Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Magoosh vs Manhattan Prep
Where Magoosh and Manhattan Prep differ
| Compare |  Magoosh |  Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $149Lower | $300 to $999 |
| Access period | 1 to 12 months | 3 to 12 months |
| Practice questions | 1,600Higher | 1,200 |
| Full-length practice tests | 6 | 4 to 6 |
| Guarantee terms | 7-day "No questions asked" money-back guarantee, plus +5 points improvement on your previous GRE test, guaranteed | Score higher or your money back, 3/6/12 month plans only, conditions apply |
| Prices by exam | GRE: $149 (1 month) / $179 (6 months); GMAT: $219 (Math + IR) / $249 (Premium) / $599 (Live + Premium) | Not confirmed |
| Live classes | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Tutoring add-on | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Score guarantee (Higher score), Free trial (Yes).
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Key differences
- Manhattan Prep scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Price from is lower at Magoosh: $149 vs $300 to $999.
- Practice questions is higher at Magoosh: 1,600 vs 1,200.
- Support channels: only Magoosh offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Manhattan Prep offers Phone, Community.
- Founded is lower at Manhattan Prep: 2000 vs 2009.
- Exams: only Magoosh offers Act, Mcat, Sat.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Magoosh | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherEntry starts at $149, above $12.99 and $49, with a 7 days window. | 8.6Listed plan prices run $300 to $999, well above Testprep Training at $12.99, so entry sits high in the field. |
| Offer | 8.9Covers act, gmat and gre, ships 6 full length tests and 1,600 practice questions, plus live classes and a tutoring addon. | 9.1HigherA higher score promise, 3 to 12 months of access, 1,200 practice questions and a free trial in one block. |
| Trust | 8.5Operating as Magoosh, Inc. in the US since 2009, with support on email, chat and help centre. | 9.1HigherScreened tutors (screened) and email, phone and help centre for help, with a money-back route written into the guarantee terms. |
How they place
| Ranking | Magoosh | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 15 of 21 | 11 of 21 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Magoosh | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Which one suits you
Pick Magoosh if cost, price from, and practice questions matter most.
Pick Manhattan Prep if trust matter most.
If neither fits
Zebra Education has price from at $49, against $149 for Magoosh and $300 to $999 for Manhattan Prep.
Zebra Education reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Magoosh | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Act, Gmat, Gre, Lsat, Mcat, SatCovers more | Gmat, Gre, Lsat |
| Legal entity | Magoosh, Inc. | Kaplan, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2009 | 2000Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Tutoring
| Fact | Magoosh | 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 | Magoosh | Manhattan Prep | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $149above the median | $300 to $999above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 1 to 12 monthsabove the median | 3 to 12 monthsabove the median | 9 |
| Practice questions | 1,600below the median | 1,200below the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 6below the median | 4 to 6below the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | 7 dayslowest quarter | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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
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
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
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
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.
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.