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Best GRE prep in 2026: courses, apps and free practice

The best GRE prep depends on your budget and how you like to learn. Start with the two free official ETS practice tests. GregMat is the cheapest full course, Magoosh suits self-paced video study, and Manhattan Prep suits live classes. Anki or StudyPDF handle vocabulary from your own word lists. Prices are as of October 2026.

  • Checked October 2026

Pick by what you need

  • ETS Official GRE PrepRealistic practice tests from the people who write the GRE
  • GregMatA full study plan and live classes on a tight budget
  • MagooshSelf-paced video lessons with a video for every question
StudyPDFThat's us

Vocabulary cards and quizzes from your own word lists

At a glance

ToolFree tierPrice (October 2026)Platforms
ETS Official GRE PrepTwo full POWERPREP tests and a 10-question mini quizPOWERPREP PLUS: $44.95 per extra testWeb
GregMatA full practice exam and Vocab MountainPlus $11.99 a month, with PrepSwift $14.99 a monthWeb
Magoosh7-day free trial with 20+ questions and lessons$149 for 1 month, $179 for 6 monthsWeb
Manhattan PrepFree classes, events and a GRE starter kitOn demand $299 to $499, live course about $1,399 to $1,599Web, live online
AnkiFree on desktop and Android, AnkiWeb sync is freeiPhone and iPad app: one-time $24.99Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web
StudyPDFThat's usAbout 4 materials a week, 2 courses, no credit cardPro and Ultra plans, see the pricing pageWeb, iPhone, iPad, Android
Prices as of October 2026. Check the vendor's site for the current price.

Tool by tool

ETS Official GRE Prep

Realistic practice tests from the people who write the GRE

ETS makes the GRE and sells its own prep. Two POWERPREP practice tests are free, one untimed and one timed. Extra POWERPREP PLUS tests, the official books and the GRE Mentor course cost money.

Strengths

  • The closest thing to the real test, in format and difficulty
  • Two full practice tests cost nothing

Limits

  • Only two free tests, so save them for a baseline and a final check
  • Little teaching: it shows you the test more than how to beat it
Official site

GregMat

A full study plan and live classes on a tight budget

GregMat is a GRE course built around daily study plans, live classes and quizzes. A lot of it is free, including a full-length practice exam and a vocabulary tool.

Strengths

  • Costs a fraction of the big courses, billed month by month
  • Daily study plans tell you exactly what to do each day

Limits

  • Mostly video and live classes, so it suits people who learn by listening
  • Less polished than the large prep companies
Official site

Magoosh

Self-paced video lessons with a video for every question

Magoosh sells a self-paced GRE course with video lessons, more than 1,600 practice questions and up to 6 practice tests. It often runs sales, so the price you see can be lower.

Strengths

  • Every practice question comes with an explanation
  • Six months of access costs only a little more than one

Limits

  • No live classes on the basic plans
  • Its practice tests are not official ETS tests
Official site

Manhattan Prep

Live classes with a teacher and a fixed schedule

Manhattan Prep offers live GRE courses, an on-demand video course and private tutoring, plus adaptive practice tests. It is part of the same group as Kaplan.

Strengths

  • Live teaching and a schedule, if you study better with structure
  • Strong strategy content for hard Quant and Verbal questions

Limits

  • The live course is one of the most expensive options here
  • More than you need if your target is only a few points away
Official site

Anki

Daily vocabulary review with spaced repetition

Anki is a free, open-source flashcard app that schedules each review for the day you are about to forget. Many GRE students use shared word decks or build their own.

Strengths

  • Spaced repetition makes a few hundred words stick with minutes a day
  • Shared GRE decks and add-ons

Limits

  • You write or find every card yourself
  • Vocabulary only: it does not teach Quant or test strategy
Official site

StudyPDF

That's us

Vocabulary cards and quizzes from your own word lists

Upload your GRE word lists, prep book chapters or class notes. StudyPDF turns them into flashcards and quizzes, and tracks which words you keep missing so the next set targets them. Bo, the tutor, answers questions from your files with the page cited. Anki export comes with Pro and up. The free plan needs an account but no credit card, and gives you about 4 materials a week.

Strengths

  • Cards come from the words you actually need, not a generic list
  • Anki export (.apkg) on Pro and up, so cards can move to your Anki
  • Free 20-card GRE vocabulary deck in the browser

Limits

  • Not a GRE course: no official questions and no adaptive tests
  • Weekly caps on every plan
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How we picked

  • We started from what GRE prep needs: realistic practice tests, a way to learn strategy, and daily vocabulary review.
  • Free tiers and prices come from each vendor's own site, checked October 2026. Magoosh often runs sales, so we list the regular price.
  • We sort by use case, not by rank. Every tool has a real strength and a real limit, StudyPDF included.
  • We left out tools whose price or content we could not confirm on their own site.

More on this

The GRE General Test takes about two hours: one essay, two Verbal sections and two Quant sections. Take one free official practice test before you buy anything. The gap between that score and your target tells you how long to plan for, often 4 to 12 weeks, and which section deserves the money.

A simple stack works for most people: official ETS material for realistic practice, one course for strategy, and a flashcard app for vocabulary. Words decide a lot of Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, and a few cards a day beat a long list you read once. Our guide at studypdf.net/answers/how-to-study-for-the-gre lays out a week-by-week plan, and studypdf.net/use-cases/gre-prep-ai shows how to turn your own prep books into practice.

StudyPDF also has a free 20-card GRE vocabulary deck in the browser at studypdf.net/quizzes/gre-vocabulary-flashcards. Each card gives a meaning, an example sentence and a memory hook. Our team wrote it; it is not official ETS material.

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  • StudyPDF vs Anki

Questions and answers

What is the best GRE prep?

Start with the free ETS POWERPREP tests, then add one course that fits your budget: GregMat if money is tight, Magoosh for self-paced video, Manhattan Prep for live classes. Add a flashcard app for vocabulary.

Is there free GRE prep that is any good?

Yes. ETS gives two full POWERPREP practice tests for free, GregMat has a free practice exam, and Anki is free on desktop and Android. StudyPDF has a free 20-card GRE vocabulary deck.

How long should I study for the GRE?

Plans of 4 to 12 weeks are common. Take a free official practice test first. If you are close to your target, a few weeks of focused practice can be enough; a big gap needs a longer plan.

What is the best GRE prep app for vocabulary?

Anki works well if you are happy to build or download decks. StudyPDF builds cards and quizzes from your own word lists and prep books and exports them to Anki on Pro.

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