Best MCAT® Prep Courses for 2025-2026
We know how important your MCAT score is and how many prep options there are. So, we broke down the most popular courses to help you find the right fit. From pricing to practice quality to platform design, here's how they compare and where we stand out.
Best Self-Paced MCAT Prep Course Comparison
| Feature | UWorld | Kaplan | Blueprint | Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $999-$1,349 | $1,599-$2,599+ | $1,199–$1,499+ | $1,599-$1,999+ |
| Access Duration | 3, 6, or 12 months | 4, 6, or 12 months | 3 or 6 months | 6 or 12 months |
| Printed Prep Books | 6 Science, 2 specialized CARS books | 6 Science, 1 CARS book | 5 Science, 1 CARS book | 7 Science, 1 CARS book |
| eBooks | Interactive eBooks with study tools | eBooks in PDF form | eBooks in PDF form | No eBooks |
| Concept Checks | Available with detailed, step-by-step solutions | Available solutions are mainly text-based | Available solutions are mainly text-based | Available solutions are mainly text-based |
| Practice Questions | 3,000+ questions | 3,000+ questions | 5,000+ questions | 4,900+ questions |
| Video Lessons | 600+ (3-6 min, high-yield videos) | 300 Explainer videos, 90 content refresher videos | 500+ videos | 500+ videos |
| Full-Length Exams | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pre-Built Flashcards | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Study Plan | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Best MCAT Prep Course for Visual Learners
If you learn best through visuals or just want the science to feel a little less abstract, we are the only MCAT course that gets it right.
Most courses use low-res textbook images or generic charts. We build every visual in-house, from scratch. Ours aren't just illustrations; they're teaching tools created by a team of subject matter experts with advanced degrees and talented illustrators working together to simplify complex topics. Everything is purpose-built to explain one idea step-by-step, clearly and without fluff.
You'll see the same high-quality visuals in your QBank, UBook lessons, video lectures and flashcards to keep you engaged and reinforce key concepts. And because the design is based on cognitive science research, such as visual chunking, narrative flow, and iconography, it's not just easier to follow, it's easier to remember.
If you've ever found yourself rereading a dense paragraph or trying to decode a diagram that just makes things worse, we fix that.
"It's amazing! I LOVED the graphics, diagrams and labeled images. They helped SO MUCH because I'm a visual learner. The illustrations amplified the extremely well written explanations. It is an amazing platform and study tool and I definitely felt over prepared in a good way for the MCAT."
– Oluchi O.
Best MCAT Prep Course for Busy Students
If you're trying to fit MCAT prep into a packed schedule whether that's school, work, or just life in general we are one of the easiest platforms to stay consistent with.
Everything is built to save you time. The platform is fully integrated, so you're not jumping between different tools. You can read a UBook lesson, watch a short video, make a flashcard, take notes, and check your understanding — all without switching tabs. It's simple, fast, and easy to pick up where you left off.
The study planner is also super practical. Just drop in your test date and availability, and it lays out a day-by-day schedule that updates as you go. No spreadsheets, no guesswork.
The UWorld MCAT Comprehensive Prep Course was built to boost your score and maximize your time. If you're squeezing prep into evenings or weekends and want something that respects your time, this is it.
"I have learned so much from UWorld content-wise. I feel it has made me better prepared for the MCAT! It's just enough information without being overly detailed, and even with the educational objective really helps make things easier to understand. The pictures provide a clear visual representation of the expected information. Thank you!"
– Pegah S.
Best MCAT Prep Course for Retaining Content Faster
Retention isn't just about how well something is explained; it's about how efficiently you can learn and actually remember it weeks later. And this is where we really stand out.
The whole platform is built to reduce friction. Videos are short and focused, usually 3 to 6 minutes, and everyone ties directly into the UBooks lesson. So you can read, watch a step by step video, quiz, and move on, without wasting time bouncing between tabs or trying to figure out what's important.
The 4,000+ flashcards are also a game changer during review. The high-yield flashcards written by experts include only the must-know MCAT content, professionally designed images, and spaced repetition technology. It's like having a faster, smarter version of Anki, but with way better content.
So if you're short on time and need to make every study session count, we help you retain the material without the usual burnout.
"I have watched my full-length practice scores improve significantly since starting UWorld and am very excited to see how much it helps on test day."
– Annabelle S.
Best MCAT Prep Course for Mastering CARS
CARS is one of those sections that just doesn't click for most students. Many prep courses give vague advice and four broad question types, but they don't really teach you how to read CARS passages or think the way the MCAT expects.
We take it a lot further. The UWorld MCAT Comprehensive Course includes 2 specialized CARS books and exam-like CARS practice questions. The CARS practice book expands the AAMC CARS Skills into 19 proprietary subskills, each with its own strategy and step-by-step method. You'll be equipped to answer each MCAT question type with CARS strategies, targeted practice questions, and passages.
The CARS passage booklet uses the same passages but adds expert-level annotations to show you exactly how to dissect tone, vocabulary, and logic in real-time.
Then, you can sharpen your skills with exam-like CARS passages from our QBank. Each detailed answer explanation includes a highlighted passage excerpt from the passage to teach you where to pinpoint the correct answer. You're not just practicing — you're learning how to read like a test writer, spot traps, and understand what the question is asking. It's a complete system, not just more reading or practice.
"I have gotten sooooo much better at cars (from 23rd to 75th percentile in practice tests). You guys have definitely improved my score and overall comprehension."
– Alexandra B.
Best Overall MCAT Prep Course
If you're looking for an MCAT prep course with practice that actually feels like the real MCAT, we nail it. The QBank questions match the exam in tone, logic, and difficulty. But what really sets us apart is the quality of the answer explanations. Every answer, right or wrong, is broken down with step-by-step explanations for each answer choice, educational images, and an educational objective that ensures you retain what you learn.
The UBooks system adds a layer you don't get with most courses. It's not just a textbook, it's an interactive, all-in-one resource where you can read a lesson, watch a short video, take a flashcard quiz, highlight, take notes, and check your understanding, all without leaving the page.
The AAMC full length exams and detailed performance metrics ensure you have the tools you need to test your exam readiness. Whether you're gearing up for exam day by taking a full length exam or checking your CARS performance, you will have the data you need to tweak your study schedule to boost your score. So, if you're looking for an efficient, exam-like MCAT prep course that genuinely helps you improve, this is a strong pick.
Best MCAT Prep Course According to Students
My score has improved 13 points since starting using UWorld MCAT Qbank. These questions are great and have given me a lot of valuable experience reading and analyzing scientific passages! ”
UWorld has been the best resource I have used for MCAT Prep. It's the one tool that I feel actually has the more reasonable cost for what it offers.”
I used both the books and the q-bank and they paired together incredibly. I am very happy with Uworld and attribute a lot of my success to use this excellent resource..”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the best MCAT prep course according to Reddit?
What classes best prepare you for the MCAT?
What is the best study method for the MCAT?
Is Blueprint or Kaplan better for MCAT?
Both offer strong full-length courses, but it depends on your learning style. Kaplan is known for their prep books, while Blueprint is popular for their full length exams. However, many students use UWorld for better practice and deeper understanding.
