According to Statista, revenue from U.S. accounting services reached a record $147.5 billion in 2023, up significantly from $108 billion ten years before. This highlights the money-making opportunities available in accounting, but obtaining a CPA credential is essential to tap. This requires passing the CPA exam, and that requires a solid review course.
So, which one should you choose?
As a CPA exam expert, I’ve spent a lot of time reviewing different CPA courses so that you don’t have to. Let me tell you about UWorld and why it now ranks in the top three of my best CPA study materials.
You Might Want to Pick UWorld If…
- You want built-in safety nets with a premium course. Access until you pass, a free trial, and the $250-per-section money-back guarantee help reduce the risk of the higher upfront cost.
- You learn best by understanding the “why,” not just memorizing answers. UWorld’s explanations—especially for MCQs and simulations—are one of its biggest strengths and do a great job breaking down exam logic.
- You want a clean, structured study system that tells you what to do next. The study plan and organized layout remove a lot of daily decision-making, which helps on busy or low-motivation days.
- You prefer short, focused lectures over long, high-energy videos. UWorld’s streamlined lecture style works well if you want clarity and efficiency without extra fluff.
- You’re okay studying independently without constant live support. The course is strongest for self-directed learners who rely on explanations and practice rather than real-time Q&A or tutoring.
UWorld CPA Review Overview
UWorld CPA Review combines three big names in one, bringing together both the Roger and the Wiley brands. Over the years, it has grown into a full-scale CPA prep platform, and what stands out most today is how polished and intentional the learning experience feels.
While UWorld originally built its reputation on high-quality practice questions, the platform now offers a well-rounded mix of lectures, adaptive tools, and performance tracking that feels cohesive in practice.
From my experience reviewing the course, UWorld’s biggest strength is clarity. The explanations are thorough without being overwhelming, the visuals actually help concepts click, and the platform does a good job guiding you through what matters most for exam readiness.
UWorld Roger CPA Review Course Details
When you invest in UWorld, you have three options to choose from. These include:
- Elite Unlimited+
- Elite-Unlimited
- Premier
| Feature | Premier | Elite Unlimited | Elite Unlimited+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Length | 18 months | Unlimited until you pass | Unlimited until you pass |
| Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) | 8,500+ | 8,500+ | 8,500+ |
| Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) | 500+ | 500+ | 500+ |
| Video Lessons | 1,400+ | 1,400+ | 1,400+ |
| Digital Study Guides |  | | |
| Printed Study Guides |  | | |
| Personalized Study Plan | | | |
| Unlimited Practice Exams & Quizzes | | | |
| Mobile App (iOS & Android) | | | |
| Digital Flashcards | | | |
| TBS Walkthrough Videos | | | |
| Final Review / Cram Course | | | |
| Full Mock Exams | Not included | 2 per core section, 1 per discipline | 2 per core section, 1 per discipline |
| Live Digital Boot Camps | | (AUD, FAR, REG) | (AUD, FAR, REG) |
| Pass Guarantee | | | (up to $1,000 back) |
| Best For | Preppers on a budget | The most balanced, comprehensive option | The financial security of a pass guarantee |
| Get Started | Start Now | Start Now | Start Now |
Course Features
UWorld emphasizes a blend of traditional and digital learning tools:
- Print and eBook Study Guides: Mapped directly to AICPA Blueprints.
- Video Lectures: Delivered by experienced educators like Roger Philipp, CPA, CGMA.
- SmartPath Predictive Technology™: This feature guides study efforts by comparing them to those who have successfully passed the exam.
- Practice Questions and Mock Exams: 9000+ questions (MCQ + TBS) and unlimited practice tests plus mock exams are included.
- Unlimited Digital Flashcards: Need more study tools? UWorld allows you to create your own cards or use their pre-created decks.
- Mobile App: Allows for seamless study across devices.
Elite packages can include extras like live boot camps, cram courses, a money-back guarantee, as well as unlimited access to the review materials until you pass.
Pros
- Two teaching styles that complement each other: UWorld benefits from veteran instructors like Peter Olinto and Roger Philipp, who bring different yet complementary approaches to the platform. Olinto’s exam-focused breakdowns pair well with Roger’s high-energy explanations, giving students both clarity and engagement, especially helpful when working through intimidating CPA topics.
- A study plan that removes daily guesswork: What I appreciate about UWorld’s study plan is that it tells me exactly what to work on next. On days when motivation is low or I’m short on time, having a clear roadmap keeps me moving forward without overthinking or constantly re-planning my schedule.
- Short lectures that respect limited attention spans: I liked that most UWorld lectures are broken into small chunks. I could watch one or two videos, absorb the idea, and move on without feeling mentally drained. That made it easier to study consistently, even on busy or low-energy days.
- Detailed answer explanations: One thing I genuinely love about UWorld—and something I hear from a lot of students, too—is how strong the practice-question explanations are. They don’t just tell you what’s right; they teach you why it’s right (and why the other choices aren’t). If you actually slow down and study the explanations, it’s a game-changer.
- A mobile app that makes studying portable: What I like about UWorld’s mobile app is how easy it is to study away from a desk. I can watch short lectures, review questions, and pick up exactly where I left off, which makes it much easier to fit CPA prep into everyday life.
Cons
- Limited options for getting real-time clarification: UWorld relies heavily on written explanations and scheduled boot camps for support. If you’re stuck on a specific MCQ and need immediate clarification, there isn’t a simple way to ask a question and get a targeted response like with Becker’s Newt. For a premium-priced course, that lack of on-demand Q&A can feel limiting.
- Study plan favors linear learners: The study plan is clear, but it’s not very flexible. If you jump ahead, revisit topics out of order, or adjust pacing based on instructor recommendations, the system doesn’t automatically recalibrate. This can make progress tracking less accurate for students who prefer a more customized approach.
- Short lecture format isn’t ideal for passive listening: Bite-sized videos work well for focused study, but the lack of autoplay interrupts flow. This makes it harder to listen continuously while driving, cleaning, or multitasking—situations where longer-form or auto-queued content works better.
Take $1,600 Off UWorld CPA Elite-Unlimited Course
How Does the UWorld CPA Review Course Stand Out?
UWorld CPA Review distinguishes itself through its structured content, advanced technological integration, comprehensive practice materials, and strong support systems. Here’s a detailed look at how these elements stand out, along with some areas where there’s room for improvement.
Structure, Content, and Technology
What stands out about UWorld CPA Review today is how organized the platform feels once you’re inside it. The course is broken into clearly defined topics, and everything—from lectures to MCQs to simulations—connects logically. If you like knowing exactly what you’re studying and why, the structure works well.
UWorld’s SmartPath technology is still a core part of the experience. It uses performance data to show how you’re tracking compared to successful candidates and helps highlight weaker areas. In practice, I found it most useful as a progress-checking tool rather than a strict predictor. It’s best used as guidance, not gospel, especially as the CPA exam continues to evolve.
Videos
UWorld’s lectures are concise and focused, which makes them easier to fit into a real schedule. Instructors like Peter Olinto and Roger Philipp bring different strengths to the table. Peter is especially strong at breaking down exam logic, while Roger’s delivery helps make dense material feel more approachable.
One thing that consistently comes up in student feedback is how clear the explanations are, especially when it comes to applying concepts. Many students point out that the videos don’t just review content—they show you how to use it. As one user put it:
“If you use UWorld, they have videos showing you how to tackle the TBS within the practice questions.”
The lecture style today is more streamlined than theatrical, which is a plus if you want clarity without extra fluff. While students who prefer long, high-energy lectures may notice the shift, the videos do a solid job explaining how topics are actually tested—something that matters far more on exam day than memorization alone.
Practice Questions and Exams
This is where UWorld really shines. The MCQs are well written, challenging, and closely aligned with exam logic. In fact, many candidates end up learning a large portion of the material directly from the answer explanations. They’re detailed, thoughtful, and explain why incorrect options are wrong, which matters just as much.
That said, while the question quality is excellent, the volume isn’t as heavy as some high-drill competitors. If you rely on sheer repetition, you may want supplemental practice. Simulations are solid, but it’s still important to give them extra attention, as the real exam SIMs can feel more complex and time-intensive.
Worth Noting: Inconsistencies in New Question Explanations
One concern that has come up among students is the occasional lack of detailed explanations on newer QBank questions. UWorld is widely known for best-in-class explanations, which makes these gaps especially noticeable when they occur. As one frustrated user put it, the absence of explanations—even temporarily—can feel “extremely frustrating,” particularly when you’re relying on the QBank to teach the material, not just test it.
To UWorld’s credit, the company has acknowledged this issue and clarified that newly introduced questions may initially appear without full explanations while they collect data and feedback. According to UWorld, these questions make up a very small portion of the overall QBank and are updated with full explanations shortly after release. Still, some students have noted that in certain sections, the number of explanation-light questions felt higher than expected.
It’s an important thing to be aware of—not a dealbreaker for most, but a reminder that even strong platforms can have growing pains as they update content to match an ever-changing CPA exam.
Value
UWorld is priced higher than many CPA review courses, but for a lot of candidates, the value comes from how much support and protection is built into that price. You’re not just paying for content—you’re paying for a system designed to stay with you until you pass.
One standout feature is UWorld’s money-back guarantee, which offers $250 back for each section you don’t pass, provided you meet the course requirements. That policy alone helps reduce the risk of investing in a premium course, especially if you’re tackling the CPA exam one section at a time.
Another big value add is access. Not sure about UWorld vs. competitors? You can get a free trial. Once you pull the trigger and upgrade, rather than limiting usage to a fixed timeline, UWorld allows many candidates to continue using the materials until they pass, which removes pressure and makes the course more forgiving if life or work slows your study pace. Taken together, those features help justify the higher upfront cost and make UWorld a worthwhile investment for candidates who want both quality content and built-in safety nets.
Support
UWorld’s support experience can be hit or miss, depending on the situation. On the positive side, the company does respond publicly to feedback and has been transparent about how it handles updates to its question bank—especially when explanations are temporarily missing from newly added questions. In those cases, UWorld has explained that new questions are sometimes released in small batches before full explanations are finalized, with the intent to refine them based on early performance data.
That said, not all support experiences are smooth. Some users have reported ongoing technical issues, such as lecture audio cutting out across multiple devices, and difficulty getting those problems escalated beyond basic troubleshooting. In at least one case, repeated requests to speak with a technical specialist went unanswered, ultimately leading the user to abandon the platform altogether.
Overall, UWorld support tends to work well for content-related questions and general inquiries, but more complex technical issues may require extra patience and persistence. For most users, it’s adequate—but it’s not always the strongest part of the experience.
UWorld vs. Competitors
UWorld vs. Universal CPA Ninja
UWorld is built to be a full CPA review course, while Ninja shines more as a supplemental tool. Ninja has its strengths for quick practice or support, but UWorld’s structured lessons, deep explanations, and cohesive platform feel like a complete study system rather than something you need to patch together. For me, that made a big difference in staying organized and confident heading into exam day.
Winner: UWorld — because it’s a full review experience, not just extra practice.
UWorld vs. Surgent CPA Review
Surgent’s adaptive approach helps you study efficiently, but UWorld goes a step further by teaching how the exam thinks. The explanations in UWorld are clearer and more logic-driven, so I felt like I was learning the material, not just drilling it. That clarity made UWorld feel more reliable when tackling tougher topics.
Winner: UWorld — because its explanations build deeper understanding, not just efficiency.
UWorld vs. Surgent
Surgent focuses heavily on efficiency and adaptive shortcuts, but UWorld goes deeper when it comes to actually learning the material. UWorld’s explanations, especially for MCQs and simulations, do a better job of showing why answers are right and how the exam is testing the concept. For candidates who want understanding—not just speed—UWorld tends to feel more reliable.
Winner: UWorld is a better choice for most candidates.
Bottom Line
UWorld is a strong CPA review course, especially if you care about actually understanding the material and not just memorizing answers. The explanations are one of its biggest strengths, and for many candidates, they end up doing most of the teaching on their own. While the platform isn’t flawless and works best for independent learners, it offers a well-organized study experience, respected instructors, and solid pass protections that make the investment feel safer. If you want a course that explains the why behind the exam and helps you think through questions more confidently, UWorld is a really good option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roger CPA Review no longer exists, as it was integrated into UWorld. Both UWorld and Becker CPA Review consistently maintain high-quality, up-to-date content that closely aligns with CPA exam standards, making both a solid choice for many students.
Yes, UWorld acquired Roger CPA Review to expand its offerings in CPA test preparation. Roger’s engaging teaching style was combined with UWorld’s technology and extensive question bank to create a one-of-a-kind review program.
Becker CPA Review, Gleim, UWorld, and Surgent are all recognized for having some of the highest pass rates in the industry, thanks to their comprehensive materials, frequent updates, and rigorous practice exams.
The main difference between UWorld and Becker CPA lies in their approaches and materials. UWorld offers a combination of Roger CPA’s engaging lectures and UWorld’s extensive practice questions. Becker, on the other hand, consistently provides a higher level of overall support, making it preferable for students seeking thorough prep and aiming for success on their first CPA exam attempt.
