Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Superior vs The Princeton Review
Superior vs The Princeton Review: the differences
| Compare |  Superior | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $40Lower | $299 |
| Free tier | YesHas it | No |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Access period | 6 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $39.99 |
| Price per year | $199 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Curated |
| Number of courses | 27 | Not confirmed |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | No |
| Team plan | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Not confirmed | US, CA |
Same on both: Graded assessments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Price from is lower at Superior: $40 vs $299.
- Free tier: only Superior.
- Money-back period is higher at The Princeton Review: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Access period is higher at The Princeton Review: 12 months vs 6 months.
- Support channels: only Superior offers Email.
- Founded is lower at The Princeton Review: 1981 vs 2005.
Our verdict on each
Superior
Superior suits people preparing for the North Carolina real estate licence who want live classes and an assessment built into the course. It pairs a 30 day refund window with a money back score promise on exam prep, and its catalogue stays inside real estate.
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 | Superior | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherEntry at $40 and a year price of $199 sit in the cheaper part of the field. | 8.7Entry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 9.1Live classes, assessments and a free tier sit inside 27 courses. | 9.2Higher3,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 9.3A 30 day refund window, a money back score promise and state approved courses. | 9.7HigherA money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
A third option
Future Skills Academy has price from at $25, against $40 for Superior and $299 for The Princeton Review.
Future Skills Academy reviewSources behind this comparison
Superior
- superiorschoolnc.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
The Princeton Review
- princetonreview.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Superior | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 6 of 33 | 7 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Superior | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Science, Languages, Coding, School |
| Certificate types | Professional | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2005 | 1981Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Test prep
| Fact | Superior | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Prices by exam | real-estate (NC broker pre-licensing, 75-hour online self-paced): $529; real-estate (NC Professional package): $639; real-estate (NC Ultimate Learning package): $949; real-estate (NC online exam prep course): $109; real-estate (NC exam crammer, livestream): $199; real-estate (NC exam prep workbook): $40 | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Exams | Real estate | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, Cfa |
| Live classes | Yes | Yes |
| Practice questions | Not confirmed | 3,700 |
| Full-length practice tests | Not confirmed | 9 |
| Score guarantee | Money back | Money back |
| Guarantee terms | Original purchase price of the CompuCram NC exam prep purchase is refunded if you do not pass on your first try; a broker pre-licensing course may be retaken within twelve (12) months for a $200 reduced tuition fee plus applicable taxes; attendance in class does not guarantee passage of any examination. | 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 |
| Free trial | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Tutoring add-on | Not confirmed | Yes |
| State approvals | NC, SC | Not confirmed |
Tutoring
| Fact | Superior | 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 | Superior | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $40below the median | $299highest quarter | $50.00 |
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $39.99above the median | $35 |
| Price per year | $199at the median | Not confirmed | $199 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Money-back period | 30 daysabove the median | 60 dayshighest quarter | 14 days |
| Number of courses | 27lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 240 |
Median across 169 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Superior
Pros
- Live classes and assessments are both part of the offering rather than an extra
- The catalogue holds 27 courses with 6 months of access each
- Courses are state approved in North Carolina and South Carolina, keeping licence education in step with the state
Cons
- The exam subject list is real estate, so candidates in other fields find nothing to take
- The money back score promise (money back) applies to the exam prep purchase, and a broker pre-licensing course is retaken at a reduced tuition fee instead
- Course access runs 6 months, so a slower study pace can outlast the window
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
Superior
Who it suits
- North Carolina candidates looking for state approved pre-licensing and continuing education in the same catalogue
- Learners who want live classes alongside self paced material
- Study groups and brokerages that want a team plan for continuing education
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners after subjects outside real estate, where Academy for Health and Fitness and ACLS Now sit in other fields and the Superior exam list is real estate
- Candidates who want a timed free trial, since the free offer is a free tier and the paid fallback is a 30 day refund window
- Multi-state shoppers, since the state approved list is NC and SC while The Wild Rose at CAD 19.97 is a single market purchase
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
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 | Superior | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Superior
What does Superior cost to get started?+
Entry sits at $40, which covers a small item in the range. A full pre-licensing course costs more, and the bundled packages cost more again, so the entry figure is not the price of a licence course. Cheaper starting points among the listed rivals include $9.95 and CAD 19.97.
What does the continuing education membership cost?+
The continuing education membership is $199, and that is the number to watch at renewal rather than the entry price. It pairs with the professional certificate type and the continuing education credits a working broker needs. Readers on a budget can weigh it against the free tier instead.
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.