All the Best GRE Prep Courses of 2018
Updated March 6, 2018
Choosing the right Graduate Record Examination (GRE) prep course is a very important decision that will help you score higher on the GRE and get into the graduate school of your dreams.
You will be spending many hours studying, so it’s crucial to find the study materials that best fit your learning style and background.
So here’s the good news – we have personally researched and reviewed every major GRE prep course on the market to make things easier for you! The comparison chart below will help you figure out which one is best for you.
Please note that several of the links included below are affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a referral commission if you purchase one of the courses below. Please understand that I recommend these courses because I confidently believe they will help you succeed on your GRE exam, not because of the small commission. Only use the links if you have been helped by my review!
Quick Links to GRE Prep Courses and Study Materials
Magoosh GRE (Rank: #1)
OVERALL RATING:
Intuitive Interface: Magoosh has a very user-friendly online platform. From the dashboard students can view progress charts, recommended lessons based on completed practice questions, and gain quick access to key course features. The course structure is easy to follow too; you can watch video lessons, take customizable practice quizzes, and review GRE course material all from the well-organized dashboard.
Price: The Magoosh GRE program is unmatched when it comes to providing quality study material at a discounted price. For just $149 (using this Coupon Code), students have 6 months of access to more than 200 video lessons, 1,000 practice questions, and up to 3 practice exams. With competitors charging hundreds of dollars more, this course is definitely a bargain!Quality Instruction: Their test prep experts have extensive backgrounds in tutoring and GRE subject matter. Each practice problem is accompanied by both written and video explanations to ensure the concepts are fully and clearly explained.Customer Support: Magoosh has a reputation for being prompt and thorough in all responses to students’ questions. A built-in help tab appears whenever students are logged in, making it easy to submit questions immediately as soon as they come up, rather than having to stop what you are doing and going to a different part of the site to send an email or a message.Bottom Line: Magoosh provides the most flexibility and is easily the best overall value of any GRE course.
Princeton Review GRE (Rank: #2)
OVERALL RATING:
Bottom Line: Princeton Review is unmatched in terms of their course guarantees and providing feedback on your practice AWA essays. Their course is extremely comprehensive and will prepare you for the GRE as well as Kaplan does, but for significantly less.
TAKE ME TO PRINCETON REVIEW GRE
Kaplan GRE (Rank: #3)
OVERALL RATING:
Bottom Line: Kaplan provides the most comprehensive course offering on the market. If money isn’t an issue, go with them.
The Economist GRE (Rank: #4)
OVERALL RATING:
Bottom Line: The Economist’s new GRE course is a great, affordable alternative to Kaplan. If you want built-in tutoring services, this is the course for you.
Target Test Prep GRE (Rank: #5)
OVERALL RATING:
Bottom Line: If you need help specifically with the Quantitative Section, Target Test Prep is a solid option.
GraduateX GRE (Rank: #6)
OVERALL RATING:
Simplicity: There aren’t any amazing features for this product. You’re not going to get any full practice exams, no direct tutoring, no score guarantee, and it’s somewhat lacking in terms of additional content.
Bottom Line: GraduateX is a solid, no-frills budget option for someone who studies on the go.
Manhattan Prep GRE (Rank: #7)
OVERALL RATING:
Bottom Line: Manhattan Prep provides a comprehensive course that covers all the bases for you to score high. I don’t find it as efficient of a process as the Princeton Review or Kaplan, but if you want a large amount of practice problems, Manhattan Prep is a great option. Their materials are difficult, ensuring you’ll be prepared adequately for the GRE.
What’s the Best GRE Prep Course?
There are several viable options for the GRE including: Magoosh, Kaplan, and Princeton Review. But determining which one is best depends on a number of factors like your budget, your learning style, and your time frame. Check out my full reviews of each course and find the best course for you.
Kaplan vs. Princeton Review GRE
Many people narrow their choices down to either Kaplan’s vs. Princeton Review’s GRE courses, as both companies have been around for more than 35 years. Their GRE courses are refined, but the choice between these two depends on your specific needs and your learning style. Kaplan offers 7 practice tests and more practice questions than any other course. Princeton Review offers the most practice tests, which correlates closely with GRE success. They also have the best score guarantees and offer cheaper program options than Kaplan. So unless you need the extra practice problems from Kaplan, I’d recommend going with Princeton Review.
GET STARTED WITH PRINCETON REVIEW GET STARTED WITH KAPLAN
Full GRE Prep Course Reviews
Magoosh (Full Review)
Kaplan (Full Review)
The Princeton Review (Full Review)
The Economist (Full Review)
Target Test Prep (Full Review)
GraduateX (Full Review)
Manhattan Prep (Full Review)
Top 11 Best GRE Prep Courses of 2018
| GRE Courses | Best For… | Course Price |
| Magoosh GRE | Overall Value | $149 |
| The Princeton Review GRE | Practice Tests | $199 |
| Kaplan GRE | Practice Questions | $629 |
| The Economist GRE | Tutoring Options | $199 |
| Target Test Prep | Comprehensive Materials | $279 |
| GraduateX GRE | Flexibility | $231 |
| Manhattan Prep GRE | Qualified Instuctors | $549 |
| TestMasters | One-On-One Tutoring | $950 |
| PowerScore | Admissions Prep Services | $995 |
| Barron’s GRE | Low Cost/Budget Option | $99 |
| MLIC | Test Score Guarantee | $1495 |
Thanks for the review, how do you determine your rankings?
Makosan,
To determine our ratings we consult with successful GRE test takers, teachers, aggregate data from around the web, and compare the specific benefits and features of each course as well as testing them out ourselves when we can. We try to do as thorough of reviews as possible and remain unbaised. The goal is to lead exam takers to the review courses that best suit their needs.
Hi there. Thanks for the article a great read. I’m looking into prepscholar because they seem to have a solid product. What have you hear about them are they worth it? Thanks!
They have a 7+ point increase guarantee which is nice, but I primarily view PrepScholar as an ACT/SAT company who’s just getting their feet wet in the GRE space. I’d go with more established companies like a Magoosh, Kaplan, or Princeton Review. Best of luck!
I’ve used PrepScholar and I highly recommend it, it’s a little unique the way they structure the program but it helped me focus for hours at a time. I also really like their quiz structure followed by answer explanations where they often show multiple ways to solve the same problem and go into details about how to think about solving the problem, I never saw such clear, detailed answer explanations from any other test prep.
How does the score increase work for Kaplan it seems like a good deal?
Rilan,
Great question. You have to submit a baseline score to Kaplan before using their course materials. You then would submit your test score to them if it did not increase or you were unsatisfied with your results. If your score doesn’t increase they will give you a full refund or allow you to retake again with their review materials. It’s a killer deal because unless you succeed you don’t really pay for the course. Additional details are on their site when you buy. Let us know if you have any other questions!