Best DAT Prep Courses of 2026, Ranked: Bootcamp, Booster, Kaplan & More

Quick answer: If you only have a minute, here’s how the 4 courses below compare:

• DAT Bootcamp – Best overall pick, thanks to its realistic practice tests and the largest video library.
• DAT Booster – Best value, and the strongest choice if you’re weak in PAT or Biology.
• Kaplan DAT Prep – Best if you prefer learning from written materials over live classes.
• Princeton Review DAT – Best for students who want live instruction from expert instructors.

DAT will undoubtedly be one of the most crucial exams you’ll ever take in your academic career. It’s a doozy of a test, starting with a registration fee of $580 in 2026. Then, of course, you’ll pay more if you cut it a bit late.

The DAT test consists of 280 questions with a total time limit of 5 hours and 15 minutes, including the optional tutorial, break, and survey. Biology, Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, Perceptual Ability (in both 2D and 3D), Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics are covered in the exam.

Given the competitive nature of this exam, you will need to properly prepare for it if you want to do well. The good news is that there are numerous commercial prep courses available, though the quality of each prep course varies.

To help you pick out the most suitable for your needs and preferences, we’ve singled out 4 of the best DAT Prep Courses out there:

Every course below was compared on price, practice material, live instruction and guarantees, using each provider’s official website. See how we review test prep courses.

#1.DAT Bootcamp

Best known for its most realistic mock tests, guided study plan, high quality video lessons and smooth user experience.

The name does evoke a military feel to it, doesn’t it? But, of course, that’s intentional because DAT Bootcamp will bury you under a veritable ton of study materials, just as a new soldier might get the shock of their lives with the number of military training activities they’re supposed to go through.

DAT Bootcamp was created by Dr. Ari Rezaei, who scored in the 99th percentile on his own DAT and built the course after struggling to find enough quality study resources himself.

They offer a Bootcamp Pro course for $599, and that “basic’ course provides a lot of study materials. But, more specifically, you’re getting:

• 60 representative DAT practice tests, which are the total number of difficulties pertaining to particular sections (so that’s equal to 10 full-length tests)
• More than 11,000 practice questions, continuously updated to reflect the current DAT test questions.
• Biology videos and practice questions
• General Chemistry videos and practice questions
• 210+ videos on Organic Chemistry (1180+ Questions)
• Perceptual Ability videos and practice questions
• Quantitative Reasoning videos and practice questions
• Reading Comprehension videos and practice questions
• DAT Bio Bites Qbanks
• PAT Generators to create unlimited PAT practice questions
• Prometric mode, to simulate the same test interface you’ll see on the actual DAT test day.
• Apps for iOS and Android for practice on the go
• 90 days of access

There’s a more advanced course called Bootcamp Plus, and it costs $999. This time, you’re getting 180 days of access to the same materials you’d get from Bootcamp Pro. But it’s not exactly the same materials since you’re getting an extra 5 full-length tests.

Massive Quantity of Study Materials

You’re getting a lot of materials to study, which is why the 3 months of access may not be enough. On the other hand, you might go with Bootcamp Plus, so you’re getting ample time to get through all the practice questions and instructional videos.

Seriously, getting through 11,000+ practice questions will be daunting. And you also have at least 3,550+ video lessons to go through, not counting the quantitative reasoning videos. Even with 6 months of access, you’ll have a full schedule. You’ll go through at least 646 video lessons and 1,466 practice questions each month. But at the end of the course, you should be able to tackle any question in real DAT without any issue.

Realistic Practice Test

You get at least 10 full-length tests to go through, which increases to 15 if you want. These mock tests are very close to actual DAT (Both difficulty level and interface) and help you judge your preparation. When you finally deal with the actual DAT on D-day, it will feel like just another test!

Great Video Qualities

It’s not their just HD videos. It’s also because these videos offer clear lessons that will hold your attention.

This is especially true with the Chemistry videos starring Dr. Mike. This guy is utterly enthusiastic and engaging, and he’s a fantastic communicator. He has this genuinely effective way of explaining Chemistry concepts that make things so utterly transparent.

Fantastic Live Online Class Instructors

These instructors are the very best in the industry. It’s not just that they know the material inside and out. It’s also because they’re all engaging, and they explain various concepts in ways that won’t confuse you at all. In addition, these instructors supplement the written materials nicely and can clarify multiple points that the text (and even the prerecorded videos) might have been a bit fuzzy about.

DAT Bootcamp also has apps for iOS and Android, so you can review Bio Bites-style flashcards or squeeze in a practice question between classes. Booster runs its own separate mobile app too, and both hold decent App Store ratings, though most of the reviews on those app pages are actually about the companies’ other exam-prep lines (NCLEX, OAT, and so on), not the DAT app specifically.

Bootcamp backs its course with a Higher Score Guarantee: if you have an official score from a previous DAT attempt, complete at least 8 practice tests in each subject, mark at least 80% of the video content complete, and answer at least 80% of the questions, they’ll extend your membership for free (up to 180 days) if your Academic Average doesn’t improve on your next attempt.

Pros

• Largest study library on this list: 11,000+ practice questions and 3,550+ videos across all six DAT sections.
• Dr. Mike’s Chemistry videos are singled out across student reviews as some of the best in the entire DAT prep industry.
• Most realistic practice-test interface of any course here, closely mirroring the actual Prometric test-day experience.
• The color-coded question tagging system and built-in progress tracker make review sessions genuinely efficient.
• Real support staff (not bots) available 24/7.
• More affordable than Princeton Review and Kaplan, with interest-free installment plans through Afterpay.

Cons

• No live class component is built in — live crash courses exist, but they’re a separate $97-per-session add-on.
• Bootcamp’s own practice test scores tend to run 2–4 points below your eventual real DAT score, so treat them as a floor rather than a prediction.
• The Higher Score Guarantee only applies if you have an official score from a previous DAT attempt.

You can check the latest DAT Bootcamp promo codes here.

 

#2. DAT Booster

The DAT Booster is the second most popular prep course right after DAT Bootcamp now. Thanks to its outstanding video content especially in PAT/Biology section and realistic test, a lot of students even recommend it over Bootcamp now!

In this review, we will do a detailed analysis and find out if DAT Booster is the right DAT prep package for you.

Here is a quick summary of DAT Booster for impatient readers.

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One notable aspect of DAT Booster is its attractive pricing, which positions it as one of the more affordable comprehensive DAT preparation courses. The advertised 90-day price is $549, with no auto-renewal. A 180-day option is also available; check the plan price before buying.

DAT Booster also includes a structured study plan (8, 10, or 12 weeks, your choice) broken into three phases: content learning, review and practice tests, and a final phase of practice tests with gap-filling. That gives you a clear day-by-day roadmap instead of having to build your own study schedule from scratch.

Yes, DAT Booster is not only affordable but it is also the best choice if you want to focus on PAT and Biology section.

DAT Booster’s biology section is especially realistic. Some students report that DAT Booster’s biology practice questions include ones appearing word-for-word on the actual DAT.

For many budget-conscious DAT test-takers, DAT Booster could be the only suitable prep course. However, you’re not choosing a lesser option just due to a limited budget; DAT Booster is genuinely a high-quality course. It stands out as the best choice for affordability and overall value in the field.

 In fact, PAT Generator creates practically an unlimited number of PAT questions. They’re like online Sudoku puzzles or newspaper crossword puzzles—there will always be a new one.

Detailed feedback depending on your answers!

In addition, the software allows you to manipulate the PAT graphics, so you can then see various items from different POVs. That way, you can familiarize yourself with how it’s done mentally, so you can then do the same thing on the real test. In addition, Booster has a cool 3D review tool for the PAT and a lot of its video lessons focus on the PAT. So if visualization and perceptual skills are challenges for you, Booster’s resources could be really helpful. That’s something to keep in mind when comparing the two courses.

If you are weak in PAT or Biology section, I would recommend DAT Booster even if you already have the DAT Bootcamp or Kaplan DAT.

Bootcamp and Booster can help you prepare, but neither can guarantee that test day will feel exactly like its practice tests.

Pros

• Industry-leading PAT tools — a dedicated PAT Generator, 3D Visualizer, and Analyzer, since Booster started as a PAT-only product before expanding.
• Biology practice questions are frequently reported by students as overlapping closely, sometimes near word-for-word, with real DAT questions.
• Backed by a Higher Score Guarantee: your money back if your official Academic Average doesn’t improve over your previous attempt (DAT Bootcamp’s version gives a free access extension instead of a refund).
• Content is updated weekly, so materials stay current with recent changes to the DAT.
• The most affordable full-featured course on this list at $549 for 90 days.
• Includes hard-copy cheat sheets and study notes, unlike Bootcamp’s fully digital materials.

Cons

• No comprehensive live-class program — only section-specific crash courses, priced separately at $50–125 per session.
• Older reviews flagged the platform’s interface as needing polish; a 2024–2025 redesign addressed much of this, so recent accounts are more positive here.

You can find latest verified DAT Booster Discount codes here.

#3.Kaplan DAT Prep

Kaplan offers DAT prep across three tiers, starting with an On-Demand self-paced course at $699. If you want live instruction, the Live Online course starts at $1,699, and adding personalized tutoring bumps the starting price to $2,499. And you’re also getting a higher score guarantee, or else you get your money back.

Your money gets you the following:

• Check the access period for your chosen package
• 15 live classes of 2.5 hours each
• Recorded classes for review
• Augmented reality and 3D learning environments
• Customizable, structured study plan with calendar syncing
• 7 full-length, computer-based practice tests
• 2000+ Survey of Natural Science and Reading Comprehension practice questions
• 1000+ Perceptual Ability Test practice questions
• 2000+ quantitative practice questions
• Latest DAT Prep Book

Kaplan is regarded by many as among the best in the DAT prep industry, arguably next to Princeton Review. It’s highly regarded for the same reasons:

• Kaplan offers terrific, high-quality video lessons.
• The practice materials are numerous and excellent.
• The study course curriculum is well-designed.

While the quality of the Princeton Review course may be slightly better, the amount of study materials you get from Kaplan is quite a bit more. And if you learn better from written study materials than from a live instructor, then Kaplan might be the better choice.

Lots of Study Materials

Let’s focus on this first. First, you get more than 120 hours of online lessons and practice. That means you’ll always be busy, and there won’t be much time when you twiddle your thumbs. You have more than 2,000 practice questions for the Survey of Natural Science and Reading Comprehension sections.

After that, you have more than 1,000 practice questions for the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), and then you get another 2,000 (at least) practice questions for the quantitative portion of the DAT. Add them all up, and that’s more than 5,000 practice questions.

You’re also getting an up-to-date DAT Prep Book, which is excellent.

Terrific Simulated Exams

It’s not just that you’re getting 7 full-length practice exams here. It’s also because the quality of these practice tests is simply outstanding. The practice questions on these tests are very realistic and are much like the questions you’d get on the actual DAT. You might even get a weird sense of déjà vu when you’re doing the actual DAT.

In addition, each question comes with a handy text explanation of the concept being tested in the particular question. The explanation also clearly shows you why each possible answer is right or wrong.

Good Video Lessons

Students who prefer self-study and learning at their own pace should consider Kaplan. You get on-demand video lessons that are quite entertaining. They employ a group of instructors who solve practice problems and explain various concepts on a digital whiteboard. As a result, the lesson content is always on point, the explanations are simple. The instructors are skilled enough to keep your attention and knowledgeable as well.

What Some Students Say

Not every review of Kaplan is glowing. On the Student Doctor Network forums, past students have called the live class content “VERY basic,” and one poster who ended up retaking the DAT said flatly they “wish I just spent my time doing destroyer and bootcamp” instead. If you’re self-motivated and don’t need scheduled-class structure, it’s worth weighing Kaplan’s price against a cheaper Bootcamp or Booster plus DAT Destroyer combination before committing.

#4.Princeton Review DAT

Princeton Review offers live DAT preparation, including its DAT 430+ course. Check the class schedule for current tuition and the guarantee terms before you enroll.

The Score Guarantee

That score guarantee does have some conditions. For DAT 430+, a starting score below 390 carries a 40-point improvement guarantee.

With a starting score of 390 or higher, the DAT 430+ guarantee targets at least 430.

Of course, there are other conditions. For example, you must attend all the scheduled class sessions and complete all the practice tests. These are very reasonable conditions because it means that you have to take the prep course seriously. After all, you’re paying some serious money here. And you’re serious about being a dentist, right?

It’s the priciest course to budget for on this list, but you’re also getting the most comprehensive live-instruction package of the four. The course offers the following features:

• 60 hours of live instruction
• 4 computer-based practice tests
• 7,000+ DAT exam-style practice questions
• Supplemental Chemistry videos
• DAT 430+ Materials
• DAT Prep Textbook:
• DAT Workbooks:
• In-Class Compendium
• 3-D Practice kit for Perceptual Ability Test
• Full-color tear-out reference guide for quick review

The most notable features here are the following:

60 Hours of Live Instruction

This is a very useful feature if you learn best through live classes. Quantity wise, that’s about 22 more hours of instruction than the 37.5 hours (15 live classes x 2.5 hours) you get from Kaplan, the next-best DAT prep course after Princeton Review. 

The quality of these live instruction sessions is top-notch compared to what you might get elsewhere. Princeton Review doesn’t use a single instructor with general knowledge of all the DAT sections.

Instead, you’re getting a rotating team of 3 to 5 instructors, and each is an absolute expert in at least one of the DAT sections. These are also not just knowledgeable in their favorite topics. They’re fantastic communicators as well.

This is a fantastic feature, especially for those students who might feel frustrated with some written study materials. These study books can’t use other words to explain various concepts if the initial explanation doesn’t make sense. But these instructors can make things clear.

Terrific Prep Books

The prep books, which you can study independently, supplement the live instruction. These prep books are also excellent, ranking among the best in the industry. The popular Cracking the DAT prep book is included in the set of prep books (which are actual hardcopy books, by the way). It’s a tried-and-true DAT prep book with over 800 pages of practice material, content review, and effective test-taking strategies.

There’s another course workbook with 500+ pages of practice problems for you to work on, as well as a booklet that you generally use during the instructional classes to provide various drills and supplemental practice work.

This is ideal for those who learn primarily through text, as they provide an excellent balance of strategy, content, and practice.

Lots of Practice Material

You will receive over 7,000 practice problems and four full-length practice exams. These mock tests help you to gauge your progress accurately as the preparation course progresses. The practice problems have different levels of difficulty similar to the real exam and help to familiarize you with the test so that you are not surprised when you take the actual DAT.

What Some Students Say

Princeton Review’s live classes are the standout feature, but it’s not a universal recommendation. At least one detailed account on the Student Doctor Network described instructors who “would laugh and complain at how poor the quality of the powerpoint slides were,” and noted the course leans on printed workbooks even though the actual DAT is computer-based. If book-heavy prep doesn’t suit you, weigh this against Bootcamp or Booster’s on-screen practice tests before deciding.

Pros

• Most live instruction of any course here: 60 hours from a rotating team of 3–5 subject-matter experts, each specializing in a section, versus 37.5 hours from Kaplan.
• Real hardcopy materials: the 800+ page Cracking the DAT book, a 500+ page workbook, and an in-class compendium for drills.
• Backed by a score guarantee — a 40-point improvement if you start below 390, or a 430+ target if you start at 390 or higher.
• Includes a 3-D practice kit specifically for the Perceptual Ability Test.

Cons

• Tuition isn’t published upfront — you have to check the current class schedule directly, unlike the other three courses’ listed pricing.
• Only 4 full-length practice tests, fewer than Bootcamp’s 10 or Kaplan’s 7.
• The score guarantee requires attending every scheduled class and completing every practice test, which is less flexible than the self-paced options.
• On Student Doctor Network, at least one detailed account criticized slide quality and the workbook-heavy approach given the real DAT is computer-based.

Other DAT Prep Options We Considered

These additional resources are worth considering alongside the four courses above.

• Chad’s Prep — not a full DAT course, but its chemistry videos are excellent, and a real free tier covers a meaningful chunk of the material. Best used alongside one of the courses above rather than as your only resource. Read our full Chad’s Prep review.
• CrackDAT — a budget-friendly option specifically for full-length and PAT practice tests, at roughly half the price of the courses above. It isn’t a content course, so most students use it to supplement one of the picks above rather than replace it. Read our full CrackDAT review.
• DAT Destroyer — a practice-question book to use alongside your main course, especially when you need more challenging science problems. Read our full DAT Destroyer review.

DAT Prep Courses Compared

Here’s how the 4 courses stack up on price, practice volume, and instruction style:

Scroll sideways on mobile to see every column.

FAQ

Which DAT prep course is the best overall?

DAT Bootcamp is the best overall pick on this list, thanks to its realistic practice tests, high-quality video lessons, and large question bank.

Which DAT prep course is the most affordable?

DAT Booster is the most budget-friendly option at $549 for 90 days, and it’s also the strongest choice if you’re weak in PAT or Biology.

Do any of these DAT courses include live instruction?

Yes. Princeton Review DAT includes 60 hours of live instruction; Kaplan’s Live Online course includes 37.5 hours (15 classes x 2.5 hours). DAT Bootcamp and DAT Booster don’t include live classes in their core packages, but both offer optional add-on live crash courses for an extra per-session fee (roughly $97/session for Bootcamp, $50–$125/session for Booster) if you want targeted help in a specific section.

Which course is best if I prefer written study materials over live classes?

Kaplan DAT Prep is the better fit if you learn best from written materials, since it includes a large quantity of study materials and an included DAT prep book.

Do any of these courses offer a score guarantee?

Yes, all four do, with conditions. DAT Bootcamp and DAT Booster both offer a Higher Score Guarantee for students with a previous official DAT score, and Kaplan DAT Prep and Princeton Review DAT offer higher-score guarantees subject to each program’s terms.

Final Words

So which DAT Prep Course is best for you? That depends a lot on your needs, preferences, and budget.

If you are not confident in PAT and Biology section, I would highly recommend to go with DAT Booster without any doubt. DAT Booster’s full length test are quite realistic too. Also, DAT Booster is an easy choice if you are on tight budget.

On other hand, if General and Organic chemistry are not your strength OR you need extensive preparation starting with very basics, DAT Bootcamp should work best for you. If you prioritize taking realistic DAT tests and extensive video materials to learn at your own paces, then go with DAT Bootcamp. At the listed prices, Bootcamp costs $50 more than Booster for 90 days, or $100 more for 180 days.

If you are looking for live instruction, then Princeton Review DAT is worth considering. Your money does get you a lot. Check the tuition for the DAT 430+ course and read its guarantee conditions; a score guarantee is not a dental-school admissions guarantee.

Go with Kaplan if you learn better with the written materials. Both the quality and quantity of the Kaplan DAT prep course are undeniable. Princeton Review is better than Kaplan simply because it offers more high-quality live instruction. On the other hand, if you’re content with just studying with the written materials, then Kaplan might actually be the better choice for you.

Make the right choice, and take the prep courses seriously. These prep courses aren’t worth anything if you don’t actually hunker down and study. Only if you actually do the work will these DAT prep courses help. And they will help—that’s almost guaranteed.

So, stick to your study schedule, and you’ll do well with the DAT. You better get used to working hard if you plan to become a dentist someday. The next few years of dentistry school won’t be a vacation. You might look back at your previous DAT preparation as “the good ol’ days.”

Good luck with the DAT. But with these DAT prep courses, you won’t have to rely purely on luck.