Onsego, Essential Education, Mometrix, and Kaplan are four self-paced online GED programs recognized by GED Testing Service. All four cover Math, Science, Social Studies, and Reasoning Through Language Arts.
They differ in price, access length, lesson format, personalization, and the tools included with each plan. The table below compares the most popular plan from each program. The linked pages compare Onsego with each program in detail.
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Detailed Comparisons
Onsego vs. Essential Education vs. Mometrix vs. Kaplan
| Feature | Onsego | Essential Education | Mometrix | Kaplan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $79 one-time for 6 months | $19.99 per month | $39.99 per month | $129 one-time for 3 months |
| Access length | 6 months | Monthly until canceled | Monthly until canceled | 3 months |
| Monthly cost equivalent | $13.17 | $19.99 | $39.99 | $43 |
| Cost for 6 months | $79 | $120 | $240 | $258 |
| Personalization model | Open (you decide what to study) | Gated (system decides) | None | None |
| All lessons open from day one | Yes | No, 80% score required to unlock | Yes | Yes |
| Video format | Short, one topic per video | Not listed | Long, multiple topics per video | Long, 45 to 60 minutes, multiple topics |
| Number of videos | 700 | Not listed | 400 | 150+ |
| Practice questions | 4,500+ | Not listed | 2,140 | Not listed |
| Full-length practice tests | 8 | Not listed | 4 | 1 |
| GED Ready vouchers | 4 included | No | No | No |
| AI Tutor | Yes | No | No | No |
| TI-30XS calculator course | Yes | No | No | No |
| Confidence and study-skills course | Yes | No | No | No |
| Score Booster (instructor guidance) | Yes, with Pro | No | No | No |
| Money-back guarantee | 7 days | Not listed | 7 days | Conditional |
| GED-aligned materials | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Plans compared: Onsego Advantage ($79 for 6 months), Essential Education monthly, Mometrix monthly, and Kaplan Self-Paced ($129 for 3 months). Onsego also offers 12-month plans for $119 and $199. Prices checked September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which online GED program is the cheapest?
Onsego. Its $79 plan covers six months, or $13.17 per month. Over the same six months, Essential Education costs about $120, Kaplan about $258 (two 3-month terms), and Mometrix about $240.
Which GED program has the shortest lessons?
Onsego. Its 700 videos cover one topic each, and most run about three minutes. Mometrix and Kaplan use longer videos that cover several topics at once.
Which GED programs are personalized?
Onsego and Essential Education both personalize your study path. Onsego uses open personalization: you decide what to study. Essential Education uses gated personalization: its system decides which lessons you can open, and you must score 80% before the next ones unlock. Mometrix and Kaplan do not offer a personalized study path.
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Which GED program includes GED Ready vouchers?
Only Onsego. Every Onsego plan includes four GED Ready vouchers, one per subject, worth about $32 combined. Essential Education, Mometrix, and Kaplan do not include them.
Which GED program is best for GED Math?
Onsego is the only one of the four with a dedicated TI-30XS calculator course. The lessons show which calculator functions to use for common GED Math problems.
Are all four programs recognized by GED Testing Service?
Yes. GED Testing Service lists Onsego, Essential Education, Mometrix, and Kaplan as publishers with GED-aligned materials.
Can I switch to Onsego without starting over?
Yes. Onsego opens every lesson from day one. A short quiz before each module lets you skip material you already learned with another program.
Which program should I choose?
Choose Onsego if you want short lessons, a one-time payment, six or twelve months of access, and GED Ready vouchers. Choose Essential Education if you are enrolled through a school, library, or adult education program that provides it. Choose Mometrix if you want a large question bank and prefer monthly billing. Choose Kaplan if you prefer hour-long lectures from a national test-prep brand.
Last Updated on September 3, 2026