SAT prep compared
Kaplan vs Pathiva for the Digital SAT
Kaplan: SAT courses and tutoring. Pathiva: Digital SAT practice tests with an AI Score Debrief and an AI coach. Here’s what each gives you for the Digital SAT, and what each costs.
Kaplan vs Pathiva: the short answer
Kaplan’s self-paced SAT course, On Demand, starts at $199 for 6 months, with 4 full-length practice tests; its live online classes start at $799. Pathiva gives you 10 full-length practice tests to Kaplan’s 4, an AI Score Debrief after every test and a 24/7 AI coach that knows your results. It costs $80 for 6 months, about $14 a month, against about $33 a month for Kaplan’s 6-month On Demand course.
- No credit card
- 800+ students
- Score guarantee on Premium
Kaplan and Pathiva, side by side
| Kaplan | Pathiva | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $199 for 6 months of On Demand; live classes from $799 | $80 for 6 months, about $14 a month |
| Free to use | Partly: A free full-length practice test with explanations | Partly: A free 40-question diagnostic with a projected score, no card needed, plus 4 free SAT tools |
| Full-length practice tests | Yes: 4 full-length practice tests | Yes: 10 full-length Digital SAT practice tests |
| Test tools like the real SAT’s | Yes: An interface like the Bluebook app | Yes: Desmos calculator, reference sheet and Mark for Review, as in Bluebook |
| Question bank and custom quizzes | Yes: A question bank of 500+ SAT questions | Yes: SAT question bank with custom quizzes by skill, length and timing |
| Quizzes picked from your results | Partly: Live Online’s dashboard shows which concepts to focus on | Yes: Smart quizzes picked from your practice history, plus retries of questions you missed |
| Questions written by people | Yes: Kaplan’s own questions | Yes: Written by SAT educators, not generated by AI |
| Answer explanations | Yes: Explanations, with video walkthroughs | Yes: A written, step-by-step explanation for every answer |
| Review of every practice test, with what to fix first | Partly: A score report with answers and explanations | Yes: An AI Score Debrief after every test: where your points went and what to fix first |
| AI tutor or coach that knows your results | No: None named on its SAT pages; its AI tool, KapAdvisor, is for college admissions | Yes: A 24/7 AI coach that answers from your own results |
| Personal study plan | Partly: A study plan with its tutoring packages | Yes: A 7-day study plan after every practice test |
| Score guarantee | Yes: A higher score or your money back, with conditions | Yes: 100+ points over a recent official SAT score, or a full refund; conditions apply |
This comparison covers what Pathiva offers, so it isn’t a full list of what Kaplan has. Every fact about Kaplan comes from official pages, listed at the end.
Why choose Pathiva
Choose Pathiva if…
- You want to spend less: about $14 a month, against about $33 a month for Kaplan’s 6-month On Demand course.
- You want more full-length practice tests: 10, where Kaplan has up to 4.
- You want a Score Debrief after every practice test: where your points went and which fixes are worth the most.
- You want to ask an AI coach questions at any hour and get answers based on your own test results.
- You want quizzes picked for you from your own practice history, so you don’t have to choose what to drill.
- You want a short plan for the week, rebuilt after every practice test you take.
Also included with Pathiva
- A 100+ point score guarantee (with conditions)
- Questions written by SAT educators
- A question bank with custom quizzes
- A test screen like the real SAT’s, with Desmos built in
- A step-by-step explanation for every answer
- A free 40-question diagnostic to start with, no card needed
Pathiva’s score guarantee has conditions: you need an official SAT score from the 6 months before you buy, all 10 practice tests done within your 6 months, and an official SAT within 30 days of your last one. It refunds the $80 you paid, once per customer. See the Terms and Conditions.
See where your points are before you choose
Take a free 40-question diagnostic in a Bluebook-style interface. You get a projected score and the skills to fix first.
How much Kaplan costs
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| SAT On Demand | From $199 | 6 months: 4 full-length practice tests, a 500+ question Qbank and video lessons |
| Live Online | $799 | 18 hours of live classes, plus the course |
| Live Online Plus | $1,099 | Live Online plus 3 hours of private tutoring and a practice book |
Prices as Kaplan listed them on October 28, 2026, in US dollars. They change, so check before you buy.
How much Pathiva costs
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | A free 40-question diagnostic with a projected score, no card needed, plus 4 free SAT tools |
| Premium | $80 for 6 months | 10 full-length practice tests, an AI Score Debrief after every test, a 24/7 AI coach that knows your results, smart quizzes picked from your practice history, a question bank with custom quizzes, a 7-day study plan after every practice test and a 100+ point score guarantee (with conditions) |
All sales are final except under the score guarantee: see the Terms and Conditions.
What Kaplan offers for the SAT
Kaplan’s SAT On Demand course starts at $199 for 6 months of access. It has 4 full-length practice tests, a Qbank of 500+ questions, 30+ video lessons and video walkthroughs of solutions.
Live Online costs $799 for 18 hours of classes with the course, and Live Online Plus, with 3 hours of private tutoring, costs $1,099.
Kaplan’s Higher Score Guarantee promises a higher SAT score or your money back, or 12 weeks of free access instead. Subscriptions and programs bought from other sellers aren’t covered, and you claim within 60 days of your program ending.
Anyone can take a free full-length practice test with explanations. Kaplan’s AI tool, KapAdvisor, is a college admissions counselor; its SAT pages don’t describe an AI tutor.
Questions about Kaplan and Pathiva
How much does Kaplan SAT prep cost?
The On Demand course starts at $199 for 6 months of access. Live Online classes list at $799 and Live Online Plus, with 3 hours of tutoring, at $1,099. Private tutoring costs more.
How many practice tests does Kaplan SAT prep include?
On Demand includes 4 full-length practice tests. Anyone can also take a free full-length practice test with explanations.
Does Kaplan have a score guarantee for the SAT?
Yes. Kaplan’s Higher Score Guarantee promises a higher score or your money back, with conditions. Subscription purchases and programs bought from other sellers aren’t eligible.
Does Kaplan have an AI tutor for the SAT?
Kaplan’s SAT pages don’t describe one. Its AI tool, KapAdvisor, is a college admissions counselor.
What’s a good alternative to Kaplan for the SAT?
Pathiva, if you want 10 full-length practice tests to Kaplan’s 4, an AI Score Debrief after every test and a 24/7 AI coach that knows your results. It costs $80 for 6 months, about $14 a month, and you can start with the free 40-question diagnostic.
How much does Kaplan cost compared with Pathiva?
Kaplan: From $199 for 6 months of On Demand; live classes from $799. Pathiva: $80 for 6 months, about $14 a month.
Pathiva makes this comparison. Every fact about Kaplan comes from the pages below, as they read on October 28, 2026:
- SAT prep (opens in a new tab)
- SAT On Demand (opens in a new tab)
- SAT Live Online (opens in a new tab)
- SAT tutoring (opens in a new tab)
- Higher Score Guarantee (opens in a new tab)
- Free SAT practice (opens in a new tab)
Something out of date? Tell us at info@pathiva.com.
Kaplan is a trademark of Kaplan, Inc. Kaplan is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Pathiva.