Best CPA Prep Courses for 2026

Becker

With more than 60 years in the CPA exam prep industry, Becker is an established, respected company that offers five study options:

1. Advantage ($2499): this option offers 24-month access to a 4-part course that matches the AICPA exam, a mobile app, unlimited practice tests that may be customized, and an AI review assistant.
2. Premium ($3099): this option offers unlimited access and includes over 900 video lectures, unlimited practice tests, more than 1500 flashcards, 8 full-length exams, and 12 mini exams.
3. Pro ($3845): this option offers unlimited access and includes everything in the Advantage plan, plus 5 coaching sessions, 5 one-on-one tutoring sessions, live online exam classes, and more.
4. Pro+ ($4044): this option offers unlimited access and includes everything in the Advantage plan, plus 5 coaching sessions, 5 one-on-one tutoring sessions, live online exam classes, a Financial Accounting Foundations course, and more.
5. Concierge ($6349): this option offers unlimited access and includes everything in the other courses, plus a Becker Academy study bundle, a Deep Dives workshop bundle, a CPA license navigator session, and a CPE certificate program.

Becker boasts a 94% pass rate for students who use their materials and is considered a top-tier prep option. Students praise the structured, comprehensive materials, as well as the live/on demand classes and realistic practice exams. Some users found the extensive materials too detailed, and the price point may be prohibitive to learners on a budget.

Best for: learners who want engaging, high-quality, and comprehensive test preparation

Surgent

Surgent is known for offering personalized and customizable CPA exam study courses that adapt to learners. Customers can choose from three different options:

1. Essentials Pass ($799): this option includes over 9000 questions, more than 5000 videos, e-books, and unlimited practice exams.
2. Premier Pass ($1299): this option includes everything in the Essentials Pass, plus flashcards, 1:1 coaching, audio lectures, and dedicated customer and technical support.
3. Ultimate Pass ($1699): this option includes everything in the Premier Pass, plus an integrated test bank with 1000 extra questions, 1-year access to Excel and data analytics CPE courses, and more.

All courses offer unlimited access until you pass your CPA exam, a feature students rave about. Users also praise the adaptive learning aspect of the courses, and the time-efficient lessons were noted to be manageable even for busy professionals. Customers found this an affordable prep option and especially appreciated the large test question bank, although some noted certain learning modules were not especially thorough and not everyone enjoyed the adaptive approach.

Best for: customers with limited study time who prefer adaptive learning

UWorld

UWorld offers expert-led instruction, realistic mock exams, and smart technology that maximizes retention and efficiency through three different study options:

1. Premier ($3499): this option providers customers with 18-month access to e-books, over 9000 questions, more than 1400 video lectures, unlimited practice exams, a cram course for final review, and customizable quizzes.
2. Elite Unlimited ($3899): this option includes unlimited access to everything in the Premier plan, plus four print books, full length practice exams, live bootcamps, and more.
3. Elite Unlimited with Money-Back Guarantee ($4099): this option includes unlimited access to everything in the Elite Unlimited plan, plus a refund of up to $1000 if you don’t pass your exam on the first try.

UWorld boasts a 90%+ pass rate for customers, and prospective users should check their website regularly, as they frequently offer generous course discounts (for example, at the time of writing, the Premier course was available for $1999 instead of $3499). Learners appreciate the easy-to-navigate interface and smart-path technology, with several reviews praising the visually attractive and detailed answer explanations. Even with discounts, however, these courses may not fit into every learner’s budget, and users were sometimes put off by the high energy teaching style of instructors.

Best for: Visual learners who prefer more modern teaching styles than traditional lectures

Gleim

Gleim is a highly regarded test prep company when it comes to CPA exam courses, and the company offers three learning options:

1. Traditional CPA Review ($2499): this option includes 3 core sections, plus a Discipline of your choice, a full-length mock exam for each section, digital books, a personal counselor, best practice questions and explanations, an invite to private study groups, and more.
2. Premium CPA Review ($2999): this option includes everything in the Traditional CPA Review, plus access to the course until you pass the CPA exam, the newest lecture videos by professional educators, assistance from accounting experts, digital flashcards, and more.
3. Premium Pro CPA Review ($3499): this option includes everything in the Premium CPA Review, plus access to all 6 CPA exam sections, a Prep Pal AI study assistant, access to office hours, one year of CPE whenever you need it, and more.

Gleim features one of the largest banks of test questions in the prep industry, with more than 10,000 questions available for study. Users rave about the realistic task-based simulations and mock exams, although some customers did not find the video lectures particularly engaging. While the high difficulty level of the prep material was appreciated by many students, other learners struggled with the level of intensity and found it overwhelming.

Best for: learners who enjoy learning through completing extensive questions and realistic simulations

Lambers CPA Review

Lambers is not strictly a CPA prep course, per se, as users do not have access to video lessons or course books; instead, users receive access to Lambers’ impressive test prep software which includes more than 4400 questions. The company offers two different prep options:

1. Single Section CPA Exam Review ($249.95): with this option, customers can select one of six CPA exam sections to study for, including Auditing and Attestation, Business Analysis and Reporting, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Information Systems and Controls, Tax Compliance and Planning, and Taxation and Regulation.
2. CPA Test Prep Bundle ($999.95): with this option, customers receive access to questions for all six CPA exam sections.

Lambers’ technology operates in three modes (Pre-Test, Adaptive, Simulated) to ensure students build strategies and a solid foundation before test day. Answer explanations were mentioned in reviews as being thorough, and those with accounting experience found this a very helpful review or supplement to additional study materials. Users do wish there was more 1:1 support, and the lack of video lessons does not appeal to all learners; however, for seasoned industry professionals, this program can be highly effective while also being extremely efficient.

Best for: accounting industry professionals with significant experience searching for an efficient way to review

When it comes to selecting the right CPA exam prep course for you, consider how much time you have to study, your preferred learning style, and finally, your budget. While the sheer number of prep courses that are available can quickly make the search process feel overwhelming, we’ve identified the best prep options for different types of learners that will work with any budget and ensure you feel confident and prepared on the day of your exam.