Quick answer: The cheapest NCLEX-RN prep with a pass guarantee is NCLEX Key, where every plan includes one, starting at $59 for 30 days. The next lowest are Archer Review’s Sure PASS and Hurst Review’s HurstNOW (both $159 for about a month), then SimpleNursing’s NCLEX-RN Pass Guarantee ($189) and Kaplan’s PassTrack courses (from $349). UWorld lists no pass guarantee. The conditions differ a lot: some require live classes or testing within a few months of graduation, and SimpleNursing extends your access rather than refunding you. Prices and terms are from each program’s website on September 29, 2026.
This comparison is written by NCLEX Key, one of the options listed. Details for other programs come from their own websites and guarantee terms, checked on September 29, 2026. Terms change, so read each program’s full terms before you buy.
A pass guarantee protects you if you do everything right and still do not pass. But the price of the cheapest plan that includes one, what you get back, and the conditions you must meet vary widely. Here is how the NCLEX-RN pass guarantees compare.
NCLEX-RN pass guarantees compared (2026)
| Program | Lowest price with a guarantee | If you don’t pass | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX Key | $59 (30 days); every plan includes it | Full refund | First NCLEX-RN attempt; at least 500 practice questions and one full CAT simulation “Above the passing standard” before your exam; exam during an active plan; send your Candidate Performance Report within 30 days |
| Archer Review (Sure PASS) | $159 (1 month) | Refund, program extension or slot replacement | First-time user of Archer’s question bank; complete the question bank; attend the 3-day live webinar; score “High” or “Very High” on four consecutive readiness assessments before your exam |
| Hurst Review (HurstNOW) | $159 (30 days) | Full refund, or a one-time 45-day remediation course | First NCLEX attempt within 3 months of graduating from a U.S. or Canadian accredited nursing school; complete all online lectures and the 4 readiness exams; notify Hurst within 2 weeks and return course materials |
| SimpleNursing (NCLEX-RN Pass Guarantee) | $189 one-time (90 days) | Access extended at no extra cost until you pass (not a refund) | Terms apply; see SimpleNursing’s site |
| Kaplan (PassTrack) | From $349 (self-paced) | 100% tuition refund or a free 3-month repeat | First attempt within 6 months of graduating from an ACEN, CCNE or CASN-accredited program; take the diagnostic and readiness tests; attend all class sessions; answer all questions on the seven Question Trainer tests; call within 20 days of your exam |
| UWorld | No guarantee listed | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Our pick: NCLEX Key
- A full-refund pass guarantee on every plan, from $59 for 30 days
- No live classes to attend and no graduation-date deadline
- 3,500+ questions, all 6 NGN item types, 30 unfolding case studies and the adaptive CAT simulator on every plan
- Start free: 25 questions and 2 case studies, no credit card
What to check before you rely on a guarantee
- What you get back. A refund returns your money. An access extension or a repeat course gives you more time with the same program instead.
- Graduation deadlines. Kaplan’s guarantee requires testing within 6 months of graduation and Hurst’s within 3 months. If your exam date is later, or you graduated outside the U.S. or Canada, check whether you qualify.
- Required activities. Some guarantees require live classes or webinars, others a set number of practice questions or readiness scores. Make sure the requirements fit your schedule.
- First attempt only. Several guarantees cover only your first NCLEX attempt. If you are retaking, see the best NCLEX prep after failing.
- Which plan includes it. Several programs include the guarantee only on their higher-priced plans.
Comparing more than guarantees? See the best NCLEX prep in 2026, NCLEX Key vs Archer Review and UWorld vs Kaplan vs NCLEX Key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest NCLEX prep with a pass guarantee?
NCLEX Key, which includes a full-refund pass guarantee on every plan, starting at $59 for 30 days. The next lowest on September 29, 2026 were Archer Review’s Sure PASS and Hurst Review’s HurstNOW, both $159 for about a month.
Does UWorld have a pass guarantee?
No pass guarantee is listed on UWorld’s NCLEX-RN page (checked September 29, 2026).
Does Kaplan have a pass guarantee for the NCLEX-RN?
Yes, on its PassTrack courses (from $349). It requires testing for the first time within 6 months of graduating from an ACEN, CCNE or CASN-accredited program, attending all class sessions and completing Kaplan’s diagnostic, readiness and Question Trainer tests. It offers a 100% tuition refund or a free 3-month repeat.
Do NCLEX pass guarantees cover a retake?
Often not. NCLEX Key’s, Kaplan’s and Hurst’s cover your first NCLEX attempt. Archer Review’s criteria require being a first-time user of its question bank, so check its full terms if you are retaking.
Is a refund better than an access extension?
A refund returns what you paid, so you are free to choose different prep for a retake. An access extension keeps you in the same program for longer at no extra cost. Which suits you depends on whether you would want to keep using that program.
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- Archer Review NCLEX-RN plans
- Hurst Review: Pass Guarantee terms
- Hurst Review NCLEX-RN courses — HurstNOW prices: $159 (30 days), $199 (60 days), $249 (90 days), $339 (120 days) (checked September 29, 2026)
- SimpleNursing plans
- Kaplan: NCLEX pass guarantee terms
- Kaplan NCLEX prep options
- UWorld NCLEX-RN Review: plans, prices and features
- NCLEX Key pricing — NCLEX Key plan prices and what every plan includes
- NCLEX Key refund policy and Pass Guarantee — NCLEX Key Pass Guarantee conditions
Sources checked September 2026.