MBition is closed! On January 2023, MBition went and has been replaced by The CE Shop. You can read more about this change here.
If you’re choosing an online real estate school, no doubt you’ve come across Mbition and VanEd.
Both online real estate schools are high-quality, reliable, and offer state-approved courses.
But which one is better?
Let’s find out in this Mbition vs VanEd comparison review.
Here, we’ll look at:
- Availability
- Course options
- User experience
- Pricing
- Reviews
- Features
All this will help you determine the best option for YOU.
So let’s get started!
Mbition vs. VanEd – A Side-By-Side Comparison Review
Let’s start with a quick comparison table to get a picture of how these two schools fare against each other.
| Mbition | VanEd | |
| Available In: | Pre-Licensing: 21 states
(AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, LA, MI, MS, MO, NY, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI) (AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY) |
Pre-licensing: 14 states
(AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, MI, MO, NE, NY, OH, SC, TX, VA, WA) (CO, FL, MO, NE, OK, OR, SD, TX, WA) |
| Course Options: | – Pre-Licensing – Post-Licensing – Continuing Education – License Upgrade – Exam Prep |
– Pre-Licensing – Post-Licensing – Continuing Education – Exam Prep |
| User Experience: | – Highly interactive with many useful review tools | – Straightforward and easy to follow – User-friendly interface with relevant content |
| Pricing*: | Starts at $489 in Texas and $129 in California. | Starts at $495 in Texas and $100 in California. |
| Reviews: | 4.4/5 stars in Indeed.com | 4.4/5 stars in Indeed.com |
| Features: | – MathMaster and other study tools – Provides proctors for final tests – Provides E-books and written material |
– Supportive Instructors and professional study guides – Math course- 24/7 live chat and phone support – Advanced communication class – One year to complete courses |
Okay, let’s get into the details.
Availability
From the table above, we see that Mbition offers its courses to more states, whether that’s pre-licensing or continuing education.
Its pre-licensing course is available in 21 states, including populous states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
What’s more, it provides continuing education in the majority of states, 43 to be exact. This is fantastic news for agents looking to renew their real estate licenses.
VanEd, on the other hand, is a bit limited, only offering its pre-licensing to 14 states and continuing education to 9 states.
If you’re from any of the states, then lucky you. But if not, then it’s best to look elsewhere.
NOTE: Remember, just because the schools are available in a state does not automatically mean it is approved. Make sure to check if it can satisfy state requirements before enrolling.
Course Options
Mbition offers all the courses you’ll ever need for your real estate career. That includes all prerequisite courses, ongoing education, license upgrades, and even programs to help you ace the licensing exam.
That said, these course options are not available in all states. So make sure to check the school’s website to confirm what courses are available in your state.
VanEd almost matches Mbition when it comes to course options — offering everything except license upgrade courses.
And, just like Mbition, not every state has the complete set.
But what makes VanEd stand out is that it offers different learning formats. Some states can enjoy Livestream packages, while others are just a PDF format.
What’s more, VanEd also offers appraisal courses for those interested.
User Experience
Both online real estate schools provide an excellent user experience. However, both differ in some areas. Let’s take a closer look at these differences.
Lessons from Mbition include videos, quizzes, and other activities. It also teaches the mathematical calculations necessary in the real estate industry.
With all this, students constantly praise the course content on Mbition.
However, there are several complaints regarding bugs and technical issues.
On top of that, customer service is reported to be a bit sluggish. Although it’s not terrible, it can get a bit annoying.
All that said, you’ll be able to benefit greatly from Mbition despite those small hiccups.
VanEd prioritizes simplicity.
It offers a simple, text-based online learning experience that is excellent for people that aren’t tech-savvy.
Several students claim that the simple course structure made it easier for them to grasp the fundamentals. They say that it gave them the necessary resources to further their understanding.
On the flip side, other students found it a bit boring and wished for more interaction.
If you’re all about the substance and don’t care at all about the style, VanEd might be up your alley.
Pricing
It’s hard to compare pricing as it varies depending on the state, the course, the package you select, etc.
But to give you an idea, let’s look at the pre-licensing packages for both Texas and California.
At Mbition, you only get one pre-licensing package in California, priced at around $129. The same is true for its Texas package, but the price is higher at $489.
As for VanEd, there are 2 packages in California, with the cheaper one costing $100 and the higher one costing $160.
Texas, on the other hand, can avail of 3 packages. The prices range from $495, $550, to $799.
So which is the cheaper option?
In California, VanEd has a cheaper starting price, but in Texas, Mbition is cheaper overall.
Keep in mind, though, that both Mbition and VanEd always offer discounts. So make sure to look out for that.
Reviews
Everyone knows that reviews are crucial when purchasing anything online.
You might find the following reviews useful in getting a feel of what other people think of Mbition and VanEd.
Here’s what students say about Mbition:
“With regards to content, MBitionToLearn is less text-heavy as information is broken down into bite-sized segments that flow nicely. It’s interactive with the quick quizzes that come right after short slides. “
“I enjoyed taking my CE classes this year with Mbition for the first time! I chose them at this point, due to their affordable classes and they did not disappoint. One class was conducted via Zoom and the other was self-timed. They were easy to access, understand and follow. I would definitely use them again! “
While most reviews were positive, other students had issues with customer service and getting in touch with the school over their concerns. One of their students wrote:
“I’m concerned over not receiving a completion of my course even though I’ve called customer service twice and also emailed twice… hopefully I will hear a call back soon since it shows 100% completion of my course. But [the] system needs to be corrected.”
Now here’s what students say about VanEd:
“Great course, easy to understand, very comprehensive overview that really prepared me for the final exam!”
“This is a great course to take that is self-paced for students who are also working another job and trying to get their license. I will recommend VanEd to any aspiring real estate professionals. Your course content and practice tests are the best learning tools for individuals wanting to get learn more about or get into real estate.”
Features
Both institutions offer a wide range of features you can use to get the most out of your experience.
Depending on the bundle you choose, Mbition has extra features that are available to its students.
There is pre-licensing training, an instructor, and technical assistance.
It also offers advanced features like MathMaster (a software that teaches you mathematical abilities essential in real estate). The test preparation tool kit is another feature that students love.
What’s more, you get a pass guarantee. This gives you a full refund if you do not pass the licensure exam on your first try. How awesome is that?
For VanEd, the course expiration is its most attractive feature. Other schools only give you 6 months to complete your lessons, but with VanEd, you are given a whole year to finish it.
If you’re busy, the extra time will work in your favor. You’ll have another 6 months to catch up on your course material if you happen to slack off in the first few months.
The Verdict
As you can see, both Mbition and VanEd are great online real estate schools — some of the best out there.
But which one is better?
It all depends on what YOU need.
Looking for a school available in your state? Then you’re more likely to find one with Mbition.
Can’t finish the lessons in 6 months? Then you’ll love that VanEd gives you access for one year.
All these small details will help you determine the perfect online real estate school.
So go ahead and make your pick!
