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• Best ACT Prep Courses 2026: Top Picks Reviewed

Best ACT Prep Courses 2026: Top Picks Reviewed

The best ACT prep classes in 2026 include Kaplan, Princeton Review, PrepScholar, Magoosh, and Achievable. To decide which one is the right fit for your child, pay attention to what each course provider offers. The main criteria for that includes teaching style, ACT sections coverage, score improvement or high score guarantee, and pricing.

Best ACT Prep Courses 2026: Quick Comparison

Provider	Trustpilot Rating	Price Range	Standout Feature
Kaplan	4.6	~$153–$722	Official ACT partner
Princeton Review	4.2	~$949–$2,199	Recommendation Engine
PrepScholar	4.6	~$397–$995	Customized study plan based on knowledge diagnostic
Magoosh	4.8	$129–$399	Video explanations
Achievable	N/A	$99	Memory science-enhanced practice

*Pricing data is taken from the official providers’ websites and is relevant as of June 2026.

If you’re looking for the best ACT tutoring, we, at Brighterly, have one-on-one reading and math online programs for K-12 students. In terms of ACT preparation, high school math tutors identify specific knowledge gaps your child has and adapt the program accordingly, not just following a preset standardized test prep curriculum.

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Our programs align with the US state standards, which means our 11th grade math and 12th grade math curricula are fit for ACT preparation. The same goes for the reading programs.

Kaplan

Best for: Getting the closest possible experience to the real ACT exam.

Kaplan stands out as an official ACT organization partner, which means the content of their practice tests comes directly from the organization that is behind the real exam.

Kaplan offers different ACT preparation formats, from a self-paced course to a tutoring option. A standard self-paced course includes 35 on-demand teacher-led video lessons and 2,000+ official ACT questions, while a live online course offers 16 hours of live instruction with professional teachers. Both options include 3 official ACT practice tests, which allow students to experience the closest thing to the real ACT exam.

Key Features

• Official ACT partner (course content developed with the test maker)
• 3 full-length practice exams (English, Math, Reading, and Science)
• Over 2,000 practice questions
• 16 hours of live instruction
• Tutoring service
• Detailed score report after every practice session
• Higher Score Guaranteed (you get your money back, if the student scores lower on the official test than during preparation).

Pricing and Plans

Kaplan pricing starts with $153 for a Self-Paced ACT test prep course, while a Live Online plan costs $552. Tutoring package is available for $722, and a College Advantage plan is $650 (includes SAT preparation and options to add on). Mind that all prices, apart from the College Advantage plan, are 15%-off promo prices.

Princeton Review

Best for: Getting study recommendations based on previous practice results.

Princeton Review ACT preparation program has a built-in Recommendation Engine feature, which automatically analyzes students’ practice results to recommend what they should review next. This approach helps to add an adaptive learning layer on top of just providing practice material in a predefined standard order.

Princeton Review also offers a specific score improvement guarantee — if the student completes all required coursework and does not improve their score, they can choose to repeat the course for free or receive a full refund.

With this provider, you can choose a preparation plan based on the ACT score you’re aiming for. The standard options are based on live instruction, but if you want your child to get a score of 34 or higher, you will need to opt for a personalized tutoring service.

Key Features

• Money-back guarantee
• 36 hours of live instruction or 18 hours of one-on-one tutoring
• Courses divided based on ACT score goal
• Recommendation Engine
• All ACT test sections coverage
• Full-length practice exams.

Pricing and Plans

Princeton Review pricing starts from $949 for an Essential plan and differs further based on what ACT score you’re aiming for. An ACT 31+ plan is $2,199, while an ACT 34+ plan with one-on-one tutoring included is $420 per hour.

PrepScholar

Best for: Self-learning with a customized study plan based on skill diagnostics.

PrepScholar ACT prep class heavily relies on previous skill diagnostics to identify the student’s ability across 51 specific ACT skills. Based on the results of this diagnostic, the platform generates a weekly practice plan. As the student moves on, the service adjusts weekly plans each week based on their performance so that they focus on material that challenges them at the right level rather than going through what they already know.

PrepScholar offers different options for practice, including a self-paced, adaptive program (also available with Admission Bootcamp), live instructor classes of up to 9 students, and one-on-one tutoring.

Key Features

• 51-skill diagnostic to create a personalized weekly practice plan
• Over 60 hours of prep content
• Over 2,800 practice questions
• Live instructor classes
• Tutoring service
• 4+ point score improvement guarantee
• All ACT test sections coverage
• Up to 6 full-length practice exams.

Pricing and Plans

PrepScholar pricing starts at $397 for a Complete Online ACT Prep and $495 for the same plan + Admission Bootcamp (help with applying to college). Live Instructor Led Classes option costs $895 and 1-on-1 Online Tutoring option is $995.

*If you’re looking for a tutor to prepare your child for an ACT exam, you can consider some of the best online tutoring platforms.

Magoosh

Best for: Self-learning with video explanations for all test questions.

Magoosh is the best ACT prep for practicing with the help of video and text explanations for each question.

The platform offers over 250 video lessons and over 1,300 practice questions. Each question includes both a text and a video walkthrough for a student to help them understand the reasoning behind it instead of just saying the answer is right or wrong.

The platform offers two preparation options — self-paced and with an instructor as part of the class. The self-paced option includes practice materials with explanations, curated study schedules, data-driven score prediction, and online help from expert ACT prep tutors.

* Magoosh reviews online state that the platform is effective for self-driven students and is affordable compared to other preparation platforms.

Key Features

• Over 250 video lessons
• Over 1,300 practice questions with video and text explanations
• Tailored study schedules
• Score prediction and progress tracking
• Classes with an expert instructor
• 4+ point score improvement guarantee
• Full-length practice exams
• All ACT test sections coverage.

Pricing and Plans

Magoosh price for its Premium 12-month Self-paced plan is $129, while the Premium + On-Demand Classes plan is $399 and also includes access to everything available on the Premium package for a year.

Achievable

Best for: Practice based on spaced repetition and active recall techniques.

Achievable is the best ACT prep course if you’re looking for a provider that relies on a memory science-enhanced practice — using spaced repetition and active recall techniques to make sure the material actually sticks.

The platform initially offers practice materials through an online textbook, and then reinforces them through repeated quizzes and practice exams. Besides, what makes Achievable stand out is its infinite math practice engine that generates endless variations of math problems by swapping out random variables, which makes it great for preparing for the math ACT section specifically.

*You can also visit some of the best math learning websites if you’re looking for a math-targeted practice.

Key Features

• Memory science-enhanced practice
• Endless math questions
• Online textbook
• Over 1,000 chapter quizzes
• Over 10 bonus videos
• AI tutor
• Adaptive study planner
• 3+ full-length practice exams
• All ACT test sections coverage
• Score improvement guarantee.

Pricing and Plans

Achievable offers only one pricing plan for its prep course, which costs $99 for one year of full access to its features and materials.

What to Look for in an ACT Prep Course

When looking for an ACT preparation course, make sure it matches your kid’s learning style, covers all necessary ACT subjects, offers a guarantee of a high or improved score, and fits your family budget in pricing. In detail, the course:

• Matches your child’s learning style. Some providers offer practice materials in the form of live instruction and tutoring for more adaptive learning, while others provide a self-paced course that students can access at any time.
• Covers all ACT sections. An ACT preparation course provider should cover all four ACT test subjects (English, Math, Reading, and Science), preferably including a full-length practice exam. However, ACT states that since 2025, the Science section of the test is optional, so if your child is not planning on taking Science in their ACT, you can look for a provider or a specific plan that focuses more on other test sections, taking into account this enhancement.
• Provides the score guarantees. Some providers offer a high score or score improvement guarantee with a money-back policy in case the child doesn’t get the promised result.
• Fits your budget. Some providers offer one preparation option, while others allow you to choose different alternatives, from self-learning to tutoring at different prices.

*For parents comparing ACT to the SAT test, find out if ACT is easier than SAT to make the right choice for your child.

How to Prepare for the ACT Beyond a Prep Course

To prepare for the ACT beyond ACT test prep classes you can try to provide a targeted, self-directed practice for your child at home. First, look for online free materials and tests, make a child take the test by simulating real ACT test conditions and analyze results/scores to target any knowledge gaps.

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Use official free materials. You can find free full-length practice exams on the ACT official website to use for home practice.

Analyze the score reports. After every practice test, review the score report and mistakes in detail. Notice if there are any patterns in wrong answers that could point to a specific learning gap.

Simulate real test conditions. When your child takes a practice test at home, make sure to time the exam and create a distraction-free environment to create conditions similar to the real ACT test. This way, a child will be more mentally prepared when they actually take the real test.

*Find out how you can address learning gaps in mathematics specifically. 

Conclusion

To choose the best act test prep courses, consider the provider that matches your goals most. Kaplan is great as an official ACT partner that also offers different preparation options. Princeton Review is great with learning recommendations, while PrepScholar’s standout feature is a highly customized study plan. If you want a solid ACT preparation platform for a lower price, Magoosh and Achievable can be your choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need an ACT Prep Course to Get a High Score?

No, you don’t necessarily need to take an ACT prep course to get a high score. Students can achieve great results through self-study, but only if they are fine with learning on their own and are disciplined enough to practice and use free resources.

How Much Does an ACT Prep Course Typically Cost?

The price of an online ACT prep course can span a very wide range, depending on the course provider and learning approach. For example, a self-paced course can start at $99 on the Achievable platform, while live instruction and one-on-one tutoring options can start from $399 on Magoosh and reach $2,199 on Princeton Review.

Can ACT Prep Courses Really Raise Your Score?

Yes, ACT preparation courses can help raise your score. That is why most platforms that provide such courses offer a score improvement guarantee. Also, a September 2025 research by the American Educational Research Association proves the effectiveness of prep courses, showing evidence that test preparation significantly improves students’ test performance, including ACT, although with results varying depending on how preparation is designed.

How Long Should I Study Before Taking the ACT?

An average time students spend studying before taking the ACT test is 10 to 40 hours spread across 8 to 12 weeks before the exam. However, it all depends on the gap between your current practice score and your target score.

What Is a Good ACT Score for College Admissions?

A good ACT score is very relevant, but since the national average ACT composite score is 19.5 out of 36, according to NCES 2023 data (no newer data available), a score of 24 or higher is considered competitive for most college-bound students. However, highly selective schools can expect an ACT score of 29 and higher.