With college admissions becoming more and more competitive, you need top ACT scores in order to stand out. And one of the best ways to boost your ACT scores is by working with an experienced test prep company.
PrepScholar and Magoosh both offer popular and effective online ACT prep programs with research-backed prep methods and guaranteed results. However, there are some significant differences between these two programs.
Understanding the differences between test prep programs can ensure you’re choosing the right study system for you. When a study system fits your unique needs, it’ll translate to better prep…and better scores.
Keep reading to find out which ACT prep program comes out on top–and which one has what it takes to help you achieve your ACT score goals!
Section 2: The Best ACT Prep Winner
Section 3: Comparison of Core Offerings
Section 4: PrepScholar vs. Magoosh Comparison Table
Section 5: Comparison Point 1 – Instruction Quality and Feedback
Section 6: Comparison Point 2 – Personalization and Adaptive Learning
Section 7: Comparison Point 3 – Test Updates and Alignment
Section 8: Comparison Point 4 – Value
Section 9: Overall Pros and Cons
How We Picked Our Winners
We’ve spent hours researching, testing, and reviewing real student feedback on both PrepScholar and Magoosh’s ACT program offerings to give you a thorough comparison of what they have to offer.
As a test taker, you need to know that the core features of your ACT prep program will create a prep experience that fits your needs and guarantees your success on the real exam. To help you find the best program for you, we reviewed both companies based on the following features and offerings:
- Update frequency
- Price
- Score guarantee
- Variety of products
- Real student reviews
Knowing what you’re buying before you commit is the key to choosing an AC prep program that gets you the results you’re looking for. Keep reading to find out which ACT prep program is the winner for the kind of student you are!
Magoosh vs. PrepScholar: Which Has the Best ACT Prep?
For its adaptive, personalized prep, guidance from 99th percentile ACT scorers, and 4+ point improvement guarantee, we rank PrepScholar as the overall winner when it comes to ACT prep programs.
Overall Winner: PrepScholar
For most students, PrepScholar is the stronger option because it provides structured guidance, deeper instruction, and true personalization throughout the entire prep process. Rather than leaving students to decide what to study next, PrepScholar begins with a diagnostic test and builds a customized weekly study plan that continually adapts based on performance. Its 2,800+ ACT-style questions, four full-length practice tests, detailed written and video explanations, and skill-by-skill lessons ensure students understand not just the right answer, but the reasoning behind it. Those who want additional help can also sign up for live classes or one-on-one tutoring with 99th-percentile tutors.
By contrast, Magoosh is more affordable and offers solid practice, but it relies heavily on student self-discipline and independent planning. While its question bank and video explanations are helpful, it provides less structured guidance, fewer total practice materials, and no live instruction or tutoring options. Students must largely build their own study roadmap, which can be overwhelming—especially for those who aren’t already confident test-takers.
For highly motivated self-studiers on a tight budget, Magoosh can work well. But for the majority of students who benefit from adaptive planning, targeted feedback, and a clearer study structure, PrepScholar delivers a more comprehensive and supportive prep experience.
Best for Students Who Need More Structure: PrepScholar
PrepScholar stands out for structured learning, true adaptivity, official-style practice tests, and robust personalization options. It’s better suited for students who want clear direction, deep feedback, and guided score improvement.
Best for Students Who Want to Study on the Go: Magoosh
Magoosh’s dedicated mobile app, bite-sized video lessons, and robust flashcard bank make it ideal for students who want to pack ACT prep into spare moments. However, it’s vital students carve out dedicated prep time as well or they will struggle to improve.
Comparing Core ACT Prep Options
Every ACT prep program has one main goal: providing the guidance and support you need to master the ACT and earn the best score possible. However, different ACT prep programs approach ACT prep in different ways.
To help you grasp exactly what these companies offer, we’ve put together a complete breakdown of the key features of PrepScholar’s and Magoosh’s ACT prep programs. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s included in each program and can start thinking about which features are the most important for you.
PrepScholar ACT Prep Overview
PrepScholar provides four digital ACT prep options that are designed to meet every kind of learning need: Complete Online ACT Prep, Complete Online ACT Prep + Admissions Bootcamp, Live Instructor Led Classes, and 1-on-1 Online Tutoring.
PrepScholar’s most popular course, Complete Online ACT Prep, is a self-paced adaptive program that includes a smart diagnostic test, more than 50 skill lessons, 2800+ practice questions with explanations, and four official ACT exams to take as practice. This program comes with a year of full access to all included prep materials.
There’s also Complete Online ACT Prep + Admissions Bootcamp, which comes with everything that’s included in the Complete Online package, with the addition of Admissions Bootcamp lessons that take you through every step of the admissions process, from curating your college list, making your application stand out, how to write the perfect essay, how and when to submit your applications, and even financial aid.
PrepScholar’s Live Instructor Led Classes give you up to 36 hours of expert-led classes in a live, online classroom. You’ll get to learn in a small group of up to nine other students and get feedback and answers to your questions in real-time. This program includes everything in the Complete Online ACT Prep program as well as the Admissions Bootcamp, both at no additional cost.
With the 1-on-1 Tutoring program, you can get 4, 10, 18, or 32 one-on-one tutoring hours with a 99th percentile-scoring tutor. You’ll pick the tutoring package that best fits your schedule, needs, and goals, and receive a fully personalized prep experience.
Each of PrepScholar’s ACT prep programs include a 4-point guarantee, customized weekly prep plans, and 60+ hours of prep content.
Magoosh ACT Prep Overview
Magoosh has fewer ACT programs than competitors with just two options, both of which are completely self-paced and quite affordable.
Premium ACT Prep is Magoosh’s base option, which offers 200 video lessons, 1,300+ practice questions with text or video explanations, up to four full-length practice tests, and tutor email support. The purchase includes 12 months of access and a 4+ point increase guarantee.
Premium + On-Demand Classes includes everything in the base package plus 8 prerecorded 2-hour lessons with a 99-percentile scoring ACT expert.
PrepScholar vs. Magoosh Comparison Table
Before we get into a detailed breakdown of how these two ACT prep companies compare, here’s a side-by-side comparison of the services offered by PrepScholar and Magoosh.
PrepScholar | Magoosh | |
Course Types | Complete Online ACT Prep Complete Online ACT Prep + Admissions Bootcamp Live Instructor-Led Classes 1-on-1 Tutoring + Complete Online ACT Prep | Premium ACT Prep Premium + On-Demand Classes |
Delivery Format | Online self-paced Live online | Online self-paced |
Lesson Style | Video + text Synchronous Asynchronous | Video + text Asynchronous |
Tutoring Availability | 4, 10, 18, or 32 online tutoring hours with a 99th+ percentile tutor | None |
Adaptive tech? | Yes | No |
Diagnostic test? | Yes | Yes |
Custom study plans? | Yes | No |
Practice questions | 2,800 practice ACT questions | 1,300 practice ACT questions |
Practice tests | 4 full-length, official practice tests | Up to 4 full-length, digital practice tests |
Score guarantees | 4+ point score improvement | 4+ score improvement |
Typical price range | Mid-range | Budget |
Comparison Point 1 – Instruction Quality and Feedback
An ACT prep program is only as good as the quality of its instruction and the feedback it provides students. Here’s how PrepScholar and Magoosh compare to one another.
PrepScholar
PrepScholar shines when it comes to instruction quality and feedback. Not only do their ACT prep courses and tutoring packages provide general test taking strategies, but they also delve deeply into the most common ways that the ACT tends to trick students, providing targeted strategies that students will master in order to maneuver around those tricks.
PrepScholar provides over 2,800 practice questions that were designed by ACT top scorers and experts to replicate the language, difficulty, and logic of the real exam so you get the best practice possible. Their program also includes the Official ACT Prep Guide, which provides four real ACT practice tests. You will learn when to take each of these full-length practice tests for the maximum impact.
And because PrepScholar is focused on helping students eliminate their weaknesses to maximize score improvement, each question has a detailed written or video explanation so you understand why you got it wrong–and how you can get similar questions right next time. In customizable tutoring sessions, you’ll work through your wrong answers and drill your weak areas, which is the best way to see a real difference in your ACT scores.
While PrepScholar’s ACT prep programs provide flexibility for students who prefer self-guided learning, each course follows a proven structure and process that focuses on setting your baseline ACT score, diagnosing your problem areas, and engaging in prep work that targets those weak spots. As you progress through lessons and drills, you’ll take four official practice tests and receive detailed feedback on your results so you can gauge your progress over time.
As you work through PrepScholar’s course materials, you’ll know that you’re getting the best guidance from tutors and instructors along the way. All of PrepScholar’s tutors are 99th+ percentile ACT scorers who’ve taken the ACT many times and are up to date with the newest changes to the test. The experience they’ve built over time ensures they know what it takes to ace the ACT, and they’ll use what they’ve learned to create a tailored prep plan to adress your unique needs and goals.
Magoosh
Magoosh has fewer total practice questions than PrepScholar, but they are well designed and will help you prepare for the real ACT. Every practice question has an answer explanation, many including videos, though they are not always very detailed. Rather than providing more info on the question type within the answer explanation, they link to relevant video lessons. Unfortunately, many of the questions don’t seem to have associated lessons.
Rather than using official ACT practice tests, Magoosh generates up to 4 tests from the 1,300-question bank. Because the questions are drawn from the general bank, you could see the same question in a quiz and on a full-length practice test, especially if you are a power user who spends a lot of time practicing.
Magoosh also offers a lot of analytics tools that allow you to see how you’re doing on different types of questions and review ones you’ve struggled with. However, the program won’t walk you through how to prepare and without a clear plan the amount of information and lessons can be overwhelming. The on-demand lessons can help offer some structure though they do not include any live instruction or personalized content.
Finally, Magoosh lacks options for getting more help, with no live classes or tutoring. Instead, you can email a tutor and get an answer back within 48 hours. If you’re extremely motivated and organized, this may be all you need, but a lot of students might find themselves confused.
Winner: PrepScholar
Both Magoosh and PrepScholar offer realistic ACT practice questions with detailed answer explanations, PrepScholar pulls ahead by integrating real practice ACTs and providing clear guidance on what to study when. They also have far more options for further help if a student is struggling.
Comparison Point 2 — Personalization and Adaptive Learning
Personalized learning plans and adaptive learning put students on the fast track to mastery of ACT content and better scores. Below, we cover how PrepScholar and Magoosh compare on adaptiveness.
PrepScholar
PrepScholar’s entire approach to ACT prep is built around personalization and adaptiveness. Their programs use a skill-by-skill approach to learning that adapts to each student individually, allowing them to focus on areas where they need the most improvement.
At the beginning of PrepScholar ACT prep programs, students take a 60-question diagnostic test that allows PrepScholar’s adaptive technology to gauge their skill in each area that’s tested on the ACT. This allows PrepScholar to design a prep program that gives students the right lessons for their skill level.
PrepScholar’s adaptive technology adjusts to the student’s performance with each question, which allows you to make more progress in less time. As you complete quizzes and practice tests, your weekly study plan continually updates to keep you focused on the skills and content that will help you progress quickly.
Because of their meticulous approach to adaptive modeling, PrepScholar is also able to provide students with highly personalized learning through one-on-one tutoring. Students are matched with tutors who specialize in the areas of the exam that diagnostic testing shows they need the most help with. They’ll build you a fully personalized prep plan based on your goals and meet with you for between four and 32 hours, depending on the package you purchase.
Magoosh
Magoosh focuses on customization over personalization. The main dashboard shows your study streak, goals, and current predicted ACT score. From there, students can pick which lessons to watch and create their own quizzes, filtering questions by difficulty and topic. This approach allows for more freedom, but it can also be confusing for less confident students.
Because the classes are pre-recorded, they cannot address a student’s specific questions or concerns, although they do provide a general structure.
Winner: PrepScholar
With adaptive technology baked into every part of its ACT program, PrepScholar is the clear winner on personalization. Although Magoosh offers a lot of options for customizing your ACT prep strategy, it falls short on guiding students through the prep process.
Comparison Point 3 — Test Updates and Alignment
The ACT has changed over the years (most recently with the introduction of the Enhanced ACT), which means that ACT prep companies must continuously update their materials in order to stay relevant and useful. Keep reading to learn more about how PrepScholar and Magoosh compare on test updates and alignment.
PrepScholar
PrepScholar’s ACT Prep has been fully redesigned to reflect the new, Enhanced ACT that came out in 2026. While many other test prep companies have simply tweaked their programs, PrepScholar has rebuilt their ACT prep from the ground up, redesigning lessons, practice questions, and their entire interface to give students the most realistic experience possible.
This ACT prep program update comes with 50 refreshed skill lessons that align with the skills tested on the Enhanced ACT, new strategy lessons that target the structure and tricks of the ACT, expanded coverage of skills that weren’t emphasized in English, Math, and Reading on the old ACT. You’ll also have the option to opt out of Science prep if you don’t plan to take that optional section of the ACT.
Additionally, the updated ACT prep program includes 2800+ brand new practice questions, Math questions that have been fully rewritten for the ACT’s new four answer choice format, and a refresh to the prep interface that aligns it more closely with the ACT’s new section lengths and pacing.
PrepScholar recognizes that the ACT is still in transition. That’s why their redesigned ACT prep program continues to cover both paper-and-pencil and digital exam delivery formats.
Thanks to these updates, PrepScholar is able to provide a fully emulated Enhanced ACT prep experience, with an interface that’s designed to mirror the ACT’s new format and design, so students can get an authentic feel for what it’ll be like on exam day.
Magoosh
Although Magoosh describes their ACT product as fully updated for the Enhanced ACT, most of the updates are surface-level at best. The math questions have been converted to a four answer format by simply removing one of the extra options and leaving everything else (including the answer explanations) as is. Worse, many of the video lessons contain serious errors, including incorrect info on the scoring system and the length of sections.
Winner: PrepScholar
Given the scattershot nature of Magoosh’s ACT updates, PrepScholar is the clear winner in this category.
Comparison Point 4 — Value
ACT prep programs can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting before you commit so you can choose a program that brings you the most value.
PrepScholar
PrepScholar offers four core programs for ACT prep: Complete Online ACT Prep, Complete Online + Admissions Bootcamp, Live Instructor Led Classes, and One-on-One Tutoring. Higher-tier programs offer more personalization and customization, and they increase in cost accordingly.
As the base tier offering, Complete Online ACT Prep provides full online access to all of PrepScholar’s ACT prep content, including a diagnostic test, and their entire repository of thousands of practice questions, drills, lessons, practice exams, and feedback and answer explanations. This is PrepScholar’s self-paced option, which means your study program will be customized and tailored to your strengths and weaknesses, but you won’t receive live or one-on-one instruction and feedback as you work through the program.
The Complete Online ACT Prep program is at the center of PrepScholar’s ACT program offerings and is included in each higher program tier, all of which add more personalization on top of the adaptivity you’re already getting from the base study program.
Because each student’s learning needs are unique, both the Live Instruction and One-on-One Tutoring packages include flexible options for program hours, difficulty, and cost. Live Instruction packages range from 9 hours to 36+ and offer Beginner, Essentials, and Advanced courses that vary in difficulty and are designed to help students achieve specific score goals. Students who choose one-on-one tutoring can pick from 4, 10, 18, and 32 hour packages.
Because PrepScholar’s programs are fully online, students can access them from any location as long as they have an Internet connection and a digital device. While you’ll complete the self-paced program on your own time, you’ll have the option to choose live instruction and/or tutoring sessions that fit into your schedule. Once you sign up for a program, you’ll have a full year to access and use it.
The one caveat here is that PrepScholar doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app. While its programs are accessible on a mobile device, they weren’t explicitly built for a mobile experience.
Because of PrepScholar’s built-in adaptive technology and focus on personalization, students who sign up for an ACT prep course will receive more value from the get-go because each program is heavily tailored to their learning needs and goals. The more personalized an ACT prep program is, the more effective it’s going to be–and the more value you’ll get out of the service you pay for.
Reviews back this up. Students who have completed PrepScholar’s ACT prep programs say that the week-by-week personalization built a clear picture of their progress, which helped them stay motivated and engaged.
Most users claim that customer service is quick and responsive, but a few have noted difficulty in getting help with a refund when their student didn’t meet their score goals. That’s why it’s important to understand the requirements for the 4 point money back guarantee and make sure you meet them before requesting a refund.
PrepScholar Program Offerings, by Price | ||
Program Name | What’s Included | Total Cost |
Complete Online ACT Prep | Self-paced, adaptive program
40 hours of study time recommended | $397 |
Complete Online ACT Prep + Admissions Bootcamp | Everything in the Complete Online ACT Prep package plus the Admissions Bootcamp to help you apply to college | $495 |
Live Instructor Led Classes | Up to 36 hours of interactive classes with a live instructor, in addition to everything in the Complete ACT Online Prep + Admissions Bootcamp | 9 hours: $895 36+ hours: $1695 |
1-on-1 Online Tutoring | 4, 10, 18, or 32 one-on-one tutoring hours with a 99th percentile tutor, plus everything in the Complete ACT Online Prep + Admissions Bootcamp | 4 hours: $995 10 hours: $1995 18 hours: $2995 32 hours: $4795 |
Magoosh
Magoosh offers just two options for ACT prep, both of which are fully self-paced and very affordable.
At just $129, Magoosh’s Premium ACT Prep program offers a lot of practice for a low price. It also includes a dedicated Unfortunately, it doesn’t
Magoosh’s second ACT prep option is Premium + On-Demand Classes, which includes everything in the base program plus 8 prerecorded classes that help guide students through the prep process. At $399, this is still a relatively affordable option, but 16 hours of additional videos without any additional personalization won’t add much value for most students.
Overall, Magoosh delivers OK value for budget-conscious students who want a straightforward, no-frills study program. It not only lacks the depth, advanced analytics, and personalized coaching found in higher-priced competitors, it’s also not fully updated for the Enhanced ACT. In short, it’s an affordable but bare-bones option that works best for motivated self-studiers who plan to supplement with official materials.
Magoosh Program Offerings, by Price | ||
Program Name | What’s Included | Total Cost |
Premium ACT Prep | Over 1,300 practice questions Video or text explanations for every question Up to 4 practice tests Over 250 video lessons Dedicated mobile app Email assistance from expert tutors Score predictor 4+ point guarantee | $129 |
Premium + On-Demand Classes | Everything in the Premium ACT Prep package plus 8 2-hour prerecorded video classes | $399 |
Winner: PrepScholar
In terms of raw cost, Magoosh is hard to beat. Their Premium ACT Prep is the most affordable option on the market, but it’s not entirely accurate to Enhanced ACT.
PrepScholar is more expensive but you get a lot for that extra money, plus the option of further support with 99th percentile scoring instructors.
Overall Pros and Cons
Is PrepScholar or Magoosh better for your ACT prep needs? Take a look at the comparisons here for a full breakdown of the pros and cons of each.
Category | PrepScholar | Magoosh |
Instruction Quality & Feedback | Pros: 2,800+ high-quality practice questions designed to mirror the Enhanced ACT Detailed written & video explanations 4 full, official practice tests 99th+ percentile tutors Structured learning plan with diagnostics Cons: Can feel intensive or overwhelming for independent learners Higher tiers required for live help | Pros: Video explanations for many questions Cons: Fewer total questions No official ACT practice tests Question overlap possible between quizzes/tests No live classes or tutoring |
Personalization & Adaptive Learning | Pros: True adaptive technology built into entire program 60-question diagnostic builds custom study plan Weekly study plan updates automatically Personalized tutoring options Cons: Premium personalization increases cost | Pros: Customizable quizzes by topic & difficulty Students can set goals and track predicted scores Diagnostic test can help predict scores Cons: Customization ≠ personalization No structured prep roadmap Requires high self-motivation |
Enhanced ACT Alignment | Pros: Fully refreshed for Enhanced ACT Interface mirrors ACT testing app Practice questions and lessons all up to date Cons: No mobile app (web-based only) | Pros: Dedicated mobile app Question formats updated Cons: Some video lessons and answer explanations not up to date Updated content not always accurate
|
Value & Pricing | Pros: Strong adaptive system adds efficiency 160-point score guarantee Multiple tiers (self-paced → live classes → tutoring) Cons: Tutoring packages are relatively expensive Refund requires meeting guarantee conditions | Pros: Extremely affordable 100+ point guarantee Mobile app and email tutor support included Cons: Limited depth compared to premium competitors No live or 1-on-1 options On-demand classes add limited extra value |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
After reading through all this information about PrepScholar and Princeton Review, you may have some additional questions. We’re covering the most frequently asked ones below.
Is PrepScholar or Magoosh better for ACT prep?
While both programs have proven track records, they’re tailored to different kinds of learners. Magoosh is a good fit for very independent students who are looking to save money while getting some extra ACT practice. For most students, however, PrepScholar is the top choice for ACT prep since it continuously adapts to their needs and grows as they grow.
What is the best ACT prep program in 2026?
PrepScholar’s ACT Complete Online Prep provides adaptive, personalized ACT prep, administered by 99th percentile-scoring tutors. It’s focused on helping students identify and drill the areas that are most likely to improve their score, adapting to their progress to continuously pinpoint students’ strengths and weaknesses. With more than 50 skill lessons, over 2,000 practice questions, and four official ACT practice tests, ACT Complete Online Prep is the program that’s most likely to bring you real, measurable results over time.
Is ACT test prep worth it?
Yes! Research shows that students who engage in structured, consistent test prep see meaningful score improvements. Higher test scores can boost your chances of getting accepted into your choice colleges and receiving scholarships.
Whether you go with an online course, private tutoring, or a self-led routine with a few prep books, you’ll be on the path to better scores as long as you fully commit to the prep program you choose.
How do I choose the right ACT test prep program for my learning style?
Choosing the right test prep program for you starts with knowing how you study best and what your prep goals are. If you prefer flexibility and the option to work at your own pace, a self-guided adaptive program like PrepScholar’s may be the right fit.
If you know you need customized, one-on-one guidance, you may want to choose a tutoring program. Ultimately, the best test prep program for you is the one you’ll stay committed to and engaged with, from the moment you get started until your test day arrives.
Does adaptive ACT test prep actually improve test scores?
It does! Here’s why: adaptive testing programs use diagnostic data to pinpoint the specific skills and content areas where you’re losing, then focus your customized prep program on reviewing those areas. That means you’ll spend your prep time on making improvements that can translate to actual score gains!
What makes an ACT prep service better than a more general AI tool?
While general AI tools are appealing for their ease of use, when it comes to getting quality, accurate ACT prep, they are to be used with caution. Many general AI tools still provide inaccurate information and make unverifiable claims, which can lead students toward ineffective test-taking strategies and incorrect answers.
ACT prep services are purpose-built to engage students in research-backed, verifiably accurate and effective ACT prep.