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Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE: The Best GRE Test Prep?

Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE: The Best GRE Test Prep?

A good online GRE preparation course can be really helpful in achieving great results in the math or verbal sections of the exam.

Two great platforms that can help you with this are Magoosh and Kaplan GRE, so today we’re going to be comparing Magoosh VS Kaplan GRE and taking you through all the features these two platforms have to offer.

Both Magoosh GRE and Kaplan Gre can provide the assistance you need to score better on GRE, but there are quite a few differences between the courses they provide. Besides granting you access to the learning resources you need, these two learning platforms also help you adopt the right mindset for passing the test with flying colors.

That’s why in this Magoosh VS Kaplan GRE comparison we’re going to take you through all of the most important factors you’ll need to consider while deciding which of these platforms you should choose.

Bottom Line Up Front Summary: While both services are solid, we recommend going with the the more affordable and comprehensive offering from Magoosh GRE here. Magoosh has more practice questions, more video lessons, and is just plain cheaper (and has a money-back guarantee!). 

Main Differences Between Magoosh VS Kaplan GRE

The main differences between Magoosh and Kaplan GRE are:

  • Magoosh offers only 1200 practice questions, whereas Kaplan offers more than 5000 practice questions.
  • Magoosh lets you take up to three practice tests, whereas Kaplan offers seven computer-based practice tests.
  • Magoosh doesn’t let you take live lessons, whereas Kaplan lets you do this.
  • Magoosh’s courses don’t include the Official Test Day Experience, whereas Kaplan enables you to take a GRE practice test at a testing center.
  • Magoosh offers a trial period and money-back guarantee, whereas Kaplan doesn’t have a free trial option.
  • Magoosh gives you a +5 point increase guarantee, whereas Kaplan only has a +1 point guarantee
  • Magoosh is equipped with a score predictor, whereas Kaplan doesn’t have this option
My Pick
Why I Prefer Magoosh?

Magoosh offers more in depth material AND some super sexy analytics to track your learning progress. The interface is simple, intuitive and modern with a best in class mobile app. Why didn't I try this sooner!?

Start with magoosh
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

What is Magoosh?

What is Magoosh

Like so many other online learning platforms, Magoosh provides you the assistance you need to prepare for different types of tests. The platform offers courses that specifically designed for the following tests:

  • TOEFL
  • SAT
  • IELTS
  • GRE
  • ACT
  • GMAT
  • MCAT
  • Praxis
  • LSAT

In addition, the platform offers a variety of high school packages designed for both educators and students who want to achieve better results on SATs or ACTs.

What is Kaplan?

Kaplan on the other hand has a long tradition of tutoring and preparing students for some of the most important exams in their academic careers. The platform lets you prepare for tests from the following categories:

  • Graduate admissions
  • Medical licensing
  • Bar review
  • Nursing
  • College admissions
  • Allied health
  • English language tests
  • Teacher licensing
  • Data science
  • High school equivalency
  • High school admissions
  • Continuing medical education
  • Global medical
  • Police
  • Securities
  • Financial
  • Insurance
  • Architecture registration
  • Cybersecurity
  • Architecture registration
  • Information technology
  • Accounting continuing education
  • Interior design certification
  • Engineering Licensure
  • Drivers ed

In addition to allowing you to choose from a wider range of test preparation options than Magoosh, Kaplan also gives you the opportunity to work with experienced mentors that instruct you on how you should approach the exam you’re about to take.

Unsurprisingly, both Magoosh vs Kaplan enable you to improve your knowledge in all subjects GRE test covers. Moreover, you can take the GRE test a few times on either of these platforms so that you can understand better how the test looks like and which types of questions you can expect.

The Magoosh GRE – Main Features

Magoosh GRE Features

Opting for a Magoosh GRE prep course will get you access to customizable study schedules so that you can choose how much time you want to spend preparing for the test on a daily basis.

The platform lets you choose between one-week, 90-day, and six-month study plans that include differently structured study schedule options for course material.

You will be covering all of the subjects GRE tests include, regardless of the study plan you choose and practice your math, quantitative and verbal reasoning as well as your analytic writing skills. Magoosh grants you access to an impressive collection of video lectures held by experienced educators.

In addition, there are more than 1200 test questions that enable you to test your knowledge and each question comes with a video and text explanation so that you can find the correct answer to all questions you got wrong.

Magoosh lets you take up to three full-length GRE tests that are created from the platform’s pool of questions. You’ll have a limited amount of time to complete each of these tests which should simulate the conditions you’ll be facing while taking the real GRE test.

The score predictor enables you to assess your readiness for the test and to estimate how much work you need to invest in order to achieve a favorable result.

Magoosh guarantees that your score on the GRE test is going to improve by at least five points after you complete one of the study plans the platform offers. Follow this link if you want to find out how Magoosh compares to eGMAT.

Kaplan GRE – Main features

With a tradition that spans over decades, Kaplan is arguably one of the most trustworthy GRE test preparation platforms on the Internet.

The question database contains more than 5000 questions, while the GRE® video channel features hundreds of hours of educational videos that can be viewed on-demand. In addition, you can decide if you want to take your GRE prep courses live or through a series of on-demand videos.

The platform also grants you access to latest GRE prep books and the course takes you through the following subjects:

  • Quantitative methods and strategies
  • Arithmetic, Algebra and Number Properties
  • Counting methods, Ratios, Functions, Statistics, Probability
  • Geometry and math formulas
  • Structural reading
  • Short verbal strategies and methods
  • The argument essay and reading comprehension
  • The issue essay
  • Advanced short verbal, advanced short reading comprehension

It is worth noting that the videos you can find on the GRE® channel compliment the prep course and you can easily filter videos based on the topic or teachers so that you can have quick access to the learning resources you need.

The platform’s Qbank enables you to pick the topic and the length of the quizzes you’re taking, so that you can keep learning in a fun and informal way. Each question comes with a correct answer, which enables you to improve your knowledge about any of the topics the course covers.

Kaplan GRE features

You can take up to seven practice tests (with various practice question formats) during the prep course in order to determine how prepared you are for the GRE test. In addition, the platform enables you to go through the test day experience at their testing facility so that you can know what to expect on the actual day of the exam.

The Tutoring option is also available if you want to go through the GRE test preparation process with an instructor that can take you through it step by step.

In case you opt for the Premium subscription you will get GRE Math, GRE Verbal workbooks as well as GRE Pocket Reference that complement the online materials for the GRE test prep course.

Comparing Kaplan’s vs Magoosh’s mobile apps

Both of these platforms provide you with the opportunity to keep preparing for your GRE tests regardless of where you are. GRE® Flashcards by Kaplan is designed for iOS and you can install it on your iPhone for free. However, you must use your Kaplan account in order to access all 500 flashcards the app offers.

The app comes with just fifty cards and if you are not a Kaplan GRE course student, you must make an in-app purchase if you want to use the full version of the app. The flashcards the app offers may assist you in improving your vocabulary, as they include the words from the dictionary, synonyms, definitions of words, or sample sentences.

Moreover, the app also allows you to track your progress and monitor your statistics so that you can know how much you’ve improved over time. The app is widely criticized by its users, since saving a deck of flashcards can be needlessly complicated and because it doesn’t have a pronunciation function.

Unlike the GRE® Flashcards by Kaplan app, the Magoosh GRE Prep app is available on iOS and Android operating systems. The app is completely free and it doesn’t offer in-app purchases, which means that you won’t have to spend extra money to gain access to all of its features.

The app’s collection of more than a thousand questions enables you to prepare for the math and verbal sections of the GRE. The questions have textual and video explanations that provide you with all the information you need to improve your understanding of a given topic.

What’s more, the Magoosh GRE Prep app features more than 250 analytical writing, math, and verbal video tutorials so that you can keep studying for the exam regardless of where you are.

Magoosh VS Kaplan – Customer Service

Magoosh VS Kaplan Customer Service

Having the option to attend live classes held by experienced lecturers is one of Kaplan GRE’s greatest advantages over other test preparation platforms. Besides granting you the support of its teaching staff, Kaplan GRE also has an excellent customer service that can resolve any unsorted issue promptly.

You can contact the Kaplan GRE customer support via phone, live chat, or email with any questions you may have. Reaching out to customer support agents through social media like Instagram, Facebook or Twitter is also an option.

Here are some of the things Kaplan GRE customer support can help you with:

  • Enrolment extension
  • Preparations for your first class
  • Billing and payment issues
  • Accessibility of course materials
  • Technical difficulties

Kaplan support

Although Magoosh provides email support to its students, the platform doesn’t have a tutoring program (GRE tutor). Hence, you will have to go through all learning materials on your own without the lecturer’s assistance.

You won’t have the option to contact the customer support via telephone or live chat, although getting in touch with customer support agents on Facebook and other social media platforms isn’t too difficult. However, you shouldn’t expect that you are going to receive an answer to your question instantly.

Kaplan GRE is much more user friendly than Magoosh GRE as it offers more ways to resolve any potential problem you may have before you enroll in their GRE prep course or while attending it.

Magoosh VS Kaplan GRE – The learning process

Magoosh learning process

Once you’ve set up an account on Magoosh, you’ll gain access to the Dashboard where you can see a clear overview of the Suggested Lessons section that is divided into Intro, Math, Verbal and Writing subsections.

You’ll find the Quick Practice section at the top of the Dashboard and you can start perfecting your math or verbal skills in just one click. The Results Summary segment of the Dashboard is located directly below the Quick Practice section.

Pie charts show you the estimated GRE score based on the number of questions you answered at any given point, while you can also compare your average pace to the average pace of other users of the platform.

Moreover, you can also add notes related to questions from different fields this GRE preparation course offers.

Kaplan Learning Process

Even though Kaplan GRE doesn’t predict your chances of passing the test, its Smart Report generates a detailed analysis of your performance. In this manner, the platform shows you your strengths and weaknesses and suggests which areas you should focus on.

In addition, the dashboard makes it easy to follow the direction in which your test scores are heading. Although both platforms offer a broad range of tools that facilitate the learning process, Kaplan GRE is better adjusted to the needs of its students.

Kaplan GRE vs Magoosh GRE – The Guarantees

Kaplan GRE and Magoosh GRE guarantee that your performance at the GRE is going to improve after you complete their test preparation course. Students who prepared for the GRE test with Magoosh on average score 159 for Math and 157 for Verbal which is six points above the average score of all GRE results.

Approximately, 20% of students who opted for Magoosh achieved high scores that placed them among the 10% of the most successful students who took GRE. In case you don’t like the course for whatever reason the platform will issue a full refund, and if your GRE score doesn’t improve by at least five points they will return the money you’ve spent on their course.

Kaplan also issues refunds to students whose score didn’t increase after taking the GRE course. Additionally, you can take the same course for free if you weren’t happy with your results, while the tutoring option is available at a discounted price.

Ultimately, your GRE results depend on the amount of work and time you’ve put into preparing for it, but both Kaplan GRE and Magoosh GRE vouch that your score is going to increase after taking their GRE Prep course.

Kaplan vs Magoosh – Pricing

kaplan vs magoosh pricing

Magoosh’s one-week free trial option gives you the opportunity to test the platform and decide if it is the right choice for you.

During that time you will be able to watch twenty videos that cover different topics related to the GRE test and answer 20 practice questions. Once the free trial period expires, you will have to choose between the 1-month premium and 6-month premium options.

The 6-month premium plan is currently on discount and you can get it for just $179, while its regular price is set to $894. The 1-month premium plan can be purchased for $149 which makes it a great choice if you want to take several GRE practice tests before the real GRE.

Kaplan GRE doesn’t have a free trial and you must purchase a Self-Paced, Live Online, or In-Person subscription plans. Moreover, you will have the option to enroll in Self-Paced Plus and Live Online Plus courses that are more expensive.

The self-Paced package can be purchased for $499 or $38 per month, while the Plus version of the course costs $699 or $59 per month. Live Online course is a bit pricier as its overall value is $999 or $84 a month while the Live Online Plus costs $1299 or $109 per month.

The In-Person courses are not available at the moment and currently, there is no information regarding when this offer is going to be reintroduced.

Magoosh GRE is certainly more affordable of the two platforms as either of its pricing options is less expensive than those offered by Kaplan GRE. You can read our CrunchPrep VS Magoosh comparison article at this link.

Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE – Pros and Cons

Magoosh Pros

  • Seven-day free trial
  • Equipped with the unique score predictor feature
  • Intuitively designed interface
  • Rich video library
  • Offers one month and six-month courses
  • Guarantees a five-point result increase
  • IOS and Android apps are free
  • The answers to all test questions are provided

Magoosh Cons

  • A limited pool of test questions
  • No tutoring or live-streaming options
  • Customer support has room for improvement
  • Offers only three GRE practice tests

Kaplan Pros

  • The platform’s Qbank contains more than 5000 questions
  • Video lessons can be watched on-demand or in a live-stream
  • Excellent offline learning resources
  • Smart Reports help students assess their level of knowledge
  • Great customer support
  • Experienced and accomplished lecturers
  • Offers a tutoring program
  • You can choose which topics or lecturers you follow on the GRE channel

Kaplan Cons

  • The free version of the iOS app contains only 50 flashcards
  • More expensive than similar platforms
  • No free trial
  • No score prediction features
My Pick
Why I Prefer Magoosh?

Magoosh offers more in depth material AND some super sexy analytics to track your learning progress. The interface is simple, intuitive and modern with a best in class mobile app. Why didn't I try this sooner!?

Start with magoosh
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

FAQs About Magoosh and Kaplan GRE

How long are the courses Magoosh GRE offers?

At the moment you can choose between courses that last for 30 days and six months depending on your needs.

Do questions on Magoosh resemble the real GRE questions?

Yes, they do, because they are created by lecturers that have years of experience in their fields. Moreover, the questions are frequently modified in order to keep up with the changes made to the real GRE questions.

Can I enroll in the Kaplan GRE prep course for free?

Using Kaplan GRE for free isn’t an option, and you must choose one of the available programs if you want to prepare for your GRE test on this platform.

Does Kaplan GRE offer any offline learning materials?

Yes, it does, but only if you purchase onfaqe of their Premium courses.

Alternatives to Magoosh and Kaplan GRE prep courses

There are a number of alternatives to Magoosh GRE and Kaplan GRE prep courses, so here are a few options you can consider.

  • Princeton Review GRE is arguably one of the best GRE preparation platforms which helps you learn the strategies that help you get better results and grants you access to a broad range of learning materials
  • Economist GRE’s impressive collection of questions and carefully crafted interactive lessons are just a few among countless ways in which this platform helps students perform better at GRE tests
  • PreScholar GRE lets you customize your learning experience so that you can focus on areas where you can improve. There are more than 2000 prep questions and as well as over 200 hours of instructional material.

Conclusion: Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE

My Pick
Why I Prefer Magoosh?

Magoosh offers more in depth material AND some super sexy analytics to track your learning progress. The interface is simple, intuitive and modern with a best in class mobile app. Why didn't I try this sooner!?

Start with magoosh
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Whether or not passing the GRE test is going to be difficult depends on a variety of factors that ranges from how recently you were taking math lessons to your writing skills. Magoosh GRE and Kaplan GRE are designed to help you improve in every segment GRE tests cover and achieve the results you’re going to be proud of.

Getting the Magoosh GRE 6-month premium model is a good option if you want to increase your chances of passing the GRE test without having to spend too much money. However, the lack of live-streaming or offline learning materials makes Magoosh GRE less effective than the Kaplan GRE’s Live Online plan.

We recommend choosing Kaplan GRE as the platform’s educators and the structure of the preparation process ensures great results at GRE tests. Hopefully, our Magoosh VS Kaplan GRE comparison has helped you get the information you need to decide which of these platforms is better suited to your needs.

Are you going to choose Magoosh GRE or Kaplan GRE? Leave a comment and let us know, or follow this link to read our full review of the Magoosh GRE platform.

Bottom Line Up Front Summary: While both services are solid, we recommend going with the the more affordable and comprehensive offering from Magoosh GRE here. Magoosh has more practice questions, more video lessons, and is just plain cheaper (and has a money-back guarantee!).