Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Kaplan Test Prep vs The Princeton Review
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199Lower | $299 |
| Prices by exam | sat: From $199 | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Access period | 6 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Practice questions | 500 | 3,700Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 9Higher |
| Guarantee terms | Complete HSG-eligible program, take official test, claim within 60 days for money back or free reactivation | 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 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | US, CA |
Same on both: Live classes (Yes), Score guarantee (Money back), 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 Kaplan Test Prep: $199 vs $299.
- Access period is higher at The Princeton Review: 12 months vs 6 months.
- Practice questions is higher at The Princeton Review: 3,700 vs 500.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at The Princeton Review: 9 vs 4.
- Support channels: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Chat.
- Exams: only The Princeton Review offers CPA, Cfa.
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.
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 | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherEntry price is $199 for the SAT on-demand plan, against $49 and $12.99 at other brands. | 8.7Entry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 8.8SAT on-demand bundles 6 months of access, 500 practice questions, 4 full length tests, live classes and a free trial. | 9.2Higher3,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.7A money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
Pick Kaplan Test Prep if, pick The Princeton Review if
Pick Kaplan Test Prep if price from matter most.
Pick The Princeton Review if offer, access period, practice questions, and full-length practice tests matter most.
How the counts compare
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199 | $299 |
| Access period | 6 months | 12 months |
| Practice questions | 500 | 3,700 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 9 |
How they place
| Ranking | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 14 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 17 of 33 | 7 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Act, Sat, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, CfaCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1981 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | Kaplan 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 | Kaplan 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 | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199above the median | $299above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 6 monthsbelow the median | 12 monthsabove the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | 500lowest quarter | 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
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
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
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
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
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 | Kaplan Test Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
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.