The Five Best GRE Prep Courses in 2025

The problem with standardized tests like the GRE is that they don’t always bring out the best in us. We become stressed, somehow both exhausted and over-caffeinated at the same time, and testy with our loved ones.

Unfortunately for some graduate students, there’s no way around the GRE.

Don’t let the GRE stand between you and your dream grad school. I analyzed over a dozen GRE prep courses and compared them all so you don’t have to. One of these courses will be the perfect fit, so you can ace the GRE and get that acceptance letter from your dream school.

Overview: The Five Best GRE Prep Courses in 2025

• Best Overall: Manhattan Prep 
• Best Premium GRE Prep Course: Kaplan
• Most Budget-Friendly: PrepScholar
• Best for Crammers: The Princeton Review
• Best GRE Prep Course for MBA: Target Test Prep

The Five Best GRE Prep Courses in 2025

Your time and money are at stake, not to mention acceptance to a great grad school, so read carefully and choose wisely!

Best Overall: Manhattan Prep 

Manhattan Prep is my favorite GRE prep course thanks to its mobile app, scores of video lessons, physical books, full-length practice tests, and industry-leading instructors.

Pros

• Nearly limitless resources, including 100,000+ practice problems 
• Engaging content across all platforms, including 70+ video lessons
• Mobile app with vocab flashcards, quizzes, and thousands of questions
• Best, most engaging instructors in the industry 
• Free trial and free resources on website and app 
• Score-improvement guarantee
• Affordable on-demand course
• 0% APR financing available

Cons

• High demand means tutors must be scheduled in advance
• Not ideal for crammers 
• Conditional score-improvement guarantee
• High prices
• Limited formats

Why We Chose It

If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of time away from home, and that’s why Manhattan Prep’s mobile app sets it apart from every other course.

For busy, independent learners, the self-paced Interact course is perfect. The video lessons and flashcards on the mobile app mean you can study whenever and wherever you want, even if you only have a few minutes. Although quick-burst learning might not be ideal for every learner, Manhattan easily meets the needs of those with time constraints.

All of Manhattan Prep’s materials cover specific topics you’ll actually find on the GRE, so you never feel like you’re wasting your time. For me, knowing I’m making strides every time I open an app or book is a tremendous motivator.

If you’re like me and you study better with a physical book in your hand, Manhattan’s printed materials are also excellent. The 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems might not be the most portable study guide (it really does weigh five pounds), but it is one of the best. The book has 1,400 practice problems and a practice exam session.

If you need private tutoring, which is pricey but can be paid in interest-free installments, you’ll have the best of the best. You get everything available in the self-paced course, plus personalized expert instructions that tailor the content toward your specific learning needs.

I obviously wasn’t able to talk to every tutor, but I’ve never heard from someone who was disappointed in their Manhattan instructor. They’re great at what they do and they’ll keep you motivated.

I love the overall tone of the Manhattan Prep GRE program, with its element of fun, or “comic relief.” That might not seem very important as you’re just getting started, but believe me, when you’re six weeks into the coursework and have to choose between Netflix and study prep, it helps to have even a little bit of entertainment in your prep materials.

Every prep course offers some type of score guarantee, but Manhattan Prep’s is one of the most straightforward and offers a full refund or the chance to go through the program again for free.

Manhattan achieved my highest score (you can read my methodology below) by how adaptable its program is to different schedules and study habits. It offers a free trial, so you can confirm my high opinion for yourself.

Manhattan Prep is fantastic, but it’s not for every learner.

First, if you’re cramming for the GRE, Manhattan may not be your best choice. There is no way you could take advantage of every available resource in a short time period. If you need a crash course, you might be better off with The Princeton Review, whose self-paced option can make it easier to rush through.

Second, the score-improvement guarantee comes with a condition: you have to do the work. To be eligible for the guarantee, you have to take at least four practice tests and use all your tutoring hours or online sessions.

Another downside to Manhattan is that its courses are limited to either the self-paced, on-demand course or private tutoring. There’s no in-between option of live online classes or in-person classroom instruction.

Lastly, its private tutors are excellent and in extremely high demand. The downside of this is they ask you to sign up for tutoring two weeks before you plan to begin, so you have to show a little foresight. But if grad school is in your sights, you’re no doubt used to that.

Sign up with Manhattan Prep and start enjoying its mobile app today.

Manhattan Prep

Best Premium GRE Prep Course: Kaplan

Kaplan has been in the test prep business forever. Thousands of happy customers take advantage of its competitive prices and versatile learning formats.

Pros

• 10 full-length, realistic practice tests
• More affordable private tutoring options
• 80 years of experience in the test-prep industry
• Offers live online or in-person courses
• Access to its GRE Channel with live and recorded videos
• 180+ hours of online instruction and exam practice
• Outstanding tutoring program for “premium” students

Cons

• No GRE-specific mobile app
• Guaranteed score of 325 is conditional
• Expensive premium options
• Overwhelming number of resources

Why We Chose It

Don’t let your GRE program decide what kind of course works best for you. Kaplan GRE prep offers OPTIONS galore.

It’s the most structured and organized GRE prep course. You have four learning formats to choose from: on demand, live online, in person, or tutoring. So you can find a course that meets your schedule and budget.

All programs include 180+ hours of on-demand online instruction, plus 10 practice tests and 40 hours’ access to the GRE Channel, which features live and recorded instruction. With the Live Online prep course you also get 21-hours of live, in-class instruction and small class sizes.

Kaplan’s 10 practice tests are the most in the industry, so if you feel like you know the material that’s covered on the GRE but really want to familiarize yourself with the format or aren’t a skilled test taker, Kaplan is definitely for you.

Kaplan is also the best at recreating testing conditions of any GRE prep course I tried. Of course, the pressure will never be as intense in a practice environment, but you’ll feel at least a little more at ease come actual test time.

Kaplan also offers a guaranteed score of 325, but as I discuss below, that only applies to students who are already testing at a high level.

If you’re looking for the full one-on-one tutoring experience, Kaplan might just give you the most bang for your buck. Although I’d rank its standard tutors a little bit lower in terms of expertise than those at Manhattan, Kaplan’s 10-hour plan is quite a bit cheaper, with plans of up to 40 hours of instruction.

Kaplan also offers a “Premium” tutoring service, which is pricier but comes with better instructors — all of whom have at least eight years teaching experience — as well as two more practice exams.

Kaplan also offers safety in numbers. It’s been around for 80 years and has had more than a million students. What does that mean for you? It means that many of your peers are using Kaplan. They’re studying what you’re studying. That levels the playing field a bit.

I like Kaplan, but there are a few reasons it wasn’t my first choice. The biggest is that Kaplan doesn’t offer a mobile app. Instead, you can only access it through your mobile browser. Manhattan’s mobile app makes it a much better choice for students who plan to study on the go.

One of Kaplan’s strengths is also its weakness. It offers so many quality resources that it can be difficult to take advantage of all of them. Just to illustrate, if you watch all the online instruction plus your allocated 40 hours of the GRE Channel, that’s more than nine full days of content.

The guaranteed score of 325 sounds great, until you read the fine print. It only applies to the Premium program, and it requires you to score above a 315 on a baseline test beforehand. So if you’re already around a 315, Kaplan guarantees a 10-point increase. That’s not insignificant, but it only helps students that are already close to upper-echelon scores.

If you’re aiming high, and the grad school of your dreams is just 20 more points away, Kaplan is the premium prep program that will get you there.

Kaplan

Most Budget-Friendly GRE Prep Course: PrepScholar

PrepScholar offers an extremely affordable GRE prep course for those of you with significant budget constraints who still want a quality online program.

Pros

• Extremely affordable
• Informative blog with tips and advice
• 40+ hours of interactive video-based lessons
• Questions adapt as you learn
• Straightforward score guarantee
• Personalized schedule keeps you on track
• All materials are online, on demand
• One whole year of access

Cons

• Only two practice tests, far fewer than competitors
• No one-on-one instruction or live classes
• Extremely simple format

Why We Chose It

Some of these programs are laughably expensive for recent undergrads with no job. PrepScholar is far and away the cheapest option on this list, so if you’re on a tight budget, this is your best choice.

What are those resources? Two practice tests, 2,100 sample questions, 300 question vocab course, 72 lessons, and 200+ instructional hours. Definitely not a premium course, but not bad for under $40!

PrepScholar is a no-frills option that may seem pretty basic when compared to the other programs but actually provides a lot of valuable information. It also offers links to free resources, including free online GRE practice tests and even promo codes for a discount on the test itself.

I also like the personalized weekly plan that PrepScholar puts together for you. A week-by-week guide can keep you motivated in the thick of it. As you work through your curriculum, you’ll get weekly progress tracking and customized feedback.

Unlike other prep courses, PrepScholar has a straightforward score guarantee. Those who have already taken the GRE and scored below a 322 will get their money back if they don’t see at least a seven-point improvement.

While I think the instruction at PrepScholar is beyond the limited expectations you might have for such a well-priced program, you get what you pay for in terms of a lot of things.

There is very little personalization, no one-on-one instruction, only two practice tests, and limited customer service. It’s a budget option, plain and simple.

You also have to be willing to endure its fairly dry video explanations, with no chance to ask questions.

For $38, you can’t really go wrong, but you have to be very self-motivated and willing to augment your PrepScholar studies with other materials, even perhaps another course, like Manhattan Prep’s self-paced course. If you’re on a shoestring budget, signing up with PrepScholar is a good use of your money.

PrepScholar

Best for Crammers: The Princeton Review

Did you wait until the last minute to start practicing? The Princeton Review can help! Its wide range of course options, resources, and materials come in targeted lessons designed specifically to overcome your weak points.

Pros

• Wide range of pricing and programs
• User-friendly performance monitoring and dashboard 
• Algorithm targets your weaknesses
• Ideal for crammers
• 30+ hours of video lessons 
• Live online math classes (except self-paced)
• Premium courses available both online and in person
• Free practice test online

Cons

• Confusing course options
• Vague and limited score-improvement guarantee
• Seems overpriced for what you get
• In-person classes limited by location

Why We Chose It

The Princeton Review offers probably the widest range of options for your GRE Prep. You can choose the self-paced online program for $499, the 32 hours of one-on-one tutoring that costs $4,999, or any of a number of course options in between.

The most popular, the GRE 162+ plan, presents a pretty good value and a customized learning plan. You start with 45 hours of live instruction broken down into 25 hours for the quantitative reasoning portion of the test and 20 hours for the verbal reasoning portion.

That should give you a pretty good idea on your strengths and weaknesses, so for your last 20 hours of supplemental sessions, you can focus on where you need to improve.

Another thing I really like about Princeton is how well it helps you measure your progress. With its dashboard and score reports, you can watch yourself improve. From a motivational standpoint, this is so important, at least to me. Other prep courses also offer similar metrics and graphics, but Princeton’s dashboard is my favorite.

Princeton also offers “DrillSmart,” which provides a pretty good simulation of actual test taking conditions. DrillSmart works off an algorithm that makes questions harder or simpler depending on how well you’re doing. It’s a good tool to help you focus on your weaknesses and steadily improve and is available with even the cheapest prep course.

Because you can focus more narrowly on where you need the most work, Princeton Review is better for crammers who need to be super efficient with their study time.

Finally, the prices, which may seem high, are often discounted for holidays. For example, its President’s Day discounts equaled an astounding $300 off.

The Princeton Review offers so many different prep programs that it’s difficult to focus on what you actually need. I actually hate how these courses are organized on the website. You’re meant to choose a program based on what score you want to get, not what each course offers. For that, you have to dig through the website. It all seems too jumbled.

Furthermore, what you can discern of its details seems lackluster compared to what you get from Manhattan. With Manhattan’s app you get access to 100,000+ practice problems, 70+ video lessons, vocab flashcards, quizzes, and thousands of questions—at a better price. Princeton only offers video lessons in the self-paced version.

Lastly, going through the T&Cs of the score-improvement guarantee requires a law degree, for which The Princeton Review will happily prep you.

The Princeton Review is a decent prep course ideal for students in a time crunch. Its live instructors are good where live is offered, it measures your progress on a fantastically designed dashboard, and you can learn by topic. If the test is closer than you’d prefer, The Princeton Review is for you.

The Princeton Review

Best Prep Course for MBA: Target Test Prep

Target Test Prep’s GRE course comes with a ton of resources, including a decent app and an emphasis on the analytical writing assessment.

Pros

• Five-day free full access to test program
• Daily study calendar for organization and motivation
• 4,000+ practice questions 
• 1,000 videos
• Good app with flashcards
• Free consultation with MBA admissions counselor
• Monthly, 4-month, or 6-month plans available
• 15-point performance-improvement guarantee
• Some live classes available at higher price point

Cons

• Performance guarantee only for retake, no refund
• Monthly payment plan adds up if you work slowly
• Prosaic course material inferior to other programs

Why We Chose It

Target Test Prep is great for those of you who have taken the GRE once but had disappointing results. If you scored less than a 310 on a previous test, it guarantees you a 15-point improvement. If you don’t hit that benchmark, you’ll get continued free access to the subscription you selected.

It also caters more to the procrastinators than other prep courses by offering enough options and immediate openings for live online classes. With other programs, you may have to book live courses well in advance.

One thing Target Test offers that no one else does is a monthly payment plan, so you have access as you need it, and no more. You’re not locked into a 4- or 6-month payment schedule if you only have one month until the test.

I think Target Test also does a better job with the often-overlooked analytical writing assessment portion of the GRE. If you’ve taken the test before and did poorly on that section, or if analytical writing isn’t a strength, Target Test Prep might be a great fit for you.

If you’re a big flashcard person like I am, Target Test hosts 1,200 vocab flashcards on its app.

For those taking the GRE to get into an MBA program, Target Test offers a free consultation with an MBA admissions expert. If you choose the supplemental admissions program, Target Test will guide you every step of the way toward your dream school.

Target Test also offers the best free preview of any GRE prep course. You can get a full five-day course for free to test out the program, and there’s no auto-billing, so if you forget to cancel, you won’t pay a dime.

If you’re on the fence, that’s a great way to climb over it.

On the downside, the 15-point guarantee, while great, doesn’t mean cash back if you don’t hit your mark. It means you get an extension on your time to use the program. To get value from your guarantee, you’ll have to start the course over and retake the GRE.

The instructors at Target Test Prep don’t have the same reputation as those at Manhattan. One of the reasons it’s so available is simply that it is not in as much demand. That doesn’t mean you’ll get bad instruction; there are just better choices out there. If you want to pay for premium instructors, you’re better off with one of the prep courses above.

I also found the materials from Target Test Prep a little harder to get through than with some of its more compelling competitors. You have to be good at self-motivation to get through some of the dreary coursework.

That said, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers live classes, Target Test Prep is a happy medium between PrepScholar and Kaplan both in terms of resources and cost.

The five free days of full program access is incentive enough to get started with Target Test Prep today.

Target Test Prep

Methodology: How I Chose the Best GRE Prep Courses

You are about to make a crucial decision that will affect whether you get into the grad school of your dreams, so it’s important to understand how I made these rankings.

I ranked each GRE prep course on a scale of 1 to 10 in the following seven categories, giving equal weight to each category and averaging the total.

Availability and Variety of Resources

Some students can listen to lessons with headphones on a crowded train, some need to read in a quiet room, and some prefer actual, in-person instruction. What we all have in common is that we are extremely busy, so we have to prep whenever, however we can.

To that end, I scored each prep course based on how well they could accommodate diverse schedules. I looked for programs that offer print resources, audio resources, and video resources on demand.

I also evaluated how these different mediums were integrated. Can students seamlessly move from reading materials to videos without feeling as though they’re starting a completely different program?

Value

Price is always going to be a factor, particularly considering the expense of going to grad school. However, spending pennies on a course that won’t get you the score you need is just throwing money away.

Yes, we have to be frugal, but a good GRE score is a great investment in your future, so it’s okay to splurge—so long as you do it wisely. That means finding the most quality for your dollar.

To make this analysis, I looked at all the other factors on this list, ranked them from 1 to 10, and then divided that score by the price points for each prep course.

Flexibility of Scheduling and Formats

Part of finding a prep course that works for you is finding one that fits your schedule. If you are interested in in-person or live video classes, are there enough available time slots that you can consistently attend? If not, are there enough archived lessons that you can learn when you have the time or when you are the most alert to retain the information?

The bottom line is finding a prep course that offers the availability to teach when you’re available to learn.

Quality of the Instructors

This category applies mainly to those of you planning to hire private tutors or attend live online classes, but it also speaks to the overall standards of each prep course. Every course will brag about their instructors credentials, but few live up to the hype.

I obviously wasn’t able to try out every instructor at every course, but enough to get a good overall feel for each course’s quality.

Practice Tests

There’s two parts to succeeding at the GRE: mastering the subject matter and mastering the test-taking process. We all know some brilliant people who simply aren’t good at taking tests. It’s a cruel reality that these people can be excluded from great graduate programs based on a simple test.

The easiest way to overcome poor test taking is to simply practice. Again and again. I looked for prep courses with the most practice tests but also looked at the quality of those tests. Practice tests are also great at monitoring your progress, but only if those practice tests are good proxies for the actual GRE.

Score Guarantee

Almost every GRE prep program offers some sort of score guarantee, but all are definitely not created equal.

Some guarantees only apply to those who have already taken the test, some apply only to those who already test well—all of them have certain conditions.

Also, some programs offer you a cash refund, while others only offer the ability to use their services again.

Basically there’s a lot of fine print. I read it so you don’t have to.

Enjoyability/Engagement

I know, very few of you actually enjoy studying for the GRE, but there has to be some level of enjoyment, or at the very least, engagement, to keep you motivated.

When I was an undergrad, a teacher with even a modicum of charisma and passion for her chosen field was far more likely to get me to attend class and put in the work. The same is true for these prep courses.

No matter how seriously you take your GRE prep, you shouldn’t have to suffer through the materials. They should be engaging and maybe—dare we hope—a little bit entertaining. If they are, it makes it so much easier to put in the necessary work to earn your great GRE score.

Additional Resources

It is always good to diversify the elements of your GRE prep. No prep course is perfect, and using a few cheap or free additional resources can help you cover any potential blind spots.

• Forums: Online forums, such as Reddit or those specific to grad school admissions, can help you understand what type of psychological pressures you’ll face on test day, get insider tips, and help you decide whether to take the test in-person or at home.
• Apps: While your phone can be a powerful distraction, it can also host apps that help you prep for your GRE. My favorite prep courses have their own apps, but there are also independent apps that can supplement your course work. For example, vocab flashcards are both good ways to boost your vocabulary for the verbal reasoning portion of the test. 
• Physical books/flashcards: Yes, these things still exist! Some of us just concentrate better when our tool of learning is not also our camera/communication device/social media access point. If you are one of these people, there are plenty of actual books and flashcard sets available that are independent of your prep course.

Your Next Steps

Now that we’ve thoroughly analyzed the best GRE prep courses, you can make the right decision that will guide you to a great score and a great grad program.

Do you want the best of the best? Sign up with Manhattan Prep. Do you need a premium option with more class variety but no app? Go with Kaplan. Is budget your only concern? You can still get some quality materials with PrepScholar.

Once you’ve made your choice, the important thing is to get started as quickly as possible and put in the work. No prep course will be effective if you don’t follow through. So get after it! And good luck!

FAQs

What is a good GRE score?

A good GRE score falls between 260 and 340. A score above 320 is considered excellent and will impress even the top graduate programs in the US. Any score around 300 will mean consideration for a high-quality grad school.

Is GRE prep worth it?

GRE prep is absolutely worth it. The GRE tests your ability to think critically through three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Even if you excel in these categories, preparing for the GRE’s specific methods of testing can mean the difference between a decent score and a top one.

Is three months enough for GRE Prep?

Yes, three months is enough GRE prep for most learners. You’ll need to devote sufficient time on a daily basis to a quality GRE prep course during those three months. If you have a busy schedule and can only dedicate an hour or less a day, you will need longer.

What tests should I take for an MBA, the GMAT or GRE?

For an MBA, most programs accept either the GMAT or the GRE, but it is best to check with the specific schools you are targeting. According to ETS (the Educational Testing Service) the creators and administrators of the GRE, more than 1,300 business schools accept the GRE, while the GMAT is accepted by more than 7,700 schools.