Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Manhattan Prep vs Zebra Education
Where Manhattan Prep and Zebra Education differ
| Compare |  Manhattan Prep |  Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $300 to $999 | $49Lower |
| Access period | 3 to 12 months | 1 to 24 monthsHigher |
| Practice questions | 1,200 | 6,500Higher |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 to 6 | 50Higher |
| Guarantee terms | Score higher or your money back, 3/6/12 month plans only, conditions apply | 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. |
| Prices by exam | Not confirmed | 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) |
| Live classes | Not confirmed | No |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 days |
Same on both: Score guarantee (Higher score), 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 8.9.
- Price from is lower at Zebra Education: $49 vs $300 to $999.
- Access period is higher at Zebra Education: 1 to 24 months vs 3 to 12 months.
- Practice questions is higher at Zebra Education: 6,500 vs 1,200.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at Zebra Education: 50 vs 4 to 6.
- Support channels: only Manhattan Prep offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Zebra Education offers Chat.
- Exams: only Manhattan Prep offers Gre, Lsat.
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.
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 | Manhattan Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Listed plan prices run $300 to $999, well above Testprep Training at $12.99, so entry sits high in the field. | 9.4HigherEntry price of $49 sits below the ranked median on price from, €121.90, with access windows of 1 to 24 months. |
| Offer | 9.1A higher score promise, 3 to 12 months of access, 1,200 practice questions and a free trial in one block. | 9.2HigherPractice bank of 6,500 questions and 50 full length tests, plus a score guarantee, score backstopped by 30 days. |
| Trust | 9.1Screened tutors (screened) and email, phone and help centre for help, with a money-back route written into the guarantee terms. | Not confirmed |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $300 to $999 | $49 |
| Access period | 3 to 12 months | 1 to 24 months |
| Practice questions | 1,200 | 6,500 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 to 6 | 50 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Manhattan Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT prep | 11 of 21 | 1 of 21 |
If neither fits
LSAT Lab has full-length practice tests at 2 to 81, against 4 to 6 for Manhattan Prep and 50 for Zebra Education.
LSAT Lab reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Gmat, Gre, LsatCovers more | Gmat |
| Legal entity | Kaplan, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2000 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | Zebra Education |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription price | $300 to $999 | Not confirmed |
| Trial lesson | Free | Not confirmed |
| Lesson format | 1to1, Group, App | Not confirmed |
| Tutor vetting | Screened | Not confirmed |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Score a 655 or raise your GMAT score by 70 points, depending on your baseline exam, or your money back | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Manhattan Prep | Zebra Education | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $300 to $999above the median | $49below the median | $69 |
| Access period | 3 to 12 monthsabove the median | 1 to 24 monthshighest quarter | 9 |
| Practice questions | 1,200below the median | 6,500highest quarter | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 4 to 6below the median | 50highest quarter | 8 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 30 daysat the median | 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.
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
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.
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
Current offers
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.
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.