Key Points
- Magoosh is our top TOEFL pick at $129 for six months, and its plans are labeled “Updated for the 2026 TOEFL,” which matters after the January 21, 2026 redesign.
- The TOEFL iBT now scores from 1 to 6 in half-point bands. Schools such as the University of Mississippi and the University of Kansas turned an old 79 cutoff into a 4.5.
- The TOEFL iBT costs $280 in the U.S., includes four free score reports and takes about two hours with no scheduled breaks.
The TOEFL iBT changed on January 21, 2026. Reading and Listening now adapt to your answers midway through each section, new tasks like Build a Sentence and Take an Interview replaced older ones, and scores moved to a 1 to 6 scale, according to ETS. That makes most TOEFL books and courses printed before 2026 a poor fit. International students budgeting for school should also see our best international student loans comparison.
Most picks below say they’re updated for the 2026 test or come straight from ETS, and we flag the ones that don’t. We checked prices on each provider’s site and flagged where a course’s 2026 updates aren’t confirmed. Our cost of studying abroad breakdown covers other expenses to plan for alongside test fees.
$280
U.S. Test Fee
Varies by country
1-6
New Score Scale
Half-point bands since January 2026
About 2 Hours
Test Length
No scheduled breaks
3 Days
Score Turnaround
Official scores in your ETS account
On This Page
Best TOEFL Prep Courses At A Glance
TOEFL prep is cheaper than most admissions tests, and our top pick costs $129. Here’s how our picks compare at regular prices, minus the Princeton Review, which we couldn’t find a U.S. TOEFL course from. Students weighing schools by cost can also use our study abroad costs research.
Best TOEFL Prep Courses (2026)
ProviderBest ForFormatPriceScore GuaranteeMagooshMost studentsSelf-paced$109 to $129+4 points (program completion)View Plans »BestMyTestScored speaking and writing practiceSelf-paced$49 to $3491+ or 2+ points, by planVisit Site »TST PrepLast-minute prep and practice testsSelf-paced, live classes, private lessons$37 to $8977-day refund (Emergency Course)Visit Site »KaplanStudents who want a refund promiseSelf-paced, bookCourse price not listedHigher score or money backView Options »ETS Official PrepSeeing the real 2026 formatSelf-pacedFree to startNoneView Prep »
Regular prices checked October 11, 2026. Magoosh was running a short-term sale. Guarantees carry conditions. The College Investor.
Our Top Pick
Magoosh
Six months of TOEFL prep updated for the 2026 test for $129, with a 7-day free trial and a TOEFL registration discount voucher.
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Best TOEFL Prep Courses Of 2026
Start with ETS’s free 40-minute sample test to see the new question types. Then pick a course based on your weakest section, your budget and how soon you test, keeping your full college budget in mind.
Best Overall: Magoosh
#1MagooshBest Overall
2026
Updated for the new test
Magoosh offers the best mix of price and current content. Premium costs $109 for one month or $129 for six months, and both plans are labeled “Updated for the 2026 TOEFL,” according to Magoosh’s TOEFL plans page. Plans include a TOEFL registration discount voucher, an “Ask an expert” feature and the option to pause. Our Magoosh review walks through the platform.
Magoosh offers a 7-day free trial, a 7-day no-questions-asked refund and a “+4 point score guarantee” for students who complete the premium program. That guarantee language was written around point gains, so ask how it applies to the new 1 to 6 scale before relying on it. At $129 for six months, Magoosh costs less than half the TOEFL test fee, a small line in an international student’s college costs.
Why We Picked It
Updated for the 2026 format, low price, a free trial and a registration discount voucher. It’s the safest single pick for most students, especially those also comparing international student loans.
Drawbacks
No live teaching on the standard plans. Students who struggle with speaking or writing may want scored feedback from BestMyTest or TST Prep, and should check our Magoosh review for limits.
Getting ready for the new TOEFL? Magoosh offers six months of 2026-updated prep for $129, with a 7-day free trial.
Best For Speaking And Writing Feedback: BestMyTest
#2BestMyTestBest Feedback
6,500+
Practice questions (company claim)
BestMyTest sells one-time plans from $49 for a week to $249 for a year of Premium, with access that expires automatically and no subscription, according to its pricing page. The company says its 6,500+ practice questions and 200 lessons are updated for 2026, and every plan includes scored feedback on speaking and writing. That makes it useful for students whose weakest skills aren’t multiple choice, a common challenge for applicants we cover in our international student loans comparison.
BestMyTest offers a 7-day free trial. Its pricing page lists 1-point and 2-point improvement guarantees depending on the plan, while its English homepage mentions a 7-point guarantee that likely reflects the old 0 to 120 scale, so confirm the terms before you buy. A two-month Premium plan costs $169, which keeps prep well below the cost of a second test attempt, as our study abroad costs research shows.
Why We Picked It
Scored speaking and writing feedback on every plan, content updated for 2026 and no subscription. It’s the best pick for students who need help producing English, not just recognizing it, before tackling college applications.
Drawbacks
Guarantee terms conflict across its own pages, and the pricing page loaded in Chinese for us. Read the terms carefully, and compare it with the simpler setup in our Magoosh review.
Best Budget Practice Tests: TST Prep
#3TST PrepBest Budget Practice
TST Prep has the cheapest course on our list. Its Emergency Course starts at $37 with two practice tests and six hours of video, and a 20-test practice pack costs $89, according to its store page. TST Prep also offers a free practice test labeled for the 2026 TOEFL and 100 free reading and listening questions. Every course and lesson comes with one year of access and no subscription, a simple setup for students already juggling college application fees.
Students who want a teacher can buy private lessons at $397 for six, $597 for 10 or $897 for 18, or live group classes for $247 per skill. TST Prep’s free materials are labeled for 2026, but its paid course pages don’t say whether they were updated, so take the free test first. Private lessons cost more than a full Magoosh plan, so compare them against our average cost of tutoring research.
Why We Picked It
Low prices, lots of practice tests and one year of access with no subscription. It’s the best pick for students testing soon who mostly need timed practice, as part of a tight study abroad budget.
Drawbacks
Paid course updates for the 2026 format aren’t confirmed, and private lessons get expensive. Students who want a single updated course should see our Magoosh review.
Best Money-Back Guarantee: Kaplan
#4KaplanBest Guarantee
Higher Score
Or your money back
3 Months
Self-paced access
4
Practice tests in 2026 book
Kaplan sells a Self-Paced for TOEFL iBT course with three months of access and a “Higher Score Guaranteed or Your Money Back” promise, according to Kaplan’s guarantee page. If your score doesn’t improve, you can choose a refund minus a $30 shipping and book fee, or a free three-month repeat. Our Kaplan Test Prep review covers the company’s approach.
To qualify, you must take two or more full Kaplan practice tests, watch every strategy video, answer at least 200 questions in the course book and take the TOEFL within 30 days of finishing. Kaplan didn’t list the course price on its site when we checked, and it doesn’t clearly say the course reflects the 2026 redesign, so ask both questions before you enroll and compare the answer with your student loan budget.
Why We Picked It
A real money-back guarantee with a free repeat option and a long-standing test prep brand. It suits students who want protection if their score doesn’t move, a sensible hedge for anyone financing school with international student loans.
Drawbacks
No price on Kaplan’s site and no clear statement that the course covers the 2026 format. Students who want confirmed 2026 content should start with our Magoosh review.
Best Free Official Prep: ETS
#5ETS Official PrepBest Free Option
Free
40-minute sample test
ETS, which makes the TOEFL, offers a free 40-minute sample test with questions from all four sections and a free eight-week prep planner, according to ETS. Its TestReady portal includes a free daily scored activity, a personalized prep plan and videos, with paid section tests and practice on top, according to the TestReady launch announcement. Our international student loans comparison covers the next step after admission.
ETS also partners with Study.com on Official TOEFL Test Prep, sold in three- or six-month subscriptions with adaptive practice, AI tutoring and the new task types, according to the ETS and Study.com announcement. ETS didn’t list TestReady or Study.com prices on the pages we could load. Start with the free sample test either way, then decide what to buy, keeping your study abroad budget in mind.
Why We Picked It
Free official practice that reflects the real 2026 test, plus a free study plan. Every test taker should start here, whether or not they buy a course, as we also suggest in our Magoosh review.
Drawbacks
The free tools are limited, and prices for paid official prep weren’t posted where we could check them. Students who want a full course should add one from this list, such as the options in our Kaplan review.
What Changed On The TOEFL In 2026?
The TOEFL iBT redesign that took effect January 21, 2026 added adaptive Reading and Listening sections, new task types and a 1 to 6 score scale, according to ETS. ETS says to allow about two hours for the test, and there are no scheduled breaks. Students applying to U.S. schools should confirm their score requirement with each school, as our college application checklist recommends.
TOEFL iBT Format (Since January 21, 2026)
SectionItemsBase TimeTask TypesReading50About 30 minutesComplete the Words, Read in Daily Life, Read an Academic PassageListening47About 29 minutesChoose a Response, Conversation, Announcement, Academic TalkWriting12About 23 minutesBuild a Sentence, Write an Email, Academic DiscussionSpeaking11About 8 minutesListen and Repeat, Take an Interview
Times exclude directions and can vary as the test adapts. Allow about two hours total. Source: ETS. The College Investor.
Older TOEFL Prep Materials May Not Fit The New Test
Books and courses built before 2026 teach tasks that no longer appear and score on the old 0 to 120 scale. Before you buy anything, look for language saying it covers the January 2026 format, as Magoosh, BestMyTest and ETS’s own tools do. That saves money you’ll need for the expenses in our study abroad costs breakdown.
You can take the TOEFL iBT at a test center or at home. The at-home version is recorded and monitored by a live human proctor, according to the 2026-27 TOEFL iBT Information Bulletin, and your computer and room must meet ETS requirements. Check whether each school on your list accepts at-home scores, a question to add to your college admissions research.
How Does The New TOEFL 1-6 Score Scale Work?
Each TOEFL section now gets a score from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, and your overall score is the average of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band, according to ETS. Through January 2028, score reports also show a comparable 0 to 120 score and a CEFR level, so schools can compare old and new scores. Our best IELTS prep rankings explain the competing IELTS band scale.
TOEFL New Score Scale Vs. Old Scale (ETS Comparison)
New 1-6 ScoreCEFR LevelOld 0-120 Equivalent6C2114+5.5C1107+5C195+4.5B286+4B272+3.5B158+3B144+
Source: ETS score scale update. The College Investor.
ETS tells schools they can “safely select the 1-6 band that includes” their old requirement, which for a 79 would be a 4. In practice, the University of Mississippi and the University of Kansas both set a 4.5, one step higher, with a minimum section score of 4, according to Ole Miss and KU. Expect similar shifts at other schools, and confirm each requirement as you build your college application list.
How Much Does The TOEFL Cost?
The TOEFL iBT costs $280 in the United States, and the price varies by country, according to ETS’s fee page. The fee includes up to four free official score reports, according to ETS’s score reporting page, and each additional report costs $29. Registering within seven days of the test adds a $49 express fee, and rescheduling costs $69. Plan these alongside the other costs in our study abroad expenses breakdown.
TOEFL iBT Fees In The U.S. (2026)
FeeAmountTOEFL iBT Test (U.S.)$280Additional Score Report$29 eachExpress Registration (Within 7 Days)$49Rescheduling$69Speaking Or Writing Score Review$80Express Scoring$129Cancel 4+ Days Before Test50% refund
Fees exclude taxes. Source: ETS. The College Investor.
Here’s what a typical applicant pays. A student who takes the TOEFL once in the U.S. and sends scores to 10 schools pays $280 plus six extra reports at $29 each, or $454. A second attempt sent to the same 10 schools costs another $454, so a $129 course that gets you there on the first try can save more than it costs. Our cost of studying abroad breakdown shows how fast these fees add up.
U.S. high school seniors with financial need can get a fee reduction voucher worth 50% of the regular test fee, according to ETS. Ask your counselor before registering, and see our scholarship search roundup for more ways to save.
What TOEFL Score Do U.S. Colleges Require?
Some U.S. colleges that once required a 79 on the old TOEFL scale now ask for a 4.5 on the new scale, often with a minimum section score. Requirements vary widely, so check each school’s English proficiency page. The table shows two real examples with their accepted alternatives, the kind of detail to track in your college application checklist.
Sample English Proficiency Requirements (2026)
SchoolTOEFL (New Scale)TOEFL (Old Scale)IELTSDuolingoUniversity Of Mississippi4.5, no section below 479, no subscore below 196.0110University Of Kansas4.5, minimum section 479, minimum subscore 186.5 (minimum 6.0)Accepted with KU test
Source: University of Mississippi, University of Kansas. The College Investor.
Scores are valid for two years from the test date, according to ETS, and you can retake the TOEFL as often as you like, though not more than once in a three-day period, according to the TOEFL iBT bulletin. Score reports include MyBest scores, which combine your best section scores across tests, but each school decides whether to accept them. Students comparing English tests can see our best IELTS prep rankings.
TOEFL Vs. IELTS: Which Should You Take?
Many U.S. colleges accept both the TOEFL and IELTS, so the right test is usually the one you’ll score higher on and can book sooner. The TOEFL takes about two hours and posts official scores in three days, while IELTS Academic takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. Both schools in our table accept either test, so compare costs and dates as you would any college expense.
TOEFL Vs. IELTS At A Glance (U.S. Test Takers, 2026)
FeatureTOEFL iBTIELTS AcademicU.S. Test Fee$280$340 at most ELS-run centersTest LengthAbout 2 hours2 hours 45 minutesScore Scale1 to 6 (half bands)0 to 9 (half bands)Results3 daysVaries by test formatScore Validity2 years2 years
Source: ETS, IELTS. The College Investor.
If you’ve already practiced for one test, stick with it unless a school on your list requires the other. Switching tests means new formats and new prep costs. Our best IELTS prep rankings cover the IELTS side in detail.
How Long Should You Study For The TOEFL?
ETS offers a free eight-week TOEFL iBT prep planner, which is a sensible baseline for most students, according to ETS. Students who already use academic English daily may need less, while those far from their target score may need more. Here’s a simple plan built around the new format, which pairs well with the timelines in our college admissions coverage.
- Take ETS’s free 40-minute sample test to see the new task types.
- Check each school’s requirement on the 1 to 6 scale, including minimum section scores.
- Choose prep updated for 2026, focusing on your lowest section.
- Practice speaking and writing out loud and on a timer, ideally with scored feedback.
- Book your test early to avoid the $49 express fee, and leave time for a retake before deadlines.
Remember that you can’t retake within three days, and paper score copies take 11 to 15 days to mail. Electronic scores arrive in three days, so most students can retake and still meet deadlines if they test at least a month early. Build that buffer into your application timeline.
How We Picked The Best TOEFL Prep Courses
We reviewed TOEFL prep providers that serve U.S.-bound students and prioritized those that confirm updates for the January 2026 redesign. We compared prices, format, speaking and writing feedback, guarantees and free trials, and checked prices on each provider’s site on October 11, 2026. Our editorial standards explain how we handle partner relationships.
E2 Language offers TOEFL classes and tutorials, but its TOEFL page didn’t mention the 2026 changes and its prices didn’t load, so we left it off. We couldn’t find a U.S. TOEFL course from the Princeton Review. We’ll revisit both as courses update, along with our international student loans rankings.
More Test Prep Rankings From The College Investor
TOEFL Prep FAQs
What Is A Good TOEFL Score On The New Scale?
Schools such as the University of Mississippi and the University of Kansas ask for a 4.5 on the new 1 to 6 scale, which ETS lines up with 86+ on the old scale. Selective schools may require more. Check each school, and see our college application checklist for tracking requirements.
Can I Still Use Old TOEFL Prep Books?
Old books help with general academic English, but they don’t cover the new adaptive sections, new task types or 1 to 6 scoring. Buy prep that says it covers the January 2026 format. That keeps more money for the costs in our study abroad expenses breakdown.
How Many Times Can You Take The TOEFL?
There’s no limit, but you can’t take the TOEFL iBT more than once in a three-day period, according to ETS. Each attempt costs the full fee, $280 in the U.S. Our scholarship search tips can help offset testing costs.
Is The TOEFL Home Edition Accepted By Colleges?
Policies vary by school, so check each school’s English proficiency page. The at-home test is recorded and monitored by a live human proctor. Add this to your college admissions research.
How Long Are TOEFL Scores Valid?
TOEFL iBT scores are valid for two years from the test date, and ETS won’t send older scores. Time your test so scores are valid through your application deadlines. Our international student loans page covers financing next steps.
