Magoosh vs. Kaplan Test Prep: 10 Things to Review and Compare

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Are you preparing for an important exam and wondering how to boost the results of your study efforts and secure a higher score? Platforms like Magoosh and Kaplan can help. They are among the best study platforms, promising complete test preparation and guaranteed score improvements.

Since your limited time and budget will make it impossible to use both platforms, you probably want to know which one is best. Only you can answer this question, but our Magoosh vs. Kaplan comparison below will provide all the information you need.

Magoosh vs. Kaplan – 10 Things You Need to Review Before Choosing

1. Approach

Magoosh is an online study platform. It targets students who want to learn at their own pace and offers them the resources they need. Students gain access to an account from which they can:

• Access a comprehensive library focusing on the targeted test
• Watch video lessons
• Learn the basic concepts for the test
• Take timed quizzes to practice for their exam
• Filter lessons and quizzes by subject, type, and difficulty
• Review their past answers and performances
• Monitor their progress
• Compare their results to those of other students

Kaplan has a more complete test preparation offer. It allows students to combine online self-paced learning with individual online and in person lessons and tutoring.

They hold classes in various locations, offering those interested the opportunity to learn in a real-life classroom environment. Their students can take proctor tests to check their level of knowledge and assess their progress.

No matter if you prefer to learn by yourself, at your own pace, with some guidance, or you need someone to push you from behind, Kaplan can offer it. They even offer private tutoring and graduate admission counseling. This makes them the winner of this stage of our Magoosh vs, Kaplan comparison.

2. Tests Covered

Magoosh offers preparation for the following tests: ACT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS, LSAT, MCAT, Praxis, SAT, and Toefl. Kaplan has a much more comprehensive offer, covering over 90 standardized tests. They address not only students looking to get admitted into secondary school, college, or graduate school, but also professionals facing a licensing exam. If the former platform does not cover the exam you are preparing for, the latter surely does. If that is the case, choosing between Magoosh and Kaplan should be easy.

3. Prices

To help you understand the financial implications of choosing between Kaplan and Magoosh, we have prepared a detailed comparison: Magoosh vs. Kaplan GRE Prep plans.

With Magoosh, you have two options:

1. The $129 1 Month Premium – It covers Math, AWA and Verbal in more than 250 video lessons, 1,200 practice questions and 3 practice tests. It comes with email assistance, study schedules, and score prediction.
2. The $149 6 Month Premium – It offers access to the same video lessons, practice questions, and tests, but over a period of six months. The lessons cover all concepts the Revised GRE tests.

With Kaplan, you have more options and higher chances of breaking the bank. Their GRE prep options are as follows:

• Live Online, starting from $849 – It covers 21 hours of live instruction, 35 hours of live instruction on the GRE Channel, Official Test Experience, 7 practice tests, over 180 hours of instruction and practice, over 5,000 practice questions (Qbank), and 2 GRE prep books. There is also a Live Online Plus option, starting from $1149, and offering, on top of the above, 3 hours of 1-on-1 instructions, and access to the hundreds of workshops, practice questions, and video lessons in the GRE Math Foundations and GRE Advanced Math databases.
• In Person, starting from $1099 – This plan includes all the perks of the Live Online plan, except that the 21 hours of live instruction take place in person, in a classroom environment. The lessons last 3 hours and are usually scheduled to take place twice a week. There is also an In-Person Plus plan available, similar to the Live Online Plus plan, but with in-person lessons.
• Tutoring, starting from $2199 – It targets students who need help with particular topics and a personalized study plan. It includes 15 hours of GRE live online tutoring and access to the Live Online or In Person plan. Students who need more help can opt for the 25 hours plan priced at $3299. There is also a 35 hours plan priced at $4399, targeting those who need excellent scores or have a lot to catch up. Both options include access to the Live Online or In Person plans. Similar plans are available for in-person tutoring as well, but students will have to call customer service for details on price and availability.
• Self-Paced, starting from $699 – This plan includes 18 hours of video instructions, official test experience, 7 complete practice tests, over 180 hours of online lessons and practice, over 5,000 practice questions (Qbank), 2 GRE prep books, and 6 months of online access. The Self-Paced Plus version costs $899 and offers an addition of 35 hours of live instructions on the GRE channel, and access to the GRE Math Foundations and GRE Advanced Math, both Self-Paced.
• Practice – For those who feel confident in their learning ability but would like to test their knowledge, Kaplan has three options, available both separately and combined. Qbank starts at $69 and offers access to customizable quizzes based on over 2,500 GRE practice questions. The Practice Pack starts at $149 and combines Qbank with GRE practice tests. Kaplan also offers an Official Test Day Experience, letting students experience every aspect of the test before actually taking it for $150 Experience.

Of course, the plans and prices will vary significantly according to the test. For example, the comparison between the offers of Magoosh vs. Kaplan for GMAT looks completely different. Magoosh offers Math + IR at $219, Premium at $249, and Tutoring + Premium at $799  Kaplan’s Self-Guided Options include a $299 Study Pack and a $799 Self-Paced Study Plan. They also offer a Live Online plan starting at $1049, an In-Person program starting at $1249, and Tutoring, starting at $2599,

Finally, a comparison of the Magoosh vs. Kaplan MCAT offers will reveal tilt the balance even more in favor of the former test prep provider. Magoosh offers a $79 1-Month Premium plan and a  $99 1-Year Premium plan. In the meantime, Kaplan makes MCAT preparation a luxury, charging: 

• $2299 for In-Person and Live Online
• $1799 for Self-Paced
• $3799 for Tutoring
• $4999 for Premium Consulting + MCAT Prep
• $6999 for MCAT Winter Intensive

Although the price difference is fully justified and worth paying by those who can afford it, the winner of the Magoosh vs. Kaplan comparison when it comes to affordability is, obviously, the former study platform. The good news is that Kaplan offers subscribers the possibility to pay for their chosen plan in installments, and this could relieve some of the financial pressure.

4. Guarantees

Both programs have a Higher Score Guarantee. Subscribers who do not improve their score upon completing their study program can ask for a refund or repeat the program for free. It is important to note that the guarantee does not apply to all tests. Also, those turning to it will have to provide evidence of their previous test scores.

5. Free Trials and Refunds

Magoosh offers a 7-day free trial. Those interested can sign up for it and get free access to more than 20 video lessons and 20 practice questions for one week. Kaplan does not advertise a free trial. However, their terms and conditions advise that users who cancel their subscription within 3 days will receive a full refund. After that, cancellations should be made with at least 3 days before the expiration date of the ongoing subscription period.

6. Teams and Resources

Since their offer is not that comprehensive, Magoosh can afford a little more transparency when it comes to their team. The official website talks about Berkeley-based “education nerds” and displays photos of close to 40 team members. However, their names and qualifications remain a mystery.

Due to their comprehensive test prep offer, Kaplan has a much bigger team. Although the official website does not display names or photos, it talks about teachers, curriculum specialists, researchers, and testing experts.

When it comes to partnerships, Magoosh mentions test preparation centers, study abroad programs, non-profit organizations, high schools, universities, and English language programs, but without giving names.

Kaplan, on the other hand, is associated with Kaplan Inc., Kaplan University, Kaplan College, and several educational institutions from Ireland, such as the Royal College of Surgeons, Trinity College, the University of Limerick, and more.

7. Accessibility

Both platforms are friendly and easy to navigate. Since they offer preparation for fewer tests, Magoosh has developed separate blogs and mobile apps for each major test. Kaplan, on the other hand, has the Kaplan Mobile Prep App providing all students access to their accounts and study plans anytime, from anywhere.

8. Customer Service

Students can contact Magoosh by phone (toll-free), email, and by filling in the contact form. Kaplan ads a live chat option that helps them win this stage of our Magoosh vs. Kaplan comparison. Both platforms offer excellent customer support.

9. Reputation

Both test prep providers are famous worldwide. They have excellent reviews from both users and third-party websites. Magoosh has higher user ratings, a Better Business Bureau accreditation and an A+ rating. They have also received awards and praises for providing excellent work atmosphere and ensuring employee happiness.

Kaplan is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. However, their study prep plans and their business model are endorsed by numerous online and traditional publications. Their user ratings are somewhat lower, though, and they have more complaints than Magoosh. That is why they lose this stage of our Magoosh vs. Kaplan comparison.

However, it is difficult to see how someone could go wrong with Kaplan’s test prep plans, considering how thorough and comprehensive they are. Most complaints have to do with terms and conditions misunderstandings and cancellation requests, they do not cover test prep effectiveness.

10. Overall Test Prep Experience

Your overall experience with Magoosh and Kaplan will depend on your needs and what you are set to accomplish. If you are disciplined, short on cash, and interested in preparing for a more common test, Magoosh will probably appeal to you more. It is affordable and gives you access to all the information and tools you need. You just have to organize yourself to go through it and test your knowledge as the test approaches. Your results will depend on how much effort you put in.

If you need to be pushed from behind, to be able to ask specific questions and receive detailed explanations, and to obtain high scores, Kaplan may be more suitable for you. It lets you choose from several study plans and enjoy real classroom and test day experience. It gives you access not only to recorded video lessons, but also to live online and in-person instruction and tutoring. Of course, the difference reflects in the price, so be prepared to spend more money if you choose Kaplan Test Prep .

Name the Winner of the Magoosh vs. Kaplan Comparison from Your Point of View!

Now you know what the two platforms have to offer, how reliable their offers are, and how much their test prep plans cost. Choosing one should be easy. We would love to find out which platform wins the Magoosh vs. Kaplan comparison judging by your needs, budget, and expectations. Therefore, don’t hesitate to share your option in a comment below! If you think this comparison will help your colleagues, share away!

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