Last updated: June 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: There’s no single “best” GMAT or GRE course — the right pick depends on your budget and target score. Magoosh is the best value for self-studiers; Manhattan Prep is the choice for top-percentile scores; Kaplan is best if you want structured live instruction; and AnalystPrep is the cheapest serious question bank. Both exams are coachable — what matters most is consistent, timed practice.
- Best value: Magoosh — video lessons, 1,600+ questions, score guarantee, from $149
- Best for top scores: Manhattan Prep — the hardest, most rigorous practice
- Best for structure: Kaplan — live classes and the largest brand footprint
- Cheapest question bank: AnalystPrep
Both the GMAT and the GRE are coachable, standardized tests — which means the course you choose genuinely affects your score. But the market is crowded and the marketing is loud, so this guide cuts through it: four providers we’d actually recommend, who each one is for, and how to decide. We’ve focused on the prep options that earn their place on merit, and noted honestly where a cheaper choice does the same job.
GMAT vs GRE: does it change your prep?
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Quick context, because it affects your choice. The GMAT is the traditional business-school exam; the GRE is the broader graduate-school exam that most MBA programs now also accept. If you’re business-school-only and aiming high, the GMAT’s quant is more specialized and rewards dedicated GMAT prep. If you’re keeping options open across grad programs — or your quant is shaky — the GRE is often the friendlier route. The good news: the four providers below cover both exams, so you can pick a provider on quality and then choose the right test-specific course.
What to look for in a prep course
- A large, realistic question bank. These are practice-driven exams; question volume and quality matter more than lecture hours.
- Full-length, timed practice tests. Stamina and pacing are half the battle, especially on the GMAT.
- Explanations you actually learn from. The best providers explain why an answer is wrong, not just which one is right.
- A guarantee or clear refund policy. A score-improvement guarantee lowers your risk on a meaningful purchase.
- Format that fits you. Self-paced video (Magoosh, AnalystPrep) is cheaper and flexible; live classes (Kaplan, Manhattan Prep) add accountability and cost more.
The 4 best GMAT & GRE prep providers
BEST VALUE — MAGOOSH
Magoosh GMAT & GRE
290+ video lessons, 1,600+ practice questions with video explanations, and a score-improvement guarantee — GRE plans from $149, GMAT from around $219. Hard to beat for self-paced value.
Affiliate partnership — we may earn a commission if you enrol via this link, at no extra cost to you.
1. Magoosh — best value
For most self-studiers, Magoosh is the one to beat. You get a large bank of practice questions with video explanations for every one, lesson videos covering both exams, and a score-improvement guarantee — all for a fraction of what the premium brands charge. It won’t hold your hand with live classes, but for a motivated candidate it covers everything you need to lift your score. GRE plans start around $149 and GMAT around $219, often less during sales.
| What we like | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Excellent value; video explanation for every question; score guarantee; flexible self-paced format. | No live classes or 1:1 coaching; self-discipline required; less hand-holding than premium brands. |
2. Manhattan Prep — best for top scores
Manhattan Prep built its reputation on rigor. Its practice questions are famously harder than the real test, which is exactly what you want if you’re chasing a 700+ GMAT or a high-percentile GRE — train on tougher material and test day feels manageable. The strategy guides are a genre standard, and the live and on-demand classes are taught by high-scoring instructors. It’s a premium choice, priced accordingly, and best suited to ambitious scorers rather than budget-first studiers.
Manhattan Prep GMAT · Manhattan Prep GRE
| What we like | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Hardest, most realistic practice; superb strategy guides; high-scoring instructors; strong for 700+ GMAT. | Premium pricing; can be overkill if you only need a moderate score; heavier time commitment. |
3. Kaplan — best for structured, live instruction
Kaplan is the biggest name in test prep, and its strength is structure: live online and in-person classes, a clear curriculum, official-style practice, and the reassurance of an established brand with a higher-score guarantee. If you study better with a schedule, a teacher, and accountability than alone with videos, Kaplan is the natural fit. Like Manhattan Prep, it’s a premium-priced option — you’re paying for the live instruction and the breadth of resources.
| What we like | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Structured live classes; large brand with broad resources; higher-score guarantee; in-person option. | Premium pricing; class pace may not suit everyone; less specialised than Manhattan for top quant. |
4. AnalystPrep — cheapest serious question bank
AnalystPrep is best known for finance-exam prep, but it also offers affordable GMAT and GRE question banks and study materials. It’s not a full live course, and it isn’t as polished as Magoosh’s video library, but if your budget is tight and you mainly want a large volume of practice questions to drill, it’s a genuinely cheap way to get them. Treat it as a supplement or a budget core rather than a premium all-in-one.
AnalystPrep GMAT · AnalystPrep GRE
| What we like | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Cheap, large question bank; good for drilling volume; same provider you may use for finance exams. | Not a full live course; less polished video; better as a supplement than a sole resource. |
GMAT & GRE prep compared
| Provider | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magoosh | Value / self-study | Self-paced video + Q-bank | $ (from $149) |
| Manhattan Prep | Top-percentile scores | Live + on-demand + books | $$$ (premium) |
| Kaplan | Structure / live classes | Live online + in-person | $$$ (premium) |
| AnalystPrep | Budget question bank | Self-paced Q-bank + notes | $ (budget) |
Best GMAT prep, specifically
If you’re GMAT-focused and aiming for a top score, the strongest combination is Manhattan Prep for rigor (its quant practice is harder than the real thing) backed by official GMAC practice tests. If you’re cost-conscious or scoring well already, Magoosh delivers most of the value for a fraction of the price. The GMAT’s data-sufficiency and harder quant reward GMAT-specific drilling, so don’t rely on generic materials.
Best GRE prep, specifically
The GRE is the more forgiving test for most people, and the value math tilts even harder toward Magoosh — its GRE course is a long-standing favourite for self-studiers and starts at $149 with a score guarantee. If you want live instruction or you’re targeting a very high quant score for a competitive program, Kaplan or Manhattan Prep add structure and tougher practice. Pair any of them with the free official ETS PowerPrep tests.
Understanding GMAT and GRE scores
Knowing what you’re aiming for shapes how much prep you need. The GRE scores its Verbal and Quantitative sections on a 130–170 scale each (260–340 combined), plus a separate Analytical Writing score. The GMAT is reported on a three-digit total score with section and percentile breakdowns. For both tests, the number that matters isn’t an absolute ‘good score’ — it’s the percentile your target programs expect. Pull up the published class profile or median scores for the schools you’re applying to and work backwards from there; a score that’s competitive for one program may be below median at another.
This matters for your course choice. If your target percentile is modest, a value provider plus consistent practice is plenty. If you need a top-decile score, the extra rigor of Manhattan Prep or the structure of Kaplan can be worth the premium — the last few percentile points are the hardest to earn alone.
Free official resources worth using
Whatever paid course you choose, pair it with the free official materials — they’re the most accurate practice you can get because they come from the test makers themselves:
- GRE: ETS PowerPrep — two free official full-length practice tests that mirror the real interface and scoring.
- GMAT: official GMAC starter practice exams — free official-format tests that are the best gauge of where you actually stand.
- Official guide question sets — retired real questions; the gold standard for realistic practice.
A smart approach: take a free official test cold at the start to set a baseline, do your paid-course study, then take the second official test near the end to confirm you’re ready. The paid courses give you teaching and volume; the official tests tell you the truth about your score.
Building a GMAT or GRE study plan
Most successful candidates study consistently over two to three months rather than cramming. A plan that works for either test: spend the first third learning content and strategy, the middle third drilling the question bank by topic and fixing weak areas, and the final third taking full-length, timed practice tests under realistic conditions. Review every missed question and write down why you missed it — careless error, content gap, or timing — because the fix is different for each.
Protect your timing especially on the GMAT, where pacing pressure sinks more scores than content gaps do. When your practice-test scores land in your target range across two or three consecutive attempts, book the real exam while you’re sharp. Don’t keep delaying for a perfect practice score that never comes — readiness is a consistent range, not a single peak.
How to choose
Start with two questions: what’s your budget, and how do you study best? If you’re disciplined and cost matters, Magoosh (or AnalystPrep for pure question volume) will get you there cheaply. If you need a schedule and a teacher, pay up for Kaplan’s live classes. If you’re chasing a top-percentile score and money is secondary, Manhattan Prep’s rigor is worth it. Whichever you choose, the providers matter less than the habit: consistent, timed, explained practice over several weeks beats any single course feature.
Other providers worth knowing
Our four picks are the ones we’d actively recommend, but they aren’t the only serious options — and being honest about the alternatives is part of helping you choose well:
- Target Test Prep — widely regarded as one of the best for GMAT and GRE quant specifically. If a low quant score is your bottleneck, it’s worth a look alongside our picks.
- e-GMAT — particularly popular with non-native English speakers and known for a structured, data-driven approach to verbal and quant.
- The Princeton Review — another large, established brand with live classes and score guarantees, comparable to Kaplan in format and positioning.
- Official GMAC and ETS materials — not a course, but the official practice from the test makers should be part of every study plan regardless of which paid option you choose.
We don’t have affiliate relationships with these providers, so we’re not steering you toward them — but a good comparison names the strong alternatives honestly, and these are genuinely strong. If quant is your weak point in particular, Target Test Prep is the name that comes up most often among high scorers.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best GMAT prep course?
There’s no single best — Manhattan Prep for top-percentile scorers who want the hardest practice, Magoosh for the best value, and Kaplan if you want structured live instruction. Match the course to your target score and budget.
What’s the best value GRE prep?
Magoosh — its GRE course starts around $149 with 1,600+ practice questions, video explanations, and a score-improvement guarantee. It’s the long-standing value pick for self-studiers.
Should I take the GMAT or the GRE?
Most MBA programs now accept both. The GRE is broader and often friendlier on quant; the GMAT is business-school-specific and can signal commitment to MBA admissions. Check your target programs, then prep for the test you’ll score highest on.
How long should I study?
Most candidates spend two to three months of consistent, timed practice. The exact number of hours matters less than steady weekly practice with full-length mock tests near the end.
Do I need an expensive course to score well?
No. A disciplined self-studier can hit a strong score with a value provider like Magoosh plus the free official practice tests. Premium live courses help most if you need accountability or you’re chasing a top-percentile score.