Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
SimpleNursing vs The Princeton Review
What sets them apart
| Compare |  SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $46Lower | $299 |
| Prices by exam | NCLEX-RN: $46/mo 90-Day Pass ($139 one-time), $60/mo monthly; NCLEX-PN: $46/mo 90-Day Pass ($139 one-time), $60/mo monthly | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Access period | 3 to 24 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Practice questions | 4,500Higher | 3,700 |
| Full-length practice tests | 6 | 9Higher |
| Score guarantee | Pass | Money back |
| Guarantee terms | Access until you pass: if you don't pass the NCLEX, your access is extended for free until you do, so you never buy prep a second time. | 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 | 2 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Tutoring add-on | No | YesHas it |
Same on both: Live classes (Yes), Free trial (Yes), Markets (US, CA).
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 8.9.
- Price from is lower at SimpleNursing: $46 vs $299.
- Access period is higher at SimpleNursing: 3 to 24 months vs 12 months.
- Practice questions is higher at SimpleNursing: 4,500 vs 3,700.
- Full-length practice tests is higher at The Princeton Review: 9 vs 6.
- Money-back period is higher at The Princeton Review: 60 days vs 2 days.
- Tutoring add-on: only The Princeton Review.
- Support channels: only SimpleNursing offers Email.
- Founded is lower at The Princeton Review: 1981 vs 2017.
- Exams: only The Princeton Review offers Sat, Act, Gre.
Our verdict on each
SimpleNursing
SimpleNursing suits nursing candidates in US and CA who want one focused exam plan and a pass guarantee that extends access after an unsuccessful attempt. Entry starts at $46 a month, and the risk sits with the guarantee rather than with a long refund window.
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 | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherEntry at $46, monthly at $20, yearly at $180, with a pass guarantee. | 8.7Entry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 8.84,500 practice questions, 6 full length tests, live classes and 3 to 24 months of access. | 9.2Higher3,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 8.0Registered as SimpleNursing LLC in US for US and CA, with a 2 days refund window. | 9.7HigherA money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Online course platforms | 127 of 269 | 78 of 269 |
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 15 of 33 | 7 of 33 |
Licences and countries
| Country | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 2 countries for both.
If neither fits
PrepScholar has money-back period at 360 days, against 2 days for SimpleNursing and 60 days for The Princeton Review.
PrepScholar reviewWhere these facts come from
SimpleNursing
- simplenursing.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
The Princeton Review
- princetonreview.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | Nclex | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, CfaCovers more |
| Legal entity | SimpleNursing LLC | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2017 | 1981Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Online courses
| Fact | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $20Lower | $39.99 |
| Price per year | $180 | Not confirmed |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Free trial length | 5 days | 14 daysHigher |
| Platform type | Subscription | Curated |
| Subjects | Science | Math, English, Science, Languages, Coding, SchoolCovers more |
| Graded assessments | Yes | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | No |
Tutoring
| Fact | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | $29 |
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | $39.99 to $179.99 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| 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 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $46below the median | $299above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 3 to 24 monthshighest quarter | 12 monthsabove the median | 9 |
| Practice questions | 4,500above the median | 3,700above the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | 6below the median | 9above the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | 2 dayslowest quarter | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
SimpleNursing
Pros
- A pass guarantee rather than a refund promise, so an unsuccessful attempt does not mean buying prep again.
- A free trial of 5 days lets you sample 4,500 practice questions before committing.
- Live classes sit alongside the question bank, and assessments are part of the plan.
Cons
- There is no free tier, so nothing stays available once the trial ends.
- The money-back window is 2 days, well under the 14 day site median.
- Exams covered come down to nclex, so no other nursing or professional exam is part of the same plan.
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
SimpleNursing
Who it suits
- Nursing candidates sitting nclex in US and CA who want questions and live classes in the same place.
- Learners whose test date may move, since access runs 3 to 24 months and a pass guarantee extends it further.
- People who prefer a phone line as well as email, since support covers email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting something free to keep, since there is no free tier and the trial runs 5 days.
- Candidates who want a refund window longer than 2 days, which sits below the 14 day site median.
- Testprep Training or DRCertifications, if the exam is not the NCLEX, since cover here runs to nclex only.
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
SimpleNursing
Current offer
Free trial
5-day free trial, no credit card required: 5 days free
Limited access pass: watch real lessons, open study guides and try practice questions; no credit card required.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Bonus
Free study guide or flashcard set with Full Journey Pass: up to $80 value
Included with the $312 one-time Full Journey Pass; one physical item of your choice, redemption code emailed with the purchase confirmation, no shipping cost.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Bonus
Nursing Career Passport 1-year access with Pass Guarantee: $99 Elite Learning membership
Included free for one year with the $189 one-time NCLEX-RN Pass Guarantee; redeemed and accessed on Elite Learning.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
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 | SimpleNursing | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | Yes |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
SimpleNursing
What does SimpleNursing cost to start?+
Entry pricing begins at $46, with a monthly option at $20 and a yearly plan at $180. NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN follow the same structure, priced either as a term pass or month to month, and refunds are handled within 2 days.
Is there a free trial or a free plan?+
There is a free trial, and it lasts 5 days. There is no free tier, so nothing stays available once the trial ends. The trial is the only route to sample 4,500 practice questions and 6 full length tests before paying, so it is worth using in full before deciding.
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.