Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Hurst Review vs The Princeton Review
Hurst Review vs The Princeton Review: the differences
| Compare |  Hurst Review | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $159Lower | $299 |
| Prices by exam | nclex: $159 - $399 | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Access period | 1 to 4 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Practice questions | 2,000 | 3,700Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 9Higher |
| Guarantee terms | Complete review in entirety and test within 3 months of graduation; notify within 2 weeks of failure | 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 | Not confirmed | 60 days |
| Tutoring add-on | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Live classes (Yes), Score guarantee (Money back), Free trial (Yes), Markets (US, CA).
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Key differences
- The Princeton Review scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at Hurst Review: $159 vs $299.
- Access period is higher at The Princeton Review: 12 months vs 1 to 4 months.
- Practice questions is higher at The Princeton Review: 3,700 vs 2,000.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at The Princeton Review: 9 vs 4.
- Founded is lower at The Princeton Review: 1981 vs 1988.
- Exams: only The Princeton Review offers Sat, Act, Gre.
Our verdict on each
Hurst Review
Hurst Review is a specialist NCLEX provider for nursing graduates in the US and Canada, pairing live classes with a score guarantee on the Hurst Now RN All plan, priced at $159. It suits candidates who want guided instruction and a guarantee rather than the cheapest question bank on the market.
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 | Hurst Review | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherHurst Now RN All starts at $159, above DRCertifications at $19.99 and Allied Schools at $68. | 8.7Entry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 8.8Live classes, 2,000 practice questions, 4 full length tests and a free trial sit in a single package. | 9.2Higher3,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 9.6A money back score guarantee and a provider trading since 1988 with phone and help centre support. | 9.7HigherA money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Hurst Review | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 2 countries for both.
A third option
Zebra Education has access period at 1 to 24 months, against 1 to 4 months for Hurst Review and 12 months for The Princeton Review.
Zebra Education reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Hurst Review | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 10 of 33 | 7 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hurst Review | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Nclex | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, CfaCovers more |
| Legal entity | Hurst Review Services | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1988 | 1981Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | Hurst Review | 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 | Hurst Review | 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 | Hurst Review | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $159above the median | $299above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 1 to 4 monthslowest quarter | 12 monthsabove the median | 9 |
| Practice questions | 2,000below the median | 3,700above the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4below the median | 9above the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Hurst Review
Pros
- A score guarantee of money back covers the NCLEX, and the terms ask for the full review plus a test within a set window of graduation and notice within a short period after a fail.
- Live classes are part of the package rather than an add on, a feature shared by 89.7% of the brands in this group.
- A free trial lets you work through the material and the class schedule before paying, which 85.7% of brands here also offer.
Cons
- Practice questions sit at 2,000, under the 3,100 typical in this group, and 4 full length tests trail the 6 median.
- Entry fees for Hurst Now RN All at $159 sit well above DRCertifications at $19.99 and Testprep Training at $12.99, with the brand placed at 39 of 65 on entry price.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so candidates who prefer live chat will have to look elsewhere.
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
Hurst Review
Who it suits
- Nursing graduates in the US and Canada sitting the NCLEX who want live instruction alongside self study.
- Candidates who want the commitment bounded: access of 1 to 4 months suits a planned final push before a sitting.
- Learners who prefer a focused single exam provider with phone and help centre support over a broad question bank.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget shoppers, since Testprep Training lists entry fees at $12.99 and DRCertifications at $19.99, both well under the Hurst Now RN All fee of $159.
- Candidates who want chat style support or a much longer study runway, since Hurst Review runs on phone and help centre with access of 1 to 4 months while cheaper options such as Testprep Training start at $12.99.
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
Hurst Review
Current offer
Free trial
Free Trial: 30 days
See everything you will get with a Hurst Review
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 | Hurst Review | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | Yes |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Hurst Review
What does Hurst Review cost for the NCLEX?+
The Hurst Now RN All plan starts at $159, and exam fees on that same plan run nclex: $159 - $399. Access lasts 1 to 4 months from the day you buy, so the money covers a defined study window rather than an open ended one. Budget on that window, not on an assumption that the material stays open indefinitely.
Is there a free trial before I pay?+
Yes. Hurst Review offers a free trial on the NCLEX package, so you can work through material before committing. Live classes and the 2,000 practice questions are the parts most worth checking in that window, since the plan is built around guided study rather than a question bank alone. A free trial is common in this group, so treat it as a taste rather than a differentiator.
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.