Magoosh and Kaplan offer GMAT preparation at different price points and with different approaches. Magoosh at $219 provides affordable self-paced study, while Kaplan at $1,299 offers a more comprehensive, structured program. This comparison helps you determine whether Kaplan's premium is justified for your GMAT preparation needs.
| Feature | Magoosh GMAT | Kaplan GMAT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219 | $1,299 |
| Practice Questions | 1,300+ | 5,000+ |
| Video Lessons | 200+ | 180+ |
| Live Class Hours | 0 | 21 |
| Access Period | 6 months | 6 months |
| Score Guarantee | 50-point improvement or money back | Higher score guarantee or money back |
The GMAT is a critical component of MBA admissions, and choosing the right prep course can impact your score and, ultimately, your business school options. Magoosh and Kaplan both help students improve their GMAT scores, but the experience and investment are quite different.
Magoosh GMAT ($219) is a self-paced video course with an extensive question bank. Their video lessons are concise and focused, typically covering one concept per video. Each practice question includes a detailed video explanation, which is one of Magoosh's strongest features.
Kaplan GMAT ($1,299) provides a more comprehensive experience with video lessons, live online sessions, and a structured study plan. Kaplan's program is designed to guide you through the entire GMAT curriculum systematically, with regular assessments to track progress.
Both courses have been updated for the GMAT Focus Edition. Magoosh covers all three sections (Quantitative, Verbal, Data Insights) with their characteristic efficiency. Kaplan provides more extensive coverage, particularly for the new Data Insights section, with dedicated strategy sessions.
Magoosh's content is good — their video explanations are clear, and their question bank is well-organized. However, the depth of coverage isn't as comprehensive as Kaplan's, particularly for advanced topics.
Kaplan's content is more thorough, with deeper dives into complex topics and more extensive strategy instruction. Their practice tests are also more realistic simulations of the actual GMAT experience.
Magoosh offers a large question bank with video explanations, plus practice tests. Kaplan provides multiple full-length practice tests, a larger question bank, and more detailed score analytics.
Magoosh is entirely self-paced — study whenever and wherever works for you. Kaplan offers both self-paced and live options, but the live sessions follow a set schedule.
At $219 vs $1,299, Kaplan costs nearly 6x more than Magoosh. The question is whether the additional content depth, live instruction, and more comprehensive practice materials justify that premium.
Choose Magoosh GMAT if: You're self-motivated, budget is a significant factor, you want flexible self-paced study, or you need moderate score improvement.
Choose Kaplan GMAT if: You want comprehensive, structured preparation, you benefit from live instruction, you need significant score improvement, or you're targeting top MBA programs.
Magoosh wins on value; Kaplan wins on comprehensiveness. For self-motivated students on a budget, Magoosh at $219 provides solid GMAT preparation. For students who need more structure, deeper content, and live instruction, Kaplan's premium is justified. If you're targeting a 700+ score for top MBA programs, the additional investment in Kaplan (or even Manhattan Prep) may be worthwhile.