Best CPA Prep Courses: Top CPA Study Materials Tested

I’ve personally tested 15+ of the best CPA prep courses using a rigorous, data-driven testing process, including both full-length programs and streamlined crash courses.

My picks for the top CPA review courses are based on performance benchmarks, student results, and in-depth research to highlight the top-performing prep options available today.

Best CPA Prep Course Providers

1. Becker CPA Review – Best CPA Prep Course Overall

Where Becker Stands Out in Real Use

What stood out immediately was how structured the experience felt. The platform guided me from lesson to lesson without friction, and the adaptive tools consistently redirected me toward weaker areas. I spent less time planning and more time actually studying.

A small but impactful feature was the ability to filter practice questions with video explanations. That made it easier to fix mistakes quickly, especially for more complex topics where seeing the walkthrough was more effective than reading.

Becker’s Newt AI assistant also feels more useful because it’s built into so many parts of the study experience. I could ask questions while reviewing practice questions, tests, lecture videos, PDF slides, textbook pages, and flashcards without having to leave the material. Compared to other AI tools I tested, Newt felt more context-aware because it stayed focused on the content in front of me, and I could select specific text in the textbook or slides to ask a more targeted question.

The main drawback is that it sits at the high end of the market. But from a performance standpoint, it’s the most reliable all-in-one system I tested, especially if you want structure without sacrificing depth.

Key course data:

• 900+ video lectures (~213 hours total)
• 8,000+ practice questions and 500+ simulations
• Avg. answer explanations: ~151 words (concise but sufficient)
• 8 full-length mock exams + unlimited practice tests
• Tech: Newt AI, Adapt2U, mobile app

Becker usually sits at the top of this list on features, and current Becker discounts are how I keep that pick from being the most expensive by default.

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2. Gleim CPA Review – Best CPA Question Banks

Built for Repetition, Not Hand-Holding

Gleim is a bit like Becker in the sense that they’re both giants in the space, but Gleim offers 30% more MCQs and nearly 70% more task-based simulations. Gleim also has the edge in having a 100% money-back guarantee, compared to Becker’s $1,000 back, closer to a ~25% money-back guarantee.

In practice, Gleim feels more like training than teaching. I spent most of my time working through questions rather than watching lectures, and that repetition is what drives results. The questions were slightly more detailed than what I typically saw elsewhere, which made early sessions slower, but improved retention as I progressed.

The course structure also helped with consistency. Instead of long lectures, Gleim uses short videos (around 5 minutes on average), followed by immediate practice and walkthroughs. That pacing made it easier to stay focused and keep moving, especially during shorter study sessions.

The trade-off is in explanation depth. They’re more concise than other platforms, but I found that actually helped maintain momentum. Combined with direct links back to source material, it was easy to quickly fix mistakes and move on.

Gleim isn’t the most polished platform, but if your goal is to build retention through repetition and handle tougher question sets, it’s one of the most effective options I tested.

Key course data:

• 11,500+ MCQs and 1,600+ simulations (highest volume I tested)
• ~100+ video hours with short, focused lessons
• 8 full-length mock exams + unlimited practice tests
• Full refund pass guarantee

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3. UWorld CPA Review – Best for Video-Based Learning

Depth Over Speed: What It’s Actually Like to Study With UWorld

UWorld stands out for how deeply it explains concepts. When I missed a question, it rarely felt like a quick correction. It felt like a full breakdown. With answer explanations averaging nearly 300 words, this is the most detailed feedback I saw in any course.

The instruction quality is also a major strength, but not consistently. When Roger Philipp or Peter Olinto are teaching, the lectures are engaging and easy to follow. But they only appear in about half of the content. The remaining lectures are solid, but noticeably less engaging, which made longer study sessions harder to maintain.

The biggest factor with UWorld is time. With ~1,400 videos averaging over 21 minutes each, you’re looking at roughly 500+ hours of video content. That’s significantly more than most courses, and I felt that difference while studying. Progress was slower, and I often had to supplement with reading or skip around to stay efficient.

That said, the depth does pay off. If you take the time to work through the material, you come away with a stronger understanding of the concepts, not just pattern recognition.

Key course data:

• 1,400+ video lectures (~502 hours total)
• Avg. answer explanations: ~285 words (most detailed I tested)
• 9,000+ practice questions and 500+ simulations
• Unlimited practice exams + section-based full-length mocks

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4. Surgent CPA Review – Best Answer Explanations

Adaptive Learning That Actually Reduces Study Time

Surgent is built for efficiency. In my testing, it quickly identified weak areas and redirected my focus, which made study sessions feel more productive and less repetitive. I spent less time reviewing familiar topics and more time improving gaps.

The platform claims up to a 50% reduction in CPA study time. That’s ambitious, but a ~20 to 30% reduction felt realistic. With only ~78 hours of video, Surgent relies more on practice than lectures, which aligns well with strategies for reducing total CPA study time.

ReadySCORE is the standout feature. It estimates your likelihood of passing and helps guide when, and even which section, to take next. That’s especially useful if you’re unsure how to sequence exams. In practice, ReadySCORE worked best as a baseline. Many candidates score higher than predicted. Targeting a ReadySCORE around 80 felt like a safe threshold.

Surgent’s explanations are also the most useful I tested. At ~166 words on average, they include performance data, references, and context, making it easy to understand mistakes and move on quickly.

The trade-off is engagement. The lectures are efficient but not very dynamic, and I found it easier to lose focus during longer sessions. Still, if your goal is to study smarter and reduce wasted time, Surgent is one of the most efficient platforms I have tested.

Key course data:

• ~78 total video hours (far less than most competitors)
• Avg. answer explanations: ~166 words with performance data
• 9,000+ practice questions and 500+ simulations
• ReadySCORE predictive technology (~98% reported accuracy)

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5. Lambers CPA Review – Best Practice-Only CPA Prep Tool

Built for Exam Practice, Not Content Learning

Lambers is fundamentally different from every other course I tested. It doesn’t try to teach you the material. It focuses on improving how you perform on the actual CPA exam.

Instead of lectures or textbooks, everything revolves around its three-stage system. In my testing, this progression worked well. The Pre-Test Mode quickly identified weak areas, the Adaptive Mode reinforced them through repetition, and the Simulated Mode recreated exam conditions with timed practice. By the time I reached the final stage, the format felt familiar and easier to manage.

What surprised me most was the quality of the explanations. At ~159 words on average, they’re right in line with many full courses, which made it easier to learn directly from practice without needing additional resources.

That said, Lambers isn’t designed to be your only study tool unless you already understand the material. It works best as a supplement, or for experienced candidates who just need to sharpen performance and build confidence before exam day.

For $999, Lambers is one of the more affordable options, but it serves a very specific role. If you need structured teaching, this isn’t it. If you want focused, exam-style practice, it’s one of the most efficient tools I tested.

Key course data:

• 4,400+ practice questions modeled after the CPA exam format
• Avg. answer explanations: ~159 words
• Three-stage system: Pre-Test, Adaptive, Simulated
• Unlimited practice exams

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CPA Courses That Didn’t Make the Cut

• Ninja is a notes-and-drills supplement. It helps as a second resource, not as the only study system.
• Universal is a video-first course. The visuals help, but the practice volume and support were not enough to stay here.
• Yaeger is discontinued. That review stays up for history, not as a current buy option.
• Kesler is a smaller mentorship-style program. It still felt like an add-on, not a complete first-time course.
• Maxwell is a lean lecture shop. The practice volume and adaptive tools were too light to stay on this list.
• AICPA exam blueprints map what is tested, but they are official outlines, not a teaching or practice course.

CPA Course Quiz: Which Is Right for You?

Comparison of CPA Course Features

Multiple-Choice Questions

Quantity matters, but not always the way you’d think. Gleim’s 11,500+ MCQs give you endless reps, though I often found the volume overwhelming and the difficulty slightly inflated compared to the real exam. Becker and Surgent sit in the “just right” range, where practice feels thorough without dragging.

Task-Based Simulations

Simulations separate the casual student from the exam-ready candidate, and this is where Gleim stands in a league of its own with 1,600+. But the trade-off is diminishing returns. I rarely needed that many unique scenarios to feel prepared. Becker and Surgent’s 500 simulations each were more than enough for me to get comfortable with the exam’s problem-solving style.

If you’re weak in application skills, Gleim’s bank can build endurance, but for most, it’s about finding a course that teaches you how to think through sims, not just grind them endlessly.

Grab the CPA study guide below if you want a plan to sit next to whichever course you pick. It sits here on purpose, after the reviews, so you already know which platform you are pairing it with.

Video Lectures

The video libraries reveal a divide between marathon learning and efficiency. UWorld’s 500+ hours are impressive, but slogging through that much content felt more like a second degree than targeted prep. Becker hits a sweet middle ground: enough lectures to give context, but not so much that you drown in them. Gleim keeps videos short and digestible, which I found better for reinforcing material quickly.

Answer Explanations

Here’s where teaching philosophy shows. UWorld treats every missed question like a mini-tutorial, great if you learn by reading, but time-consuming. Surgent and Becker are the standouts here: not the longest explanations, but the smartest, layering in stats, references, and context that let me immediately understand why I missed something. Gleim flips the script with shorter explanations, betting you’ll figure it out through repetition.

The real trick is knowing your own learning style: if you need clarity to move forward, pick Surgent, Becker, or UWorld; if you’re more of a volume grinder, Gleim will keep you moving.

Final Verdict

After testing over a dozen CPA courses, Becker, Gleim, UWorld, and Surgent remain the best CPA prep courses available for different reasons. Lambers stays on the list as practice software for accounting professionals who already know the material. Whether you want a comprehensive course or a supplemental tool, there is a course for you on this list. I hope this helped you find the right fit. Good luck passing the CPA exam.

FAQs

Is 2 months enough to study for the CPA exam?

It’s possible, but tough. You’d need ~300 hours in 8 weeks (37.5 hours weekly), almost full-time study.

Are CPA prep courses worth it?

Yes. Structure, practice tools, and adaptive tech greatly boost pass odds versus self-study alone.

Is UWorld better than Becker?

UWorld has great instructors and a larger video library, but Becker’s content, tech, and support make it the stronger choice. So it depends on your preferences.

Is Gleim or Becker better?

Becker is better overall, though Gleim’s huge question bank and refund policy make it a solid alternative.

What study strategies work best for the CPA exam?

Successful candidates stick to a consistent schedule, use a mix of lectures and notes, and reinforce knowledge with flashcards, practice tests, and full exam simulations.

What features should I look for in a CPA review course?

Look for up-to-date content aligned with the AICPA exam blueprints, plenty of practice questions, mock exams, video lectures, and access to instructor or academic support.