Unacademy built its reputation on live classes, star educators, and a brand that grew from a YouTube channel into one of India's most funded edtech companies. For a certain kind of student — one who needs structured teaching, hand-holding, and a mentor — that reputation is earned.
For a student who already has the concepts down and needs to sharpen exam performance through focused practice, Unacademy is the wrong tool. Its test series exist to complement paid course subscriptions, not to serve as a standalone preparation system. Mock tests, sectional tests, quizzes, and DPPs are either bundled inside expensive courses or thin in depth for the exams that matter most.
PrepGrind is built the other way around. It starts with exam practice — mock tests, sectional tests, topic-wise quizzes, and DPPs — adds AI-powered diagnostics on top of every test, and makes all of it free. No course purchase required, no subscription, no paywall.
For SSC, Banking, Railway, and MBA entrance preparation specifically, that distinction matters more than brand recognition.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
- Unacademy: live coaching platform with star educators, video courses, and test series bundled inside paid subscriptions
- PrepGrind: focused, exam-oriented practice platform built around mock tests, sectional tests, DPPs, quizzes, and AI analytics
- For rigorous, targeted practice that mirrors exam day — PrepGrind wins
Read on for the full breakdown.
Quick Comparison: PrepGrind vs Unacademy at a Glance
| Feature | PrepGrind | Unacademy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 100% Free | ₹10,000–₹1,29,800 (courses); ₹300+/month (subscription) |
| Full-Length Mock Tests | ✅ Yes — standalone, free | Bundled inside paid courses |
| Sectional Tests | ✅ Dedicated per section, free | Course-bundled, limited standalone |
| Daily Practice Problems (DPPs) | ✅ Yes — structured, free | ❌ No |
| Topic-wise Quizzes | ✅ Yes — free | Limited |
| Live Tests with All India Rank | ✅ Yes — free | Available in some paid batches |
| AI Weak Area Analysis | ✅ Yes — topic-level, free | Basic performance tracking |
| Personalised Study Plan | ✅ Yes | No |
| Post-Test Recommendations | ✅ Yes (AI-driven next steps) | No |
| Live Classes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (core offering) |
| Recorded Video Courses | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (extensive library) |
| SSC / Banking / Railway Depth | High — pattern-analysed tests | Moderate — course-embedded tests |
| CAT / MBA Practice Depth | High — 75 sectional tests + full mocks | Limited for standalone practice |
| Refund Policy | Not applicable (free) | Documented complaints — no refunds |
| Student Base | 145,000+ | Large registered base |
| Founded Focus | Practice-first, AI-driven | Live coaching + content platform |
What Is Unacademy — and What It Is Not
Unacademy was founded in 2015 and grew rapidly on the back of live classes from well-known educators. At its peak in 2021–22, it had over 5,000 employees, had acquired platforms including WiFiStudy, PrepLadder, and CodeChef, and was valued at $3.44 billion.
Since then, the story has changed considerably. The company has cut over 2,000 jobs across multiple rounds of layoffs between 2022 and 2024. Its co-founders stepped back from operational roles in 2025 to focus on a language-learning app. The company's strategic direction has shifted toward offline coaching centres and profitability — away from the aggressive online expansion of its earlier years.
None of that directly affects whether its test content is useful today. But it explains something important about what Unacademy is: it is primarily a live coaching and recorded course platform that includes test series as a supporting feature inside those courses. It is not, and has never tried to be, a dedicated practice and analytics platform.
What Is PrepGrind?
PrepGrind is a focused exam preparation platform for SSC, Banking, Railway, and MBA entrance exams. It covers 25+ competitive exams and offers four formats of practice: full-length mock tests, sectional tests, topic-wise quizzes, and DPPs (Daily Practice Problems).
Every test on PrepGrind is followed by AI-generated diagnostics that go beyond a score and section split. The AI identifies weak topics within each section, tracks time-per-question patterns, compares performance against top scorers, and recommends the next practice set to work on.
Key Numbers
- 145,000+ active students on the platform
- 10,000+ mock tests across its exam library
- 50,000+ total practice resources across 500+ competitive exams
- Free All India Rank within 30 minutes of every live test
- AI-powered study plans and personalized weak-area recommendations
- Everything is free — tests, analytics, live tests, DPPs, quizzes, the lot
The Core Difference: Practice Engine vs Content Platform
This is the most important distinction, and most comparison articles miss it entirely.
Unacademy = Teaching + Bundled Tests
Unacademy is primarily a coaching platform where test series are bundled inside expensive course subscriptions. This works well if you need structured live teaching from scratch — particularly for UPSC, JEE, or NEET.
PrepGrind = Practice-First Platform
PrepGrind is built around the belief that serious aspirants already have their concepts — what they need is relentless, intelligent practice. The entire product is designed around full-length mocks, deep sectional tests, DPPs, topic-wise quizzes, live tests with AIR, and AI analytics.
This is the difference between a coaching institute and a test centre. Both have value — but at the stage where most serious aspirants are, rigorous practice beats more content.
5 Specific Reasons PrepGrind Wins for SSC, Banking, Railway, and MBA Prep
1. DPPs: The Daily Habit That Actually Builds Scores
The preparation habit that separates students who improve consistently from those who stagnate is not the number of full mocks they attempt. It is daily, focused topic practice. Toppers across SSC CGL, IBPS PO, and RRB NTPC consistently describe the same pattern: they work through topic-specific question sets every day — not always full tests, but targeted practice on the exact concepts they are building.
That is what DPPs do. A DPP is a focused set of 10–20 questions on a single topic, calibrated to exam difficulty, designed to be solved daily. It builds retention and speed in a way that weekly full mocks cannot replicate.
2. AI Diagnostics That Go Past the Scoreboard
After every PrepGrind test, the AI generates a report that most platforms simply do not produce. Unacademy's performance tracking shows your score, section-wise accuracy, and rank within the batch. That tells you how you did. PrepGrind's AI tells you why you got that result and what to do differently before the next attempt.
| Analytics Feature | PrepGrind | Unacademy |
|---|---|---|
| Score and section accuracy | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Topic-level accuracy within sections | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Time-per-question analysis | ✅ Yes | Partial |
| Weak topic identification (AI) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Personalised next-step recommendations | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Topper comparison | ✅ Yes | Batch-level only |
| Study plan generation | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Projected percentile | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
3. Exam-Specific Depth Over Course Breadth
Unacademy covers 200+ exam categories across UPSC, JEE, NEET, CAT, Banking, SSC, Railway, Law, and more. The sheer range requires that content for any single exam is necessarily diluted across an enormous category list.
PrepGrind covers 25+ exams with every mock test, sectional test, and quiz built from detailed analysis of actual exam shift papers. For RRB NTPC, that analysis covered 150+ shift-wise papers from 2016 to 2024. A platform managing content for 200+ exams simultaneously cannot give SSC CGL the same depth of attention that a platform building exclusively for government and MBA entrance exams can.
4. Full Free Access With No Course Commitment Required
Unacademy's pricing ranges from around ₹300/month for a basic SSC subscription to ₹1,29,800 for comprehensive course packages. The platform does offer some free content — a handful of free test attempts per series, free YouTube lessons, and occasional free live mock events — but structured, serious test practice requires a paid subscription.
On top of the cost, Unacademy has a documented refund problem. Independent review platforms record consistent complaints about paid subscribers being refused refunds after purchasing courses, misleading promises about course content, and aggressive sales calls pushing higher-tier subscriptions.
| Cost Factor | PrepGrind | Unacademy |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | ₹0 | ₹300+/month (subscription); ₹10,000+ (courses) |
| Annual cost for SSC/Banking prep | ₹0 | ₹3,600+ (subscription) or ₹10,000–₹50,000+ (course) |
| Mock tests without paying | All of them | 1–5 per series |
| Sectional tests without paying | All of them | Course-bundled |
| DPPs without paying | All of them | Not available |
| Refund risk | None | Documented complaints |
5. Preparation Continuity in a Restructuring Platform
Since the second half of 2022, Unacademy's total job cuts have reached approximately 2,000 employees, spanning marketing, product, sales, and content teams. In 2025, co-founders Gaurav Munjal and Roman Saini stepped back from operational roles to focus on a new language-learning app called Airlearn, with the company's core business now focused on profitability and expanding its offline coaching centres.
For a student mid-preparation, this raises a practical question: will the specific educator whose teaching style you have built your study routine around still be on the platform in 12 months? Will the test series you are using be updated for the next exam cycle?
Exam Coverage: How PrepGrind Stacks Up
SSC Exams
| Feature | PrepGrind | Unacademy |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL Tier 1 mocks | Yes — full mocks + sectionals + quizzes | Yes — inside paid course |
| SSC CGL Tier 2 mocks | Yes | Yes — inside paid course |
| SSC CHSL, MTS, GD | Yes — full coverage | Yes — inside paid course |
| Section-level standalone tests | Yes — free | Course-bundled |
| Topic-level quizzes | Yes — free | Limited |
| DPPs for SSC topics | Yes — free | No |
| Post-test AI diagnosis | Yes — topic-level | Basic |
Banking & Insurance
| Feature | PrepGrind | Unacademy |
|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO / SBI PO Prelims mocks | Yes — free | Inside paid course |
| IBPS PO / SBI PO Mains mocks | Yes — free | Inside paid course |
| IBPS Clerk / SBI Clerk mocks | Yes — free | Inside paid course |
| Standalone sectional tests (Quant, Reasoning, English) | Yes — free | Course-bundled |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation sets | Yes — Mains difficulty | Inside paid course |
| Computer Awareness sectional tests | 25 topic-wise tests | General |
| DPPs for banking topics | Yes — free | No |
Railway Exams
| Exam | PrepGrind Coverage |
|---|---|
| RRB NTPC (CBT 1 & 2) | Full mocks built from 150+ shift-wise papers (2016–2024) |
| RRB Group D | Full mocks + dedicated General Science topic quizzes |
| RRB ALP | Full-length mocks with technical sections |
| Station Master / Traffic Assistant | CBAT simulation as standalone practice set |
MBA Entrance Exams
PrepGrind's CAT preparation is built around the three sections that define CAT performance: VARC, QA, and DILR — each with 25 dedicated sectional tests calibrated to CAT 2022–2024 difficulty. Unacademy's CAT coverage is strong on teaching but limited for intensive standalone practice.
| Exam | PrepGrind Coverage |
|---|---|
| CAT | Full mock series + 25 DILR sectional tests + 25 VARC sectional tests + QA sectionals |
| IIFT | Complete entrance test preparation |
| MAT / CMAT | Covered under management prep hub |
| XAT, SNAP | Covered under management prep hub |
AI-Powered Analytics: What PrepGrind's System Actually Does
PrepGrind's AI analytics layer goes beyond "you got 65% in Reasoning." It delivers:
Topic-Level Accuracy Breakdown
Accuracy rate per topic within each section — not just section-level totals. So you know it's not "Reasoning" that's weak but specifically "Syllogism" or "Blood Relations."
Time Management Insights
Time-per-question breakdown showing exactly where you are losing minutes — helping you redistribute time effectively on exam day.
Topper Comparison
Comparison against the top 10% of test takers on the same test, by topic — a real benchmark, not guesswork.
Personalized Improvement Suggestions
Specific recommendations for what to practice next, tied to your current weak areas. Projected percentile based on current performance trends so you have a realistic picture of readiness before exam day.
Where Unacademy Has Genuine Strengths
This article is not a takedown of Unacademy. It is a genuinely good platform for specific use cases.
Unacademy's Real Advantages
- UPSC and engineering entrance exams: PrepGrind's coverage is focused on SSC, Banking, Railway, and MBA entrance. For IAS preparation, JEE, or NEET, Unacademy's faculty — former IAS officers, IITians — are among the stronger online offerings in those categories.
- Concept learning and teaching: Unacademy's core product — live classes and recorded courses from experienced educators — is genuinely good for students starting from scratch who need structured subject teaching before intensive practice.
- Regional language support: Unacademy provides content in Hindi, English, and multiple regional languages including Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali. PrepGrind currently operates in English and Hindi.
- Established brand and community: Founded in 2015, with a large community particularly for UPSC and JEE aspirants.
Where Unacademy Falls Short
- No DPP system for daily structured practice
- Test series are bundled inside paid courses — not standalone
- Sectional test depth is limited compared to PrepGrind's dedicated per-section architecture
- AI analytics are basic performance tracking, not diagnostic
- Significant cost barrier — ₹300/month to ₹1,29,800 for full packages
- Documented refund complaints from paying subscribers
- Platform undergoing strategic restructuring with 2,000+ job cuts since 2022
The Problem With How Unacademy Structures Mock Tests
Unacademy's test series are not a product you buy separately and use independently. They are features within course bundles. When you purchase an SSC CGL preparation batch on Unacademy, you get live classes, recorded videos, study material, doubt sessions, and tests — all together. The tests are there to support the teaching, not to stand alone as a preparation system.
This creates two practical problems for students who are past the concept-learning stage. The first is cost — if you only want to practice tests, Unacademy forces you to pay for an entire course infrastructure you may not need. The second is depth — because tests exist to reinforce course teaching, the sectional test library and topic quiz coverage are not as granular as a platform built around practice first.
Research on competitive exam performance consistently shows that aspirants who complete 30–50 quality mocks with deep post-test analysis outperform those who watch 200 hours of video content. Practice under timed, exam-like conditions builds the speed and accuracy that content alone cannot.
Who Should Choose PrepGrind vs Unacademy
Choose PrepGrind If…
- You are preparing for SSC, banking, railway, or MBA entrance exams
- You want exam-oriented practice, not more content
- Your concepts are reasonably clear and you need practice reps
- You need DPPs to build daily practice discipline
- You want live tests with real All India Rank
- You want AI-powered insights that tell you specifically what to fix
- Budget is a constraint at any level
- You want a free platform to try before paying anything
Choose Unacademy If…
- You are preparing for UPSC, JEE, or NEET — exams where Unacademy's faculty depth provides genuine value
- You are a complete beginner who needs guided live video teaching alongside tests
- Your regional language is a factor in how you process study material
- You want a traditional coaching-style platform that bundles classes and tests together
Pricing Comparison
| Platform | Free Access | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| PrepGrind | 100% free — all mocks, sectionals, DPPs, analytics, no credit card required | Not applicable — entirely free |
| Unacademy | 1–5 free tests per series; some free YouTube content | ₹300+/month (subscription); ₹10,000–₹1,29,800 (full courses) |
PrepGrind's free tier is not a limited trial — it is the full product. You can start practising immediately with no credit card and access the complete library of mocks, sectional tests, DPPs, and live tests. This reflects the platform's confidence in its product: let aspirants try it before they commit.
Final Verdict
Unacademy and PrepGrind are not really competing for the same thing. Unacademy is a teaching platform. PrepGrind is a practice platform. The comparison only becomes meaningful for the student who is past the concept-building stage and is deciding where to focus their test preparation time and money.
In that comparison, PrepGrind wins clearly for SSC, Banking, Railway, and MBA entrance exams. It has more exam-specific test depth, a better diagnostic system, DPPs that Unacademy does not offer, and it costs nothing. Unacademy's test series, bundled inside expensive courses that also include teaching infrastructure you may not need, cannot match that combination for a student whose preparation need is practice and performance improvement.
If you are done passively learning and ready to actively prepare, start with PrepGrind today. No credit card, no commitment. Just mocks.