Find the best online bar prep courses and get actionable tips to help you study more efficiently, pass the bar exam, and launch the legal career of your dreams.
Best Choice #1 | #2 Choice | #3 Choice |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| START NOW | START NOW | START NOW |
| Read Full Review | Read Full Review | Read Full Review |
If you’re an aspiring lawyer who has recently graduated or is soon to graduate from law school, chances are you are feeling some anxiety about your upcoming bar examination. Not only is the bar exam the most important test of your professional life, but it’s also one of the most difficult admittance exams required for any profession. Over 40% of candidates across the country failed to pass their Bar Exam in 2023.
We know there’s a lot on the line when you sit for your bar exam, which is why it’s important to begin your preparation as early as possible. Not only is taking the exam an expensive endeavor, but since each state’s exam is only administered twice per year, failure means at least 6 months of your life and career being stuck in limbo. Thankfully, there are a lot of helpful online prep courses for students studying for the bar exam.
There are several benefits of taking your bar exam prep course online instead of in person, the most obvious being flexibility. Because most online prep courses can be taken on your own time, you can control the schedule and pace of your own training.
You can also choose to spend more time on any subjects or topics that you need additional assistance with or skip topics you already are confident in. These luxuries are not available in a classroom setting. Finally, online bar prep courses offer many unique training tools that can’t be found elsewhere, such as smartphone apps and interactive test banks.
We ranked the top 5 options for online bar exam prep below. Keep reading to find the right course to help you ace your bar exam.
Best Bar Review Courses Comparison
| Ranking | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
| Company | BarMax | Kaplan Bar Review | Adaptibar | Bar Prep Hero | Barbri |
| | |  |  | |
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Price | $1895 | $2,499-$3,999 | $395 base price | $449 | $3,695 –$5,995 |
| UBE Course Price | $1895 | $2,499-$3,999 | $395 + $15 or more per video | n/a | $3,695 – $5,995 |
| MBE Course Price | $899.99 | Not Available Separately | $395 | n/a | $3,695 – $5,995 |
| Free MPRE Course | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Practice Questions From Previous Exams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Access Period | Lifetime | Duration of Course or Monthly Subscription | Duration of assigned session | Lifetime | Duration of Course |
| Guarantee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| iPhone App | App Link | App Link | App Link | No | App Link |
| Andriod App | App Link | App Link | App Link | No | App Link |
| Mobile Device Friendly | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| START NOW | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW | |
| Read Full Review | Read Full Review | Read Full Review | Read Full Review | Read Full Review |
1. Best Choice: BarMax Prep Course
Rating:
With the highest overall bar exam pass rates, affordable prices, and a money-back guarantee, the BarMax Online Prep Course is our favorite online course for students preparing for the test of their lives. Featuring over 1,850 real questions from previous bar exams, the BarMax Prep Course uses clear & concise explainer videos on every subject tested on the Universal Bar Exam.
BarMax was founded by Harvard Law School alumni and first-time exam takers using the program to achieve a pass rate that is between 11-12% higher than the average. BarMax offers courses for the Universal Bar Exam used in 36 states, as well as the California Bar Exam.
BarMax Prep Course Features
- The BarMax service uses over 1,850 real questions from the Multi-state Bar Exam as well as actual essay questions and performance tests. This material is licensed directly from the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the creators of the UBE.
- While many other courses offer redundant videos and fluff, the BarMax training videos are clear and to the point. Each subject includes flashcards and helpful mnemonics for memorizing key concepts.
- Students enrolled in the BarMax Prep Course receive personalized writing feedback from former bar exam graders.
Technology Included
Once registering for the BarMax Prep Course, you receive instant, lifetime access to all the study materials including the BarMax app. With a score of 4.8 based on 3,133 user ratings, the BarMax app is the highest-rated bar prep app in the App Store.
Pricing and Guarantees
Two of our favorite things about the BarMax Prep Course are the affordable pricing and lifetime access. Unlike other programs that charge monthly fees or provide access for a limited time, the pricing structure of BarMax does not force students on a budget to cram for the exam. The low lifetime fee and financing through Affirm encourage students to enroll as early as possible. We think this is one of the major factors leading to BarMax’s excellent pass rates.
2. Kaplan Bar Review
Rating:
While they are best known for their in-person learning centers across the country, Kaplan also offers live and on-demand lectures on their website. They also offer a money-back guarantee for graduates from ABA-approved law schools who are taking the bar exam for the first time. Kaplan is one of the more expensive options we reviewed, but the combination of being able to attend live lectures in-person and watch recorded lectures at your own pace make this a good option for students who require extra face-to-face help.
Kaplan Bar Review Prep Course Features
- Kaplan helps students improve their essay responses using real questions from the essay portion of the Universal Bar Exam. Students may submit an unlimited number of answers to these essays for review by a qualified instructor with experience grading the actual test.
- The most unique feature of the Kaplan Bar Review bar prep courses is the ability to attend some lectures in person and choosing to attend to others remotely.
- Kaplan offers several ways for students to get personalized support. Students choosing an online-only package are able to attend weekly live video chats with their professors and peers.
Technology Included
Purchasing access to the online bar prep courses from Kaplan gives access to the online portal for on-demand video as well as live classroom video as well. Students can access this content from any home computer or mobile device.
Pricing and Guarantees
Kaplan offers several different pricing and subscription options available depending on whether you want to add in-person lectures to your prep plan. They also offer financing, which is welcome given the cost of the courses. They offer a money-back guarantee for first-time bar exam takers, though the requirements are fairly stringent.
3. Adaptibar
Rating:
For data-driven students, Adaptibar uses an adaptive algorithm to accurately predict your Multistate Bar Exam score and help you pinpoint your most needed areas for improvement. A solid option for students who would rather take practice exams than only watch videos, the Adaptibar database contains every previous question released by the NCBE. There are also on-demand lessons and detailed written descriptions of each answer available in the app.
Adaptibar Review Prep Course Features
- The most impressive feature of the Adaptibar service is that students can answer practice questions using the app, which keeps track of which questions have been answered correctly and incorrectly.
- Video lessons on the Adaptibar service are delivered by the “MBE master,” Professor Jonathan Grossman. In addition to the content of the exam, Professor Grossman focuses on how to approach an MBE question.
- There is no personalized human support included with your subscription to Adaptibar.
Technology Included
The Adaptibar app is the most technologically advanced software available for preparing for the multiple-choice segment of the Universal Bar Exam. This component usually accounts for 50% of the total score on the bar exam, so students who have difficulty with multiple-choice tests may want to add Adaptibar to their existing bar prep plan.
Pricing and Guarantees
Thanks to the a la carte pricing model, the Adaptibaris one of the most affordable bar prep options we reviewed. Access to the app is sold on a per-session basis, and there is an additional fee for accessing the app before the beginning of your session’s determined start date. No-interest financing is available if paid within 6 months.
4. Bar Prep Hero
Rating:
Focused only on practice bar exam questions instead of lessons and lectures, the Bar Prep Hero online service provides lifetime access for one low cost. Ther are over 500 simulated MBE practice questions included in addition to the database of real NCBE-licensed questions from past exams. There are also over 1,800 flashcards covering legal concepts from 12 different categories. The service is designed to be used on a computer only, and features a realistic 200-question MBE simulator challenging you to complete the full-length exam within the six-hour time limit.
Bar Prep Hero Review Course Features
- The Bar Prep Hero service is all about the practice exams. In addition to every real question ever released by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, there are also more than 500 simulated MBE questions written by the experts at Bar Prep Hero.
- There are no lectures or video instruction included in the Bar Prep Hero course.
- There is no personalized support included with your Bar Prep Hero membership.
Technology Included
The Bar Prep hero website contains everything you need to take realistic MBE practice tests, recording your results, and explaining where you went wrong. Any question answered incorrectly is added to your “challenge bank” so you can review it later. Unfortunately, Bar Prep Hero does not offer an app that is optimized for use on Android or iPhone.
Pricing and Guarantees
The Bar Prep Hero service is one of the most affordable tools we reviewed for students studying for the bar exam, especially for those only looking for practice questions instead of a more robust prep course. They do offer a money-back guarantee for students who do not pass their exams.
5. Barbri
Rating:
After over 50 years of helping students prepare for the bar exam, the experts at Barbri have expanded to an easy-to-use online platform powered by Issac, an intuitive study assistant and AI coach designed to pinpoint the most effective areas for study. Issac adjusts your personal study plan over the course of your session in order to help you use your study time efficiently.
Barbri’s online bar prep options are available in a few different scheduling options. The standard bar review package is an 8-10 week course offering both online and in-person training. Students can also opt for an extended online prep course lasting up to 10 months. The extended courses are conducted 100% online.
BarBri Review Prep Course Features
- BarBri focuses on instruction instead of practice tests, and your enrollment does not include licensed practice tests from actual past exams.
- For bar prep courses that include in-person training, Barbri students can choose to attend either in the classroom or online.
- Students are also assigned a 1:1 mentor that will schedule biweekly check-ins or meetings to discuss progress and answer questions. All mentors working with Barbri are qualified U.S. attorneys.
Technology Included
Barbri’s online bar exam prep is powered by Isaac, an AI assistant helps you quickly discover your biggest areas of improvement. There is also a dedicated smartphone app that allows students to access their learning materials on the go.
Pricing and Guarantees
Because of the 1:1 mentorship included, it is logical that Barbri is one of the highest-priced options on our list. There is no money-back guarantee in the case that students fail their bar exam, but Barbri does offer a free re-take for their next attempt.