Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Kaplan Test Prep vs Zebra Education
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Kaplan Test Prep |  Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199 | $49Lower |
| Prices by exam | sat: From $199 | TOEFL: from $49 USD (7 Day Access) to $349 USD (2 Year Access); GMAT: from $49 USD (7 Days Access) to $229 USD (1 Year Access) |
| Access period | 6 months | 1 to 24 monthsHigher |
| Live classes | YesHas it | No |
| Practice questions | 500 | 6,500Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 | 50Higher |
| 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 increase guarantee of 7+ points on 1-6 month Custom Plans and 15+ points on 6+ month Premium Plans; if the score does not improve you get a full refund of the course cost up to $100; you must complete at least 90% of course content, complete all included practice tests and file the claim within 30 days of your subscription ending. |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Tutoring add-on | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free trial (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
- Zebra Education scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Zebra Education: $49 vs $199.
- Access period is higher at Zebra Education: 1 to 24 months vs 6 months.
- Live classes: only Kaplan Test Prep.
- Practice questions is higher at Zebra Education: 6,500 vs 500.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at Zebra Education: 50 vs 4.
- Support channels: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Zebra Education offers Email.
- Exams: only Kaplan Test Prep offers Act, Sat, Gre.
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.
Zebra Education
Zebra Education suits self study candidates who want a deep question bank and repeated timed tests without live teaching. It sits at 2 of 27 brands on full length tests, the strongest side of the offer, and access windows run 1 to 24 months for anything from a short sprint to a long runway.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kaplan Test Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Entry price is $199 for the SAT on-demand plan, against $49 and $12.99 at other brands. | 9.4HigherEntry price of $49 sits below the ranked median on price from, €121.90, with access windows of 1 to 24 months. |
| Offer | 8.8SAT on-demand bundles 6 months of access, 500 practice questions, 4 full length tests, live classes and a free trial. | 9.2HigherPractice bank of 6,500 questions and 50 full length tests, plus a score guarantee, score backstopped by 30 days. |
Pick Kaplan Test Prep if, pick Zebra Education if
Pick Kaplan Test Prep if live classes matter most.
Pick Zebra Education if cost, offer, price from, access period, and practice questions matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Kaplan Test Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 14 of 21 | 1 of 21 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Act, Sat, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, NclexCovers more | Gmat |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kaplan Test Prep | Zebra Education | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $199above the median | $49below the median | $69 |
| Access period | 6 monthsbelow the median | 1 to 24 monthshighest quarter | 9 months |
| Practice questions | 500lowest quarter | 6,500highest quarter | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4below the median | 50highest quarter | 8 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 daysat the median | 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
Zebra Education
Pros
- A deep practice bank of 6,500 questions, well above the 3,000 typical across listed brands.
- Full length testing of 50 places it at 2 of 27 brands on that measure.
- Entry price of $49 costs less than the $69 and $65 starting points of the alternatives here.
Cons
- Live classes are not part of the offer, so anyone wanting taught sessions must look elsewhere.
- Coverage is limited to the exams listed, gmat, rather than a broad test catalogue.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line offered.
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
Zebra Education
Who it suits
- GMAT candidates building stamina through repeated full length tests
- Learners who prefer self paced material over live teaching
- Budget shoppers who want a trial before paying
Who should look elsewhere
- Testprep Training, whose entry price of $12.99 is lower if you only need a starting point
- Anyone wanting live classes, since the offer includes none
- Candidates who need help centres and phone support beyond email, chat and help centre
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.
Zebra Education
What does Zebra Education cost to start?+
Plans begin at $49, which is the entry figure used across the brands we track. Longer access windows and bundled upgrades cost more, and the exam prices listed run from that same starting point up to the top tier options. Budget for the tier you pick rather than the headline number.
How long can I access the material?+
Access windows are listed as 1 to 24 months, giving room for both a short intensive sprint and a slower schedule. The longer windows suit candidates sitting an exam many months out, while the shortest suit a quick review before a sitting.