Kaplan vs Barbri vs Themis: Bar Prep Providers Compared

I’ve combed through countless social media posts, reviews, and firsthand accounts to capture students’ real experiences with these top prep providers.

The focus is on direct, reported experiences rather than generalized opinions, giving a clear picture of how each provider stacks up. These summaries aim to highlight what students found most valuable (or challenging) based on their own interactions and outcomes.

Let’s get cracking.

Comparison table

Dimension	Kaplan	Barbri	Themis
Depth of content	★★★★★ Covers core topics thoroughly, but less overwhelming than Barbri.	★★★★☆ Extremely comprehensive, ideal for those seeking complete coverage.	★★★★☆ Focused but digestible, with shorter lectures and targeted content.
Delivery method and flexibility	★★★★★ On-demand lectures, in-person options, flexible for busy schedules.	★★★★☆ Mostly structured and rigid, limited on-demand options.	★★★★☆ Entirely online with adaptive scheduling that adjusts to your pace.
Diversity of resources	★★★★★ Includes video lectures, quizzes, essays, and tutoring.	★★★★☆ Includes outlines, Adaptibar, Conviser, and multiple question formats.	★★★☆☆ Good variety, includes UWorld, strong MBE focus.
Essay feedback	★★★★☆ Good though inconsistent.	★★★★☆ Highly detailed but rigorous.	★★★☆☆ Moderate, it primarily offers general comments and lacks in-depth, personalized analysis.
Practice questions	★★★★☆ Comprehensive, includes MBE and essays.	★★★★☆ High-quality, Adaptibar included.	★★★★☆ Strong MBE focus (with UWorld).
Data and analytics	★★★★☆ Tracks progress well, provides useful analytics.	★★★★☆ Less robust tracking, primarily focuses on completion rates.	★★★☆☆ Automatic schedule adjustments based on performance.
Design & accessibility	★★★★★ User-friendly and easy to navigate.	★★★★☆ Content-heavy, not as streamlined.	★★★☆☆ Clean interface, optimized for flexibility.
Price	Kaplan Bar Review: $2,000	Essentials Bar Review: $1,699 / Premium Bar Review: $2,399 / Elite Bar Review (includes AdaptiBar): $4,199	Full Bar Review Course: $2,895 / L.L.M. Advantage Course: $3,195
Ideal for	Students needing flexibility and balance.	First-time takers needing structure.	Budget-conscious students needing value.

Find out more

• How to upgrade Barbri with Bear the Bar
• How to upgrade Kaplan with Bear the Bar
• How to upgrade Themis with Bear the Bar
• All bar prep provider summaries (includes Quimbee and JD Advising)

See how Bear the Bar complements any of these providers with unlimited MBE practice questions and AI-powered study tools.