Complete Networking Fundamentals Course: CCNA Start vs Magoosh GRE Prep

The course spans approximately 79.5 hours of video across all core CCNA 200-301 domains, covering networking fundamentals, OSI and TCP/IP models, IP addressing and subnetting, routing (static routes, OSPF, EIGRP, IPv6), switching, VLANs, Spanning Tree, NAT, ACLs, wireless technologies, QoS, VoIP, and network automation. Reviewers on Reddit and course aggregator sites consistently describe it as "one of the most comprehensive networking courses I have ever seen for the price" and praise its logical, ground-up progression. The course includes GNS3 and Packet Tracer lab demonstrations, cheat sheets, quizzes, and downloadable resources, though a small number of reviewers note it should be supplemented with additional practice exam resources for full 200-301 readiness.

David Bombal holds CCIE #11023 Emeritus, which he earned on his first attempt in January 2003 — a distinction achieved by a very small percentage of Cisco engineers. He has over 20 years of network training experience, has trained engineers at Fortune 100 companies, holds Cisco and HPE certified instructor status, and has over 2 million YouTube subscribers. Reviewers consistently praise his teaching methodology for the care put into scope and learning progression, with one Reddit user describing the course as the result of someone who "invested significant effort into what needs to be learned and in what order." His credentials are regularly cited as a reason students trust the material.

The course is consistently available on Udemy for $11–$20 during the platform's frequent sales, which Reddit reviewers repeatedly highlight as exceptional value. One r/homelab user who purchased it for $13.99 called it "the best purchase I made of thousands I've spent on my homelab over the years." Another r/linuxadmin commenter noted paying "a whopping $11.99" for "one of the most comprehensive networking courses I have ever seen." With nearly 80 hours of content, lifetime access, 18 articles, 124 downloadable resources, and regular updates to keep pace with the CCNA 200-301 exam blueprint, the cost-per-hour ratio is among the lowest of any CCNA prep course on the market.

David Bombal explicitly designs the course for both exam preparation and real-world application — the curriculum covers actual device configuration on simulated Cisco routers and switches via Packet Tracer and GNS3, not just definitions and theory. Reddit discussions in r/homelab, r/linuxadmin, and r/ccna note that the course teaches concepts in a way that applies directly to home labs and enterprise networking jobs, not just to passing an exam. The practical emphasis on configuration, VLANs, routing protocols, and troubleshooting scenarios means graduates are better prepared for entry-level network engineering roles, not just the Cisco certification exam.

The course's integration of GNS3 and Packet Tracer labs throughout the curriculum is the most consistently praised retention element — learners build and configure simulated networks rather than passively watching lectures. Multiple Reddit reviewers credit the hands-on component with making the course worthwhile for both CCNA candidates and general networking enthusiasts. The course length of ~79.5 hours is frequently described as thorough but potentially overwhelming for learners with time constraints, and some reviewers note the instructor's delivery can occasionally be hard to follow during dense technical sections. Overall, the lab-heavy format gives it stronger retention than purely lecture-driven alternatives.

Magoosh provides 290+ video lessons covering Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing, plus 1,600+ practice questions — 160 of which are licensed official ETS problems, making Magoosh the only US GRE prep company with access to these materials. Independent reviewers at Test Prep Insight confirm the practice problems are "a close match for the real GRE" and that it would be "hard to decipher real GRE problems from most of Magoosh's mock problems." The main content criticism is that hard-level Magoosh quant questions can exceed actual GRE difficulty, and the curriculum occasionally presents problems before the relevant concepts have been fully taught in the video lessons.

Tutors Chris Lele and Mike McGarry — the primary Magoosh GRE instructors — are recognized as experienced GRE educators who know their material deeply and present it clearly. GRE tutor Vince Kotchian (15+ years experience) specifically called them out as experienced teachers with strong instructional abilities. The consistent criticism is the delivery format: PowerPoint-style slides with voiceover rather than an instructor on camera, which multiple reviewers describe as "not the most engaging" and less polished than Kaplan's dynamic whiteboard format.

At $149 for one month or $179 for six months, Magoosh is consistently described as an "absolute steal" and "bang for the buck" by independent reviewers — especially compared to Kaplan ($599), Manhattan Prep ($599+), and Princeton Review ($449+). The +5 point score guarantee with a full refund option (verified by actual users who received refunds) and a 7-day no-questions-asked return window add additional low-risk appeal. Test Prep Insight calls the pricing "an absolute steal," and EduReviewer assigns value-for-money a 4.5/5 score. The Live Classes add-on at $499 is seen as significantly less attractive value.

Magoosh provides 24/7 email support from GRE tutors, with response times reported consistently within 24 hours and often faster. Top Consumer Reviews (June 2026) notes customers report "getting feedback on their questions super fast and the responses are super helpful." The platform also includes in-app contextual help, score predictor tools, and links from each question to relevant lesson videos. The limitation is the absence of live chat or phone support — communication is email-only — and no private tutoring is bundled in the standard plan. Live class sessions (extra cost) add real-time interaction but are excluded from the core subscription.

Magoosh reports an average student score increase of 5–6 points and a 5-point improvement guarantee. Verified reviews on gre.magoosh.com show students reaching scores of 322–335, with one student improving from 310 (157Q/153V) to 324 (165Q/159V). EduReviewer notes that 20% of Magoosh users score in the top 10%. GRE tutor Vince Kotchian's honest caveat is that Magoosh "is best for students in the middle who want structure and are okay with a score below 320" — those targeting 165+ per section may find the question difficulty ceiling insufficient for their goals, particularly on the quantitative side.