Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Kaplan Test Prep vs Manhattan Prep
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Kaplan Test Prep |  Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199Lower | $300 to $999 |
| Access period | 6 months | 3 to 12 monthsHigher |
| Practice questions | 500 | 1,200Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 4 to 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 | Score higher or your money back, 3/6/12 month plans only, conditions apply |
| Prices by exam | sat: From $199 | Not confirmed |
| Live classes | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Tutoring add-on | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free trial (Yes).
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Key differences
- Manhattan Prep scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Kaplan Test Prep: $199 vs $300 to $999.
- Access period is higher at Manhattan Prep: 3 to 12 months vs 6 months.
- Practice questions is higher at Manhattan Prep: 1,200 vs 500.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at Manhattan Prep: 4 to 6 vs 4.
- Support channels: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Manhattan Prep offers Email, Community.
- Exams: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Act, Sat, Mcat.
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.
Manhattan Prep
Manhattan Prep suits candidates who want a single US test prep name behind the GMAT, GRE and LSAT rather than a shelf of single-exam apps. Listed plan prices run $300 to $999, and the higher-score promise carries a money-back route on the longer plans, with conditions applied.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherEntry price is $199 for the SAT on-demand plan, against $49 and $12.99 at other brands. | 8.6Listed plan prices run $300 to $999, well above Testprep Training at $12.99, so entry sits high in the field. |
| Offer | 8.8SAT on-demand bundles 6 months of access, 500 practice questions, 4 full length tests, live classes and a free trial. | 9.1HigherA higher score promise, 3 to 12 months of access, 1,200 practice questions and a free trial in one block. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.1Screened tutors (screened) and email, phone and help centre for help, with a money-back route written into the guarantee terms. |
Which one suits you
Pick Kaplan Test Prep if price from matter most.
Pick Manhattan Prep if offer, access period, practice questions, and full-length practice tests matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 14 of 21 | 11 of 21 |
Also worth a look
Zebra Education has practice questions at 6,500, against 500 for Kaplan Test Prep and 1,200 for Manhattan Prep.
Zebra Education reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Act, Sat, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, NclexCovers more | Gmat, Gre, Lsat |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Kaplan, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2000 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Tutoring
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | $300 to $999 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, Group, App |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | Score a 655 or raise your GMAT score by 70 points, depending on your baseline exam, or your money back |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199above the median | $300 to $999above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 6 monthsbelow the median | 3 to 12 monthsabove the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | 500lowest quarter | 1,200below the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4below the median | 4 to 6below the median | 8 |
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
Manhattan Prep
Pros
- The on-demand plan carries a higher score promise, and the guarantee terms add a money-back route on the longer plans.
- A single provider covers gmat, gre and lsat, so a candidate does not have to change company between exams.
- Tutors are vetted through screened and sessions run in 1to1, group and app formats, keeping private and group work with the same provider as the course.
Cons
- Entry price is the weak spot: listed plan prices start at $300 to $999, far above Testprep Training at $12.99.
- The guarantee terms attach the money-back route to the longer plans only, with conditions applied, so a shorter block has no refund on the same footing.
- Exam coverage stops at gmat, gre and lsat, so anyone sitting anything else has to look at a different provider.
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
Manhattan Prep
Who it suits
- Candidates sitting the GMAT, GRE or LSAT who want course and tutoring from the same provider.
- Learners who want their refund tied to a score outcome rather than to finishing the material.
- People who would rather phone or email than queue: support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for the lowest outlay at entry: Testprep Training lists $12.99.
- Not for a single exam on a tight budget: Zebra Education starts at $49.
- Not for language exam candidates: E2Language lists $69 and targets a different exam from the gmat, gre and lsat covered here.
Current offers
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.
Manhattan Prep
What does Manhattan Prep cost to enter, and what does it cost to renew?+
Listed plan prices run $300 to $999, and the subscription price sits in the same band at $300 to $999, so a renewal is not marked down against the entry rate. That is a full price for exam prep rather than a budget line, and it sits well above Testprep Training at $12.99.
Is there a free trial before I pay?+
A free trial is offered on the on-demand material, and the trial lesson itself is listed as free. A candidate can sample the question bank and the 4 to 6 full length tests before committing to a block of 3 to 12 months.