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Magoosh vs Kaplan LSAT
See which LSAT prep course we think is better in this detailed comparison of Magoosh and Kaplan
Kaplan and Magoosh have a lot more in common than you might think. From a high level, both LSAT courses are similar in terms of study materials and features, such as video lessons, practice material, and study calendars. However, there are some key differences, and after having a chance to use both LSAT prep packages, we do prefer one over the other. See which course our team prefers in this comprehensive guide.
Given that this is a lengthy and detailed comparison, we’ve included helpful jump-to links above for easy navigation.
Video Review: Which LSAT Course Is Better?
In the above video, team member John breaks down our comparison of these two LSAT courses in under four minutes. Please continue reading for more detail.
How Each Prep Course Works
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, let’s briefly cover how each LSAT program generally works. And I’ll just start with this: the courses from both companies are somewhat similar in terms of features and the types of study materials that you receive.
Kaplan and Magoosh each give you pre-recorded video lessons, a structured study plan, practice problems, practice tests, problem explanations, and more.
Now, here’s where each program differs.
For example, Kaplan provides a live online class option, while Magoosh does not. And Magoosh provides video solutions for their problems, while Kaplan does not.
But I think these similarities and differences are probably best explained by looking at where each course wins over the other.
Now that you have a good idea of the general study materials that both Kaplan and Magoosh provide, let’s dive deeper into the specific differences between these two courses, first starting with the areas in which Kaplan is superior to Magoosh.
LSAT Study Materials & Coursework
Kaplan dwarfs Magoosh in terms of volume of study materials. The sheer quantity of prep materials that Kaplan provides students is astonishing.
Between the video lessons, prep books, quizzes, simulated exams, and various practice drills, there are hundreds of hours’ worth of prep material. This is some of the best study material in the industry, too. Kaplan provides access to literally every official practice question released by LSAC, the makers of the exam, with a written explanation for every single question. This means you’re not only getting more practice work with Kaplan – you’re also getting the most realistic practice questions on the market.
In fact, Kaplan’s study plan actually requires you to take 4 full-length practice tests in the official test environment – that’s how much emphasis they place on imitating your actual experience of exam day.
I think it’s safe to say that in comparison to Magoosh, Kaplan offers the more comprehensive LSAT prep courses.
The Kaplan LSAT Channel
Plus, our team likes that the Kaplan courses have a more structured and integrated curriculum. The Magoosh courses take an approach that puts students in the driver’s seat..
Bottom line, our team prefers Kaplan in terms of structure and volume of study materials.
Prep Books
Another advantage in Kaplan’s favor is their prep books. Kaplan provides all students with some of the best digital review books in the industry. These interactive manuals include tools for note-taking, bookmarking, and multi-colored highlighting, covering everything from test-taking strategies to practice questions and drills (the LSAT books from Blueprint are rock solid as well).
Kaplan also has the option to buy physical copies of the books, while Magoosh doesn’t offer any hardcopy books.
I especially like that the Kaplan books are not treated as a standalone resource or an afterthought. Rather, they actually align and track with the main course lessons, which helps reinforce the material you’re learning.
You can follow along, take notes, and work practice problems right in the digital review books. As such, if you’re more of an old-school learner who absorbs information by reading and marking up a text, then Kaplan may be the better option for you.
Video Lessons
The next advantage for Kaplan is their video lessons. Not only does Kaplan provide more video content than Magoosh in terms of overall hours, but the quality of Kaplan’s video lessons is also better in terms of production value.
A Kaplan LSAT video lesson
Magoosh’s video lessons are pretty basic. They’re more of a standard, PowerPoint-style slideshow where the instructor doesn’t appear on-screen and instead just voices over the material.
To be fair, Magoosh now offers pre-recorded classes led by instructors you can watch anytime. These feel a little more like an online class, except that the session isn’t live, so there isn’t an option for asking questions. You also have to pay extra to get the instructor-led videos, whereas all of Kaplan’s packages include video lessons led by expert instructors.
Magoosh video lecture
On the flip side, Kaplan’s video lessons are more engaging and detailed. They alternate between footage of an instructor personally talking you through the material and a digital whiteboard illustrating practice problems and key information.
In my opinion, having the instructor onscreen is a big plus. I personally find it helpful to see the instructor on screen as they walk through key points. It feels a lot more intimate and personal.
You can observe their body language, hand gestures, and facial expressions, which really helps with the learning process and material retention.
Finally, Kaplan beats Magoosh when it comes to live class time. If you opt for Kaplan’s live online course, you’ll get 24 hours of live instruction, whereas Magoosh doesn’t offer a live, real-time class option.
Therefore, if you’re the type of student who thrives in a live class setting (maybe you like interacting with teachers and peers, and asking questions), or you need the set class schedule to help hold yourself accountable, then Kaplan is the better choice for you.
Plus, I preferred the structure of the Kaplan LSAT classes as well. They just seem better organized and more polished than the Magoosh LSAT classes.
There’s also an option for tutoring for anyone who benefits from some focused one-on-one attention, although that comes at a considerable markup.
Now that you’re aware of the areas in which Kaplan beats Magoosh, it’s only fair to turn the tables and discuss the advantages of going with Magoosh for your LSAT prep needs.
Magoosh Is More Affordable
When it comes to price, there’s no contest here – it’s not even close. it’s not even close. Magoosh is by far the more affordable LSAT prep option.
The Magoosh self-paced plan costs around $200, and their guided study plan, which includes on-demand classes, costs around $500.
Kaplan’s self-paced course, on the other hand, costs around $900, while their live class options costaround $1,300 to $1,700. Thus, you’ll likely save anywhere from $700 to $1,200 by choosing Magoosh for your LSAT prep.
However, it’s definitely worth mentioning that both Magoosh and Kaplan regularly offer sales and special promotions, and I’ve seen these courses discounted by 10% to 15% before, so be sure to check for coupon codes before buying.
Practice Question Explanations
The next advantage for Magoosh lies in their practice work. To be clear, both companies offer you access to all past official LSAT exams through the mandatory LSAC LawHub Advantage program.
Put differently, you’ll get access to 59+ real LSATs, regardless of which course you end up choosing.
Magoosh provides video and text explanations
Therefore, the difference between Kaplan and Magoosh boils down to their LSAT problem explanations. With Kaplan, when you’re reviewing your practice tests or practice problems, they only provide text explanations (which to be fair, are very detailed and helpful).
By contrast, Magoosh provides both text and video solutions for every problem. For visual learners, I personally think this is a huge value add, especially with respect to reviewing logical reasoning problems.
A sample LSAT practice question from Kaplan
Sometimes text explanations alone don’t cut it, and these Magoosh videos break down problems in a very clear and succinct way which gives you a nice, digestible means of reviewing your practice work.
Extra LSAT Resources
Another major advantage for Magoosh is the extra resources they provide. Kaplan doesn’t offer much beyond the standard study materials, while Magoosh offers a few nice bonus features.
The most worthwhile feature in my opinion is their 24/7 email support. Essentially, if you ever get hung up on a question or don’t understand a specific concept or testing strategy, you can email one of Magoosh’s remote LSAT tutors, and they’ll get back to you with a detailed answer within a day or so. It’s pretty cool.
I used this feature three or four times and found Magoosh to be great about responding with substantive answers. Frankly, it’s just nice knowing you always have that backstop in case you ever get confused or stuck.
Longer Access Period
My next Magoosh highlight is the content access period. When you sign up for one of Magoosh’s LSAT courses, you get 12 months of access. This is in contrast to Kaplan, who only provides four months of access.
The Magoosh LSAT dashboard
Thus, if you plan on taking the LSAT twice (perhaps treating the first attempt as sort of a trial run) or you’re already working full-time and you plan on spreading your studying out over an extended period of time, Magoosh is going to be your more ideal option.
To be fair, Kaplan does allow you to extend your access period, but it costs extra. For example, to upgrade to six months of access, it will cost you an additional $200.
Score Guarantee
The last advantage in favor of Magoosh is their score guarantee. The company is so confident that you’ll raise your score at least 5 points that if you don’t, they will refund your money in full.
Kaplan’s policy simply guarantees a score increase – essentially a one-point improvement – while Magoosh commits to a full 5-point improvement. So Magoosh clearly wins in this department as well.
Should you go with Kaplan or Magoosh for your LSAT prep? Well, the answer to that question really boils down to your budget. If money is tight and you’re working with a very limited budget, then Magoosh is an excellent option. Their prep courses are a tremendous value and provide serious bang for your buck.
With that said, if money is not a concern and you simply want the best LSAT prep course period, then there’s no question Kaplan offers the more complete and effective LSAT prep packages.
Not only does Kaplan offer more study materials than Magoosh, but our team also prefers their video lessons, prep books, and live classes. If your goal is to score over 160 on the LSAT and hopefully get accepted into a top-tier law school, then Kaplan will likely give you the best shot of doing so.
After having a chance to use and test out both LSAT prep packages for over a month, our conclusion is that Kaplan offers the more comprehensive and effective LSAT prep courses. Our team likes the Kaplan video lessons, prep books, and live classes more than Magoosh’s.
Magoosh LSAT is so much cheaper - is it worth it?
Honestly, yes, Magoosh LSAT is worth it. We were pretty dubious based on the price point, but Magoosh offers some really strong resources. For self-studiers, their materials should be more than enough to get the job done.
Do Kaplan and Magoosh have guarantees?
Magoosh and Kaplan each offer score improvement guarantees, though Magoosh offers the better value with a promised increase of at least 5 points.
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