Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Manhattan Prep vs The Princeton Review
Where Manhattan Prep and The Princeton Review differ
| Compare |  Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $300 to $999 | $299Lower |
| Access period | 3 to 12 months | 12 months |
| Practice questions | 1,200 | 3,700Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 to 6 | 9Higher |
| Score guarantee | Higher score | Money back |
| Guarantee terms | Score higher or your money back, 3/6/12 month plans only, conditions apply | 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 |
| Prices by exam | Not confirmed | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Live classes | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 days |
| Tutoring add-on | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Markets | Not confirmed | US, CA |
Same on both: Free trial (Yes).
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Key differences
- The Princeton Review scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at The Princeton Review: $299 vs $300 to $999.
- Practice questions is higher at The Princeton Review: 3,700 vs 1,200.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at The Princeton Review: 9 vs 4 to 6.
- Support channels: only Manhattan Prep offers Email, Community.
- Founded is lower at The Princeton Review: 1981 vs 2000.
- Exams: only The Princeton Review offers Sat, Act, Mcat.
Our verdict on each
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.
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 | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Listed plan prices run $300 to $999, well above Testprep Training at $12.99, so entry sits high in the field. | 8.7HigherEntry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 9.1A higher score promise, 3 to 12 months of access, 1,200 practice questions and a free trial in one block. | 9.2Higher3,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 9.1Screened tutors (screened) and email, phone and help centre for help, with a money-back route written into the guarantee terms. | 9.7HigherA money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $300 to $999 | $299 |
| Access period | 3 to 12 months | 12 months |
| Practice questions | 1,200 | 3,700 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 to 6 | 9 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
How they place
| Ranking | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Online tutoring | 20 of 48 | 13 of 48 |
| Kids learning apps | 17 of 38 | 10 of 38 |
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 11 of 21 | 5 of 21 |
Sources behind this comparison
Manhattan Prep
- manhattanprep.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
The Princeton Review
- princetonreview.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Gmat, Gre, Lsat | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, CfaCovers more |
| Legal entity | Kaplan, Inc. | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2000 | 1981Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | $29 |
| Subscription price | $300 to $999 | $39.99 to $179.99Lower |
| Trial lesson | Free | Free |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Science, Languages, Coding, School |
| Lesson format | 1to1, Group, AppCovers more | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | 3,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Screened | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Score a 655 or raise your GMAT score by 70 points, depending on your baseline exam, or your money back | Better grades guaranteed for students who work with a tutor 2 hours a month for 3 consecutive months in one subject |
Online courses
| Fact | Manhattan 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 | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $300 to $999above the median | $299above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 3 to 12 monthsabove the median | 12 monthsabove the median | 9 |
| Practice questions | 1,200below the median | 3,700above the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 to 6below the median | 9above the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
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
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.
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
Manhattan Prep
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 | Manhattan Prep | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
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.