Independent counselors charge $5,000. We charge $19–$79/mo.
Same components. Same outputs. Same evidence base. We did the research once — for thousands of families — instead of billing it by the hour.
Start free. Upgrade when you're ready. Premium ($79/mo) is the full credit-stacking plan — the one that replaces a year or more of college tuition.
MonthlyAnnualSave up to 20%
Free
Explore and get started
$0/forever
- 3 saved colleges
- Browse 6,500+ colleges
- 5 practice questions/day
- Career explorer (full access)
- Career assessment quiz
- No financial tools
- No personalized recs
Basic
Essential tools for planning
$19/month
- 25 saved colleges
- Application tracker (10 schools)
- Credit Lab & Financial Hub
- Award Comparison
- GPA Tracker & Academics Hub
- Test Prep (50 questions/day)
- Homework Helper (10/mo)
- Essay tools
- Hidden Gems & Deadline tracking
Most Popular
Plus
Advanced features for serious planners
$39/month
- Everything in Basic
- Unlimited saved colleges
- Smart Counselor (10/mo)
- Smart Essay Review (5/mo)
- College Comparison
- Test Prep (150 questions/day)
- Application tracker (25 schools)
- Homework Helper (50/mo)
- Family accounts (5 students)
- Parent dashboard accessBonus
Best for Smart Counseling
Premium
Everything unlimited + Smart Counselor
$79/month
- Everything unlimited
- Smart Counselor (unlimited)
- Homework Helper (unlimited)
- Family accounts (5 students)
- Common App export
- SMS deadline reminders
- Parent dashboard accessBonus
Compare All Features
| Feature | Free$0 | Basic$19 | Plus$39 | Premium$79 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saved Colleges | 3 | 25 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| College Search | Browse 6,500+ | Full | Full | Full |
| Career Explorer | ||||
| Career Assessment Quiz | ||||
| Practice Questions | 5/day | 50/day | 150/day | Unlimited |
| Application Tracker | — | 10 schools | 25 schools | Unlimited |
| Credit Lab | — | |||
| Financial Hub (Net Price, FAFSA, Scholarships) | — | |||
| Award Comparison | — | |||
| GPA Tracker | — | |||
| Academics Hub | — | |||
| Essay Tools | — | |||
| Hidden Gems | — | |||
| Deadline Tracking | — | |||
| College Comparison | — | — | ||
| Smart Counselor | — | — | 10/month | Unlimited |
| Smart Essay Review | — | — | 5/month | Unlimited |
| Family Accounts | — | — | 5 students | 5 students |
| Homework Helper | — | 10/mo | 50/mo | Unlimited |
| Common App Export | — | — | — | |
| SMS Deadline Reminders | — | — | — | |
| Parent Dashboard | — | — |
When you start matters more than which plan you pick.
The credit-stacking plan compounds backward from move-in day. Earlier start = more replaced.
START IN 10TH GRADE
A year or two of college, replaced.
Three summers of CLEP + AP cycles + Dual Enrollment. 30–75 credits depending on the school.
START SENIOR YEAR
A semester to a year, replaced.
Senior summer + freshman year stacking. 15–30 credits at most schools. Still a real win.
START MOVE-IN WEEK
Too late for most of it.
Residency clocks have started. Most credit-optimization windows have closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change plans anytime?
Yes! You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. When upgrading, you'll be prorated for the remaining time. When downgrading, the change takes effect at your next billing cycle.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and debit cards through our secure payment processor, Stripe.
Is there a free trial?
We offer a generous Free tier that you can use forever. This lets you explore the platform before committing to a paid plan. No credit card required to start.
What happens to my data if I cancel?
Your data is always yours. If you cancel or downgrade, you keep access to everything you've created. Premium features will be disabled, but your college lists, notes, and progress are saved.
Do you offer discounts for schools or counselors?
Yes. High school counselors can request verified free resource access at /counselors. That account is read-only, uses sample previews, and does not include student rosters, notes, uploads, messaging, reports, or student-record tools. Paid counselor, school, and district plans are separate; contact [email protected] for those.
What is the parent dashboard?
Plus and Premium plans include a parent dashboard where parents can view their student's progress, saved colleges, and upcoming deadlines. It provides a collaborative planning experience so the whole family stays informed.
Can I get a refund?
Absolutely. We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans. If you're not satisfied for any reason, contact us within 30 days for a full refund. No questions asked.
What's the difference between Plus and Premium?
Plus gives you unlimited saved colleges, Smart Counselor (10/month), Smart Essay Review (5/month), College Comparison, and family accounts — great for organized self-starters. Premium makes everything unlimited, adds Common App export, and SMS deadline reminders — ideal if you want hands-off guidance through every step.
How is this different from hiring a college counselor?
Independent educational consultants charge $3,000–$10,000 for similar guidance. College Decoded provides smart college matching, financial analysis, test prep, and application tools starting at $19/month. You get comparable coverage at a fraction of the cost, available 24/7.
Built for Students and Parents Who Want the Truth
256-bit SSL Encryption
FERPA Compliant
Secure Payments via Stripe
Cancel Anytime
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Try any paid plan risk-free. If you're not completely satisfied within the first 30 days, we'll refund 100% of your payment. No questions asked.
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Search 6,500+ colleges, explore 1,000+ careers, and plan your finances — all in one place.
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