Best GRE Preparation Books & Free Resources for 2025–26: Complete Guide 2026

Best GRE Preparation

If you’re planning grad admissions for 2026 intake, your GRE prep success comes down to two things: (1) the right books and (2) the right free official resources—used in the correct order.

Also, it helps to know the GRE is still a major global exam. ETS publishes yearly “Snapshot” reports of the GRE test-taker population; for July 2024–June 2025, the report shows a total test-taker count (example table total) of 206,004 in that period. (That means many blogs saying “half a million a year” may be outdated or based on older years/older definitions.)

This guide for 2025–26 → 2026 gives you:

• A ranked list of the best GRE preparation books

• Real, verifiable prices and features (where officially available)

• The best free GRE resources (POWERPREP®, official PDFs, etc.)

• A 6-month study plan that blends books + official practice tests

• A dedicated FAQ section (SEO-ready)

Why Books Still Matter for GRE Prep in 2026

Even with apps and courses everywhere, GRE prep books remain the most reliable way to:

• build concepts systematically,

• practice hundreds (or thousands) of questions,

• create a distraction-free routine,

• and maintain consistent progress over 3–6 months.

But here’s the best-practice rule for 2026:

Anchor your preparation with ETS official material first, then add strategy and high-volume practice from top third-party books, and finally simulate the exam using adaptive practice tests like POWERPREP®.

Best GRE Preparation Books & Free Resources for 2025-26 (Top Picks for 2026)

Below is a clean comparison table based on widely used, high-trust GRE books. Prices shown are official where available (ETS India; publisher list prices), and “price varies by retailer” is common.

Top GRE Books Comparison Table (2026-ready)

Book / Resource	Publisher	Best For	Key Features	Verified pricing info
The Official Guide to the GRE® General Test (Official)	ETS	Real GRE practice	4 real practice tests (2 in book + 2 simulated POWERPREP online), authentic questions	ETS India lists ₹3,900 + shipping
POWERPREP® Online Practice Tests (Free)	ETS	Real test simulation	Official practice tests designed for GRE format & experience	Official ETS prep page
Kaplan GRE Prep Plus (2026 / 9th Ed.)	Kaplan	Structured all-in-one prep	Practice tests + Qbank + video support (edition features vary)	Publisher lists ₹2,299 (may vary)
Manhattan Prep 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems (Latest)	Manhattan Prep	High-volume practice	Updated editions with 2000+ problems + timed sets + online lessons	Manhattan Prep store notes over 2,000 problems
Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep	Princeton Review	Strategy-heavy plan	Multiple practice tests + strategy guides + drills	(Retail varies; features vary by edition)
Barron’s Essential Words for the GRE	Barron’s	Vocabulary	High-frequency words, roots, retention methods	(Retail varies)
ETS Paper-delivered GRE Practice Book (Free PDF)	ETS	Extra official practice	Official practice format + timing guidance	ETS PDF

#1: The Official Guide to the GRE® (ETS) — Your Non-Negotiable Foundation

If you buy only one thing for GRE prep, buy ETS official material first.

Why? Because ETS questions teach you :

• the exact wording,

• the logic behind answer choices,

• and the true difficulty level.

ETS India’s official prep-book page states the Third Edition includes access to FOUR real practice tests: two in the book and two simulated POWERPREP® Online practice tests (through your ETS account).

Best use:Start ETS practice early (but not all at once). Save at least 2 full tests for your final month.

#2: Manhattan Prep 5 lb. Book — Best for Practice Volume

For students who improve by repetition and drilling, Manhattan’s “5 lb.” is a top pick.

Manhattan Prep’s official store notes the latest edition offers over 2,000 problems, plus mixed timed sets, a math rules cheat sheet, and online access to lessons.

Best use:

• Use this after you learn basics (Weeks 3–10).

• Drill weak areas (algebra, geometry, RC inference, etc.).

• Track every error in an “error log.”

#3: Kaplan GRE Prep Plus (2026 edition) — Best for a Guided, All-in-One Plan

Kaplan is popular because it’s structured and beginner-friendly.

Kaplan’s “GRE Prep Plus, Ninth Edition (2026)” listing highlights:

• 6 practice tests

• 1500+ practice questions

• 500+ question bank

• video tutorials and more (details vary by package/region)

Best use:Great for students who want:

• a step-by-step study path,

• mixed practice,

• and a balanced approach across Verbal + Quant + AWA.

#4: Princeton Review GRE Premium Prep — Best for Strategy & Tactics

Princeton Review books are known for:

• test-taking frameworks,

• pacing strategies,

• and drill-based practice.

Best use:Ideal if you struggle with:

• time pressure,

• tricky verbal logic,

• or need a “method” for each question type.

(Always pair with ETS practice so your final practice matches official style.)

#5: Barron’s Essential Words — Best GRE Vocabulary Book

Vocabulary can be a score multiplier for Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence.

Barron’s word-focused books work best when used with:

• spaced repetition,

• context sentences,

• and weekly review cycles.

Best use:Learn words daily, but test them weekly in ETS verbal sets.

Free GRE Resources You Must Use in 2026

You asked specifically for free resources—these are the highest-value ones to include in your plan.

1) ETS POWERPREP® Online Practice Tests (Free)

ETS provides POWERPREP® practice tests to help you prepare for the GRE General Test.

How to use:

• Take one baseline test early.

• Save at least one for your last 2–3 weeks.

2) ETS Free Practice PDFs (Paper-delivered GRE practice book)

ETS provides a GRE practice book PDF that includes section timing and format details.

How to use:

• Great for extra practice sets and timing discipline.

• Useful if you want offline practice.

3) ETS “Prepare for the Test” Hub (extra official options)

ETS lists preparation tools including the Official GRE Mentor Course and other official products/services.

How to Choose the Right GRE Books (Fast Decision Guide)

Use this 3-step method:

1. Start with ETS official material (for real question style).

2. Pick one strategy book (Kaplan or Princeton).

3. Add one practice-heavy book (Manhattan 5 lb.).

Choose based on your profile

• Beginner / returning to math: Kaplan + ETS + light Manhattan drilling

• Need high practice volume: Manhattan + ETS + minimal strategy book

• Verbal weak: ETS verbal sets + vocab book + strategy book drills

• Target 320+: ETS + Manhattan + strict full-length test schedule

6-Month Self-Study Plan (2025–26 → 2026 Intake)

This structure matches how top scorers prep: foundations → drilling → strategy → full tests → final review.

Month	Focus	Best Resources	Weekly Targets
1	Baseline + fundamentals	ETS guide + Kaplan basics	1 diagnostic + 6–8 hrs basics
2	Build core skills	ETS + Kaplan/Princeton	Quant concepts + RC routines
3	Topic drilling	Manhattan 5 lb. + ETS sets	250–400 Qs/month + error log
4	Timed practice	Strategy book + ETS	2 timed sections/week
5	Full-length test phase	POWERPREP + ETS tests	1 full test every 2 weeks
6	Final revision	Weak-topic drills + vocab + test review	1–2 final tests + revise error log

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Skipping ETS practice until the end → then you panic because official questions feel different.

2. Buying too many books → you don’t finish any.

3. Doing practice without reviewing mistakes → score stays stuck.

4. Not doing full-length tests → timing breaks on exam day.

5. Ignoring vocabulary → verbal score stagnates.

FAQ (2026)

1) What are the Best GRE Preparation Books & Free Resources for 2025-26 for 2026 aspirants?

The best combination is: ETS Official Guide + POWERPREP® free practice tests + one strategy book (Kaplan/Princeton) + one practice-heavy book (Manhattan 5 lb.). This mix gives real test questions, full simulations, strategies, and high-volume practice.

2) Are ETS POWERPREP® tests really free?

ETS provides POWERPREP® practice tests as official preparation resources for GRE test takers.

3) How many books are enough for GRE prep?

Usually 2 to 4 books are enough:

• 1 official (ETS)

• 1 strategy (Kaplan/Princeton)

• 1 practice-heavy (Manhattan)

• optional vocab book

4) Can I prepare for GRE using only free resources?

You can start with free official resources (like POWERPREP and ETS PDFs), but most students improve faster with at least one structured book for practice volume and explanations.

CTA: Start Your GRE Prep for 2026 (Official Links + Action Plan)

If you want a strong GRE score for 2026 admissions, do this in order:

1. Take a baseline official practice test

2. Build fundamentals (4–6 weeks)

3. Drill weaknesses (8–10 weeks)

4. Finish with official full-length simulations + review

Official resources to start today (links):

ETS POWERPREP® Practice Tests: https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/prepare/powerprep.html
ETS GRE Prep Books & Services (Official Guide pricing/features): https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/prepare/prep-books-services.html
ETS Prepare Hub (official prep tools): https://www.in.ets.org/gre/test-takers/general-test/prepare.html
ETS Free Paper-delivered Practice PDF: https://www.ets.org/content/dam/ets-india/pdfs/gre/paper-delivered-tes