GRE Prep · Updated August 2026
The best GRE prep apps, tested.
We took every major GRE app's tests ourselves and scored each on four things: how close the questions feel to the real exam, how much practice you get, whether you learn from your misses, and what it costs.
A note on bias: nerzia is our own product. It's ranked second below, and we've tried to be straight about where it falls short. Nothing here is affiliate-linked.
The rankings
2nerziathe most practice, by far8.6
6Kaplanlive classes, classroom prices6.2
1ETS POWERPREP Online
8.8 /10
Free · web only · 2 full-length tests
These are real retired GRE questions from the people who write the exam — the most authentic practice that exists, and the truest benchmark of your score. The catch: there are only two free tests, and when you get a question wrong, you get nothing. No explanation, no lesson, just the next question.
Take these first, always. Then learn from your misses elsewhere.
2nerzia GRE Prep
8.6 /10
Free to start · iOS · 100+ full tests
Our own app — read this one with that in mind. What nothing else on this list offers: over a hundred tests that never repeat, a score prediction that updates live as you practice, and a step-by-step explanation for every single miss. It loses points for being iOS-only, and there are no video lessons.
The most practice of anything here, by a wide margin. Try it free →
3Magoosh GRE
7.9 /10
$60+ · web, iOS, Android · 3 practice tests
The strongest teaching library of the paid apps — over 250 video lessons, and everything is explained well. But with only three practice tests, you'll run out of material right when you need repetitions most.
Best if you learn by watching, not just doing.
4GregMat+
7.8 /10
$5/month · web only
Five dollars a month is absurd value, and the verbal strategy teaching is the best around. There's no mobile app, though, and it's thin on actual practice tests.
Pair it with nerzia for a complete stack at about $15 a month.
5Manhattan Prep GRE
7.1 /10
$30+ · books, iOS, Android
The eight strategy guides are among the best GRE books ever written. The app is just a companion to them — no adaptive practice, nothing you'd open on its own.
Great books, forgettable app.
6Kaplan GRE
6.2 /10
$400+ · web and books · live classes
The classic classroom option: live classes, real instructors, structure and accountability. Also a $400 minimum, a fixed question bank, and no mobile app in 2026.
Only if price is truly no object.
7Princeton Review GRE
6.0 /10
$200+ · web and books
The headline feature is the score guarantee: hit your target or get refunded. It's a real safety net — if you qualify. The conditions are strict, and the price is high for what the software itself does.
Read the fine print before you commit.
What we'd actually use
For most students, the strongest combination in 2026 costs $5 a month:
ETS POWERPREP to benchmark your score — free
nerzia for unlimited daily practice — free to start
GregMat+ for verbal strategy — $5/month
A fraction of a $1,600 Kaplan course.
Ready for unlimited practice?
100+ practice tests · an explanation for every miss · free to start
Try nerzia free
Common questions
What is the best GRE prep app in 2026?
Depends on your study style. For practice, nerzia offers the most tests (100+) with AI-generated questions. For video lessons, Magoosh. For official questions, ETS POWERPREP is essential. Most students combine 2–3 tools.
Can I prep for the GRE for free?
Yes. ETS POWERPREP gives 2 free full-length tests with real questions. nerzia's free trial adds full access for 3 days. Together, a solid free foundation.
How long should I study for the GRE?
Most students need 4–12 weeks. Within 5 points of your target, 4–6 weeks of daily practice may be enough. For a 10+ point jump, plan for 8–12 weeks — consistency matters more than total hours.
Is Magoosh or Kaplan better for the GRE?
Magoosh is better value ($60 vs. $400+) with more video content. Kaplan wins if you want live instruction. For pure practice, nerzia beats both, starting free.
More GRE resources
nerzia GRE PrepFree Practice TestFree DiagnosticGRE Vocabularyvs. Magooshvs. Kaplan