The Best CPA Review Courses in 2026: An Honest Comparison
Kyle Ashcraft, CPA · 2019 CPA Exam Scores · 95 FAR · 98 BEC · 91 REG · 90 AUD
I sell one of the courses on this page, so read it with that in mind. What I can offer in exchange is that I will tell you plainly where each competitor beats me, because a comparison that finds the author's own product best at everything is not a comparison.
The exam has three Core sections, FAR, AUD and REG, plus one Discipline you choose from BAR, ISC and TCP. You sit four exams. Several courses sell access to all six sections, which is useful if you change your mind about the Discipline, but nobody takes six. Roughly 85% of it tests application and analysis rather than recall, which is the fact that should drive your decision. A course is not better because it has more questions. It is better if its explanations make you able to answer a question you have not seen.
The courses
Prices and content counts are taken from each provider's published materials and were last checked on 7 September 2026. Promotional pricing moves constantly in this category, and several providers state different figures on different pages of their own sites, so confirm current numbers directly with the provider before you buy. Where a section says what a course is good or bad at, that is my assessment rather than a published fact.
How should you actually choose?
The most common mistake is choosing on name recognition. The largest and most expensive course is not automatically the right one for you, and a lot of the people who end up in my inbox arrived after failing with a well-known course, not because it was bad but because its volume buried them.
Two questions do most of the work.
| Pillar | What to test before you buy |
|---|---|
| The teaching | Watch a lecture on a topic you already find hard. Does the explanation make it click, or does it restate the rule more slowly? |
| The practice | Read three answer rationales. Do they explain why the wrong answers are wrong, or only why the right one is right? |
Try before you commit. Most providers on this page offer a free trial or sample content. A bank of 12,000 questions is worth nothing if you cannot follow the explanations behind them, and you can find that out in twenty minutes for free.
Becker
The most recognized name in the category, widely used by large firms and university programs. Advantage lists at $2,499 and Concierge at $6,349, with promotional pricing running well below list at times. Current package pages state 9,500-plus multiple choice questions, 500-plus simulations and 190-plus hours of video across all six sections.
Structured, polished and deep. Simulated exams, mini exams, digital flashcards, study planning, Adapt2U adaptive practice technology and SkillBuilder solution videos. Higher tiers add coaching, one-to-one tutoring and a licensing navigator.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| The largest ecosystem of tools, exams and supplementary resources | Premium pricing is hard to justify if you are paying yourself |
| Strong textbooks and well-organized lesson sequencing | The bank is large enough to become an obstacle if you are working full time |
| Frequently employer-sponsored, so often free to the candidate | Support features sit behind significant price jumps |
| Concierge covers all three Disciplines with dedicated coaching | Content density makes retention harder for some candidates |
Becker wins on firm sponsorship and institutional depth, and I concede both. If your employer is paying, take it. Where candidates come to me is not because Becker is wrong but because they cannot get through it, and the fix there is condensed teaching alongside what they already own rather than a second full purchase.
Becker's own pages disagree on the question count. Current package pages say 9,500-plus while others on the same site still say 8,000-plus. I have used the higher figure because it appears where you would actually buy, but treat any exact count in this category as approximate.
Read the full Maxwell against Becker comparison.
UWorld
Part of a large education group covering medical boards, the CFA and the bar exam. The CPA course features well-known instructors including Peter Olinto, with high production values and detailed visual rationales. Premier sits at the entry point with Elite tiers above. Elite Unlimited Plus covers all six available sections, while Premier and Elite Unlimited cover the three Core sections plus one Discipline. Pricing moves with promotions often enough that any figure quoted here would be stale within weeks, so check the current offer.
Published counts are 9,000-plus multiple choice questions, 500-plus simulations and 1,400-plus video lectures, plus a cram course. Full-length mock exams are a higher-tier feature rather than something every package includes. SmartPath analytics track readiness. A seven-day free trial needs no credit card.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Genuinely excellent video production and engaging instructors | Premium pricing even after the frequent sales |
| Answer rationales use flowcharts and visuals rather than prose alone | The library is large enough to be daunting on a tight schedule |
| Predictive scoring, with full mock exams at higher tiers | Discipline materials feel lighter than Core to some candidates |
| Seven-day trial with no card required | The experience is product-led rather than coach-led |
UWorld and Gleim have the best question banks in the category, and that is not a close call. If your problem is that you need more realistic practice, buy one of those two. If your problem is that the concept has not landed yet, more practice is the wrong instrument.
Although I was using UWorld as my main review course it was helpful to have Maxwell as a supplement to help me understand the material in down-to-earth language with a focus on what's most important. I first used Maxwell to understand the material well, then I used UWorld to practice several simulated exams. I passed FAR and REG on the first try.
Maxwell student who used both courses together
Read the full Maxwell against UWorld comparison.
Surgent
Built around adaptive learning and ReadySCORE, which estimates your likelihood of passing from your study data. Three tiers, Essentials at $799, Premier at $1,299 and Ultimate at $1,699, each covering all six sections with the ability to switch Disciplines at no extra cost.
Published counts are 9,000-plus questions, 500-plus simulations and 700-plus short video lectures. The algorithm directs your time toward weak areas, which Surgent says reduces total study hours. The money-back guarantee is listed from Essentials upward. Higher tiers add coaching and other extras.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Adaptive technology targets weak areas without you having to diagnose them | Heavy reliance on software feels impersonal if you want a teacher |
| All six sections with free Discipline switching, and the guarantee from Essentials up | Coaching is reserved for higher tiers |
| ReadySCORE gives a data-driven readiness signal | Some candidates report friction with the interface |
| Lowest entry price among the large providers | An algorithm-set path suits some learners and frustrates others |
Surgent owns adaptive software and readiness scoring, and nothing I offer competes with that. If you want a system that decides what you study next, buy Surgent. What it does not do is diagnose why a concept is not landing, because a dashboard can see that you keep missing lease questions but not why.
Read the full Maxwell against Surgent comparison.
Gleim
The largest question bank in the category, with 12,000-plus multiple choice questions and 1,200-plus simulations. Traditional at $2,499, Premium at $2,999 and Premium Pro at $3,499, plus a standalone Mega Test Bank at $999 for candidates who already own a primary course.
Discipline access varies by tier. Traditional covers the three Core sections plus one Discipline. Premium allows one free switch. Premium Pro opens all six with unlimited changes. The course includes lecture videos, SmartAdapt, mock exams, a Personal Counselor, a Prep Pal AI study assistant and a Prometric-style interface. Premium and Premium Pro carry the Access Until You Pass guarantee, while Traditional caps access at 18 months.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Unmatched question volume, and the test bank sells separately | Premium pricing across every tier |
| SmartAdapt and detailed performance analytics | Volume can produce paralysis rather than progress |
| A Personal Counselor for study planning | All-Discipline access needs the top tier |
| Exam interface simulation for test-day familiarity | Traditional caps access at 18 months, so the open-ended guarantee needs a higher tier |
Nobody beats Gleim on volume, and the Mega Test Bank is the best standalone question purchase available. The honest question is whether volume is your constraint. If you have the calendar to work through 12,000 questions, it is a real advantage. If you have eight weeks and a job, it is a liability dressed as a feature.
Read the full Maxwell against Gleim comparison.
NINJA
A per-section monthly subscription: $87 for the Course tier or $67 for the Supplement tier. NINJA currently markets 7,000-plus multiple choice questions and 300-plus simulations overall, and has historically been more forthcoming than most providers about what sits inside each section.
The platform is organized around named study weapons: notes, audio, CRAM videos, question banks, simulations, flashcards, books and group tutoring sessions. A Trending Score estimates readiness. Coverage spans Core and Discipline sections.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Monthly subscription with no large upfront commitment | Per-section pricing compounds across four sections |
| Unusually open about what is actually in each section | The multi-tool approach can feel fragmented without a set path |
| Trending Score is a genuinely useful benchmark | Group tutoring rather than one-to-one |
| Designed to layer on top of a primary course | One section at a time, so it does not replace a full course |
NINJA answers a shortage of practice, and answers it well. If you have watched the lectures and understood them and simply need more repetitions, that is exactly what NINJA sells. Note that it is per section, so four sections at $67 costs more than it first appears.
Read the full Maxwell against NINJA comparison.
Universal CPA Review
Built around visual explanation, with a video walkthrough for every practice question. Three-month access at $299, annual at $699 and lifetime at $999, all covering the three Core sections plus all three Disciplines.
Published counts are 5,000-plus questions, 200-plus simulations and 100-plus hours of lectures. A seven-day free trial needs no credit card.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Video explanation for every question, which very few courses offer | Smaller practice volume than the large banks |
| Visual approach suits candidates who stall on text-heavy material | Recognition improves faster than problem-solving depth |
| Genuinely affordable, with all Disciplines at every tier | Limited support infrastructure compared with coached tiers |
| Seven-day trial to test the style before paying |
Universal owns visual explanation, and a video for every single question is a real differentiator. Where I would push back is that seeing a worked answer and producing one under time pressure are different skills, and visuals build the first faster than the second.
Read the full Maxwell against Universal comparison.
i75
Built on the premise that the right teacher matters more than the largest bank. A full bundle covering all six sections at $1,199 with 36-month access, or per-section monthly subscriptions from $139. Promotional bundles have run considerably lower, around $749 for 18 months and $899 for 30 months. The format is short concept videos followed immediately by practice.
Narrated simulations and a final review are included, and the course states it is current for 2026. Question and simulation counts are not published, which makes breadth harder to assess before you buy.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Strong instructor-led teaching with clear conceptual explanation | The full bundle is listed as non-refundable |
| Concept then practice supports retention better than blocked study | Question and simulation counts are not published, so breadth is hard to judge before buying |
| All six sections in the full bundle, with 36-month access | Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled anytime, though some changes go through email support |
| Popular with candidates who struggled elsewhere | $139 per section per month is the highest monthly rate here |
i75 is my closest competitor in philosophy, and it is a good course. We disagree on one thing. i75 answers "the concept did not make sense" with longer explanations. I answer it with fewer topics explained properly. If you want more time per topic, i75. If you want fewer topics, me.
Read the full Maxwell against i75 comparison.
SuperfastCPA
Not a review course, and it does not claim to be. SuperfastCPA is a study system designed to sit on top of whatever course you already own: study strategies, condensed notes, audio and mini-quizzes aimed at making short sessions productive. $49 per month, or one-time bundles listed at $697 and $997, which are frequently discounted well below list. Mini-simulations have been added alongside the mini-quizzes.
| Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Genuinely good productivity system for people with fragmented time | Not a replacement course. It assumes you own one. |
| Audio, mini-quizzes and mini-simulations work during commutes and gaps | The guarantee asks you to use the products consistently for a period before claiming |
| The strategies improve the efficiency of any main course | Bundle list prices sit well above what the promotions actually charge |
SuperfastCPA solves a habit problem, and it is the right purchase if that is your problem. Be honest with yourself about which one you have. If you are stuck because you cannot sit down consistently, buy it. If you are stuck because consolidations still do not make sense, no habit system fixes that.
Maxwell CPA Review
I create and lead the entire curriculum myself: every video, every textbook page, every study outline and the original practice material, alongside AICPA-licensed questions. There is no content team. It is one CPA who scored 90 or above on every section in 2019, building the course he wanted at the time.
All six sections, FAR, AUD, REG, BAR, ISC and TCP, at $49 per month, billed monthly, cancel anytime. No discipline upcharge and no tier to upgrade to.
| Video content | 50 hours |
|---|---|
| Practice MCQs | 5,000 |
| Task-based simulations | 150 |
| Sections | All six, no upcharge |
| Instructor access | Direct, included as standard |
| Price | $49 per month |
What is actually different
Every other option on this page answers a shortage. More questions, longer explanations, better visuals, a habit system. Maxwell answers a surplus.
That is the whole argument. You are not short of material. You are short of someone telling you which material decides the exam and then teaching that part properly. On a high-yield topic like leases we work the journal entries from commencement to the end of the lease life. On a low-yield topic we cover the rule quickly in case it appears and move on.
That is the Max Yield Method, and the credential is what licenses it. Deciding what to skip is only defensible if the person deciding has actually scored well on the exam, which is a check you can run on any instructor in this category. Most publishers do not publish scores at all.
This is hands down the best CPA studying course out there. I have tried studying with Becker and Ninja, but Maxwell review course for FAR was awesome. Went from a 63 studying with Becker to a 78 with just studying with Maxwell. It's simple, straight to the point, and really nails down those topics exactly as shown on the exam.
Tajinder, Maxwell student
I had failed AUD twice with Becker. Maxwell made each subject easier to understand and condense. I can't thank Kyle enough for being so responsive.
Maxwell student
Individual results. Score improvements vary by candidate, preparation time and starting point.
Best for candidates who ran out of time before they ran out of material: Maxwell CPA Review, with bite-sized lessons focused on the concepts that matter most, at $49 per month, billed monthly, cancel anytime.
Use it as your primary course. Use it to retake a section you failed. Use it alongside what you already bought.
Start free with CPA 101
Before you pay anyone, try the teaching. Practice all 25 of the 2026 AICPA released MCQs, plus a free study outline. FAR, AUD and REG tracks available. No credit card required.
Everything side by side
| Course | From | MCQs | TBS | Disciplines | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becker | $2,499 | 9,500+* | 500+ | Varies by tier | Employer-sponsored, maximum structure |
| UWorld | Check promo | 9,000+ | 500+ | One, or all three at top tier | Production quality and visual rationales |
| Surgent | $799 | 9,000+ | 500+ | All three, every tier | Adaptive software and readiness scoring |
| Gleim | $2,499 | 12,000+ | 1,200+ | One to all three by tier | Maximum question volume |
| NINJA | $67/mo | 7,000+ | 300+ | One at a time | Affordable supplement, extra practice |
| Universal | $299 | 5,000+ | 200+ | All three | Visual learners, video for every question |
| i75 | $1,199 / 36mo | Not published | Not published | All three | Concept clarity from one instructor |
| SuperfastCPA | $49/mo | Mini-quizzes | Mini-sims | Per section | Study habits layered on another course |
| Maxwell CPA Review | $49/mo | 5,000 | 150 | All three, no upcharge | Curated teaching, direct instructor access |
*Becker's own pages give both 9,500+ and 8,000+; the higher figure appears on current package pages. UWorld's entry price moves with promotions often enough that quoting one would mislead. Figures checked 7 September 2026 and subject to change.
A word on that MCQ column. It is the least useful number on the page and the one most people decide on. Question count measures how much a company has produced, not how much you will work through or understand. Set it against the calendar you actually have before treating a larger number as better.
Who is Maxwell right for?
Not everyone, deliberately. Fewer materials taken further is the trade, and it is a bad trade if what you want is breadth.
| Consider Maxwell if | Look elsewhere if |
|---|---|
| You are choosing your first course and want something you can finish | Your employer pays for Becker, in which case take it |
| You work full time and cannot give 400 hours to drilling | Your constraint is practice volume rather than understanding |
| You want direct instructor access without a premium coaching tier | You want software to decide what you study next |
| You are retaking a section and need it explained differently | You want the broadest possible coverage regardless of hours |
| You want all six sections without upgrades or switching fees |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best CPA review course?
It depends on which problem you have. Becker offers the deepest institutional ecosystem and is often employer-funded. UWorld and Gleim have the strongest question banks. Surgent leads on adaptive software and readiness scoring. Universal explains every question on video. Maxwell CPA Review covers all six sections at $49 per month with curated teaching and direct instructor access, for candidates who need less material rather than more.
How many practice questions do I need to pass?
Fewer than the marketing implies. Question count measures what a company produced, not what you will complete or understand. What matters is whether the rationale explains why the wrong answers are wrong, because that is the skill the exam actually tests. A candidate who works 800 questions and reviews every distractor will usually beat one who clicks through 4,000.
Can I use Maxwell CPA Review alongside another course?
Yes, and many students do. The common pattern is using Maxwell's videos and outlines to understand the material, then a larger provider's bank for timed practice and mock exams. At $49 per month it adds to an existing course without a second major purchase.
Which courses include all three Discipline sections?
Maxwell, Surgent, Universal and i75 include all three as standard. UWorld includes all three at its top tier. Gleim requires Premium Pro. Becker's Concierge tier covers all three. NINJA sells Disciplines as separate per-section subscriptions. Check whether Discipline access needs a tier upgrade before comparing headline prices.
What is the cheapest CPA review course?
On a monthly basis, Maxwell at $49 covering all sections and SuperfastCPA at $49 per section are the lowest entry points, though SuperfastCPA is a study system rather than a review course. Universal starts at $299 for three months. NINJA is $67 per month per section. Surgent Essentials is $799 once. i75 and SuperfastCPA both run bundle promotions well below list, so check the current offer rather than the headline. Cheapest and best value are different questions, so check what is included and whether Disciplines cost extra.
Should I choose a course based on pass rate claims?
No. Provider-reported pass rates use inconsistent eligibility criteria and are not comparable between companies. A more useful check is whether the person teaching has published their own exam scores, which almost no publisher does.
Try the teaching before you buy anything
Start with the 2026 AICPA released questions and the free study outline. No credit card, and you will know within an evening whether the explanations work for you.
Kyle Ashcraft, CPA scored 90 or above on every section of the CPA exam in 2019, including a 95 on FAR. He is the founder and sole instructor of Maxwell CPA Review, where he creates every lecture, textbook and study outline himself.
Reach him at MaxwellCPAreview@gmail.com.