Magoosh Vs. Target Test Prep GMAT

Magoosh and Target Test Prep are two leading GMAT prep options, each offering unique strengths. 

While Magoosh provides a flexible, affordable program with broad coverage, including mobile app access, Target Test Prep delivers a highly structured, in-depth curriculum focused on Quant and Verbal mastery with extensive practice questions and advanced analytics.

This Magoosh Vs. Target Test Prep GMAT article compares both courses’ features to help you decide which program best fits your study style and GMAT goals.

Magoosh Vs. Target Test Prep GMAT Comparison Table

Magoosh Vs. Target Test Prep GMAT Overview

Magoosh GMAT has established itself as a provider of high-value GMAT preparation at a competitive price point. This popular online test prep platform is known for its affordability, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive self-study resources. 

The Magoosh GMAT preparation course gives you access to:

• Structured 1-, and 3-month pre-made study schedules.
• Over 200 clear and concise video lessons that cover every concept tested on the GMAT.
• 800+ practice questions.
• Detailed text and video explanations for every practice question.
• At least 2 full length diagnostic tests that closely simulate the real GMAT.
• Progress tracking tools that allow for targeted study.
• Score predictor tool that estimates your potential GMAT score based on practice test performance.
• 580+ math and idiom flashcards accessible via the flashcards apps.
• Dedicated mobile apps and offline access, making it convenient to study anytime, anywhere.
• Ability to pause your subscription and resume it later.
• 24/7 ask-an-expert support via email and chat. 
• Up to 70 points score improvement guarantee.
• No questions asked money-back guarantee.

Target Test Prep GMAT (TTP) is distinguished by its highly comprehensive and detailed curriculum. This platform is particularly renowned for its strength in quantitative reasoning, often praised for its depth, rigor, and structured approach.

At the most basic level, the TTP GMAT prep course gives you access to:

• Adaptive study plans that adjust dynamically based on your strengths and weaknesses.
• 1,500+ written lessons covering every GMAT concept and question type.
• 4,000+ realistic GMAT practice questions.
• 2,000+ video answer explanations.
• Custom GMAT practice test builder 
• Over 1,200 quant and verbal flashcards.
• Intelligent performance analytics.
• Detailed error tracking to target weaknesses.
• A personalized AI-driven assistant.
• 24/7 live online support from a team of experts.
• Up to 130 points score improvement guarantee.

Magoosh Vs. Target Test Prep GMAT Detailed Comparison In 2025

Pricing & Value Analysis

Magoosh GMAT offers 3 subscription plans to cater to different study timelines and needs.

All 3 plans are self-paced and they essentially give you access to the same course features, except the Premium + Admissions plan which additionally includes comprehensive MBA admissions support. 

Target Test Prep GMAT presents a range of course options, ranging from self-paced to live online plans. 

While all plans feature all the self study materials, TTP OnDemand includes 400 hours of live masterclass video lessons, as well as weekly live office hours.

The Live Instruction + TTP OnDemand plan additionally incorporates 40 hours of live online classes, as well as personalized homework for each class. Under this plan, students also have access to the exclusive slack channel.

Another unique offering is that the higher-tier plans (TTP OnDemand & Live Instruction + TTP OnDemand) come with a 715+ score improvement guarantee, which would ideally place you in the 99th percentile of GMAT scorers. 

Verdict:

From the monthly cost breakdown, it is clear to see that Magoosh is a far cheaper option compared to Target Test Prep.

Magoosh offers excellent value for price, with long access periods, a comprehensive set of resources, and a user-friendly platform at a low cost. It is ideal for students who want solid, flexible prep without a large financial commitment.

Target Test Prep is more expensive but delivers deeper content, especially in Quant, with advanced analytics and customization. It suits students aiming for high scores who want a structured, intensive study experience and are willing to pay more.

Choosing between them depends on your budget, study style, and score goals: Magoosh for affordability and flexibility; TTP for depth and rigor.

The good thing is that both platforms offer free trails, allowing prospective students to explore their offerings before committing to a subscription.

Study Plans & Customization Options

Magoosh GMAT provides users with a choice of pre-defined study schedules designed to accommodate different preparation timelines and skill levels. They provide 1-month, and 3-month plans, catering to both beginner and more advanced learners.

The schedules aim to distribute the study load effectively, typically recommending around 1 to 2.5 hours of study per day, 5-6 days a week.

Magoosh’s study plans are designed to be flexible, allowing for modifications to focus more on math or verbal sections as needed. Users can also switch between different study plans if their initial choice does not align with their learning pace or preferences.

Target Test Prep GMAT offers a more personalized and adaptive approach to study plans.

Students can choose between a mission-based curriculum, which focuses on completing specific topics and tasks, and a calendar-based plan with daily study targets. 

The platform allows for significant customization, enabling students to adjust the intensity of their study and concentrate on particular areas of weakness.

TTP’s study plans are designed to guide students systematically through the material, ensuring a strong foundation before progressing to more advanced topics. 

Verdict:

Magoosh offers flexible, time-based study plans suitable for self-paced learners balancing all GMAT sections with moderate daily study time.

TTP provides a more intensive, modular, and mastery-focused study plan, especially strong for students aiming to excel in Quant and who prefer a structured, analytics-driven approach.

On the upside, both platforms interweave quant and verbal material throughout their study plans, allowing students to develop skills in both areas concurrently. 

Quality & Style of Lessons

Magoosh GMAT’s video lessons are characterized by their conciseness and clarity, covering all topics tested on the GMAT. The lessons typically range from 2 to 20 minutes, breaking down complex concepts into manageable segments.

These video lessons do a great job of effectively explaining fundamental principles, particularly in the quantitative section, providing clear teaching points and strategies without unnecessary detail. 

Magoosh’s video lessons are praised for being concise, focused, and actionable. In addition to teaching concepts, these lessons include integrated practice where instructors provide test-taking strategies. 

The combination of content review, strategy, and integrated practice makes these lectures a strong resource for GMAT self-study.

Target Test Prep GMAT offers an extensive library of video content, including numerous video solutions for practice questions. However, their content lessons are text-based as opposed to coming in a video format.

Higher-tier plans like TTP OnDemand include hundreds of hours of masterclass videos led by the platform’s founder.

TTP’s lessons provide crystal-clear, step-by-step explanations of complex GMAT concepts and problems, breaking down difficult questions into manageable parts. 

The lessons include pro tips, shortcuts, and strategies to solve problems efficiently and accurately.

Verdict:

Both platforms offer high-quality content, but the format and focus differ significantly. 

While Magoosh is better for in-depth, visual learning across all sections, Target Test Prep excels at targeted, step-by-step quant and verbal problem breakdowns.

Quantity & Realism of Practice Questions

Magoosh GMAT includes over 800 practice questions, lesson quizzes (5-question timed quizzes after each lesson), customizable practice sets, plus at least 2 full-length practice exams.

The full-length practice tests do a good job of simulating the real GMAT experience, including question-adaptive difficulty. However, keep in mind that these timed and scored diagnostic tests are generated from your pool of 800 practice questions. 

The custom practice test builder is quite a handy feature, allowing students to create targeted practice sessions based on specific subjects, question types, difficulty levels and time limits.

It is worth noting that Magoosh’s practice questions, particularly in math, are often considered challenging, providing rigorous practice for test-takers.

Target Test Prep GMAT offers a significantly larger question bank, with over 4000 practice questions across Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights sections. 

These questions are designed to closely resemble the actual GMAT in terms of content, structure, and difficulty. Target Test Prep provides practice sets at varying difficulty levels (easy, medium, and hard), allowing students to progressively build their skills and confidence.

Unlike Magoosh, TTP does not include official practice tests.

However, the platform does allow users to create unlimited custom quizzes and sectional tests from its question bank. These highly customizable practice options, enable students to focus on specific topics or difficulty levels and track errors meticulously. 

TTP’s questions are often praised for their depth and alignment with GMAT difficulty, particularly in Quant, offering detailed solutions and adaptive practice features.

Verdict:

Magoosh is an ideal choice if you want well-rounded practice across all GMAT sections, as well as access to full-length adaptive practice tests, and a user-friendly interface.

Target Test prep is ideal if you want a larger volume of high-quality Quant and Verbal questions, and advanced analytics – especially if Quant is your main focus.

Depth & Format of Answer Explanations

Magoosh GMAT excels in providing detailed answer explanations for its practice questions.

Every practice question comes with both video and written explanations, helping students grasp challenging concepts, especially in Quant.

These explanations thoroughly break down each answer choice, clarifying why the correct option is right and why the incorrect options are wrong.

The video explanations are typically concise, averaging around 1-2 minutes, and often cover tricks within the question and efficient solving methods.

Target Test Prep GMAT also offers comprehensive answer explanations, including both written and video solutions for its practice questions.

These explanations not only detail the correct approach to solving the problem but also provide insights into why specific incorrect answers might be chosen and the underlying rules or concepts being tested.

Verdict:

Magoosh excels in providing comprehensive, easy-to-understand video explanations for every practice question, making it ideal for students who benefit from visual and conceptual learning across all GMAT sections.

The integration with lessons and expert support further enhances understanding.

Target Test Prep offers very thorough, stepwise video explanations, especially for Quant, supported by advanced error tracking and analytics.

It is best suited for students who want a structured, data-driven approach to mastering problem-solving strategies.

While both platforms provide high-quality answer explanations, Magoosh stands out for its consistent video explanations on every question and broader section coverage, whereas Target Test Prep shines in depth and analytics, particularly for Quant.

Effectiveness of Performance Analytics & Progress Tracking

Magoosh GMAT provides detailed analytics to help students track their progress and identify areas for improvement. 

This includes a breakdown of performance by specific GMAT topics and question difficulty, as well as a comparison of a student’s pace to that of other users.

The platform also offers a score predictor to estimate potential GMAT performance.

Target Test Prep GMAT offers robust and intelligent analytics that provide a granular view of a student’s performance. This includes tracking progress by topic and question type, analyzing pacing, identifying common error patterns, and offering comparisons to peer performance.

The platform also features an error tracker tool that logs incorrect answers, the reasons for the mistakes, and the frequency of each error type, enabling students to gain a deeper understanding of their weaknesses.

Verdict: 

Magoosh offers a simple, effective progress tracking system that is easy to use and integrates well with mobile study, making it ideal for students who want straightforward insights and flexible study.

On the other hand, Target Test Prep provides a more sophisticated, data-rich analytics experience with deep error tracking, adaptive study planning, and peer benchmarking, suited for students who want granular control and detailed feedback to optimize their prep.

Features & Usability of Mobile Applications

Magoosh GMAT offers a dedicated mobile application for both Android and iOS devices.

This comprehensive, fully featured mobile app allows students to study on the go with access to practice questions, video lessons, progress tracking, and offline study capabilities. 

Magoosh also provides 2 separate flashcards apps, one for Math and another for idioms. Both flashcard apps are free to access even without a Magoosh subscription.

The availability of mobile apps makes Magoosh highly convenient for busy students who want to prep anytime, anywhere.

Target Test Prep GMAT does not have a dedicated mobile application. Their platform is primarily web-based and optimized for desktop use.

While TTP’s website can be accessed on mobile browsers, the experience is not as optimized or fully featured as a native app. The platform’s extensive video lessons, quizzes, and analytics are best experienced on a desktop or laptop.

Verdict:

If mobile study is important to you, Magoosh is the clear winner in terms of app availability, features, and user experience.

Evaluation of Score Improvement Guarantees

Magoosh GMAT offers a score increase guarantee of up to 70 points, depending on the student’s initial GMAT Focus score.

To qualify, students must have taken the GMAT Focus previously, have a valid old score, study for at least three months, and complete all tasks in their study schedule.

Besides their score improvement guarantee, Magoosh additionally has a no questions asked money-back guarantee whereby if you’re unhappy for any reason, you can reach out to the Magoosh team within 7 days of purchasing your plan, and they will give you a full refund.

Target Test Prep GMAT provides a more substantial score improvement guarantee, offering up to 130 points for students with lower starting scores. For higher starting scores, the guarantee ranges from 10 to 70 points.

The TTP OnDemand course offers an even higher guarantee of achieving a 715+ score (99th percentile). 

However, Target Test Prep’s score guarantee requires students to complete 100% of the course and meet specific accuracy benchmarks in their study plan.

Verdict:

Magoosh’s 70-point score improvement guarantee is very strong considering its affordability and comprehensive content, making it a great option for students seeking reliable improvement with a lower financial risk.

TTP’s higher 130-point guarantee reflects its intensive, rigorous approach, especially for students targeting substantial score increases in Quant and Verbal.

Additional Features & Unique Selling Points

Magoosh GMAT provides several additional features, including:

• An “Ask an Expert” service that allows students to get unlimited email support from GMAT instructors.
• The platform also offers a score predictor based on student performance data.
• Magoosh allows users to pause their subscription once a month, providing flexibility for students with fluctuating schedules.
• The Premium + Admissions plan includes valuable resources for MBA applications, such as essay guidance and applicant profiles.

Target Test Prep GMAT come with the following additional perks:

• Incorporates advanced technology with its AI-powered assistance (TTP AI Assist), offering personalized support, explanations, and recommendations within the course.
• TTP offers live online support from a team of experts and weekly live office hours with top-scoring GMAT instructors, providing opportunities for direct interaction and guidance.
• A key strength of Target Test Prep is its strong focus on quantitative mastery, with a highly detailed curriculum designed to build a deep understanding of mathematical concepts.

Verdict: Which GMAT Prep Course is the Better Choice?

Choosing between Magoosh GMAT and Target Test Prep GMAT depends largely on individual priorities and learning styles. 

Magoosh GMAT stands out as a more affordable option, particularly for students seeking longer-term access. 

Its concise video lessons and the availability of both text and video explanations for practice questions make it a strong contender for those who appreciate clear and direct instruction. 

The score guarantee, while potentially offering a smaller point increase compared to Target Test Prep, might be more attainable for some due to potentially less stringent requirements. 

Magoosh’s structured, pre-defined study plans can be beneficial for students who prefer a straightforward approach to their preparation.

Target Test Prep GMAT is the preferred choice for students who are highly motivated to achieve a top GMAT score and are willing to commit significant time and effort. 

Its exceptionally comprehensive and structured curriculum, especially in quantitative reasoning, makes it ideal for individuals aiming for mastery. The vast question bank and realistic practice questions provide ample opportunity for skill development. 

While potentially more expensive overall, especially for shorter durations, Target Test Prep’s robust analytics, personalized study plans, and the possibility of a substantial score improvement guarantee make it a compelling option for serious test-takers. 

The higher-tier plans with live instruction and AI-powered assistance offer a more interactive and personalized learning experience.

Ultimately, the decision rests on a student’s individual needs. 

Magoosh is better suited for students seeking an effective prep course that’s flexible, and affordable, offering broad support in all the GMAT sections. Its pause/resume feature and mobile apps make it highly convenient for busy students.

Target Test Prep excels with its deep, structured curriculum, extensive Quant practice, and advanced analytics, making it better suited for students seeking a rigorous, data-driven GMAT prep experience, especially in Quant.

Magoosh Vs. Target Test Prep GMAT FAQs

Which GMAT Course Is Better For Quant?

Target Test Prep is the superior choice for GMAT Quant preparation. 

Its unmatched depth, structured curriculum, and extensive practice resources make it ideal for students who want to maximize their quant score or need to build a strong math foundation. 

Magoosh is a strong, affordable all-around option, but for quant-specific mastery, TTP stands out as the best investment

Which GMAT Course Is Better For Verbal?

Magoosh remains a top choice for most students seeking verbal improvement, owing to their concise explanations. On the other hand, TTP is an excellent option for those who want a newer, but fast-evolving and highly structured, verbal curriculum. 

Both can help you achieve a high verbal score, so the best choice depends on your learning style and study preferences.

Is One GMAT Course Significantly Harder Than The Other?

TTP GMAT is generally considered the harder course, particularly for students seeking advanced Quant prep and a rigorous, structured study plan. 

Magoosh is challenging but more approachable and flexible, making it suitable for a wider range of students and study timelines.