Kaplan and Princeton Review are the two most established brands in GMAT prep. At $1,299 and $1,249 respectively, they're priced almost identically. This comparison examines which legacy brand delivers better preparation for the GMAT Focus Edition in 2026.
| Feature | Kaplan GMAT | Princeton Review GMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,299 | $1,249 |
| Practice Questions | 5,000+ | 2,500+ |
| Video Lessons | 180+ | 160+ |
| Live Class Hours | 21 | 24 |
| Access Period | 6 months | 4 months |
| Score Guarantee | Higher score guarantee or money back | Score improvement or retake free |
When two courses are priced within $50 of each other, the decision comes down to teaching quality, content, and which approach better fits your learning style. Both Kaplan and Princeton Review have updated their programs for the GMAT Focus Edition, and both bring decades of test prep expertise.
Kaplan GMAT ($1,299) offers a structured curriculum with video lessons, live online sessions, and a clear study plan. Their program is organized around the three GMAT Focus Edition sections, with dedicated modules for each.
Princeton Review GMAT ($1,249) provides a similar structure with slightly different emphasis. Princeton Review tends to focus more on strategy and test-taking techniques, while Kaplan emphasizes content mastery.
Kaplan's approach is content-first — master the underlying concepts, and the test-taking strategies follow naturally. This works well for students who need to build or refresh their foundational knowledge.
Princeton Review's approach is more strategy-focused — they teach you how to think about GMAT questions and identify the most efficient path to the right answer. This works well for students who have solid content knowledge but need to improve their test-taking efficiency.
Both provide multiple full-length practice tests that simulate the GMAT Focus Edition experience. Kaplan's score reports are detailed, showing performance by topic and question type. Princeton Review offers similar analytics with their own scoring methodology.
The Data Insights section is new to the GMAT Focus Edition, and both courses cover it. Kaplan provides dedicated lessons on data sufficiency, multi-source reasoning, and graphics interpretation. Princeton Review offers similar coverage with additional strategy workshops.
Both offer score improvement guarantees with similar terms — complete the program and your score improves, or you get your money back.
Choose Kaplan GMAT if: You need to build content knowledge, you prefer a methodical learning approach, or you want slightly more comprehensive coverage.
Choose Princeton Review GMAT if: You have solid content knowledge and need strategy refinement, you prefer a more strategy-focused approach, or you want to save $50.
It's essentially a tie. At nearly identical prices, both Kaplan and Princeton Review deliver quality GMAT preparation. The choice comes down to personal preference: Kaplan for content-focused learning, Princeton Review for strategy-focused learning. Both will help you improve your score. If you can, try a free trial or sample lesson from each to see which teaching style resonates with you.