FINRA Series exams are no joke. With pass rates as low as 58%, you’ll need the right prep course, comprehensive study materials, and knowledgeable instructors to pass.
If you’re researching the best exam prep resources, you’ve probably come across two popular names: Kaplan and ExamFX.
But how do they stack up? Which is better for your learning style, budget, and schedule?
In this detailed comparison, we’ll examine their key features, study materials, and learning experiences to help you make an informed decision.
Which Course Should I Choose?
- Choose Kaplan if you learn best with live instruction and structured study plans.
- Choose Kaplan if you want in-depth study materials, including textbooks, video lessons, and practice exams.
- Choose Kaplan if you need strong student support with instructor access and Q&A options.
- Choose ExamFX if you prefer self-paced learning with interactive quizzes and on-demand videos.
- Choose ExamFX if you want a budget-friendly option with a pass guarantee.
Kaplan vs Exam FX Course Comparison
| Feature |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Live Instruction |  |  |
| Money-Back Guarantee | | (some courses) |
| Practice Exams | | |
| Study Materials | Textbooks, videos, notes | Videos, flashcards, glossary |
| Student Support | Instructor Q&A & live help | Limited instructor access |
| Access Period | 5 months (extendable) | 3-6 months (varies by package) |
| Refund Policy | 30-day (if | 30-day (if not completed) |
| Pricing | $99 – $299 | $90 – $349 |
| Learn More | GET STARTED | GET STARTED |
Kaplan: Structured for Success
Kaplan is a long-standing name in the exam prep world, offering a variety of courses for professional certifications, licensing exams, and more. With Kaplan, the focus is on structure, guidance, and lots of practice. If you learn best with more personalized support, Kaplan is worth a look.
Key Features of Kaplan
- Live Sessions: Many Kaplan Series packages offer regular live instruction sessions led by knowledgeable instructors, making it ideal for students who need real-time support and interaction. However, this isn’t true for all exams.
- Study Materials: Kaplan provides a range of comprehensive study materials, including textbooks, video lectures, and summaries of key concepts. Use progress tracking to stay on task.
- Practice Exams: Kaplan’s practice exams simulate the actual exam experience, with proper formatting, time limits, and feedback on incorrect answers to help you learn from your mistakes.
- Knowledgeable Instructors: Kaplan’s expert instructors create high-quality, engaging content to help students learn. They can answer your questions live or after-hours through InstructorLink™.
- SecuritiesPro™ QBank: Kaplan is known for their outstanding practice questions, and their Series prep courses are no different.
Who Should Choose Kaplan?
If you’re a student who thrives on live instruction, interactive tools, and structured guidance, Kaplan is the better choice. It’s beneficial for individuals who may struggle to stay motivated with self-paced courses and need the accountability of live classes and progress tracking.
ExamFX: Hands-On and Interactive
ExamFX has gained popularity for its emphasis on an interactive, guided learning experience. By combining live classes, simulation exams, and structured review tools, ExamFX helps students stay engaged and confident throughout their prep journey.
Key Features of ExamFX
- Comprehensive Study Materials: From digital flashcards to video tutorials, ExamFX provides a range of tools to help students grasp key concepts and reinforce their knowledge.
- Practice Materials: ExamFX is one of the most practice-driven securities prep courses in the industry, giving you the knowledge, experience, familiarity, and confidence to pass your exam.
- Pass Guarantee: Many ExamFX packages include a pass guarantee, offering peace of mind as you prepare for your big day.
- Bonus Tools: ExamFX offers a lot of great bonuses to enrich your study sessions. Read on for more details!
Who Should Choose ExamFX?
ExamFX is an excellent option for independent learners who feel comfortable designing their own study plans. If you’re a student who learns best through reading and self-paced review, ExamFX’s courses provide a great resource at a slightly more affordable price than competitors.
Study Materials Comparison
The quality and variety of study materials are some of the most important factors when choosing an exam prep course. Here’s how Kaplan and ExamFX compare in this area:
Kaplan Study Materials
Kaplan offers a well-rounded set of resources designed to cover all the key concepts of your exam:
- Textbooks and eBooks: Comprehensive and easy to follow, Kaplan’s written tools are perfect for visual and reading-driven learners.
- Video Lectures: Engage with expert-led lessons that break down complex topics into manageable sections.
- Practice Exams: Kaplan features a practice exam, checkpoint exams, a midterm exam, and a mastery exam on top of the SecuritiesPro™ QBank.
- Class Notes: Tired of writing your own notes and getting hand cramps in class? Kaplan’s Series courses include class notes that you can follow during lessons.
ExamFX Study Materials
ExamFX is a more self-study and practice-driven prep course with less guidance and more flexibility:
- On-Demand Videos: Access a library of on-demand lectures with professional instructors. You can expect 15-20 hours of video lessons depending on the course.
- Practice Away: Enjoy endless practice options, such as SpotCheck quizzes, practice question sets, checkpoint exams, unlimited final exams, four standard final exams, and a custom exam generator.
- Buy-Worthy Bonuses: ExamFX offers students a wide range of bonuses, such as a glossary and acronyms, digital flashcards, a list of critical facts, real-time content updates, and a support center.
- Written Materials: Gain access to a hard-copy textbook, ebooks, a personalized study plan, and a best practice guide.
Verdict: Kaplan 🏆
Kaplan wins due to its structured, in-depth materials and live instruction, which cater to a variety of learning styles. While ExamFX provides solid self-study tools, Kaplan’s additional live support and well-organized content make it a better choice for comprehensive learning.
Practice Tests
Both Kaplan and ExamFX are bursting at the seams with superb practice materials. But which are more likely to help you pass your exam? Let’s take a look.
Kaplan
Kaplan offers a wide variety of unique exam types, so no matter the stage in your prep journey, you’ll be able to practice to pass:
- SecuritiesPro™ QBank: Access unlimited practice exams with Kaplan’s QBank. Build personalized tests with the length and topic of your choice with hundreds to thousands of questions available.
- Mock Exam: Kaplan features one mock exam to familiarize you with the timing, format, and style of the actual exam.
- Mastery Exam: Similar to their mock exam, the mastery exam serves as an additional mock exam with unique questions to evaluate your progress closer to your exam date.
- Midterm Exam: Another simulated exam! However, this exam takes place in the middle of your learning timeline.
- Checkpoint Exams: At the end of each License Exam Manual unit, you can take a checkpoint exam to evaluate your knowledge (and know where you need to fill in the gaps).
ExamFX
ExamFX lacks the live instruction and support options offered by Kaplan, but they attempt to make up for it with their massive suite of practice materials:
- Practice Question Sets: Want to study questions without committing to a complete practice exam? Read through ExamFX’s practice questions, organized by topic.
- SpotCheck Quizzes: Throughout the video lessons, mini-quizzes will sometimes pop up to assess your newfound knowledge. This encourages paying attention to the content!
- Checkpoint Exam: Though Kaplan also features Checkpoint Exams, ExamFX’s is the equivalent to Kaplan’s Midterm Exam, where you can gauge your progress halfway through the course.
- Benchmark Final: Take your first final exam-style practice test with the Benchmark Final. Evaluate your comprehension and familiarize yourself with what the “real thing” will feel like.
- Standard Final Exams: These final exams simulate the actual exam, modeled after the Series exams’ weighting, topic mix, time, format, and style.
- Custom Exam Generator: Build unlimited practice exams by choosing your topics, timing, and number of questions.
Verdict: ExamFX 🏆
ExamFX takes the lead here because of its unlimited practice exams and customizable test features. While Kaplan provides high-quality mock exams, ExamFX gives students the ability to practice repeatedly in various formats, making it a better option for exam simulation.
Access Period and Pricing
Both Kaplan and ExamFX have flexible access periods and pricing options, but their features and guarantees vary.
Kaplan
- Kaplan’s Series courses offer a 5-month access period. Need more time? Add an additional 5 months for just $49.
- Pricing for basic packages starts at around $99, though the average range is closer to between $199 and $299.
ExamFX
- ExamFX courses include two access periods, depending on your package: 3 months or 6 months.
- Pricing starts at around $90 for basic packages, with most options available for $149-$349.
Verdict: Kaplan 🏆
Kaplan wins because of its longer standard access period and affordable extension option. ExamFX’s 3-month access could be too short for students needing more time.
Student Support
Support can make all the difference when you feel stuck or overwhelmed during your exam prep journey.
Kaplan
Kaplan is known for their support features, including:
- Live Classes: Interact live with your instructors and get personalized responses to your burning questions.
- InstructorLink™: Tired of asking the customer support team for help? Why not ask an expert? InstructorLink™ lets you get help whenever you need it by messaging your teachers directly.
- Standard Support: Meanwhile, if you have questions about access periods or need tech help, you can get assistance by phone, form request, or chat.
ExamFX
ExamFX is noticeably lacking in the support department compared to Kaplan, but they still have a good support team:
- Instructor Support: Get help from your teachers through messages and call-ins during regular business hours.
- Standard Support: Get your tech questions answered via phone or form submission.
Verdict: Kaplan 🏆
Kaplan wins this category due to its strong instructor support options, including live Q&A and direct messaging with teachers. ExamFX lacks one-on-one guidance, making it less ideal for students who may need additional explanations.
Discounts
You already know that buying the same thing for less is a no-brainer, but what if I told you we have discounts to help you do exactly that? Check out our coupon codes ExamFX so you can spend less.
Save Up to 20% on ExamFX Securities Review Courses
Final Verdict: Kaplan vs. ExamFX
Though both Kaplan and ExamFX offer valuable resources for students preparing for their exams, Kaplan is the better choice overall.
🏆 Overall Winner: Kaplan
Kaplan’s reputable history, engaging live lectures, abundance of student support options, and stellar practice materials make them an excellent option for aspiring securities professionals. Ultimately, Kaplan is a wise, safe investment in your future.
However, if you prefer a more relaxed study session where you can go at your own pace, or you just want to hammer through every kind of practice resource possible, ExamFX is still worth a look. What’s right for you depends on your needs, so list your must-haves and check out the courses!
FAQs
Kaplan is known for in-depth materials and live instruction, while ExamFX offers a more practice-centric approach. The best choice depends on your learning style and budget, but Kaplan is often favored.
ExamFX does not publicly disclose exact pass rates, but many users report high success with its interactive learning tools and exam simulations.
Yes, ExamFX is a reputable test prep provider used by financial firms and individuals to prepare for FINRA’s securities and insurance licensing exams.
ExamFX provides a solid foundation for the Series 65 exam, but some users find Kaplan or other providers more comprehensive for in-depth investment law concepts.
Yes, Kaplan offers a full SIE prep program with study materials, practice exams, and instructor-led options to help candidates pass the exam.
