Courses · Honest comparison
The best GMAT prep courses, honestly compared
Four courses dominate GMAT prep, and each one is right for a different student. This page compares them on who they suit, what they cost, and where they fall short, so you can spend once and spend right.
Some outbound links on this page may be affiliate links, which meansGMAT GRE Prep may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It changes nothing below: we do not accept placement fees, every course is assessed on the same criteria, and the cheapest option wins whenever it genuinely fits. Prices are approximate ballparks from public listings and change often; always confirm current pricing on the official course site before buying.
First: do you need a course at all?
Many test-takers reach their goal with a study plan, official practice tests, and free material like the practice bank andformula sheet on this site. A course earns its price in three situations: your diagnostic is far below goal and you need a full curriculum, you have failed to self-study consistently before, or you want large question banks with analytics. If none of those describe you, start free and reassess in two weeks.
At a glance
| Course | Ballpark price | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magoosh | ~$250–400 | Budget self-study | No live instruction |
| Kaplan | ~$600–1,500+ | Structured live classes | Price; one-pace group teaching |
| Princeton Review | ~$500–1,500+ | Technique and drills | Guarantee fine print |
| Target Test Prep | ~$100–180/month | Rebuilding quant from the ground up | Thinner verbal coverage |
Magoosh
Price: Roughly $250 to $400 for self-study access (approximate; check the official site). Best for: Self-directed students on a budget who want a large question bank with video explanations and do not need live instruction.
Where it shines
- Lowest price of the four by a wide margin
- Large bank of practice questions with video explanations for every one
- Clean mobile app, easy to study in short sessions
- Covers both GMAT and GRE under one brand
Where it falls short
- No live classes; accountability is entirely on you
- Practice questions are good but a step below official GMAC material in feel
- Less hand-holding on study planning than the guided options
Verdict: The value pick. If you are disciplined enough to follow a study plan on your own, Magoosh plus official practice tests covers nearly everything a much pricier course does.
Kaplan
Price: Roughly $600 for self-paced up to $1,500 and above for live online (approximate). Best for: Students who want a big, structured program with live class options and are willing to pay for the scaffolding.
Where it shines
- Multiple formats: self-paced, live online, and tutoring
- Long track record and polished course platform
- Live online classes add real structure and deadlines
- Solid set of full-length practice tests
Where it falls short
- Expensive, especially once you move into live formats
- Group classes move at the middle of the room; strong and weak students both compromise
- The sheer volume of material can overwhelm a short timeline
Verdict: The full-service option. Kaplan makes sense if you know you will not study without scheduled classes, and the budget is secondary. Self-directed students pay for structure they will not use.
Princeton Review
Price: Roughly $500 for self-paced up to $1,500 and above for live formats (approximate). Best for: Students who like drill-heavy, technique-focused teaching and want score-improvement guarantees to de-risk the purchase.
Where it shines
- Strong emphasis on test-taking technique: pacing, elimination, adaptive strategy
- Score-improvement guarantees on many packages (read the terms carefully)
- Generous volume of drills and practice tests
- Live online options with small-group feel
Where it falls short
- Technique-first style can feel gimmicky if you prefer concept-first teaching
- Pricing sits near the top of the market for live formats
- Guarantee terms include attendance and homework conditions that are easy to void
Verdict: The tactician. Princeton Review suits test-takers who already know the content and want to convert it into points through strategy and volume. Read guarantee fine print before letting it sway you.
Target Test Prep
Price: Roughly $100 to $180 per month on subscription, with longer plans cheaper per month (approximate). Best for: Quant-focused GMAT students, especially those starting well below their goal and willing to rebuild math fundamentals systematically.
Where it shines
- The deepest quant curriculum of the four, built around mastery learning
- Very granular analytics: you can see exactly which micro-topics leak points
- Monthly subscription means you pay only for the months you need
- Strong reputation specifically for large quant score gains
Where it falls short
- Quant-first DNA; verbal coverage is thinner than dedicated verbal programs
- The systematic approach is thorough, which means slow if you are already near your goal
- Subscription math can exceed one-time-course pricing on long timelines
Verdict: The quant specialist. If your diagnostic shows a big quant gap and you have three or more months, Target Test Prep is the most surgical fix. If your gap is verbal, look elsewhere first.
How to choose in one minute
- Tight budget, self-directed: Magoosh.
- Need scheduled classes to study at all: Kaplan live online.
- Content is fine, strategy is not: Princeton Review.
- Quant gap of 10+ percentile points and time to fix it: Target Test Prep.
Whichever you pick, run it alongside the 8-week study plan so the course material lands on a schedule instead of piling up.