When I was prepping for the GRE, I kept hearing two names over and over: Kaplan Test Prep and Target Test Prep. I wanted something that fit my learning style but also gave me real results. Kaplan looked like the classic choice—it’s been around forever, and their in-person options were tempting. But then I found out about Target Test Prep. It felt more modern, more focused—especially for people who like studying online at their own pace.
If you’re stuck choosing between the two, I get it. In this comparison of Kaplan Test Prep vs Target Test Prep, I’ll break down what each course offers, how they teach, and who they’re best for. Whether you like structure or flexibility, this should help you pick the right one.
Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan has been a trusted name in test prep for over 80 years. That’s a lot of experience. They offer test prep for nearly every major exam — SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, NCLEX, and more. Kaplan’s courses come in various formats: live online classes, self-paced learning, private tutoring, and in-person options in select cities.
Kaplan is known for:
- Comprehensive content
- Tons of practice questions and tests
- High-quality video lessons
- Strong instructor-led support
- Polished online platform and mobile app
They’ve helped millions of students achieve their target scores.
Target Test Prep (TTP)
Target Test Prep is a newer player, focusing mainly on the GMAT, GRE, and recently, the SAT. It’s most well-known for its deep-dive, topic-by-topic approach to math-heavy exams. TTP doesn’t offer in-person classes or live lectures. It’s a fully self-paced, online-only program.
TTP is known for:
- Intense math prep
- Extremely detailed step-by-step lessons
- A logical, linear curriculum structure
- Affordable pricing compared to competitors
Target Test Prep built its brand on students who struggled with quant sections — and it shows. They’re very focused, but that can be a blessing or a curse depending on your learning style.
Key Features Comparison
📱 1. Platform Design & Usability
Kaplan
- Clean, modern interface with easy navigation
- Customizable study schedules
- Seamless transition between lessons, quizzes, flashcards, and videos
- Professional-grade UX feels intuitive and stress-free
- Includes performance dashboards to track strengths and weaknesses
Target Test Prep
- Functional but very minimalist interface
- Highly linear progression — can’t skip easily
- Limited interactivity beyond question sets and text-based lessons
- Some report bugs/glitches on certain browsers
- No app or offline access
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan’s platform is user-friendly, visually appealing, and optimized for different devices. It feels like a premium education experience. TTP feels more like a well-made spreadsheet.
📚 2. Course Structure & Flexibility
Kaplan
- Offers multiple study formats:
- Live online classes
- Self-paced on-demand programs
- Bootcamps for crash prep
- Private tutoring
- You can jump between topics or create personalized study paths
- Offers modular course options across 10+ exams
Target Test Prep
- Entirely self-paced, linear progression
- Designed primarily for quant mastery (GMAT/GRE)
- Not much flexibility to rearrange topics
- No live instruction or tutoring included
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Whether you want to follow a schedule or freestyle your learning, Kaplan supports you. TTP only supports one way of learning — linear and solo.
🧠 3. Content Quality (Quant + Verbal)
Kaplan
- Balanced content across quant, verbal, writing, logic (depending on the test)
- High-quality video lessons with expert instructors
- Updated frequently based on official test changes
- Practice questions reflect real exam difficulty and tone
Target Test Prep
- Excellent quant content: deep, rigorous, detailed explanations
- Verbal content is limited and recent; lacks polish and depth
- No writing sections or test-specific strategies for MCAT, SAT, or LSAT
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan covers all sections of the exam with top-tier content. TTP may be amazing at quant, but it’s not a full solution for most standardized tests.
🧑🏫 4. Live Classes & Instructor Access
Kaplan
- Real-time classes with instructors for GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, SAT, ACT, and more
- Access to office hours, recorded sessions, and 1-on-1 tutoring
- Small class sizes, Q&A, and breakout rooms
- All instructors are certified test experts
Target Test Prep
- No live instruction at all
- Self-study only
- Offers email support or paid “strategy sessions” on premium plans
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan’s live classes provide direct interaction with experts, boosting motivation and accountability. TTP’s lack of real human guidance is a major downside.
📝 5. Practice Questions & Tests
Kaplan
- Thousands of official-style questions for each test
- Multiple full-length practice tests (adaptive, where applicable)
- Includes actual past questions (e.g., MCAT via AAMC partnership)
- Questions broken into skill-based quizzes, timed drills, and strategy sections
Target Test Prep
- Robust question banks, especially for quant
- No built-in full-length practice exams — must create your own mock test
- No official questions from test makers
- Strong explanations, but not always exam-realistic formatting
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan offers a more realistic test-day experience and access to official materials, which builds test confidence. TTP is better for drilling skills than simulating exams.
📊 6. Test-Taking Strategies & Analytics
Kaplan
- Includes strategy lessons for time management, guessing, pacing, and test anxiety
- Real-time performance analytics and adaptive feedback
- Personalized study recommendations
- Goal-tracking tools to help you stay on pace
Target Test Prep
- Focuses heavily on content mastery, especially for quant
- Has performance analytics, but less strategic test guidance
- Doesn’t help much with non-academic test challenges (e.g., nerves, stamina)
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan trains your brain and your mindset. TTP trains just your brain — which is good, but not enough for full test success.
🧑🤝🧑 7. Support & Community
Kaplan
- 24/7 tech and content support
- Active online communities and live student forums
- Instructors often reply to questions within the platform
- Private tutoring options available
Target Test Prep
- Offers email-based support
- No live chat or instructor Q&A
- No peer forums or learning community
- Very little instructor interaction unless you book a strategy session
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan gives you a full support system — human instructors, peer groups, and tutors. TTP is more of a solo journey.
📱 8. Mobile Access
Kaplan
- Full-featured mobile app
- Stream video lessons, review flashcards, take quizzes
- Syncs across devices
- Great for learning during commutes or travel
Target Test Prep
- No dedicated mobile app
- Web version can work on tablets, but not optimized for mobile use
- Studying on the go is clunky at best
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan fits into your lifestyle. TTP keeps you tied to a laptop.
💵 9. Pricing & Guarantees
Kaplan
- Prices range from $399 to $2,499, depending on the program
- Includes live teaching, official materials, and strategy support
- Score improvement guarantees
- Access periods are typically longer than TTP’s subscription plans
Target Test Prep
- Starts at $149/month
- Cancel anytime — affordable short-term option
- Offers 100% money-back guarantee, but with strict conditions
- No tutoring or live help included
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: While Kaplan costs more, it offers more value per dollar. If you want to improve more than just your quant score, Kaplan is the better investment.
🌟 10. Overall Value & Reputation
Kaplan
- Trusted by millions of students over 80+ years
- Used by schools, universities, and educational institutions worldwide
- Consistently positive reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, GMAT Club, and YouTube
- Delivers results across a wide range of standardized tests
Target Test Prep
- Highly respected in GMAT and GRE quant circles
- Strong niche reputation
- Less known or relevant for SAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT
- Still expanding and refining verbal content
✅ Why Kaplan Wins: Kaplan is the complete, battle-tested prep solution with the legacy and tools to match. TTP is more niche, intense, and quant-focused, but not a full-service prep brand.
🏆 Final Summary: Why Kaplan Wins in Every Aspect
| Feature | Kaplan ✅ | Target Test Prep ❌ |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Usability | ✅ | ❌ |
| Course Flexibility | ✅ | ❌ |
| Verbal + Quant Coverage | ✅ | ❌ (quant-only edge) |
| Live Classes | ✅ | ❌ |
| Full-Length Practice Tests | ✅ | ❌ |
| Realistic Test Experience | ✅ | ❌ |
| Strategy & Mindset Training | ✅ | ❌ |
| Instructor Access | ✅ | ❌ |
| Mobile Learning | ✅ | ❌ |
| All-Subject Support | ✅ | ❌ |
| Community & Tutoring | ✅ | ❌ |
| Proven Track Record | ✅ | ❌ (smaller reach) |
✅ The Bottom Line: Go with Kaplan
Kaplan wins not just because it’s bigger — it wins because it’s better at everything. More features. More support. More realism. More results.
If you’re serious about crushing your exam and you want a trusted team behind you — Kaplan is the clear choice. Target Test Prep is great if you want to fix your quant score and you’re highly self-motivated, but for a complete prep journey, Kaplan checks every single box.
📊 Kaplan Test Prep vs Target Test Prep: Pros & Cons
📊 Kaplan Test Prep
Pros:
- Comprehensive subject coverage (verbal, quant, writing, strategy) for multiple exams (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.)
- Live instruction options (live classes, private tutoring, bootcamps)
- High-quality practice materials (official-style questions, full-length tests)
- Real-time feedback and personalized study plans
- Mobile app and offline access for studying on the go
- Score improvement guarantee (money-back if score doesn’t improve)
- Detailed test-taking strategies (time management, guessing techniques, pacing, etc.)
- Trusted reputation and long track record (80+ years)
- Interactive learning with multimedia resources (videos, quizzes, practice sets)
Cons:
- Expensive compared to other prep providers
- Live classes and bootcamps may fill up quickly, requiring early sign-up
- Large volume of materials can feel overwhelming for some students
🎯 Target Test Prep (TTP)
Pros:
- Deep quant prep with step-by-step lessons for GMAT/GRE math
- Affordable monthly subscription model (as low as $149/month)
- Highly structured, linear learning path for easy tracking
- Detailed explanations for practice questions, focusing on content mastery
- Strong analytics dashboard to track progress and weaknesses
- Self-paced with flexibility to study on your own schedule
- Excellent for students focusing on math-heavy sections
Cons:
- Quant-focused only; lacks verbal, writing, and other test sections (not suitable for SAT/ACT/LSAT/MCAT)
- No live classes or instructor support (self-study only)
- No mobile app or offline access for studying on the go
- No full-length practice exams included; need to create mock tests manually
- Limited support for non-quant exams (e.g., MCAT, SAT, ACT)
- Can feel dry or repetitive without interactive content
Kaplan vs Target Test Prep: Pricing Comparison
Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan offers a wide range of pricing depending on the test you’re preparing for, the type of prep package you choose, and the level of support you need.
Pricing Breakdown:
1. Self-Paced Courses: Starting at $399 (e.g., SAT, ACT, GRE).
2. Live Online Classes: Starting around $899 (can vary based on the exam — e.g., GRE, GMAT, LSAT).
3. Private Tutoring: Typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,000+ depending on the number of sessions and the subject.
4. Bootcamps (intensive, short-term prep): Around $1,199 to $2,499 (e.g., for GRE or GMAT).
5. Money-Back Guarantee: Kaplan offers a score improvement guarantee, so if your score doesn’t improve after following the prep plan, you can request a refund (terms apply).
Target Test Prep (TTP)
Target Test Prep uses a monthly subscription model, which is ideal for students who prefer flexibility.
Pricing Breakdown:
1. GMAT Prep: Around $149/month for a subscription to their full course (you can cancel at any time).
2. GRE Prep: Similar pricing to the GMAT course, starting at $149/month.
3. No live instruction or tutoring options — only self-paced lessons.
4. Free Trial: TTP offers a free trial to test out their content before committing.
5. Money-Back Guarantee: TTP provides a money-back guarantee if you don’t improve your score (under specific conditions).
Why Kaplan Wins in Pricing
While Target Test Prep offers a low-cost, self-paced option, Kaplan’s pricing is justified by its more comprehensive prep options, additional resources, and better support systems. For students who want a complete test prep experience, including access to live classes, instructor support, and high-quality practice tests, Kaplan offers much more value for your investment.
If you’re serious about improving your score and want a full-service experience with the flexibility to choose from various learning formats, Kaplan’s slightly higher price tag is worth it for the additional resources, live help, and comprehensive support you get.
Final Verdict: Why Kaplan Wins Overall
Kaplan simply delivers more value, more support, and more results. They’ve been in the game longer, and it shows. Whether you’re prepping for the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or SAT, Kaplan offers a full-package solution that includes:
- Live instruction
- Realistic practice
- Verified score improvements
- Adaptive tools
- Human support
- A proven track record
Target Test Prep is a fantastic quant booster — and if you’re laser-focused on GMAT or GRE math, it might be your best short-term option. But it’s not a complete prep solution for most students.
Bottom line? If you want comprehensive prep that adapts to your needs and maximizes your chances, Kaplan is the smarter investment.
FAQ’s
Does Kaplan offer live classes?
Yes, Kaplan provides extensive live and on-demand classes with expert instructors.
Is Kaplan more established in the test prep industry?
Absolutely — Kaplan has decades of proven success and brand trust worldwide.
Does Kaplan provide printed study materials?
Yes, Kaplan includes comprehensive printed books and resources alongside digital content.
Can I access Kaplan’s mobile app for studying on the go?
Definitely — Kaplan’s mobile-friendly platform makes studying flexible and accessible.
Is Kaplan’s course structure broader in scope?
Yes, Kaplan covers all test sections with balanced depth, unlike TTP’s heavy quant focus.
