Becker vs Surgent CPA Prep Courses Reviewed

The CPA exam is notoriously tricky, and the numbers back that up. According to the AICPA, overall pass rates hover around 50%, with some sections as low as 40%. So, for anyone thinking of investing hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars into CPA exam prep? Make sure you’re picking a course that actually helps you pass. 

Which brings me to Becker vs Surgent CPA reviews. They are two of the biggest CPA prep courses in the industry, but are they worth their weight? 

I’ve spent a lot of time digging into both Becker CPA review courses and Surgent CPA review courses. That means I’ve watched the video lectures, spent time grinding through practice questions, tested apps, and compared every feature I could get my hands on. Here’s what I found. 

Key Takeaways 

• If you want the most comprehensive, structured CPA prep experience, then Becker will keep you on track from day one.
• If you’re a visual learner who thrives on engaging instruction, then Becker’s short, dynamic videos will help complex topics stick.
• If you need accountability and personalized guidance, then Becker’s coaching sessions, 1:1 tutoring, and Newt™ AI assistant give you expert support whenever you need it.
• If budget is your top priority, then Surgent’s lower price point, unlimited access, and pass guarantee on every package deliver serious value without sacrificing quality.
• If you’re a self-directed learner who wants to study efficiently, then Surgent’s A.S.A.P.® Technology will build a personalized study plan that skips what you already know.
• Overall: Becker is best for structured, guided CPA prep with live instruction, while Surgent is better for budget‑friendly, adaptive study with unlimited access.

Becker vs Surgent CPA Courses: How They Distinguish Themselves 

Before I get into the nitty-gritty here, let me give you a bit of a bird’s-eye view of what each course provider brings to the table. 

Becker CPA: The Industry Headliner 

When people think of CPA exam preparation, there’s a good chance Becker is the first name that comes to mind. And for good reason. They’ve helped nearly two million CPA candidates prepare for the exam. Their CPA review is comprehensive, well-structured, and well-designed for students who want or need serious guidance in earning their certified public accountant license. 

Becker has four main packages: Advantage, Pro, Pro+, and Concierge. The Becker CPA Advantage package gives you 24-month access to their core materials, while the higher-tier options unlock unlimited access, live online classes, personalized tutoring sessions, and success coaching sessions.  In my opinion, the sweet spot is Becker CPA Pro.

Here’s one thing that stood out to me. Becker’s video lessons are really engaging—those people who say accountants are dull don’t know what they’re talking about! The videos are short, focused, and delivered with energy. Plus, their SkillBuilder videos walk you through every task-based simulation step by step, and I found that incredibly helpful when faced with some of the trickier parts of the actual CPA exam format. 

Pros  

900+ videos led by expert instructors
Live CPA classes available (online and in-person)
Simulated exams and mini exams that mirror the real CPA exam
Newt™ AI assistant for instant answers
Becker’s mobile app is excellent (based on its 4.7-star app store reviews)

Cons

Much higher price point than competitors
Standard pass guarantee for Pro and Pro+; Concierge has a refund-based guarantee
There’s so much content that it could become overwhelming

Do smart people choose Becker, or does Becker produce smart people? Does it matter? Becker’s results speak for themselves. Their students consistently outperform the national average, and the Becker Bump is a real thing. What’s that, you ask? It’s where those who did Becker’s course do better on the actual exam than they did on the practice exams—often by at least 10 or 20 points. Because those practice tests are hard!

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Surgent CPA: The Disruptor

Becker may be the gold standard, but Surgent has earned a reputation as a disruptor. Their A.S.A.P.® assesses what you know upfront and then builds a personalized study plan that targets your weak points. So you skip what you already know and focus on what you don’t. They say this tech can cut your study time by 40%—but honestly, it depends a lot on your initial knowledge. 

Surgent offers three packages: Essentials Pass, Premier Pass, and Ultimate Pass. All three include unlimited course access until you pass, which is a pretty big deal, knowing you’re not racing against the clock. They also include a pass guarantee with every package. 

Their ReadySCORE™ feature is solid, predicting your actual exam score in real-time as you work through the material. Surgent claims it’s accurate to within a few points, and that seems to track. 

With all that said, their video content did not wow me. This is just my opinion, of course, but to me, some of the lectures felt like someone reading from slides—nothing like the dynamic presentations Becker provides. That might not matter to some, especially if you learn best from reading, but if you’re a visual learner, this might make you nope out. On the flip side, if you’re all about grinding through practice questions and reading digital textbooks, Surgent might be your match. 

Pros

Adaptive A.S.A.P.® Technology customizes your study plan
ReadySCORE™ predicts your exam day score
All packages include access until you pass and a pass guarantee
Lower pricing

Cons

No live classes
Video lectures are just slide-based presentations
The adaptive quizzing and targeted content may frustrate those who like freedom to choose

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Feature Comparison

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Why Choose Becker over Surgent: Finding Your Fit

Okay, look. Both Becker and Surgent are legit CPA courses, and each has helped thousands of people pass. But they’re different things for different people, so picking the right one will come down to what type of learner you are. 

Becker is a better fit if you want or need something really structured, with lots of content, videos, guidance, and instructor-led support—and Newt™, their AI assistant, is there to answer questions, 24/7. Surgent makes more sense for more independent learners who are looking for something more self-directed, a little bit leaner when it comes to content, and an adaptive tool that allows for more student control over pacing and focus.

But let’s dig deeper into how these courses compare across the features that matter most. 

Becker vs Surgent CPA: Their Features in Depth

It’s time to break down the head-to-head comparisons across the categories. All the things that will most impact your study experience. 

Material and Format

Becker

Becker CPA Review walks you through every topic covered on the CPA exam blueprints. The modules combine video lectures, digital textbooks, and practice questions. Becker does recommend a flow or sequence, but you can mix the order up to match your own style. 

You have the option of both self-paced and live online classes. And as I found out, they’re not just recordings. You join via their LiveOnline Virtual Classroom and take part in real-time sessions. I was able to ask questions and interact with the instructor. And the variety of class times made scheduling easy. Need structure? Becker CPA Concierge includes success coaches to keep you accountable.

They have a question bank that includes over 8,000 multiple-choice practice questions and 500+ task-based simulations. You can create custom quizzes, track missed questions, and take unlimited practice exams through their Adapt2U Technology. Better yet, you have an AI assistant, Newt™.

Surgent

Surgent CPA Review has you start with a comprehensive assessment that identifies any strengths and weaknesses. From there, their A.S.A.P.® Technology builds you a personalized study plan that prioritizes the content you need to learn. 

Their course is entirely self-paced, with no live classes. But you will have access to thousands of MCQs, plus hundreds of simulations and on-demand videos. The platform tracks your performance and adjusts your study recommendations as needed. 

I found it interesting that Surgent doesn’t expect you to watch every lecture—this might be a good thing, or it might be a bad thing. The system only assigns videos for topics you’re struggling with, which means you can save yourself a ton of time. You can also create custom quizzes, and there are unlimited practice exams. 

The Winner: Becker 

Surgent’s adaptive approach is innovative, but Becker’s structure, live class options, depth of resources, and Newt™, their game-changing AI, has more. So if you’re the type who wants every possible tool, Becker is it. 

Media and Platform

Becker

Becker does video lectures really well. They’re usually under 10 minutes, they’re engaging, and packed with visual aids. The best part for me was how the instructors used humor—it just seemed to help those complex accounting concepts stick a bit better. 

The platform is modern and easy to navigate. At any point, I was able to see my progress at a glance, access the interactive study planner, or jump between any of my modules. And their Adapt2U Technology is always working behind the scenes, so all of my practice exams were always based on performance. 

Becker’s mobile app also deserves some love, since it’s probably one of the best study apps in the test prep space. You get access to video lectures, MCQs, flashcards, and your study planner, all synced across all of your devices. 

Surgent 

Surgent’s platform isn’t flashy; it’s functional. The dashboard shows your ReadyScore™, study recommendations for the day, and progress metrics. It all works, but it just doesn’t feel as modern as Becker’s interface. Does that even matter? Maybe it does to you. 

The video lessons are where Surgent falls short—for me, at least. They average about 10 to 20 minutes with instructors presenting slideshows. There’s not a whole lot of energy. I mean, the content is accurate, it covers what you need to know, but I found myself zoning out a little too often. So if you’re someone who primarily learns through video, this might be a dealbreaker. 

Surgent does have a mobile app, but—hmm, how should I say this? It’s less than stellar. And I can back up some of the complaints because, yes, sometimes there are issues with video playback and syncing. But again, it is functional, it’s just not the seamless experience you’ll get with the Becker app.

The Winner: Becker 

Becker’s video quality, modern platform, and excellent mobile app make them a win for this category. Especially if you’re a visual learner, the difference in lecture quality will be a big deal. 

Investment Value

Becker

There’s no getting around this. Becker is expensive. They do run frequent sales, and a lot of employers and universities have partnerships with them, but yeah. The price is pretty steep. 

They offer payment plans starting at 0%—depending on your credit—with 6, 12, or 24-month options, depending on the package. So that might make the investment a bit more manageable, if Becker is your choice. 

Becker’s Pass Guarantee applies to Pro and Pro+, while Concierge has its own guarantee that can provide up to a 100% tuition refund if you meet detailed eligibility requirements.

Surgent 

If you’re making your final choice based on how much you have to pay, this is where Surgent shines. Across the board, their prices are much lower—about two-thirds the price of comparable courses. And they also offer financing. 

Each one of Surgent’s packages includes unlimited access until you pass. No time limits at all. Surgent also includes a pass guarantee with all three options, not just their top-tier courses. If you meet Surgent’s ReadySCORE™ and course-completion requirements but still fail all sections, you get a full tuition refund. 

The Winner: Surgent

On pure value alone, Surgent wins hands down. Unlimited course access and a pass guarantee on every package, not to mention their courses are about a third of the price of Becker’s, it’s hard to beat. If budget is a primary concern, you should consider Surgent. 

Help and Guidance

Becker

Becker has an impressive support setup. All packages include academic support where you can submit questions. I tested this and got an email response within a day. But remember, now you can get instant answers from Newt™. The higher packages also include success coaching sessions and personalized tutoring sessions.  General customer support is available via phone, email, and chat. 

As far as access goes, that will depend on your package. The Advantage course gives you 24 months, but Pro, Pro+, and Concierge include unlimited access. Just be aware that Becker can still deactivate your unlimited access if you’re inactive for more than 60 months, although it is possible to get your access restored. 

Surgent 

Surgent’s support also varies by package. The Essentials Pass includes standard customer and tech support, while Premier has dedicated support and 1:1 coaching sessions with a CPA study strategist. And the Ultimate Pass gets you priority support with fast response times. 

Each package includes unlimited access until you pass, which is a great option for anyone changing careers or trying to balance a job and studying. 

One thing to note, though, is that Surgent doesn’t offer live classes or the same depth of tutoring you can get from Becker. So if you need hand-holding or prefer a classroom environment, you’ll probably feel limited with Surgent. 

The Winner: Becker

Even though Surgent‘s unlimited access is valuable, Becker’s support system includes live classes and instructor support, tutoring, success coaching, and additional academic help. That’s a whole lot more resources for students who need or just prefer guidance. For self-sufficient learners, Surgent’s support is perfectly adequate, but for me, Becker takes this category. 

Final Verdict

Both courses are great choices in their own way. Based on my perspective, Becker comes out ahead, and it’s worth the investment if you want the most comprehensive, structured CPA review. Becker has been considered the gold standard for decades, and their students consistently outperform the national average. 

However! Surgent does offer value and shouldn’t be overlooked. Every package includes unlimited access and a pass guarantee, and their A.S.A.P.® Technology really cuts down on study time. 

So, which one is for you? 

• Choose Becker if you want premium course material, live instruction, and don’t mind paying more for the industry leader. 

• Choose Surgent if you want maximum value, unlimited course access, and an adaptive approach that respects your time. 

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