I know just about everyone can agree with me when I say:
It is really hard trying to find which ACT prep course is best for you.
With so many options, features, prices, and guarantees it becomes very hard to choose between all of the different classes offered. It also becomes difficult finding the review class that will suit your needs without breaking the bank. The ACT is a difficult exam, and has a big say on your future.
That is why I have created this post of the best ACT prep courses. After spending countless hours researching these review courses and companies, I have shortlisted the top review classes that can help you score higher on your exam.
The prices listed in our comparison table below reflect the most popular choices from each exam review company.
TestPrepHQ may be compensated through the links in the post below, but the opinions are our own.
Ready to roll?
ACT Prep Course Comparison Table
| Ranking | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prep Course |  |  |  |  |  |
| Award |   |  |  | ||
| Price | $799 | $399/month | $899 | $899 | $99 |
| Course Hours | 60 | N/A | 25 | 18 | N/A |
| Course Types Offered | Live in-person Live online On-demand online | On-demand online | Live in-person Live online On-demand online | Live in-person Live online On-demand online | On-demand online |
| Trial | N/A | 2-week risk free trial | 90 minute trial class | N/A | 7 day trial |
| More Details | Read full review > | Read full review > | Read full review > | Read full review > | Read full review > |
Best Overall and Best Value ACT Prep Course
Prep Expert ACT Prep Course Review
CLICK THROUGH TO PREP EXPERT
The ACT review classes by Prep Expert are hands down the best in the business. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it.
They were recently featured on the hit TV show Shark Tank. Billionaire invested Mark Cuban was so impressed with the company that he decided to join the team and become an owner. This really says a lot about the quality of the company and the services that they offer.
You can see their segment on Shark Tank here.
Like the top 3 choices on our list, Prep Expert offers their classes in the 3 main formats: on-demand online, live online, and live in-person. The live online classroom option is their most popular option. The live online classroom option is where the student will sit down in front of a computer and participate in a live video conference with the teacher and other students. The teach will go over problems in the virtual classroom while the student watches and participates.
One thing that puts Prep Expert above the rest is the fact that all of their classes are taught by 99th percentile scorers. This means that every teacher they have has either gotten a perfect ACT score, or was only a question or 2 off. Many companies skip out by hiring lower quality teachers, but Prep expert goes above and beyond the norm. This is very helpful for the students because the teachers will be able to answer each and every question that the student may have. The teachers have been there before and succeeded.
Since these teachers are the best of the best, you also get access to their secret tips and tricks. Prep Expert is famous for their "100 tips from a perfect scorer". These tips really allow you to slip past the test makers tricks and speed through the test on exam day.
Their live classroom options, in-person and online, are a full 60 hours. This is a lot longer than the other test preparation companies on our list, sometimes close to 3 times as long. And with this length, Prep Expert does not cost more at all, or is even cheaper than other options. More hours means that the teachers can go over every scenario and problem, helping to increase your score. Why settle for less when you can have more?
Along with the course you will receive 2 ACT prep books for free. One of the ACT books that you receive, the official ACT guide, is the top pick on our list of the best review books for the ACT! The other book is a guide written by a perfect scorer on how to get a perfect score yourself.
And last, but not least, the one thing that sets Prep Expert apart from everyone else the most is their ridiculous guarantee. You are guaranteed to increase your ACT score by 4 points or your money back. Most test preparation companies only offer a measly 1 point guarantee, and Prep Expert knocks it out of the park.
The only weakness that we could find with Prep Expert's class offerings is that they only offer in-person classes in 10 large US cities. If you live outside of these cities, you may not be able to find an in-person class offering for you.
Because of the plethora of strengths, and only 1 minor weakness, we rank Prep Expert as our number 1 top rated overall ACT prep course.
Pros
- 4-point score improvement guarantee
- 99th percentile class instructors
- 60 course hours in 6 weeks
- 100 strategies by a perfect score student
- Shark Tank winning company
Cons
- Low number of in-person locations
Top Pick On-Demand ACT Prep Course
Testive ACT Prep Course Review
The ACT course offered by Testive is ranked as our best overall on-demand online prep class for the ACT (They also offer SAT prep courses, FYI.).
Unlike the other companies on our list, Testive does not offer live classroom options, either online or in-person. They specialize in on-demand courses. Many parents shy away from on-demand courses because they feel that their students will not be as motivated or will not take their studying seriously unless they are held responsible by an instructor. Testive solves this issue in a really unique and exclusive way.
The course offered by Testive includes weekly meetings with a test preparation coach. Your coach will keep you motivated and on the right track to ACT success. Come up with a study plan with your coach and work on it at your best convenience. You will instantly receive feedback on if your studies are working or not.
These test preparation coaches are also great because they are 99th percentile scorers, like the top 2 choices on our list. They should be able to answer any questions you have about the exam or any problems included within the course no problem.
Since Testive only offers on-demand classes, they have honed it to perfection. The technology behind the course was developed at MIT. These two features called "smart questions" and "score predictions" allows the course technology to guide to to which questions and problems will increase your score fastest for the exam. This helps to save you time and frustration, a greater score increase in less time.
On-demand format is perfect for students that do not have a lot of free time during the day. It can be very difficult trying to get into a good school because they require more than just a good test score, and extracurricular and community service. These commitments take a lot of time and Testive understands that and has created this class that can fit around your schedule.
The review class also comes with:
1) Unlimited access to +3,000 "Smart Questions"
2) Over 50 hours of instructional videos
Like nearly every other test prep company, Testive offers a score increase guarantee.
The main flaw of this course is that there is no true live option. A live course with MIT's technology would be a great addition, but alas. Because of its many strengths and very few flaws, we rank Testive and our top overall pick for on-demand online ACT prep courses.
Pros
- Adaptive technology developed at MIT that saves you time and frustration
- Weekly coaching sessions that keeps the student on track
- Great for time-strapped students with busy schedules
-Score increase guarantee
Cons
- No live in-person or online options
#3 Best Overall ACT Prep Course
Veritas ACT Prep Course Review
The preparation classes offered by Veritas Prep are our 3rd best option for the ACT.
Like the other top 3 choices on our list, Veritas offers their review courses in the on-demand online, live online and live in-person varieties. Their most popular option the the live on-line classroom option.
Just like the other top choice on our list, Veritas only has teachers that have scored in the 99th percentile. There should be no difference between the ACT abilities of Prep Expert and Veritas. They are literally 1 in 100, and their high quality definitely shows. They should be able to answer any question that you may have about the exam or any problems.
Along with access to the teachers during the classroom sessions, you also get 24/7 access through email and online live office hours. These are very useful when you are practicing outside of class time and have questions about problems that you are facing. This feature is exclusive to Veritas, and is not offered by other test preparation companies.
Veritas offers 25 classroom hours in their live classroom options. This is much larger than the industry standard of 18, but falls very short of the 60 classroom hours offered by Prep Expert. With the 7 extra hours compared to the standard test preparation companies, Veritas uses this extra time to go over more advanced questions and problems. This really helps to increase your score if you are a good ACT scorer. Some classes just cover the basics, but Veritas goes above and beyond. Test review courses are not just for low scorers!
The review class also includes:
1) 3 official practice exams
2) Unlimited access to online homework help
3) 12 months of access to On Demand videos
4) A free repeat of your course free of charge
Like nearly every other test preparation company, Veritas offers a score increase guarantee. Their guarantee is only for 1 point however, falling short of Prep Expert's 4 point score increase guarantee. If your score does not increase, you are eligible for your money back.
Because of its many strong points, and few weaknesses, we rank Veritas Prep's ACT review classes as our 2nd best overall to prepare for the exam.
Pros
- 99th percentile teachers
- Designed for more advanced students in mind
- Live online office hours
- Score increase guarantee
Cons
- Less classroom hours than Prep Expert
#4 Best Overall ACT Prep Course
Kaplan Test Prep ACT Prep Course Review
The ACT review courses offered by Kaplan are the 3rd best on our list of the best ACT prep courses.
Kaplan is very well known in the test preparation world, and their review classes really stand out compared other options available.
Similar to the other review options above, Kaplan offers classes in the 3 main options: on-demand online, live online and live in-person. Even though their live online classroom options are the most popular, they have plenty of locations for in-person classroom courses. They offer classes in nearly every state and in most major cities, a lot more than the top 2 choices on our list. This makes attending in-person classes and a lot cheaper and easier still you will spend less time and money getting there.
While choosing their teachers, Kaplan puts less emphasis on past test scores and more on teaching ability and compassion. Many great sport coaches and teachers were not legends at their sport, but really knew the ins and outs and how to teach others. Kaplan takes this approach when choosing their instructors.
One great positive about Kaplan's offering is that they will customize your review plan according to your own strengths and weaknesses. No longer be left behind in class when you do not understand or held back when you know what is going on.
Kaplan review courses also include:
1) The ACT Channel, including 30+ hours of interactive live teaching, a Kaplan exclusive
2) 8 practice tests, 4 proctored, with score analysis integrated into your course
3) 2 preparation books and more than 1000 practice questions
At 18 hours, Kaplans classroom course offering is shorter than the top 2 choices on our list, but is in line with the industry standard. This can be sometimes useful for those students with tight schedules, but we would really like to see some more classroom hours offered.
Also, like the other test preparation companies on our list, Kaplan does offer a score increase guarantee. This guarantee is not as good as Prep Expert's, but it is still offered, nonetheless.
Kaplan offers a high quality course, but is held back by some weaknesses. Because of this we rank Kaplan's ACT course offerings as our 4th best overall recommended review course.
Pros
- Instructors uniquely rated based on things other than past test scores
- Your preparation plan is customized based on your strong points and weak points
- Many location options for live in-person classes
- Score increase guarantee
Cons
- Small number of course hours compared to the others on our list
- Instructors are not 99th percentile scorers like other companies offer
Budget Pick ACT Prep Course
Magoosh ACT Prep Course Review
The Magoosh ACT prep course offers are our budget pick on our list of the best ACT prep classes.
Magoosh, like Testive above, only offers an on-demand online course. They do not offer classroom type formats, online or in person. The type of format that they offer allows the student to study when it is best for them, not just when a class is offered.
Magoosh is known for having an easy to follow format and tons of content. Students should be able to focus on studying from the moment they sit down to the moment they are done studying. And with tons of questions, they should not run out of problems to work on.
The one thing that they are known best for is their low price. At only $99, you get access to all of their video lessons and problems for 6 full months. This is enough time to easily prepare yourself for the exam and barely costs more than a test review book.
Magoosh also includes:
1) Over 200 video lessons
2) Over 700 practice questions
3) Study schedules to use to map out your study time
Like the other offering on our list, Magoosh does offer a score increase guarantee, although you may need to finish every problem to be eligible.
The one main drawback about Magoosh is that you do not receive any help from instructors or coaches. This can be very helpful when you are studying and get stuck or need some extra pointers. I think this would be a great offering that they can hopefully add in the future.
Because of its super low price, but still great offering, we rank Magoosh as our budget pick on our list of the best ACT prep courses.
Pros
- Ultra-low price
- Simple design and plenty of content
- Score increase guarantee
Cons
- No live, in-person or online, option
- No live interaction with teachers or coaches
Our Suggestions
Our suggestions help offer the most cost effective way for you to choose the perfect ACT class for your needs. There are many different options and formats to pick from, and it can be somewhat difficult to decide. Because of this, we suggest to:
Take the Prep Expert ACT prep course if you are looking for the best overall or best value live online course.
If you are looking for a live in-person course and Prep Expert classes are not offered in your area, then pick either Veritas or Kaplan, as their in-person offerings are more expansive.
Time-strapped students may find it difficult to find time for a live course with required time slots. In this case an on-demand style prep course would be the best choice. Testive offers the best on-demand prep course around.
And, if you are looking for a budget option, Magoosh would be your best choice.
Best ACT Prep Courses: Reviewed
| ACT Prep Course | Award | |
| 1 | Prep Expert | Best Overall and Best Value |
| 2 | Testive | Top Pick for On-Demand |
| 3 | Magoosh | Budget Pick |
