How much does SAT prep cost? Free, apps, courses, and tutors

SAT prep costs at a glance

Prices below are published list prices checked between October 8 and October 17, 2026. Promotions, taxes, and plan terms change, so confirm the total at checkout.

Type of help	Examples and published prices	What you get for the money
Free official practice	Bluebook practice tests, Student Question Bank, Khan Academy Digital SAT courses: $0	Real test format, official questions, and lessons. Your student has to plan and stick to it
Free apps	Dolphin iPhone and Android apps: $0	Short daily practice with explanations on a phone
Low-cost AI help	Khanmigo: $4 a month or $44 a year	An AI tutor on top of Khan Academy’s free courses
SAT prep apps and web platforms	OnePrep Pro: $99 one time. Magoosh: $49 a month or $129 a year. Dolphin Web: $100 a month, $150 every 3 months, or $300 a year	Large question banks, explanations, practice tests, and progress tracking
Self-paced courses	Kaplan On Demand: $199 for 6 months. Princeton Review Self-Paced: $299 for 1 year. PrepScholar: from $397	Recorded lessons in a set order, plus practice and tests
Live classes	Kaplan Live Online: from $799. PrepScholar with live classes: $895	A teacher and a class schedule
Private tutoring	Kaplan tutoring plus live course: from $1,999. Independent tutors: about $45 to $300 or more an hour	One-on-one help aimed at your student’s weak spots

The test itself costs money too

The SAT registration fee is $68 in the United States. Late registration and changes add fees. Students from lower-income families may qualify for a fee waiver, which covers the test and other benefits. See our SAT registration guide for deadlines and current fees.

Three budgets that work

$0 to $70: free prep plus the test fee. Take a full-length practice test in Bluebook, use Khan Academy for lessons on weak skills, and pull extra questions from the Student Question Bank. Add the free Dolphin phone app for short daily practice. This works when your student is self-motivated.

About $150 to $400: free prep plus one paid tool. Keep the free official tests as checkpoints and add one app or course for daily practice and explanations. Three months of Dolphin Web is $150, and you can follow progress from a free parent account. This is where most students get the best value.

$800 and up: add a teacher or tutor. Choose this when your student needs a fixed schedule, live feedback, or help with problems practice alone has not fixed. A short tutoring package aimed at one or two weak areas usually costs less than open-ended weekly sessions.

How to avoid paying for prep your student will not use

1. Start free. Have your student take one official Bluebook practice test before buying anything. The score report shows what to work on.
2. Pick the gap. Is the problem understanding the material, getting enough practice, or staying on schedule? Each points to a different kind of help.
3. Try before paying. Most apps have a free version or trial. Have your student use it for a week and tell you what helped.
4. Buy for the time you need. Match the plan length to the test date. A 3-month plan is often enough for one test date.
5. Check renewal and cancellation terms before you enter payment details.

Where Dolphin fits

Dolphin is an independent SAT and ACT prep app, not affiliated with College Board. The free iPhone and Android apps draw from 10,000+ SAT and ACT questions, each with a short video explanation, and adapt to the topics your student misses most. Dolphin Web adds full-length practice tests, score tracking, and detailed review for $100 a month, $150 every 3 months, or $300 a year. Eligible plans include a score improvement guarantee. A free parent account shows your student’s practice calendar, predicted score history, completed tests, and skill map. See current plans.

Frequently asked questions

How much should SAT prep cost?

Many students prepare well for $0 to $300. Free official practice from College Board and Khan Academy covers the basics, and most SAT apps and self-paced courses cost about $100 to $400 for a few months. Live classes start around $800, and private tutoring often costs $1,500 or more.

Is free SAT prep enough?

For many students, yes. Bluebook practice tests, the Student Question Bank, and Khan Academy's Digital SAT courses are free and official. Paid prep helps when your student needs more practice questions, clearer explanations, a schedule, or someone tracking progress.

How much does Dolphin cost?

The Dolphin iPhone and Android apps are free. Dolphin Web is a paid subscription: as of October 2026 it costs $100 billed monthly, $150 billed every 3 months, or $300 billed yearly. A parent account to follow progress is free.

Does Dolphin have a score guarantee?

Yes, on eligible Dolphin Web Premium plans. If your student completes Dolphin's study plan and does not raise their official SAT score by at least 200 points or their ACT score by at least 5 points, you can get back up to the first three monthly payments, the first quarterly payment, or 25% of the annual price paid. To qualify, their official starting score from the previous six months must be 1250 or lower on the SAT or 26 or lower on the ACT, and they must study with Premium for eight consecutive weeks, finish the assigned plan within their first 12 weeks, and take the official test within six months of subscribing. Dolphin's terms list the other requirements and deadlines.

How much does it cost to take the SAT?

The SAT registration fee is $68 in the United States under College Board's current fee schedule. Students who qualify for a fee waiver can test for free. Late registration and other changes cost extra.