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Our recommendation
nicprep.com
All NIC modalities plus PSI National and Texas, AI study tutor, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean editions, offline capable, $49 lifetime bundle with 60-day pass guarantee.
Best for print learners
Mometrix
Established publisher since 2009 with printed study guides and online course. Covers cosmetology + esthetics. No AI tutor, no offline mode.
Lowest entry price
Cosmetology Guru
$49 for one month, $74 lifetime. Four modalities, 600 questions, six simulated exams. Bulk school pricing available. No AI tutor, no flashcards, no Spanish edition advertised.
Exam Coverage
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| NIC Cosmetology | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NIC Esthetics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NIC Nail Technology | Yes | Yes | No |
| NIC Barber Styling | Yes | Yes | No |
| NIC Hair Design | Yes | No | No |
| NIC Electrology | Yes | No | No |
| NIC Permanent Cosmetics | Yes | No | No |
| PSI National — Cosmetology PSI’s own National programme · seven states | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| PSI National — Esthetician PSI’s own National programme · seven states | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| California — Barber Board of Barbering and Cosmetology | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| PSI National — Manicurist PSI’s own National programme · seven states | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Texas — Manicurist Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Texas — Cosmetology Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Texas — Esthetician Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Texas — Barber Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation | Yes — 10 tests | Not advertised | Not advertised |
| Built to the exam’s own outline | PSI National Apr 2026 · TX TDLR/PSI | NIC-only | NIC-only |
| Questions per NIC course | 1,100 | 600 | Not disclosed |
| Study in your language | Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean & Chinese | Not advertised | No |
| Included in the price | Yes — same course, no upcharge | Paid add-on | — |
Study Features
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| Practice tests (timed simulation) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Study mode (instant feedback) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI Study Tutor | Claude-powered | No | No |
| Flashcards (domain-stacked) | Digital, filterable | No | $43.99 |
| Flashcards — learn and recall direction | Both, progress shared | No | No |
| Full rationale on every question | Right + wrong explained | Yes | Yes |
| Score by domain breakdown | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Cross-device progress sync | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Works offline | Yes (PWA) | No | No |
| Retake any test | Fresh shuffle | Unlimited retakes | Unknown |
| Timed to the real clock | 90 or 120 min, per exam | 90 min | Unknown |
| AI support assistant access, devices, reporting | Yes | No | No |
| Free preview (no signup) | 10 questions — NIC, PSI National, Texas, all four languages | 20 questions | Limited |
| Printed study guide | Digital only | No | Print + ebook |
Pricing & Access
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| Full bundle | $49 NIC · $59 state | $74 lifetime · $49 one month | $72.99 list · $44.99 sale |
| Access duration | Lifetime | Lifetime | Varies |
| Subscription required | No | No | No |
| Refund policy | 14-day unconditional | 100% money-back | Unknown |
| Pass guarantee | 60-day | Implied | No |
| School/bulk licensing | Yes — class codes | Bulk codes | No |
For Schools & Instructors
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| Bulk / class licensing | Yes | Bulk codes | No |
| Students redeem with their own login | Own account per seat | Unknown | No |
| Self-serve seat purchase | Instant, online | Unknown | No |
| Class codes emailed instantly | Yes | Unknown | No |
| Volume discount | Tiered pricing by cohort size | Unknown | No |
| Minimum order | 5 seats | Unknown | — |
| Courses available per seat | All 7 NIC, plus PSI National and Texas | Unknown | No |
| Instructor admin console | Yes | Unknown | No |
| Free instructor seat | Yes — lifetime | Unknown | No |
| Seat deactivation on refund | Yes | Unknown | No |
For Creators & Affiliates
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| Partner / affiliate programme | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commission | 20% of every sale | Unknown | Unknown |
| Paid up front, not spread over months | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Referral window | 60-day cookie | Unknown | Unknown |
| Payout | Monthly direct deposit over $25 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Caps or quotas | None | Unknown | Unknown |
| Self-serve dashboard | Yes — live earnings | Unknown | Unknown |
Content Methodology
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| Built from the official exam outline | NIC CIB 2026 · PSI National Apr 2026 · TX TDLR | Claims "actual test bank" | NIC-aligned |
| Domain-weighted to real exam | Per exam — NIC and state weightings differ | Unknown | Unknown |
| Statistical validation | 6 construction standards | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Answer-length balanced | No length tells | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Position balanced (no B-bias) | Yes | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Rationale explains wrong answers | Each option addressed | Yes | Yes |
Platform & Experience
| Feature |
nicprep.com |
Cosmetology Guru |
Mometrix |
| Mobile + desktop responsive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works offline (subway, break room) | PWA, auto-sync | Requires connection | Requires connection |
| Install as app (no App Store) | Yes | No | No |
| State licensing guides | All 50 states + DC | Select states | No |
| Years in market | 2026 (new) | Since 2010 | Since 2009 |
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Competitor figures were checked against each provider's own product pages on 19 August 2026. Prices there change without notice, so verify before relying on them. nicprep.com is our product — we've tried to be accurate and fair, but we're not a neutral party. Where we couldn't verify a competitor's feature, we marked it as "Unknown" rather than guessing. If you spot an error, please let us know and we'll correct it. Competitor names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.