Empower GMAT garners a lot of comparisons with the Magoosh GMAT prep course, mainly related to cost and self-paced video instruction. However, after using both programs, I can say that these courses are different, and I had a much better experience with one than the other. Get my thoughts on each below.
When you truly break it down, Magoosh’s GMAT prep course is fairly simple in nature. The program focuses on three essential elements: video lessons, practice work (with problem explanations as part of a review function), and a handful of bonus features. That’s really it.
The core of your learning experience comes from their on-demand video lessons, stored in an archive of sorts. You can choose from roughly 200 concise lecture videos, each running between 5 and 15 minutes long.
These videos zero in on and break down various GMAT testable topics in a clear and straightforward manner. They are bite-sized and to the point.
While I really like the content and testing strategies contained in them, the format feels a little old-school and could use a more modern refresh.
When it comes to practice, Magoosh provides around 800 questions, plus 2 full-length GMAT practice tests. While the quantity might not be stellar, I thought the quality was impressive. I could tell the problems were thoughtfully designed to mirror the actual GMAT test, and I couldn’t tell the difference between them and official problems. Plus, the problem explanations, offered in both text and video form, are thorough, and the video explanations, in particular, are highly engaging.
Lastly, Magoosh provides a study schedule and a performance review tool, which help keep your progress in check. Basically, the Magoosh course follows a no-nonsense structure: watch video lessons, work practice questions, review, and repeat. It’s a straightforward formula that proves effective.
Knowing how the Magoosh GMAT prep program works, let me explain what I see as Magoosh’s advantages over Empower.
One significant advantage Magoosh holds over Empower is its vast library of video lessons. To be clear, Empower also has a video-based curriculum, but with Magoosh, every single GMAT topic you need to know is thoroughly covered, and the videos are highly effective despite being relatively short and of average production quality.
The Magoosh video instructors are clearly experts, and they do a great job simplifying even the most complicated GMAT topics. As someone who appreciates video-based learning, I was impressed with the quality of these lessons, especially considering Magoosh’s budget-friendly pricing. In my eyes, Magoosh’s lesson videos trump Empower’s.
Magoosh also stands out when it comes to practice problem explanations. I am a big visual learner, and Magoosh offers both text and video explanations for each problem.
For visual learners like myself, this can be a game-changer—especially with quant questions, where a video breakdown is often much more helpful than a short written explanation.
If you watch the problem breakdown video for every question you miss, it’s a big value add.
Magoosh also goes above and beyond Empower when it comes to extra resources. They offer flashcards, a mobile app, a score predictor, optional admission consulting, and some other cool stuff. The mobile app is an especially convenient way to squeeze in extra practice on the go, particularly for verbal sections. While it’s not designed for full-course study, it’s an excellent supplement to your GMAT prep.
Additionally, Magoosh provides 24/7 email support. If you get stuck on a question or need clarification on a concept, you can email one of their GMAT tutors and receive a detailed response within a few hours. This was not my experience with Empower, where it generally took days to get a response.
The Empower GMAT prep course is all about helping you by focusing on test taking strategy. The program of course covers hard content review as well, but there is much more emphasis on testing strategies in this course.
In my eyes, what sets Empower apart is its focus on teaching you how to take the test efficiently. They show you how to handle tough questions, when to guess and move on, and how to make the most of your time. Plus, their skill-builder lessons give you a solid foundation in math and verbal skills before diving into more GMAT-specific strategies, with plenty of practice questions and drills along the way.
The course offers video-based lessons, as well as text lessons, as its main instructional source, which cover most everything you need for the GMAT, including Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights.
You can track your progress on a personalized dashboard, and take practice tests to get used to the real exam environment. However, one bummer is that you have to buy access to their practice tests separately from GMAC.
Also, if you get stuck, you can reach out for support via email; however, do keep in mind my note above about how it took us a long time to get responses.
In terms of cost, Empower GMAT is pretty affordable compared to other prep courses, such as Manhattan Prep and Princeton Review, but not as cheap as others (like Magoosh). Overall, it’s a well-rounded program that gives you the tools to master the GMAT, focusing not just on the content, but also on smart strategies to help you hit your target score.
Next, let’s turn to some advantages Empower has over Magoosh.
In my opinion, Empower GMAT’s focus on efficiency is a huge benefit because it helps you work smarter, not harder. Instead of getting bogged down on tough questions, the course teaches you when to guess and move on, so you can make the most of your time on the test. I like this.
This strategy is key for the GMAT, where managing time and energy is just as important as knowing the material. By showing you how to pace yourself and prioritize the questions that will boost your score, Empower helps you maximize your potential without getting overwhelmed. It’s all about scoring strategically, which can make a big difference on test day.
The Empower course runs on a simple subscription plan, while Magoosh does not. I see this as a major benefit. While Magoosh costs $350 for their full course, you can access Empower’s materials for just $89/month. For 60 days of study time, that could be a killer bargain.
Empower GMAT’s detailed study plans offer a lot of benefits by giving structure and focus to your prep. Magoosh has study plans as well, but Empower makes it an emphasis. These plans help you break down the massive amount of material into manageable chunks, ensuring that you cover every section of the GMAT in a systematic way.
Whether you’re on a tight timeline or have months to prepare, the study plans are customizable to fit your schedule, which I liked. They also integrate strategic breaks and reviews to keep you fresh and help retain information. By following a clear roadmap, you stay on track and accountable, and maximize your prep time.
I personally think Magoosh is a much stronger GMAT prep option than Empower. While Empower does offer some standout features, like effective testing strategies and in-depth study plans, Magoosh ultimately delivers a more effective overall learning experience. The course is packed with practice problems and includes hundreds of clear, concise video lessons that are easy to follow. Overall, I appreciated Magoosh’s cohesive structure and felt it provided a more streamlined approach to GMAT prep.
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In my opinion, after using the program, Empower is not that great for GMAT prep. They provide a handful of decent study resources, but I much prefer courses from other budget providers like Magoosh and Target Test Prep.
I think Empower GMAT is just alright, and I give it a 7.0/10. To me, it felt outdated, and the support was not great.
In my eyes, Magoosh wins by a mile. Their video lectures are much better, they have better review features, and the program has a more cohesive feel. I think Magoosh is more effective.