Cracking the CAT (Common Admission Test) 2026 requires not just hours of study but the right strategy, structured learning, quality mentorship, and well-designed mock practice. With so many online coaching options available — ranging from established brands like IMS, TIME, Unacademy to emerging platforms like Rodha, Cracku, Elites Grid — aspirants often struggle with one big question:
“Which online coaching is the right fit for ME?”
This comprehensive comparison unpacks what Rodha offers, how it stacks up against other popular online CAT coaching platforms, and how you can make a smart decision based on your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
Before comparing specific platforms, let’s understand why online coaching is often preferred today:
✔ Flexibility & Accessibility: You can study from anywhere at any time — perfect for college students and working professionals.
✔ Structured Study Plan: A coaching provides weekly goals, topic sequencing, and disciplined timelines.
✔ Mock Tests & Analytics: The core of CAT prep — helps with speed, accuracy, and time management.
✔ Community & Doubt Support: Peer motivation and mentor guidance help maintain consistency.
But not all coaching platforms are created equal. Different providers focus on different strengths — be it conceptual clarity, mocks, videos, doubt resolution, or live interaction.
Rodha is one of the newer players in the online CAT coaching landscape, but it’s rapidly gaining traction among aspirants. Here’s what characterizes Rodha’s approach:
Why Rodha for Online Coaching :
Rodha emphasizes building conceptual clarity first — especially in core areas like Quant, LRDI, and VARC. Their learning path avoids overwhelming students with too many videos without focus, and instead steers towards purposeful learning progression.
Rodha has extensive free resources: YouTube playlists for Quant, LRDI, and VARC, free mock tests, and a dedicated Telegram group for discussion and strategy. These materials help self-starters begin prep without upfront expense.
For paid coaching, Rodha offers comprehensive batches (e.g., R2 Comprehensive Batch) covering basics to advanced levels with live and recorded sessions, booklets, sectional tests, boosters, and more.
Their philosophy — shared openly on their blog — stresses that CAT is about quality decisions under pressure, not just speed or volume of practice. This approach resonates with many aspirants who feel overwhelmed with rote learning elsewhere.
Rodha’s separate mock test packages include 30 full-length mocks and multiple sectional tests with video solutions — crucial for a balanced prep.
Let’s look at how other major online coaching options compare:
One of the oldest names in CAT prep, IMS’s online program includes hundreds of hours of lectures, over 100 mock tests, and personalized mentorship. Ideal for students who want a well-structured, traditional coaching style.
TIME is known for its extensive test series and deep concept videos, combined with detailed performance analytics — a great choice for aspirants who want comprehensive test exposure.
Offers a hybrid learning model with live classes and smart dashboards to track progress. Best for self-disciplined learners who want flexibility with analytics.
Highly rated for its mock quality and sectional tests. They have a robust question bank and video solutions, making it ideal for aspirants who want intensive practice.
Large course library with strong QA and VARC faculty. They also provide personal mentorship options in some plans, which can be helpful for aspirants requiring guided support.
Strong in Quant and LRDI with rigorous practice sets. It’s mentioned often as a popular choice, but some students pair it with separate VARC modules like VARC1000.
No coaching is perfect for every student, and candid feedback from the CAT community shows a mixed sentiment. Here’s a balanced view:
✔ Strong conceptual content for Quant & LRDI that many students appreciate.
✔ Affordable compared to some big brands.
✔ Free resources boost early prep without spending.
✔ Detailed mocks with video solutions help bridge gaps.
✖ Some students find class structure unorganized, with poor topic progression.
✖ Live classes can be very long and intense — potentially difficult for working professionals.
✖ Doubt support may not be as strong as promised.
✖ Batch sizes can be large, making personalized attention harder.
These reviews highlight the importance of matching your preferred learning style with what a coaching provides.
Here’s a simple framework to decide:
Need lots of structured guidance? — Consider IMS, TIME, Unacademy
Prefer affordable, resource-rich content? — Rodha or Cracku
Focus on heavy practice & mocks? — Cracku or TIME
Seek personal mentorship? — Unacademy or smaller personalized platforms
College student or full-time prep? Live classes work great.
Working professional? More recorded lectures + flexible mock series may suit you better.
Weak Quant? Platforms with strong QA faculty matter (e.g., Rodha, IMS).
Struggling with LRDI? Cracku and Elites Grid are known for intense practice.
Need help in VARC? Look at Unacademy or specialized VARC programs.
Affordable options like Rodha are great but ensure you supplement with quality mocks and test analytics — because mocks make CAT.
Rodha stands out as a budget-friendly, concept-focused platform with an evolving ecosystem of resources and mock practice. It’s particularly valuable for beginners or aspirants who want clarity first and speed later.
However, if you prefer rigorous test exposure, personalized mentoring, or brand reputation, other established platforms like IMS, TIME, Unacademy, or Cracku could be better suited — depending on your goals.
Key Tip: No coaching alone guarantees success. The best result comes when you pair your coaching with disciplined self-study, consistent mock practice, daily analysis, and a clear weekly study schedule.
Choosing the right online coaching for CAT 2026 isn’t just about popularity or low price. It’s about alignment with your study habits, available time, and areas of technical strength or weakness.
Rodha has emerged as a credible contender with focused content and affordable offerings, but it’s not the one-size-fits-all answer. Whether it’s Rodha, Cracku, Unacademy, IMS, or TIME, the best coaching for you is the one that helps you stay disciplined, practice consistently, and grow stronger each week — ultimately leading you to a high percentile and your dream B-School.