There’s no shortage of great CPA review courses out there—and no shortage of claims that this one or that one is “the most efficient,” “the most affordable,” or “the most comprehensive.” But as someone who’s studied for and passed the CPA exam—and now reviews these courses professionally—I’ve learned that those claims don’t always hold up.
Becker and Surgent are two of the biggest names in the game, and for good reason. One is widely seen as the industry standard, used by top scorers and firms alike. The other leans into tech, affordability, and flexibility to help students pass on their own terms.
I’ve explored both platforms in depth, from user experience and support to pricing, guarantees, and those little details that actually affect your study routine. In this guide, I’ll help you figure out which course is the better match for your learning style, goals, and budget.
Should You Choose Becker or Surgent? Quick Breakdown
- If you’re a visual learner, Becker’s engaging video lectures and live classes will help you master complex topics.
- If you’re on a tight budget, Surgent’s lower price point and full money-back guarantee make it an affordable choice.
- If you want a mobile-friendly experience, Becker’s app, with high ratings on Apple and Google, is a big plus.
- If you prefer a structured learning path, Surgent’s lack of instructor-led classes may be a drawback.
- If you want high-touch support, Becker’s success coaching and tutoring sessions offer valuable personalized guidance.
Becker vs Surgent Comparison
Before we discuss my experiences with each course and which I feel is the better fit for certain students, let’s cover who each provider is, what they’re known for, and the pros and cons.
Becker: The Industry Standard
Becker is frequently considered the king of CPA exam preparation, and it’s not difficult to see why. Becker has served over 2 million aspiring financial professionals, boasts an impressive 94% pass rate, and claims to have accounted for over 90% of Elijah Watt Sells Award winners since 2007. Some of Becker’s biggest selling points include:
- A study companion app for learning “out and about” in your life
- Newt™, Becker’s AI study assistant (like ChatGPT for CPA candidates)
- Engaging live online classes and over 900 on-demand video lessons
- Five success coaching and five personal tutoring sessions
One feature that I think is undersold is the beautiful user interface and streamlined experience. I never had to guess what I was supposed to do next; Becker essentially hands you the step-by-step, checklist-style guide to study, reducing my decision fatigue. I also think a lot of students will appreciate the live and on-demand lessons—many of the instructors were not only excellent at breaking down complex topics to make them easy enough for anyone to understand, but also did it in a humorous way that will keep you focused on your studies.
Pros
- Offers tech tools like an AI study assistant, Adapt2U Technology, and mobile apps
- Provides live online classes for real-time learning and instructor interaction
- FlexPay allows students to pay small amounts gradually over time
- Unlimited course access and a partial money-back guarantee up to $1,000
- Highest pass rate and proven track record of award-winning students
Cons
- One of the pricier CPA prep options on the market, and much more expensive than Surgent
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Surgent CPA: The Affordable Approach
If you’re on a budget but you’re still looking for a complete, effective CPA prep system, you’re Surgent’s target audience. In fact, though Surgent’s packages cost much less than Becker’s, they have around 1,000 more practice questions and feature a 100% money-back pass guarantee, whereas Becker’s refund is partial. Surgent’s most notable features include:
- ReadySCORE™ exam-readiness indicator tracks progress and predicts your score
- Includes all six exam sections so you can try the disciplines before choosing one
- CPA strategist coaching sessions for personalized exam prep
From my experience, Surgent is a lot less entertaining than Becker, and this definitely affected my experience. Further, I’m not a huge fan of Surgent’s videos, which can be a little monotone. Some videos felt like the instructors were reading off the slides, when what I really wanted was their insights and strategies for tackling the topic on the exam. However, Surgent assuredly has their benefits. They have a large question bank, fast and thorough support, and every course of the three options includes a money-back pass guarantee and unlimited access until you pass. From my studying days, I can assure you that benefits like this can help reduce your stress.
Pros
- 1,000+ more practice questions than Becker
- The ReadySCORE™ tool predicts your actual exam score based on course performance
- 1-on-1 CPA study strategist coaching sessions
- Every course offers a money-back guarantee and unlimited access until you pass
Cons
- The video lectures are dry, with instructors reading off the slides
- Surgent’s experience and interface aren’t as engaging and entertaining as Becker’s
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Becker vs Surgent CPA Feature Comparisons
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Package Reviewed | Becker CPA Pro | Surgent CPA Premier Pass |
| Access | Unlimited Until You Pass | Unlimited Until You Pass |
| Price | $3,799 | $1,299 |
| Discounts | Save $1,346 | Save $629 |
| Unlimited Practice Exams |  | |
| MCQs | 8,000+ | 9,000+ |
| TBSs | 500+ | 500+ |
| Video Lectures | 900+ Videos | 700+ Videos |
| Mobile Apps | Exam Review AppAccounting for Empires™Mobile Game | N/A |
| AI Study Assistant | Newt™ | N/A |
| Guarantee | Up to $1,000 Back | Full Amount Back |
| Refund Policy | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Learn More | GET STARTED | GET STARTED |
Comparing the Course Experiences
How do Becker and Surgent compare when we dig deeper, beyond statistics, facts, and reputation? How does it feel to be an actual student of these courses? Here’s where I’ll share my in-depth experience and insights with both courses to help you make the best choice.
Course Content and Structure
Both courses have highly structured content and high-quality study materials. However, Becker offers a beautiful user interface and seamless experience that Surgent doesn’t quite match. As I mentioned before, having the ability to follow a step-by-step plan created by CPA exam experts is a major perk, allowing you to turn off the decision-making part of your brain and focus on learning. Further, Becker’s 8,000+ MCQs and 500+ TBSs are difficult on purpose. And yes, it might feel a little frustrating at times, but knowing they’re harder than what you’ll face on the real thing can inspire a lot of confidence when you start getting them right.
In fact, students report experiencing the “Becker Bump,” resulting in an average increase of 10 points from their practice exams to the actual CPA exam.
Meanwhile, Surgent can feel a little dated, and the interface isn’t as clean. However, they offer 9,000 MCQs and 500+ TBSs, 1,000 more multiple-choice practice questions than Becker. And yes, after some research and comparison, I’d argue that they’re high-quality and accurate representations of what you’ll find on the actual exam. Further, both courses allow you to customize practice exams with question quantity and topics, giving you even more room to play with practice materials. And, both providers utilize adaptive learning technology, which helps students assess their weaknesses to bolster them in the hopes of reclaiming potentially lost points on the exams.
🏆 Winner: Becker’s clean, modern interface and difficult questions resulting in higher actual exam scores give them the edge in this category.
Technology
Historically, Surgent has been known as the cutting-edge innovator thanks to tools like their ReadySCORE™ exam indicator, science-backed study methods, and adaptive learning technology. However, Becker’s Adapt2U Technology, mobile study app, and the recent introduction of Newt™, their AI study assistant chatbot, pushed them ahead of Surgent in recent years.
Becker’s mobile app is unparalleled, which becomes clear when looking at the Apple App Store reviews (though it’s also available on Android):
- Becker’s CPA Exam Review: 4.8 Stars | 11.9k Reviews
I found the app to be fast and effective. I was able to use practically all of the materials in the main course, just on my phone. Further, I believe Newt™ has a lot of value for accounting aspirants. For example, I was able to have the tool break down answer explanations, choose the correct answers for practice questions and explain why, and review practice exam results with recommendations for improvement.
As for Surgent, I agree with the hype behind ReadySCORE™, which can supposedly predict your score on the CPA exam with 98% accuracy based on your progress and performance within the course. It was even a gamified resource, in a way; seeing the visualizations and the red or orange sections motivated me to grind deeper into those disciplines, which should, in theory, improve my hypothetical exam score. Watching your predicted score go up is a little addictive. Certainly, the adaptive tech leaves a strong impression as well, but no weaker or stronger than Becker’s.
“The “Readyscore” is by far the winner for me. Seeing Green or Orange for all the areas and a high enough Readyscore motivates me. If i see Red for an area I can target that material until it clicks.”
u/No_Abbreviations868
🏆 Winner: Becker’s CPA review courses are packed with useful tech like a 24/7 AI study partner, adaptive learning technology, and two mobile apps with ratings over 4.5 stars.
Student Support
Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to read Chapter One of an accounting textbook and understand everything immediately, without any need for clarification. Hence, the importance of student support availability in CPA prep courses.
Becker commands some of the most robust support services available in the CPA prep market, including five success coaching sessions, five personalized tutoring sessions, and live and onsite classes with instructor interaction. Clearly, I enjoyed my experience with the live classes—the instructors are all such characters, and they made learning enjoyable. Plus, it’s clear they’ve been doing this a long time, because they were incredibly patient with questions, working with students through their concerns until both sides felt it was fully resolved. Further, the ability to have sessions specific to both navigating the course/refining study sessions and better understanding testable topics felt like a nice division, and both support team members were excellent cheerleaders for my simulated progress.
By contrast, Surgent includes personalized coaching sessions with a study strategist. These sessions are less about comprehending exam material than mastering—you guessed it—study strategies. Of course, I’m not planning on taking the CPA exams again just for fun, but in my research for this review, the study strategist helped me choose which order to take which CPA exam section, how to reduce answer errors, how to improve test-taking endurance, and how to develop specific study skills based on my performance in the course. The strategist was kind, patient, and encouraging, and I can see their help meaning a lot to aspiring candidates.
🏆 Winner: While both companies feature comprehensive support systems, Becker goes above and beyond with both success coaching and tutoring.
Video Lessons
Both Becker and Surgent provide hundreds of videos. Becker grants 900+, where Surgent delivers over 700. Further, Becker has a plethora of live online classes available. From using the course, I can report that these classes are frequently 2 hours long, available most often on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons. Naturally, Becker gets points for their live classes, but how do their video lectures compare to Surgent’s?
Becker’s 900+ video lectures are probably more than anyone needs, but keep in mind, these videos are bite-sized, often fewer than 10 minutes long each. You can easily get through a sizable handful in one sitting. Further, I love these classes. I use this example frequently to explain the engaging enjoyment of Becker’s video lectures. In a lesson covering LLCs, instructor Mike Potenza (one of my favorites in the course!) compares LLCs to a platypus: a strange hybrid of two different creatures, claiming LLCs blend both partnerships and corporations. He matches this with imagery, relatability, and a good dose of humor, making it easy to pay attention and memorize the key concepts.
“For me I feel like they’re 10x better than what they were before. I feel like I don’t have to read for the most part after watching them.”
u/OnThursdayyy
Surgent also boasts an impressive video content library, with over 700 mini-lessons. They’re clear, effective, and easy to follow, covering every topic in the CPA exam blueprints. However, while they get the job done, they’re not as effective as Becker’s. Even with the short lesson sizes, they can feel a little dense due to some of the seemingly disinterested, monotone-voiced instructors reading off slides. However, it’s worth arguing that having videos that aren’t “as fun” may be well worth it if you’re on a strict budget.
🏆 Winner: Becker’s video lessons, whether taken live or on-demand, are entertaining and enjoyable. The live classes are excellent too, with real-time interaction and Q&A opportunities.
Guarantees, Access, and Value
Becker has a lot to offer, and many argue it’s the easiest way to boost your chances of passing, which their 94% pass rate only seems to confirm. Plus, unlimited access until you pass and a pass guarantee refunding up to $1,000 of your investment can boost your confidence during your studies. However, not everyone can afford Becker’s excellent prep materials, and that’s completely understandable.
Luckily, Surgent brings a lot of value to the table in their own right, with 100% money-back pass guarantees and unlimited access for every package. Though the pass rate is 88%, 6 points fewer than Becker’s, it’s still an impressive figure, especially for the price.
The prices fluctuate regularly, particularly with sales. However, generally speaking, you’ll be spending ~$1,000 less on Surgent. That’s a big deal for anyone, regardless of salary, and it’s worth considering your number one priorities when defining your budget. If live classes are a non-negotiable, Becker may have the most value. If price is your primary decision-maker, Surgent is likely a better pick.
🏆 Winner: Though value depends on your needs, Surgent is the most affordable and sports a 100% money-back pass guarantee and unlimited access until you pass for all three course selections.
Final Verdict
So, Surgent vs. Becker CPA: which course is the better choice for your needs?
Becker is generally considered the “gold standard.” While that does include a price tag worthy of a “gold standard” title, it may be worth it if you’re an ambitious student chasing a high score or a live learner who thrives in a classroom-style environment.
Surgent, on the other hand, offers a 100% money-back guarantee and some innovative learning tools all at a cost that won’t break the bank. Surgent’s an excellent choice for thrifty students who want a comprehensive course and can succeed without the extra features of courses like Becker.
Which course is right for you? Hopefully, I’ve given you enough information that you have an easy decision ahead. Good luck, future CPA!
FAQ
Becker’s CPA exam review courses are generally considered better, known for their live classes, unlimited course access, and highly-rated mobile apps. However, Surgent is an excellent budget-friendly and tech-savvy alternative.
Yes, Becker is known for being harder than the actual CPA exam, so exam day feels much easier. Students report seeing much higher actual exam scores, an average of 10 points, which the company calls the “Becker Bump.”
Yes, the Surgent CPA review courses are a useful, affordable source for CPA exam prep. They’re comprehensive and efficient, claiming to reduce your study time by 50%.
Becker CPA courses have the highest pass rate in the industry, tied with UWorld at 94%. Surgent’s test prep courses have a competitive pass rate of 88%.
The core Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section of the exam is known as the hardest, with pass rates averaging lower than 40% in 2024.
