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Best GRE Prep Courses

Boost your score with these top prep courses

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The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a standardized test created and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The GRE is taken by students as a requirement to get into many graduate school and business programs in the United States and Canada. Graduate and business school admission committees review your GRE score in addition to other metrics to assess your readiness for grad school programs. 

We reviewed the top GRE prep courses based on cost, variety, quality of study materials, student support, and other factors so you can find the right one to help you ace your exam. Here are our top picks.

The Best GRE Prep Courses of 2023

Best Overall : Magoosh


Magoosh

Magoosh

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 24/7 email support

  • Affordable pricing

  • Score increase guarantee

  • Strong customer service

Cons
  • No essay evaluation

Why We Chose It

Our choice for the best overall GRE prep course is Magoosh because of its affordable prices, solid score increase guarantee, and 24/7 student email support.

Magoosh was founded in 2009 in Berkley, California, and offers a variety of test prep courses. Today, Magoosh has served more than 6 million students.

Magoosh offers a premium six-month GRE prep course plan for $179 and a one-month plan for $149. Both courses include comprehensive coverage of math and verbal/analytical writing, video lessons, over 1,600 practice questions, up to three practice tests, and a study schedule. Both courses also offer a total score guarantee of five points or more and a seven-day free trial.

Magoosh also offers a live guided study program for $479 that includes 16 hours of live instruction as well as six-months access to everything the self-study premium plan offers.

The Magoosh prep course is delivered completely online. You can study anytime, anywhere on a computer or Android or iOS mobile device. 

One of Magoosh’s best features is its 24/7 email support for students. If you have a question at any point you can email a qualified instructor for help. If you need help staying on track, you can also take advantage of Magoosh’s custom study schedules and study checklists to stay motivated.

Best Course Selection : Manhattan Prep


Manhattan Prep

Manhattan Prep

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Wide course selection

  • Textbooks delivered to you

  • Tutoring

Cons
  • No score increase guarantee

  • Course is non-refundable

Why We Chose It

If you're looking for a more personalized GRE study prep experience, Manhattan Prep might be the answer. We chose it as the best GRE prep for course selection because it offers an impressive roster of courses which are divided into instructor-led options, self-guided options, and private one-on-one tutoring options. 

Manhattan Prep's private tutoring option starts at $2,450 and offers tailored instruction depending on your skill level. If you feel like you have a good handle on the verbal section but need some extra help with math, you can sign up for the free Foundations of Math Course. MBA students can also look into the GRE for MBA Course for $1,599, which includes nine live sessions that focus on advanced math.

The self-guided Interact for GRE options gives you a choice of one month of access for $299, three months for $399, or six months for $499. Manhattan Prep also offers monthly financing options if you’d like to break up your payments. If you’re interested in one of Manhattan Prep’s self-guided options you can sign up for a free seven-day trial, or you can sign up to try a live online course for free.

Best In-Person : Kaplan


Kaplan

Kaplan

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Wide selection of courses

  • Score increase guarantee

  • Seven full-length practice exams

  • Live and on-demand lessons

Cons
  • Expensive course pricing

  • Expensive tutoring

Why We Chose It

The winner of the best in-person GRE prep course is Kaplan because it provides a traditional classroom environment, which is supplemented by live teacher-led lessons on Kaplan's GRE channel.

Kaplan offers a variety of course delivery options including self-guided, online, and live online. The self-guided course starts at $449 and includes over 180 hours of online instruction and practice, over 40 hours of exclusive live and recorded lessons on Kaplan’s live GRE Channel, seven-full length, computer-based practice exams, access to over 2,500 questions, and the most up to date GRE prep books.

Kaplan’s online course starts at $999 and includes 21 hours of live instruction, access to a private chat where you can ask instructors questions during class, and access to the GRE Channel. The live online course starts at $1,199 and includes 21 hours of core classroom instruction in addition to everything in the self-guided and online options. For an additional cost, you can also include add-ons that provide extra math help or one-on-one tutoring.  

Kaplan also includes a higher score guarantee. If you don’t increase your score, you can choose to continue your prep for free or get your money back. If you want to take Kaplan for a test drive before committing, sign up for a free GRE live online trial class.

Best Score Increase Guarantee : PrepScholar


PrepScholar

PrepScholar

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Seven point increase score guarantee

  • Affordable pricing

  • Five-day all-access free trial

  • Personalized scoring of four AWA essays

Cons
  • No tutoring

  • No books

Why We Chose It

PrepScholar was our choice for the best GRE prep course for score increase guarantee because it offers one of the best guarantees in the industry. If your score doesn’t improve by at least seven points on your next GRE, you can get 100% of your money back. 

In addition to its great score increase guarantee, PrepScholar also offers a five-day free trial that lets you try out the course before committing to the program. Some of the features the free trial includes are 150 hours of interactive lessons and strategies, as well as a personalized guided study plan. The school also offers an all-in-one prep course experience, which means there is no need for additional books or tutors.  

PrepScholar's Best-Selling course includes over 150 hours of interactive lessons and strategies, a guided and customized study plan, access to thousands of GRE questions, two official full-length practice exams, and more. The all-access course is regularly $398 but steep discounts are often available.

You can also choose from its lifetime option, which is regularly priced at $848 but dicounts are again available. At this price you get unlimited access to all of the course materials as well as personalized scoring of four AWA writing essays. Be sure to check the website to get the most up-to-date and accurate pricing information.

Best Intensive Option : The Princeton Review


Princeton Review

Princeton Review

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 162+ score increase guarantee

  • Over 4,400 questions

  • Textbooks included

Cons
  • Expensive

  • No mobile app

Why We Chose It

Those who are looking to achieve a high score on the GRE should consider the Princeton Review prep course. It's our choice for the best intensive GRE prep course because it guarantees a score of 162 or higher (if you have a starting score of 156 or higher), which can help students get into some of the nation's top schools. 

This course is available online and regularly costs $2,399, but often goes on sale. It includes over 45 hours of live instruction, access to over 4,400 drills and practice questions, and eight full-length practice tests.

The Princeton Review's GRE 10 Points Plus course offers a money back guarantee to increase your GRE score by a total of ten points. The course includes 470 drills and 30 hours of recorded video lessons. The course is normally $899, but discounts are often available. For a cost of $156 per hour, you can also choose to have personalized tutoring through the Princeton Review's GRE 165+ Tutoring program. This option also provides a money back guarantee to score at least 165 on the GRE Quant and Verbal sections.

The Princeton Review's Fundamentals course is regularly $1,199 with sale prices often available. It includes 24 hours of expert-led live instruction, 180 hours of total instruction and practice, 3,500 practice questions, and 470 online drills. The Self-Paced course is available for a regular price of $499, with access to eight practice tests, over 60 online drills and interactive lessons, and a total of 2,570 practice questions.

The Princeton Review has been in the business of test prep for over 40 years and has an impressive reputation. It claims to have helped 96% of its students improve their grades, placed 80% of its students into their top college, and facilitates 5,000 on-demand tutoring sessions per school night.

Best Value : Achievable


Achievable

  Achievable

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Mobile-friendly

  • 10 full-length practice exams

  • Online student community

  • Customer service

Cons
  • Limited video content

  • Limited instructor support

Why We Chose It

The Achievable GRE prep course wins as our top choice for the best value because of its $199 all-inclusive price tag and impressive features. Founded in 2016, Achievable is a new kid on the prep course playground that’s gaining in popularity.

Achievable is designed for people who are on the go and have limited time to fit in studying in between their other commitments. Its all-inclusive GRE prep course option is just $199, is offered exclusively online, and is presented in an easy-to-use dashboard. It includes an online textbook, full-length practice exams, and prompted essays. 

Achievable also provides students with a limitless supply of quantitative practice problems and takes an “adaptive learning” approach to GRE study. This means that as you study, the system learns about you and creates a personalized study program to suit your strengths and weaknesses. 

Achievable offers an evaluation tool based on the GRE grading rubric, which provides students with immediate, individualized, and unlimited feedback on their essays. If you need additional support during the course, you can also reach out for private tutoring help. You can try Achievable and for free for five days; no credit card is required.

Final Verdict 

The GRE prep course that is right for you will depend on your style of learning, your timeline for studying, and the level of support you require. If you’re looking to the future and value an in-person classroom experience, check out Kaplan’s course offerings. For those who want strong student support resources, Economist Tutor is a worthy choice. If your goal is to achieve a high score and get into a top school, consider The Princeton Review 162+. 

Another course with a solid score increase guarantee is PrepScholar. For busy students looking to fit in study sessions while on the go, check out Achievable’s mobile-friendly and affordable course. Finally, Magoosh is our choice for the best all-around GRE prep course because of its 24/7 student email support, broad database of questions, and reasonable price point.

Compare Providers

Course Provider Wins For Cost Course Length
Magoosh Best Overall $149–$479 1 or 6 months
Manhattan Prep  Best Course Selection  $299–$2450+  Varies by course 
Kaplan Best In-Person Course  $449–$1199  Varies by course 
PrepScholar Best Score Increase Guarantee  $398–$848  Over 150 hours 
The Princeton Review  Best Intensive Option  $399–$2399+  Varies by course
Achievable  Best Value  $199  Self-paced

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the GRE?

The Graduate Records Examination is a standardized test created and administered by the Educational Testing Service. The GRE is taken by students as a requirement to get into many graduate school and business programs in the United States and Canada. Graduate and business school admissions committees review GRE scores in addition to other metrics to assess a student’s readiness for graduate school. 

How Do GRE Prep Courses Help You Prepare for the Test?

A GRE prep course can help you prepare for the test by providing structured study plans, a wide variety of practice questions, and full-length practice tests. A GRE prep course can also help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can direct your attention where it is needed most. Many GRE prep courses offer one-on-one tutoring, which can be helpful for students who require additional support. 

Is a GRE Prep Course Worth It?

A GRE test prep course can be very beneficial for students. While it is totally possible to study and prepare on your own, many students prefer a more structured study environment. 

A good GRE course can help to keep you motivated and on schedule. Additionally, many GRE prep courses offer score increase guarantees. If you participate in all of the coursework and show up to all of the lessons but your test score doesn’t improve, you can either retake the course for free or get your money back. The exact terms of the guarantee will depend on the specific prep course you take. 

How Much Do GRE Prep Courses Cost?

The cost of a GRE prep course varies based on the provider, the length of the course, and whether or not you sign up for one-on-one tutoring. You can find inexpensive online prep courses through providers like Achievable while some of the more expensive courses offered by The Princeton Review cost more than $2,000. 

Many courses offer monthly payment plans that can be paid in installments of 3, 6, or 12 months. You can also look for discounts or savings codes to reduce the cost of the course you are interested in. 

Methodology

We evaluated 10 different GRE prep courses before selecting our top picks. We considered factors such as cost, style of delivery, score increase guarantee, breadth of study materials, quality of instructors, student support, and student reviews. We also considered whether the GRE prep course offered personalized essay scoring and if it has a free trial period before committing.

All of our top choices are easy to use and offer comprehensive GRE prep, online learning options, and additional support and tutoring.

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