Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Kaplan Test Prep vs Magoosh
Where Kaplan Test Prep and Magoosh differ
| Compare |  Kaplan Test Prep |  Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199 | $149Lower |
| Prices by exam | sat: From $199 | GRE: $149 (1 month) / $179 (6 months); GMAT: $219 (Math + IR) / $249 (Premium) / $599 (Live + Premium) |
| Access period | 6 months | 1 to 12 monthsHigher |
| Practice questions | 500 | 1,600Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 6Higher |
| Score guarantee | Money back | Higher score |
| Guarantee terms | Complete HSG-eligible program, take official test, claim within 60 days for money back or free reactivation | 7-day "No questions asked" money-back guarantee, plus +5 points improvement on your previous GRE test, guaranteed |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 days |
Same on both: Live classes (Yes), Free trial (Yes), Tutoring add-on (Yes).
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Key differences
- Price from is lower at Magoosh: $149 vs $199.
- Access period is higher at Magoosh: 1 to 12 months vs 6 months.
- Practice questions is higher at Magoosh: 1,600 vs 500.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at Magoosh: 6 vs 4.
- Support channels: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Magoosh offers Email.
- Exams: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Nclex.
Our verdict on each
Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep suits candidates who want one name covering many exams, from the SAT and ACT through the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and NCLEX, with sat: From $199 on the SAT on-demand plan. It is heavier on price and thinner on test count than the cheaper rivals, so budget-bound candidates should weigh those first.
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 | Kaplan Test Prep | Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Entry price is $199 for the SAT on-demand plan, against $49 and $12.99 at other brands. | 8.9HigherEntry starts at $149, above $12.99 and $49, with a 7 days window. |
| Offer | 8.8SAT on-demand bundles 6 months of access, 500 practice questions, 4 full length tests, live classes and a free trial. | 8.9HigherCovers act, gmat and gre, ships 6 full length tests and 1,600 practice questions, plus live classes and a tutoring addon. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.5Operating as Magoosh, Inc. in the US since 2009, with support on email, chat and help centre. |
If neither fits
Zebra Education has practice questions at 6,500, against 500 for Kaplan Test Prep and 1,600 for Magoosh.
Zebra Education reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Kaplan Test Prep | Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 14 of 21 | 15 of 21 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Magoosh |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Act, Sat, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, NclexCovers more | Act, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, Sat |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Magoosh, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2009 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Magoosh | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199above the median | $149above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 6 monthsbelow the median | 1 to 12 monthsabove the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | 500lowest quarter | 1,600below the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4below the median | 6below the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 7 dayslowest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Kaplan Test Prep
Pros
- One provider covers act, sat and gmat, so a student can switch exam without changing platform
- The SAT on-demand plan includes live classes, a free trial and an optional tutoring add-on on top of the self study material
- phone, chat and help centre means phone, chat and a help centre are all available for enrolled students
Cons
- The $199 entry point sits well above $49 and $12.99
- Only 4 full length tests on the SAT plan, and practice runs to 500, both low against the field
- Access is 6 months on the on-demand plan, so study time is fixed rather than open ended
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
Kaplan Test Prep
Who it suits
- Students preparing for the SAT or ACT who want live classes alongside self study
- Candidates sitting the GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT who prefer one long-running provider
- Anyone who values phone and chat support over the lowest entry price
Who should look elsewhere
- Testprep Training, whose $12.99 entry point suits a strict budget
- Zebra Education, whose $49 entry point is lower if you already know your exam
- E2Language, which is built around language exams rather than the exams on act, sat and gmat
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
Questions about each
Kaplan Test Prep
How much does Kaplan Test Prep cost?+
Entry pricing on the SAT on-demand plan is $199, and the published exam pricing sits at sat: From $199. The money-back guarantee operates under defined terms rather than as an open refund, so check those before enrolling. Cheaper rivals start well below this at $49 and $12.99.
What is included in the SAT on-demand plan?+
The plan bundles 6 months of access with 500 practice questions and 4 full length tests, plus live classes. A free trial is available and a tutoring add-on can be added on top. Support runs on phone, chat and help centre for anyone who needs help mid study.
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.