Princeton Review vs Khan Academy for AP exams
Princeton Review vs Khan Academy for AP prep is a low-cost book against free online courses. Khan Academy’s AP courses are free and aligned to College Board’s course descriptions, with new free-response support in AP Precalculus and Calculus AB. Princeton Review’s AP Premium Prep books cost about $20 to $28 per subject at retail and include several full-length practice tests, such as 8 for Calculus AB.
Khan Academy details from its AP course pages; Princeton Review contents and test counts from publisher listings, prices as listed at retailers. Checked October 12, 2026. Not hands-on tested.
| Princeton Review | Khan Academy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $20-$28 per subject (retail) | Free |
| Format | Print book plus online practice tests | Online lessons and practice |
| Full-length practice tests | Several per book (8 Calculus AB, 7 Chemistry, 6 Biology) | Not its focus |
| Alignment | Editions written for the digital formats | Aligned to College Board course descriptions |
| Free-response help | Model answers | Free-response support in Precalculus and Calculus AB |
| Access | Yours to keep | Always free |
Princeton Review vs Khan Academy AP: learning or test practice?
Khan Academy is strongest for learning the course: lessons and practice that follow College Board’s course descriptions through the year. Princeton Review’s books are strongest for exam preparation: content review in one place plus several full-length practice tests, which Khan Academy doesn’t center on. That makes them complementary rather than competing.
What it costs
Khan Academy costs nothing. A Princeton Review book is about $20 to $28 for one subject, and you keep it. For students on a tight budget, Khan Academy plus College Board’s free released practice can go a long way; a book adds structured review and timed full-length tests for a modest price. AP exam fees are separate; see our AP cost and format page.
Using both together
A simple plan: learn with Khan Academy during the school year, then use a Princeton Review book in the final weeks for review and timed full-length practice tests. Add College Board’s own practice from our free AP resources page.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying an old edition. Check the book is the current edition for your exam.
- Never taking a full-length timed test. Lessons alone don’t build exam stamina.
- Expecting written feedback from a book. Princeton Review offers model answers, not grading of yours.
Choose Princeton Review if
- You want low-cost structured review and several full-length practice tests to keep.
Choose Khan Academy if
- You want free, College Board-aligned learning, especially during the school year.
Common questions
Is Khan Academy AP prep free?
Yes. Khan Academy’s AP courses are free.
How much are Princeton Review AP books?
Typically about $20 to $28 per subject at retail.
Which has more full-length practice tests?
Princeton Review books include several full-length practice tests per subject. Khan Academy focuses on lessons and practice rather than full-length tests.
Can I use both?
Yes. Khan Academy for learning during the year and a Princeton Review book for review and timed tests before the exam work well together.