Trying to decide between Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE prep? Here is the honest answer: Magoosh is the better buy for most self-studiers, and Kaplan is worth the extra money only if you want the most practice tests, live teaching, or a tutor. Magoosh’s 6-month Premium plan costs $179, while Kaplan’s 6-month On Demand course lists at $599 ($480 with Kaplan’s TAKE20 code until October 31). Prices checked on 22 Oct 2026.
Below you get the side-by-side table, what each course includes, what you actually pay, how the score guarantees and refunds really work, who should pick which, answers to common questions, and my verdict.
| Price | $149 for 1 month, $179 for 6 months, $219 with admissions help | On Demand $299 (1 mo), $449 (3 mo), $599 (6 mo); Live Online from $1,099 |
| Current promo | 20% off all plans with code BONFIRE until Monday 26 Oct | 20% off GRE prep with code TAKE20 until 31 Oct |
| Free trial | 7 days, with 20+ questions and lessons | 7 days of the On Demand course |
| Refunds | Full refund within 7 days of purchase, no questions asked | Money back only through the Higher Score Guarantee |
| Score guarantee | +5 points if you scored 320 or below before (Premium) | Higher score or money back on 3- and 6-month On Demand and other eligible programs |
| Practice tests | Up to 6 | 13 full-length |
| Practice questions | 1,600+, each with a video explanation | 2,500+ in a customizable Qbank |
| Lessons | 290+ short video lessons | 180+ hours of instruction and practice, plus the live GRE Channel 6 days a week |
| Official ETS content | 8 full sections of licensed official GRE questions | Not listed on its course pages |
| Auto-renew | No, plans are one-time purchases | Fixed access length you pick at checkout |
| Best for | Budget self-study with a clear schedule | Students who want more tests, live classes or a tutor |
Prices are in USD from each brand’s own pages, checked 22 Oct 2026. Both promo codes come from the brands’ own sites, and both end soon, so check the checkout total before you pay.
Magoosh GRE at a Glance
Magoosh has been selling online GRE prep since 2010, and everything is 100% online: video lessons, practice questions and timed practice tests on a computer, tablet or phone. Every Premium plan includes the same content, so the only thing you choose is how long you get access. You get 290+ video lessons, more than 1,600 practice questions with a video explanation for each one, up to 6 practice tests, study schedules from 1 week to 6 months, and a score predictor that compares your results with real Magoosh students’ scores.
One detail that sets it apart: Magoosh licenses 8 full sections of official GRE questions from ETS, the company that writes the test. Premium plans also include Ask an expert for help on a question and the option to pause your plan. There are no live classes on the Premium plans, so you are studying on your own.
What I like and what I don’t
- $179 for 6 months is a fraction of Kaplan’s 6-month price
- Every question has a video explanation, which is great for learning from mistakes
- 7-day no-questions-asked refund and no auto-renewal
- Fewer practice tests than Kaplan (up to 6 versus 13)
- No live classes or tutoring on the Premium plans
Kaplan GRE at a Glance
Kaplan is the big name in classroom test prep, and its GRE line covers every format: On Demand self-study, Live Online classes, In Person courses and 1-on-1 tutoring. The On Demand course includes a structured video course, 180+ hours of online instruction and practice, 13 full-length practice tests, a customizable Qbank with over 2,500 questions, GRE Math Foundations and Advanced Math, Kaplan’s GRE prep books, and instant essay feedback. The 6-month plan adds an Official Test Day Experience that simulates exam day.
Even the self-study plan comes with live teaching: Kaplan’s GRE Channel runs teacher-led lessons 6 days a week where you can ask questions in real time. If you want a fixed class, the Live Online course adds 21 hours of live in-class instruction with a team of off-screen teachers answering questions in chat.
Want 1-on-1 help but not at Kaplan’s tutoring prices? Our Varsity Tutors review covers another tutoring service that also preps students for the GRE.
What I like and what I don’t
- 13 full-length practice tests, more than double Magoosh’s
- Live GRE Channel lessons included even on the self-study plan
- Every format from self-study to live classes and tutoring
- On Demand costs $599 for 6 months at list price
- No simple refund window; money back depends on the score guarantee
Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE Pricing: What You Actually Pay
Magoosh’s plans page showed three plans on 22 Oct 2026: Premium 1 month for $149, Premium 6 months for $179 (or 4 monthly payments of $44.75), and Premium + Admissions for $219, which adds 12 months of graduate application help such as an application tracker, guided essay writing and 50+ video workshops. Magoosh also sells 6-month Math-only and Verbal+AWA plans. A banner on the same page offered 20% off all study plans with code BONFIRE, expiring Monday 26 October.
Kaplan prices its On Demand course by access length: $299 for 1 month, $449 for 3 months and $599 for 6 months. With code TAKE20 (20% off, ends October 31) those drop to $240, $360 and $480. Live Online starts at $1,099 ($880 with the code), and Tutoring + Live Online starts at $2,499 ($2,000). If you only want practice, Kaplan sells the Qbank for $99, a Practice Test 4-Pack for $149, or both for $199.
| Magoosh GRE | Kaplan GRE | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $149 (Premium) | $299 On Demand ($240 with TAKE20) |
| 3 months | Not offered | $449 On Demand ($360 with TAKE20) |
| 6 months | $179 (Premium) | $599 On Demand ($480 with TAKE20) |
| With extras | $219 Premium + Admissions (12 months) | Live Online from $1,099; Tutoring + Live Online from $2,499 |
| Practice only | Not sold separately | Qbank $99, 4 tests $149, bundle $199 |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days of On Demand |
| Current code | BONFIRE, 20% off until 26 Oct | TAKE20, 20% off until 31 Oct |
The gap is big. For 6 months of self-study, Kaplan costs more than three times as much as Magoosh at list price, and still about $300 more with its code. What the extra money buys is mainly 7 more practice tests, live GRE Channel lessons and printed books.
Score Guarantees and Refunds
Magoosh promises a 5-point increase on Premium plans if you originally scored 320 or below. To qualify you must have taken the GRE before, your old score must still be valid (under 5 years old), and you must email your before score report when you sign up. If you don’t improve by 5 points, you email the after score report and get 100% of your money back. Separately, every purchase has a 7-day money-back guarantee: email within 7 days of the original purchase for a full refund, even on installment plans.
Kaplan’s Higher Score Guarantee covers eligible programs, including the 3- and 6-month On Demand plans but not the 1-month plan. You set a baseline with a previous official score or a Kaplan diagnostic, complete every requirement of the program, and take the official test. If your score doesn’t go up, you can choose 12 more weeks of free access or your money back; if it goes up but you’re not happy, only the free extension applies. Premium Tutoring adds a stronger promise of 325+ or a 10-point increase. The Kaplan GRE pages I checked don’t advertise a no-questions refund window like Magoosh’s.
Who Should Pick Magoosh
- You are studying on your own and want the lowest price for a full course
- You learn well from short videos and want an explanation for every question
- You want to try risk-free: a 7-day trial plus a 7-day refund window
- You are applying to grad school and want application help bundled in for $219
If business school is your goal, our guide to questions to ask during business school admissions events helps with the step after your GRE score.
Who Should Pick Kaplan
- You want as many realistic full-length practice tests as possible (13)
- You study better with live teachers, either the GRE Channel or a scheduled class
- You may want a tutor, and a 325+ guarantee, later on
- You like printed prep books alongside the online course
Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE FAQs
Magoosh is much cheaper. Its 6-month Premium plan is $179, while Kaplan's 6-month On Demand course lists at $599, or $480 with code TAKE20 until 31 Oct 2026 (prices checked 22 Oct 2026).
Yes. Magoosh gives a full refund if you email within 7 days of your original purchase, with no questions asked, even if you pay in installments. Its plans also don't auto-renew.
On eligible programs such as the 3- and 6-month On Demand course, you set a baseline score, complete all program requirements and take the official GRE. If your score doesn't improve, you can take 12 more weeks of free access or ask for your money back.
Premium plan buyers who already took the GRE, scored 320 or below, have a score under 5 years old, and email their before score report when they sign up. If they don't gain 5 points, Magoosh refunds 100% of the price.
Both do. Magoosh has a 7-day free trial with 20+ questions and lessons, and Kaplan lets you try its GRE On Demand course free for 7 days. Kaplan also offers a free GRE practice test and free events.
Yes. Kaplan On Demand includes 13 full-length practice tests and a 2,500+ question Qbank. Magoosh Premium includes up to 6 practice tests and more than 1,600 practice questions, plus 8 sections of official ETS questions.
Verdict: Magoosh Wins for Most GRE Students
For most test takers, Magoosh gives you a complete GRE course for $179, a no-questions 7-day refund and a clear score guarantee, which is a lot less risk for a lot less money. Pick Kaplan instead if more practice tests and live teaching matter more to you than price.
Magoosh is the better GRE prep course for most students. Six months of Premium costs $179, every question has a video explanation, you can get a full refund within 7 days, and Premium buyers who scored 320 or below get a 5-point score guarantee.
Pros
- $179 for 6 months of full access
- 1,600+ questions, each with a video explanation
- 8 sections of official ETS GRE questions
- 7-day no-questions refund and no auto-renewal
- +5 point score guarantee for eligible students
Cons
- Up to 6 practice tests, versus Kaplan's 13
- No live classes or tutoring on Premium plans
- Score guarantee needs a previous official GRE score
Premium 6 months: $179 (or 4 payments of $44.75); 1 month: $149
See Magoosh plans
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