As far as GRE prep courses go, there may not be any two courses more different than Magoosh and Kaplan. So how do you choose when the two courses you’re considering are as different as Kaplan and Magoosh? We take a close look at the study materials both companies provide and give you a side-by-side view so that you can make the right decision as to which prep course is best for you.
Given this is a comprehensive comparison, we’ve added helpful jump-to links above for easy navigation.
In the video above, John (from the Test Prep Insight team) breaks down our team’s thoughts on these courses as to how they compare. For more detail, please continue reading our full written comparison below.
Studying for the GRE requires time and discipline so it’s important you choose the best prep course from the start. Below find the major reasons why Kaplan is the better choice than Magoosh for GRE prep.
Kaplan offers a greater selection of course options as compared to Magoosh. They give you three different GRE prep packages to choose from, as follows:
The differentiating factor among the Kaplan course options is the format. Every student learns differently, so Kaplan gives you a choice as to which way you want to take their prep course.
On that point, the core curriculum across all three prep packages is more or less the same – it is just the delivery format that changes.
You’ll either get the instruction through one-on-one tutoring, via live online lectures, or at your own leisure through self-paced study. The content is the same, it is just the way you consume it that is varied.
In terms of pricing, it’s no secret that Kaplan’s GRE offerings cost more than Magoosh’s. In fact, in some cases, they cost 3x as much, but it should also be stated that Kapan’s offerings are more robust (in terms of volume and quality of coursework that they deliver).
The Kaplan video lessons are top of the line in terms of both production quality and depth of coverage. While Magoosh’s video lessons consist of a PowerPoint-type slideshow with a voiceover and onscreen notes, the Kaplan video lessons are much more advanced (as are the video lessons from Manhattan Prep).
The Kaplan instructor appears onscreen before a digital whiteboard which follows the teacher’s lesson and updates frequently to visualize concepts, issues and problems.
Then, to mix up the instruction, the teacher will grab a marker from time to time and handwrite notes in a luminous ink write in front of them, exemplifying how a concept plays out in the form of a problem or question.
The dynamic and interactive delivery of lessons makes for an incredibly engaging experience. These lessons cover the same topics as Magoosh’s videos, but go into much more depth and the production quality is night and day.
👉 Related: Kaplan vs Princeton Review GRE Comparison
In addition to some superb video lessons and coursework, Kaplan also offers live class instruction.
For the record, Magoosh used to offer live classes as well, but no longer does. Therefore, if live classes are important to you, Kaplan is clearly the way to go (Princeton Review also offers live GRE classes).
