a prior GRE result
- Access runs 1 to 12 months, letting a test date decide the plan rather than the other way round
Cons
- Entry price of $149 sits well above $12.99 and $49, so short study windows cost more per month
- The 7 day refund window is shorter than the 30 day median in this category
- Only 6 full length tests ship, against a category median of 10.25
Who each suits
Altius Test Prep
Who it suits
- MCAT candidates who start early, since access runs 12 months and covers a full study cycle.
- Learners who want live classes and phone support rather than self study alone, with support running on email and phone.
- Anyone who will work through the material before the access window closes, since the package is built around a single test.
Who should look elsewhere
- Tight budgets: Zebra Education enters at $49 and E2Language at $69.
- Shoppers who rank entry price first, since Testprep Training starts at $12.99.
- Candidates sitting anything other than the exam listed as mcat, since no other exam is covered.
Magoosh
Who it suits
- Gre and GMAT candidates who want a money back window and a higher score promise on the same purchase
- Students moving between the ACT, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT and SAT who value one name across exams
- Self studiers comfortable pairing self paced questions with live classes and a paid tutoring addon
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget buyers who only need a few practice questions, where Testprep Training starts at $12.99
- Learners who want phone support, since Magoosh lists email, chat and help centre
- Candidates needing a heavy test battery, where Zebra Education starts at $49 for a different mix
Current offers
Altius Test Prep
Current offer
Free trial
Free MCAT Course: 30 days free
Includes 10 MCAT practice exams, diagnostic and mini exams via First Aid Kit Pro
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Questions about each
Altius Test Prep
What does Altius Test Prep cost to start?+
Entry is listed at $301, and the exam pricing line shows mcat: $301, so the opening figure and the per exam figure agree rather than pointing to a cheaper tier. That is well above $49 at Zebra Education and $12.99 at Testprep Training, so entry cost is the first thing to weigh before choosing.
Is there a free trial and a refund window?+
There is a free trial, so you can work through some material before paying anything. The money back window runs 14 to 30 days, which meets or exceeds the 14 day median across the listings here. Between the trial and that window, the risk of buying at the wrong moment is smaller.
Magoosh
How much does Magoosh cost and what access periods do I get?+
Magoosh starts at $149 for its shortest term, and access runs 1 to 12 months, so a test date rather than a monthly habit sets the length. Longer terms cost more in total but spread that cost over more months of study. Prices are quoted in US dollars and the company is registered in the US.
What does the guarantee actually cover?+
Two separate promises sit on the purchase. One is a 7 day money back guarantee with no questions asked, and the other guarantees a higher score on a previous GRE result, with a stated improvement of points on that result. The score promise is the reason Magoosh ranks as a higher score guarantee provider rather than a refund only offer.