How much does a good ACT prep course cost?

ACT prep courses range from $129 for self-paced options like Magoosh to $1,899 for premium live courses. Wizeprep offers two tiers: the Elite 33 at $1,899 with a 33+ guarantee and 36 hours of live instruction, and the Advantage at $699 with 18 hours of live instruction. Princeton Review ACT 31+ ($1,849) is a comparable premium option.

What ACT score do I need for a top college?

Top 20 schools typically expect 33+. Top 50 schools look for 30+. A score of 25+ is above the national average and competitive for many state universities.

ACT or SAT - which should I take?

Take a practice test for each and compare your percentile scores. The ACT has a Science section and less time per question. The SAT is adaptive and shorter. Choose whichever feels more natural.

How long should I study for the ACT?

Most students study for 2-4 months, dedicating 10-20 hours per week. Total study time ranges from 80-200 hours depending on your starting score and target.

How do we score and rank these courses?

We evaluate each course across five key dimensions: Course Technology (platform innovation and adaptive features), Content Quality (accuracy, depth, and comprehensiveness of materials), Teaching Effectiveness (instructor quality and lesson structure), Value for Money (pricing, access length, and refund policies), and Practice & Analytics (question banks, practice exams, and progress tracking). Each dimension is scored on a 1-5 scale by our review team.

Updated February 2026

Best ACT Prep Courses

Expert rankings of top ACT prep courses. Independent reviews with 5-point scoring: technology, content, teaching, value, analytics.

Course Technology Content Quality Teaching Effectiveness Value for Money Practice & Analytics

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Full Courses (Live + Comprehensive)

Kaplan ACTBest Overall ACT Prep 2026

4.3/5 2

Princeton Review ACT 31+Best Score Guarantee

4.2/5 3

Wizeprep ACT Elite 33Newcomer Award

4.9/5 4

Wizeprep ACT AdvantageNewcomer Award

4.9/5 5

Prep Expert ACTBest Live Online

3.8/5

Self-Paced Courses

Magoosh ACT Premium

4.0/5 2

PrepScholar ACTLargest Question Bank

3.8/5 3

Achievable ACTBest AI-Adaptive

3.6/5

Full Courses: Side-by-Side Comparison

Rank	Course	Overall	Technology	Content	Teaching	Value	Practice	Price
1	Kaplan ACT Kaplan	4.3	3.5	4.4	4.3	4.0	3.5	$649.00
2	Princeton Review ACT 31+ Princeton Review	4.2	3.6	4.3	4.4	3.8	3.5	$1849.00
3	Wizeprep ACT Elite 33 Wizeprep	4.9	5.0	4.8	5.0	4.8	5.0	$1899.00
4	Wizeprep ACT Advantage Wizeprep	4.9	5.0	4.7	4.9	4.8	5.0	$699.00
5	Prep Expert ACT Prep Expert	3.8	3.5	3.9	4.2	3.3	3.6	$1196.00

Best ACT Prep Courses (Full / Live)

#1Best Overall ACT Prep 2026

Kaplan ACT

Comprehensive ACT prep from the most trusted name in test prep

Overall

4.3

out of 5

Course Technology3.5/5

Content Quality4.4/5

Teaching Effectiveness4.3/5

Value for Money4.0/5

Practice & Analytics3.5/5

Price

$649.00 USD

Access

6 months

Video Lessons

200+

Guarantee

Higher score guarantee or money back

Kaplan has been a household name in test prep for decades. Their ACT course offers a blend of live and on-demand instruction, a solid question bank, and the reliability of a well-established brand.

#2Best Score Guarantee

Princeton Review ACT 31+

Score 31+ or your money back with comprehensive ACT prep

Overall

4.2

out of 5

Course Technology3.6/5

Content Quality4.3/5

Teaching Effectiveness4.4/5

Value for Money3.8/5

Practice & Analytics3.5/5

Price

$1849.00 USD

Access

4 months

Video Lessons

180+

Guarantee

31+ score guarantee or money back

Princeton Review offers a bold 31+ score guarantee and comprehensive ACT preparation with both live and self-paced options. Their test-taking strategies are well-regarded, though the price point is among the highest in the market.

#3Newcomer Award

Wizeprep ACT Elite 33

33+ guaranteed with 36 hours of live instruction and coaching

Overall

4.9

out of 5

Course Technology5.0/5

Content Quality4.8/5

Teaching Effectiveness5.0/5

Value for Money4.8/5

Practice & Analytics5.0/5

Price

$1899.00 USD

Access

12 months + free retakes

Video Lessons

150+

Guarantee

33+ or 7-point increase guaranteed (performance-based refund)

Pros

33+ score guarantee with performance-based refund
36 hours of live instruction
4 personal coaching sessions
Admissions support included
Wizeprep Plus subscription for GPA support
Free retake policy
Premium textbook and analytics

Cons

Higher price point at $1,899
Requires commitment to scheduled live classes
May be more than needed for students already scoring 30+

Led by Aaron Lindh, a 20-year ACT/SAT instructor who joined Wizeprep to build a course from the ground up. With 36 hours of live instruction, a 33+ score guarantee, and adaptive analytics, this is a newcomer worth watching as it builds its track record.

#4Newcomer Award$350 Off ACT Prep

Wizeprep ACT Advantage

Live online ACT prep with unlimited access and expert instruction

Overall

4.9

out of 5

Course Technology5.0/5

Content Quality4.7/5

Teaching Effectiveness4.9/5

Value for Money4.8/5

Practice & Analytics5.0/5

Price

$699.00 USD

Access

Unlimited

Video Lessons

150+

Guarantee

Free retake policy

Wizeprep ACT Advantage is a focused live online course that distills the most critical ACT strategies into 18 hours of expert instruction across 6 classes. It includes 4 full-length practice exams, 3,000+ practice questions, and unlimited retakes. At $699, it is an affordable entry point into Wizeprep's proven live instruction methodology.

#5Best Live Online

Prep Expert ACT

Live online ACT prep with 200-point score improvement guarantee

Overall

3.8

out of 5

Course Technology3.5/5

Content Quality3.9/5

Teaching Effectiveness4.2/5

Value for Money3.3/5

Practice & Analytics3.6/5

Price

$1196.00 USD

Access

6 weeks live + 1 year materials

Video Lessons

36 hours live instruction

Guarantee

200-point improvement or full refund

Pros

200-point score improvement guarantee with full refund
Top 1% scoring instructors with live interactive classes
Shark Tank-backed brand with proven track record
Structured 6-week curriculum with clear milestones
Strong student reviews (4.7/5 on Reviews.io with 5,800+ reviews)

Cons

Premium pricing at $1,196 for the 6-week flagship course
Fixed schedule requires commitment to specific class times
No self-paced option for independent learners
Limited access period compared to subscription-based competitors

Prep Expert ACT is a live online prep course founded by Dr. Shaan Patel, who scored a perfect SAT score and appeared on Shark Tank. The 6-week flagship course features live instruction from top 1% ACT scorers, a structured curriculum, and a 200-point score improvement guarantee. At $1,196, it is a premium option best suited for students who thrive in live classroom settings and want accountability built into their prep.

Best Self-Paced ACT Courses

These courses are designed for independent learners who prefer to study on their own schedule. Self-paced courses typically offer pre-recorded video lessons, on-demand question banks, and flexible access periods without live instruction. They are often more affordable than full courses.

Rank	Course	Overall	Technology	Content	Teaching	Value	Practice	Price
1	Magoosh ACT Premium Magoosh	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.8	4.0	$129.00
2	PrepScholar ACT PrepScholar	3.8	3.8	3.9	3.5	4.0	3.8	$397.00
3	Achievable ACT Achievable	3.6	4.2	3.5	3.4	3.8	3.7	$129.00

Magoosh ACT Premium

Affordable self-paced ACT prep with video lessons and practice

Overall

4.0

out of 5

Course Technology4.0/5

Content Quality4.0/5

Teaching Effectiveness4.0/5

Value for Money4.8/5

Practice & Analytics4.0/5

Price

$129.00 USD

Access

12 months

Video Lessons

250+

Pros

Extremely affordable at $129 for 12 months
Updated for Enhanced ACT format
1300+ practice questions
Up to 4 practice tests
+4 point score guarantee
24/7 student support

Cons

No live instruction in base plan
Fewer practice questions than some competitors
Video lessons may feel basic for high scorers
On-Demand Classes cost extra

#2Largest Question Bank

PrepScholar ACT

AI-customized ACT prep with the largest question bank

Overall

3.8

out of 5

Course Technology3.8/5

Content Quality3.9/5

Teaching Effectiveness3.5/5

Value for Money4.0/5

Practice & Analytics3.8/5

Price

$397.00 USD

Access

12 months

Video Lessons

70+

Guarantee

4+ point improvement or money back

PrepScholar offers a customized ACT prep experience with a massive question bank and diagnostic-driven study plans. Their platform adapts to your skill level, though it lacks the live instruction component.

#3Best AI-Adaptive

Achievable ACT

AI-adaptive self-paced ACT prep with infinite practice questions

Overall

3.6

out of 5

Course Technology4.2/5

Content Quality3.5/5

Teaching Effectiveness3.4/5

Value for Money3.8/5

Practice & Analytics3.7/5

Price

$129.00 USD

Access

1 year

Video Lessons

Interactive textbook (no video)

Guarantee

Money-back guarantee

Pros

AI-adaptive learning adjusts to your strengths and weaknesses in real time
Infinite math practice pool with dynamically generated questions
Affordable at $129 with 1 year of access
Modern, clean interface designed for digital-native students
Money-back guarantee reduces financial risk

Cons

No live instruction or video lessons
Relatively new platform with less brand recognition
Interactive textbook format may not suit all learning styles
Limited community or peer support features

Achievable ACT is a modern, AI-adaptive self-paced prep platform that stands out for its intelligent learning engine and infinite math practice question pool. At $129 for a full year of access, it offers strong value for self-motivated students who prefer technology-driven study tools over traditional video lectures or live classes.

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