Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Altius Test Prep vs The Princeton Review
Where Altius Test Prep and The Princeton Review differ
| Compare |  Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $301 | $299Lower |
| Prices by exam | mcat: $301 | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Full-length practice tests | 1 to 10Higher | 9 |
| Score guarantee | Higher score | Money back |
| Guarantee terms | 90th-percentile or 12-point increase if 100% complete | Better scores or your money back on eligible test prep programs; pass your test or your money back on NCLEX-RN and CFA programs; repeat the program free if not satisfied; U.S. and Canada customers only |
| Money-back period | 14 to 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Practice questions | Not confirmed | 3,700 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | US, CA |
Same on both: Access period (12 months), Live classes (Yes), Free trial (Yes), Tutoring add-on (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- The Princeton Review scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at The Princeton Review: $299 vs $301.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at Altius Test Prep: 1 to 10 vs 9.
- Money-back period is higher at The Princeton Review: 60 days vs 14 to 30 days.
- Support channels: only Altius Test Prep offers Email.
- Support channels: only The Princeton Review offers Help centre.
- Founded is lower at The Princeton Review: 1981 vs 2005.
- Exams: only The Princeton Review offers Sat, Act, 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.
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review suits US and Canadian students who want live classes, tutoring and a money back guarantee from a single provider rather than a bare question bank. It scores 9.1 overall, with 60 days of money back cover on eligible programs offsetting an entry price of $299.
Score breakdown
| Area | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Entry at $301 sits well above rivals at $49, though 14 to 30 days of access add value. | 8.7HigherEntry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 9.1Live classes, a free trial, a tutoring add on and 1 to 10 full length tests give a wide package. | 9.2Higher3,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 8.7higher score guarantee with 90th-percentile or 12-point increase if 100% complete, a 14 to 30 day refund window and email and phone support. | 9.7HigherA money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $301 | $299 |
| Access period | 12 months | 12 months |
| Full-length practice tests | 1 to 10 | 9 |
| Money-back period | 14 to 30 days | 60 days |
Sources behind this comparison
Altius Test Prep
- altiustestprep.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
The Princeton Review
- princetonreview.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 13 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Mcat | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, CfaCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2005 | 1981Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Phone, Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | $29 |
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | $39.99 to $179.99 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Science, Languages, Coding, School |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | 3,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | Better grades guaranteed for students who work with a tutor 2 hours a month for 3 consecutive months in one subject |
Online courses
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $39.99 |
| Free tier | Not confirmed | No |
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Curated |
| Graded assessments | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | No |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $301highest quarter | $299above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 12 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsabove the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | Not confirmed | 3,700above the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 1 to 10above the median | 9above the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | 14 to 30 daysat the median | 60 dayshighest 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.
The Princeton Review
Pros
- A money back guarantee on eligible test prep programs, with a 60 day window and a free repeat of the program for US and Canadian students.
- Breadth under one roof: sat, act and gre all sit within the same provider, spanning school and professional exams.
- Study depth of 3,700 practice questions and 9 full length tests, with live classes and 12 months of access.
Cons
- Entry price of $299 sits well above Testprep Training at $12.99 and Zebra Education at $49.
- There is no free tier, so the 14 day free trial and the free trial lesson are the whole no-cost taste.
- Offline download is not offered, so every practice session needs a live connection.
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.
The Princeton Review
Who it suits
- Students in US and CA who want live classes and one provider across sat, act and gre.
- Learners who would rather have money back protection than a bare course: the guarantee is money back and runs 60 days on eligible programs.
- Families who need tutoring alongside exam prep, with 3,000 screened tutors, background checks and a free trial lesson.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget shoppers, who would start at $12.99 with Testprep Training instead of $299 here.
- Students who need downloadable study material, since offline download is not offered; Zebra Education starts at $49 if entry cost matters more.
- IELTS candidates, who may prefer the specialist route E2Language covers from $69.
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
The Princeton Review
Current offer
Bonus
10 hours On-Demand Tutoring reduced to $200: $200 (normally $349)
Add-on to the SAT & ACT Self-Paced package
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Free trial
14-Day Free Trial of SAT Self-Paced: 14 days
Offered on the SAT Self-Paced and SAT & ACT Self-Paced course options
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Altius Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
The Princeton Review
How much does The Princeton Review cost?+
The SAT Self-Paced course starts at $299, and the combined SAT and ACT Self-Paced course is priced above that as a package. Tutoring is separate: $39.99 covers a month inside a subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99, and individual lessons are priced at $29. The course price is the entry payment, while recurring spend comes from the tutoring subscription.
Is there a free trial or a free tier?+
There is a free trial running 14 days, and there is no free tier of study material sitting underneath it. For tutoring, a free trial lesson gives a session at no charge before any commitment. Together those two make up the entire no-cost entry route into the brand.