Khan Academy SAT Prep vs Princeton Review

An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top test prep services picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.

Khan Academy SAT Prep

Khan Academy SAT Prep

Ranked #4 of 15 in this directory

Free official SAT practice in partnership with College Board

Free
Princeton Review

Princeton Review

Ranked #2 of 15 in this directory

Expert tutors and adaptive technology for higher scores

Paid

Our pick: Princeton Review. Our editors rank Princeton Review higher overall in Test Prep Services — but Khan Academy SAT Prep can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review

Compare the details

Khan Academy SAT PrepPrinceton Review
Pricing modelFreePaid
Starting priceFreeSee website
CategorySat ActSat Act
Editorial rank#4 of 15#2 of 15

Strengths

Khan Academy SAT Prep

  • Completely free with no hidden costs or upsells
  • Official partnership with College Board ensures authentic practice material
  • Personalized study plan based on PSAT results or diagnostic
  • Thousands of practice problems with video explanations
  • Full-length official practice tests available

Princeton Review

  • Adaptive technology personalizes study plans to individual weaknesses
  • High-quality instructors with strong test score credentials
  • Comprehensive course options for all major exams
  • Detailed score reports and performance analytics
  • Both self-paced and live instruction formats available

Watch out for

Khan Academy SAT Prep

  • !Only covers the SAT, not ACT or other exams
  • !No live instruction or tutor support
  • !Self-paced format requires strong self-motivation
  • !Limited advanced strategies compared to premium prep courses

Princeton Review

  • !Full courses are among the most expensive in the industry
  • !Not affiliated with Princeton University despite the name
  • !Some online materials can feel repetitive
  • !Private tutoring rates are very high

Best use cases

Khan Academy SAT Prep

  • High school students who want quality SAT prep without any cost
  • Students looking to supplement paid prep with official College Board materials
  • Families on a tight budget needing reliable SAT preparation resources

Princeton Review

  • Students wanting personalized adaptive study plans for the SAT or ACT
  • MCAT candidates seeking structured long-term preparation
  • Learners who benefit from detailed performance analytics to target weak areas

About each tool

Khan Academy SAT Prep

Khan Academy offers completely free SAT preparation created in direct partnership with the College Board, makers of the SAT. The platform provides personalized practice recommendations based on PSAT scores or diagnostic quizzes, with thousands of practice problems and full-length practice tests.

Princeton Review

The Princeton Review combines adaptive learning technology with expert instructors to deliver personalized test prep experiences. Offering courses for SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT, the platform tailors practice to individual weaknesses and provides detailed performance analytics.

Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.

See all Test Prep Services