NCLEX review courses compared: prices and formats
Six NCLEX-RN review courses compared on format, access, price and guarantee, from US$49 a month to US$900 for tutoring.
Short answer: On November 15, 2026, NCLEX-RN prep prices on each company's own page started at US$49 a month (Klimek Starter), US$59 paid once (NCLEXPace) and US$79 for one month (Archer Review), a live 3-day review cost US$399 (Hurst, Klimek in person, Kaplan list price), and Kaplan's tutoring package started at US$900. Question banks are the low-cost, self-paced choice; live reviews and tutoring cost more and suit students who need a teacher.
None of these courses is official. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which owns the NCLEX, says it "does not recommend or endorse any review courses or study materials." One of the six, NCLEXPace, is run by the same team as this site; we list it on the same terms as the others, with its limits.
The main courses side by side
All prices are in US dollars, from each company's own page on November 15, 2026. Several were shown as sale prices, so check before you buy.
| Course | Format | Access | Price | Guarantee printed on the page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWorld NCLEX-RN Review | Self-paced question bank, short videos | 30 to 730 days | US$139 to US$449 | None |
| Archer Review | Self-paced question bank; 3-day live review in Sure PASS; tutoring in Intense PREP | 1 to 6 months | US$79 to US$599 | Sure PASS, with conditions |
| Kaplan | Self-paced practice or course; 3-day live online course | Not printed on the main page | From US$99 (practice) and from US$399 (live online), list prices | Pass Guarantee on PassTrack courses, "Conditions apply" |
| Hurst Review | On-demand course; 3-day live-stream or in-person review | 30 to 120 days (on-demand) | US$159 to US$339; live review US$399 | Full refund, with conditions |
| Klimek Reviews | On-demand lectures; 3-day in-person review; tutoring in Premium | Monthly, 3 or 6 months | US$49 a month to US$799 | None found |
| NCLEXPace (same team as this site) | Self-paced question bank | See nclexpace.com | From US$59, paid once | See nclexpace.com |
Question counts differ too: UWorld 3,100+ in longer plans, Archer 3,100+, Kaplan 2,500+ (CAT + Qbank) and 3,800+ (PassTrack), Hurst 2,000+, NCLEXPace 3,200+. Explanation quality matters more than size.
What the guarantees require
Every guarantee we read has conditions.
- Archer Review (Sure PASS): first-time Q-Bank user, complete the Q-Bank, attend the 3-day live webinar, and score "High" or "Very High" on four consecutive Readiness Assessments.
- Hurst Review: complete the Hurst Review and take the exam within three months of graduating from an accredited US or Canadian nursing school.
- Kaplan: the main page says "Conditions apply" and points to its terms.
A company guarantee does not change NCSBN's rules on retakes; see How many times can you retake the NCLEX?.
Which format fits you
Self-paced question bank (UWorld, Archer's lower packages, Kaplan CAT + Qbank, NCLEXPace). Best for recent graduates who study alone and mainly need practice. Lowest cost.
On-demand content course (Hurst NOW, Kaplan PassTrack Self Paced, Klimek Essential). Best if you have content gaps or have been out of school. You watch lectures at your own pace and then practice.
Live review days (Archer Sure PASS, Hurst NSTREAM or in-person, Kaplan PassTrack Live Online, Klimek in person). Best if you learn from a teacher in real time and can block out three full days. Hurst's live-stream classes run 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Central time.
Tutoring and feedback (Archer Intense PREP, Kaplan tutoring from US$900, Klimek Premium). Best for repeat test takers who want progress checks. Highest cost.
By budget
- Under US$100: NCLEXPace from US$59, Archer Q-Bank + CAT from US$79, Klimek Starter at US$49 a month, Kaplan CAT + Qbank from US$99.
- US$100 to US$400: most UWorld plans, Archer's video and Sure PASS packages, Hurst on-demand, the live 3-day reviews.
- Over US$400: UWorld's 730-day plan, Archer Intense PREP, Klimek Essential and Premium, Kaplan tutoring.
If your budget is zero, start with Free NCLEX resources.
NCLEXPace: strengths and limits
NCLEXPace has 3,200+ NCLEX-RN practice questions with rationales, Next Generation NCLEX case studies, CAT Readiness Exams and a personal Study Plan. Plans start from US$59 paid once, nothing renews, and 10 questions are free without payment.
Its limits: it is an NCLEX-RN product, so NCLEX-PN candidates need another course. It is a self-study platform, and this table lists no live review days for it. Its free sample is 10 questions, smaller than the 7-day or 30-day trials some others offer. All Nursing Exams, NCLEXPace and NPractitioner are run by the same team.
What to do next
- Decide your format first: questions only, content course, live days or tutoring.
- Price two options for the exact weeks you will study.
- Use the 12-point checklist in How to choose an NCLEX prep course during each free trial.
Common questions
Which course has the most questions?
On their own pages, Kaplan lists 3,800+ in its PassTrack courses, the highest count we read. Counts change, and many include questions you will see only in longer plans.
Are live courses better than self-paced ones?
Neither is better for everyone. Live courses give structure; self-paced ones fit around jobs and family.
Where can I read about one course in detail?
See UWorld for the NCLEX, Archer Review for the NCLEX and Mark Klimek lectures explained.
Sources
- NCSBN, NCLEX frequently asked questions: https://www.nclex.com/faqs.page (checked November 15, 2026)
- NCLEXPace (our own product): https://www.nclexpace.com/pricing (checked November 15, 2026)
- UWorld Nursing, NCLEX-RN Prep Course page (read November 15, 2026)
- Archer Review, NCLEX-RN page (read November 15, 2026)
- Kaplan Test Prep, NCLEX review page (read November 15, 2026)
- Hurst Review, NCLEX-RN page, home page and Live RN Reviews page (read November 15, 2026)
- Klimek Reviews, plan pages and In-Person Reviews page (read November 15, 2026)