Who Wins Each Category?
My Honest Take
This is a classic industry leader vs challenger comparison. Kaplan dominates market share with the industry's largest question bank (4,230 questions) and lower starting price ($159 vs $219). But STC counters with a pass guarantee (Premier+), 1,500+ organized flashcards, and instructor hotline at every tier.
The real decision point: Are you willing to pay $48 more ($247 STC Premier vs $199 Kaplan Essential) for a pass guarantee and 1,500 flashcards? If you're risk-averse or need flashcard-based memorization, STC Premier is objectively safer despite the smaller question bank.
Real talk: If your firm is paying and you're a confident test-taker, Kaplan Essential ($199) gives you the most questions per dollar. If you're self-funding and nervous about passing, STC Premier's $247 guarantee is worth the $48 premium. Don't choose Kaplan if you're risk-averse—the lack of guarantee at any price point is a major weakness.
Pricing & What's Included
Kaplan Tiers
- • Core practice questions
- • Foundational materials
- • 5-month access
- • 4,230 practice questions
- • Digital textbook
- • Customizable study plan
- • 5-month access
- • 12+ hours video
- • 4,230 questions
- • Digital textbook
- • 5-month access
- • 12 live classes
- • 4,230 questions
- • Digital textbook
- • 5-month access
STC Tiers
- • Study manual (online + printed)
- • Chapter quizzes
- • Instructor hotline
- • 6-month access
- • ❌ NO guarantee
- • 2× Green Light diagnostics
- • 1,500+ flashcards
- • 12-hour video
- • Instructor hotline
- • 6-month access
- • ✅ Pass guarantee
- • Everything in Premier, plus:
- • Live classes (virtual + in-person)
- • 4 cities (NYC, Chicago, SF, Boston)
- • 6-month access
- • ✅ Pass guarantee
Sweet Spot Comparison: Kaplan Essential ($199) vs STC Premier ($247). The $48 difference gets you a pass guarantee, 1,500 flashcards, and 1 extra month of access. That's compelling if you're self-funding and risk-averse.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kaplan | STC | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice Questions | 4,230 | 2,800+ | Kaplan |
| Practice Exams | 1 full exam (140 Q) | 2× Green Light | STC |
| Video Hours | 12+ (Premium) | 12 (Premier+) | Tie |
| Flashcards | ❌ NO ($29 extra) | ✅ 1,500+ (Premier+ only) | STC |
| Access Duration | 5 months | 6 months | STC |
| Extension Cost | $49/5mo | Not specified | Kaplan |
| Pass Guarantee | ❌ NO | ✅ YES (Premier+) | STC |
| Mobile App | ❌ Web only | ⚠️ Deprecated | |
| Offline Access | ❌ NO | ✅ YES (manual/notes) | STC |
| Instructor Support | Premium Live only | Hotline (all tiers) | STC |
| Live Classes | Virtual ($319) | Virtual + In-person ($384) | STC |
| Cost Per Question | $0.047 (Essential) | $0.088 (Premier) | Kaplan |
| Overall Rating | 4.2/5 | 3.8/5 | Kaplan |
Platform Comparison
Kaplan Platform
Web-based platform with customizable study plans and 4,230 practice questions. Clean interface, mobile-responsive but not a native app.
STC Platform
Web platform with Green Light diagnostics, chapter-organized flashcards, and downloadable study manual for offline access.
Pass Guarantee Showdown
❌ Kaplan: No Guarantee
- • NO guarantee at any tier
- • Major competitive weakness
- • If you fail, buy new materials out of pocket
- • 30-day refund policy only (for material issues)
- • Works against premium pricing ($199-$319)
✅ STC: Guaranteed Success
- • YES Premier ($247) & Premier Plus ($384)
- • NO Standard ($219)
- • Free course repeat OR money-back refund
- • Must meet study requirements (watch videos, complete practice)
- • Covers first-time failure only
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Kaplan Pros
- ✓ Largest question bank (4,230)
- ✓ Lower starting price ($159)
- ✓ Higher rating (4.2/5)
- ✓ 70% market share (industry leader)
- ✓ Best cost per question ($0.047)
- ✓ Customizable study plans
- ✓ Cross-device sync
Kaplan Cons
- ✗ NO pass guarantee at any tier
- ✗ NO flashcards included
- ✗ Shorter access (5 months)
- ✗ NO mobile app
- ✗ NO offline access
- ✗ NO instructor support (except Premium Live)
- ✗ Limited video content (Premium only)
STC Pros
- ✓ Pass guarantee (Premier+)
- ✓ 1,500+ organized flashcards
- ✓ Instructor hotline (all tiers)
- ✓ Longer access (6 months)
- ✓ Offline access (downloadable materials)
- ✓ In-person classes (4 cities)
- ✓ 50+ years experience
- ✓ Green Light diagnostics
STC Cons
- ✗ Smaller question bank (2,800+)
- ✗ Higher starting price ($219)
- ✗ Lower rating (3.8/5)
- ✗ Deprecated mobile app
- ✗ Flashcards only in Premier+ tier
- ✗ Higher cost per question ($0.088)
- ✗ Extension cost not disclosed
Final Recommendation
Choose Kaplan If:
- ✓ Your firm is paying (maximize questions per dollar)
- ✓ You're a confident test-taker who doesn't need a guarantee
- ✓ Question volume is your top priority (4,230 is industry-leading)
- ✓ You prefer web-based study (don't need offline access)
- ✓ You want the lowest entry price ($159)
- ✓ You don't need flashcards or will buy them separately
- ✓ You're okay with 5-month access window
Choose STC If:
- ✓ You're self-funding and risk-averse (guarantee is critical)
- ✓ You learn with flashcards (1,500+ organized by chapter)
- ✓ You value instructor support (hotline at all tiers)
- ✓ You need longer access (6 months vs 5)
- ✓ You want offline study capability (downloadable materials)
- ✓ You prefer in-person classes (NYC/Chicago/SF/Boston)
- ✓ You want diagnostic exams (2× Green Light pinpoint weak areas)
My Verdict
For firm-sponsored candidates → Kaplan Essential ($199). You get the most questions per dollar and don't need the guarantee safety net.
For self-funded risk-averse students → STC Premier ($247). The $48 difference buys you a pass guarantee, 1,500 flashcards, and 1 extra month of access. That's worth it if you're spending your own money and nervous about passing.
Kaplan Ratings
STC Ratings
Ready to Choose?
Visit either provider to start your Series 65 prep, or explore all options on our comparison page.