Colibri vs Kaplan: which should you buy?
Colibri is the better buy for most candidates: wider coverage, a real refund guarantee, and less than half the price for the same hours. Buy Kaplan only if you specifically need live or classroom teaching.
Wider coverage, a real refund guarantee in most states, and consistently the cheaper course.
See Colibri pricingBuy Kaplan if you need live or classroom teaching — it is the only major provider that offers it.
Read the Kaplan reviewSide by side
| Colibri | Kaplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Texas entry price | $299 | $499 |
| California entry price | $99 | $399 |
| Pre-licensing states | 41 | About 37 |
| Delivery formats | Self-paced, livestream | 5, including live classroom |
| Guarantee | Real refund (void in 4 states) | Extended access only, not a refund |
| TX first-attempt pass rate | 56.7% | 53.2% |
Score breakdown, category by category
The same categories behind every provider on this site, based on the verified facts above rather than marketing claims.
Choose Colibri if…
- You want the widest chance the course is even approved in your state.
- You want a guarantee that actually refunds money, not just extends access.
- Price matters and you are comfortable with self-paced or livestream video.
- You are not in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey or Tennessee, where the guarantee is void.
Choose Kaplan if…
- You learn badly from self-paced video and need live or in-person instruction.
- Your state is one of the roughly 37 Kaplan covers but Colibri does not — check both selectors directly.
- Budget is a secondary concern next to delivery format.
The bottom line
This is not close. Colibri wins on coverage, price and guarantee terms, and even edges Kaplan on the one regulator-published number we have for both. Kaplan’s entire case rests on delivery format — if you need to sit in a room with an instructor, it is the only option here, and that is a real and sufficient reason for some candidates. Everyone else should default to Colibri.
Other comparisons
Common questions
Is Kaplan ever cheaper than Colibri?
Not in any state we checked. Kaplan’s entry tier was more expensive in both Texas and California, the two states we could verify for both providers.
Does Colibri's guarantee apply everywhere?
No — it is void by state law in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and Tennessee. Check whether your state is one of the four before relying on it.
Is live classroom teaching worth the premium?
That depends entirely on how you learn. If self-paced video genuinely does not work for you, the premium buys something Colibri cannot offer at any price.