Comparison of the Best CPA Review Courses
Passing the CPA Exam is hard enough without wasting months on the wrong review course, believe me.
After personally testing and comparing the major CPA review courses, reviewing their study materials, and analyzing feedback from CPA candidates, one thing became clear: there is no single “best” CPA prep course for everyone.
Some courses work better for visual learners, while others are better suited to cram-style studying, mobile learning, simulations, or busy professionals balancing full-time work. A course that works well for one student may be a poor fit for another.
Top Rated CPA Review Courses: 2026
| Provider | Product Title | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Editor's Pick  | Becker CPA | 10 | CHECK PRICE READ REVIEW |
 | Gleim CPA | 9.5 | CHECK PRICE READ REVIEW |
 | UWorld CPA | 9.1 | CHECK PRICE READ REVIEW |
 | Surgent CPA | 8.8 | CHECK PRICE READ REVIEW |
CPA Practice Exam
#1 Becker CPA Review
Peter Olinto’s lectures are a huge part of why Becker still feels like the premium CPA review course to beat. The lesson I watched didn’t feel scripted or overly polished in a corporate way; it felt like a real person explaining accounting in plain English with enough energy to keep the material from turning into background noise. He has that fast, direct, slightly Boston-professor energy that makes the lecture feel more like a conversation than a recorded class, and that matters when you’re trying to stay focused through dense CPA material.
The video experience is also more thoughtfully built than I expected. The slides aren’t overloaded with text, the visual aids are easy to follow, and Becker staggers words onto the screen as the instructor starts discussing them, which sounds minor but genuinely makes the lesson easier to track. I also liked that the slides and textbook are available right on the lesson page, and the digital textbook is especially useful for note-takers because you can highlight, draw, add shapes, create callouts, write notes, and mark up the text in ways that many cheaper CPA courses don’t allow.
Key Features
- 9,500+ Multiple-Choice Questions
- 500+ Task-Based Simulations
- 1,000+ Lecture Videos
- 190+ Hours of Video Instruction
- 2 Simulated Exams and 3 Mini Exams Per Section
- Downloadable Slides and Digital Textbooks
- Advanced Digital Textbook Annotation Tools
- Newt™ AI, Adapt2U Practice, and Academic Support
Pros
- Excellent Instructors: Peter Olinto makes difficult CPA topics feel more conversational, energetic, and easier to sit through.
- Strong Video Design: Becker’s slides use clean visuals and timed text effects that help keep the lessons engaging.
- Great for Note-Takers: The digital textbook annotation tools are excellent if you like highlighting, drawing, adding notes, or marking up your study materials.
- Premium Study Ecosystem: Becker gives you lectures, slides, textbooks, simulations, practice exams, AI support, and adaptive practice in one course.
Cons
- Videos Can Run Long: Some Becker lessons stretch past 20 minutes, which can make it harder to stay focused before getting to practice.
- Textbook Could Be More Visual: The textbook looks polished, but it could use more images and visual explanations instead of relying so heavily on charts and text.
- Practice Comes Later Than I’d Like: Becker sometimes keeps you in lecture mode for a long stretch before moving you into MCQs.
Bottom Line: Becker is the best overall CPA review course because it combines high-quality instruction, polished video lessons, strong practice tools, and one of the best digital textbook experiences available. It’s especially strong for candidates who want premium instruction and study tools that feel professionally built instead of pieced together.
$1,350 Off Becker CPA + $300 Amazon Gift Card Bonus
#2 Gleim CPA Review
Gleim was my favorite course layout from a pure usability standpoint. It’s not as visually polished as Becker, but I never felt like I had to hunt around for the next step. The course moves you through smaller study units, shorter videos, outlines, notes, and practice in a way that feels easy to keep clicking through. That made a real difference for focus, because finishing a 20- to 40-minute section felt much more doable than staring down a multi-hour lesson block.
The video setup also worked better than I expected. Denise Probert doesn’t have the big personality of Peter Olinto or Roger Philipp, but that’s not a criticism; she explains the material clearly, calmly, and without turning the lecture into a performance. I also liked the way Gleim splits the screen with the video on the left, the outline on the top right, and notes on the bottom right. It made note-taking feel natural instead of forcing me to pause the lecture, switch tabs, or keep a separate document open.
Key Features
- 12,000+ Multiple-Choice Questions
- 1,600+ Task-Based Simulations
- 100+ Hours of Professor-Led Video Lectures
- SmartAdapt™ Adaptive Study Platform
- Full-Length Mock Exams
- Digital Flashcards and Audio Lectures
- Personal Counselor and Accounting Expert Support
- Access Until You Pass® with Premium
Pros
- Massive Question Bank: Gleim gives you one of the largest CPA practice banks available, which is the main reason to consider it.
- Best Utility Layout: The platform makes it easy to move from lesson to outline to notes to practice without hunting around.
- Shorter Study Units: Gleim’s shorter videos and sections make it easier to keep momentum when your attention is already stretched.
- Clear, No-Drama Instruction: The instructors explained CPA topics in a straightforward way that many students will find easier to follow than a high-energy lecture style.
Cons
- Not the Prettiest Platform: Gleim is more practical than polished compared with Becker.
- Shorter Answer Explanations: Some explanations feel brief, though the direct outline links help fill in the gaps.
- Less Entertaining: The lecture style is clear and useful, but it won’t be as memorable for students who need a more energetic instructor.
Bottom Line
Gleim is the best CPA review course for candidates who want a huge question bank, a highly usable layout, and shorter study blocks that make steady progress feel easier. It’s especially strong for self-motivated students who learn best by working questions, checking weak areas, and moving efficiently through the material.
#3 UWorld CPA Review
UWorld’s answer explanations are the reason I’d put it near the top of any CPA review list. I spent the most time in the question bank, not because the videos were weak, but because the explanations are where UWorld really separates itself. When I missed a question, the breakdown usually gave me enough context to understand the rule, the mistake, and the logic behind the right answer without immediately needing to go back into the textbook.
The lectures are still a major strength, especially with Roger Philipp and Peter Olinto involved. They’re advertised so heavily for a reason: both are engaging, memorable instructors who make tough material easier to sit through. My only issue is that a lot of the videos felt long for my attention span, with many landing in the 20- to 30-minute range and some getting close to 40 minutes. UWorld gives you a lot of content, which is great until the size of the course starts to feel intimidating.
Key Features
- 9,000+ Multiple-Choice Questions
- 500+ Task-Based Simulations
- 1,400+ Video Lectures
- 100+ Hours of Video Instruction
- Full-Length Mock Exams
- SmartPath Predictive Technology®
- UAsk™ AI Study Assistant
- Mobile App and Digital Flashcards
Pros
- Best Answer Explanations: UWorld’s explanations teach the concept instead of just telling you the correct answer.
- Excellent Instructors: Roger Philipp and Peter Olinto make the lectures more engaging than a typical CPA review video.
- Strong Question Bank: The practice bank is large enough to give candidates serious repetition across CPA exam topics.
- Easy to Navigate: The platform is organized and intuitive, so I didn’t waste time figuring out where to go next.
Cons
- Videos Can Feel Long: Many lessons run long enough that staying focused can be a challenge.
- Content Volume Feels Overwhelming: UWorld gives you a lot, and that can start to feel intimidating before it feels helpful.
- No True Lightweight Option: The course feels built for candidates who want a full review system, not a small budget-style supplement.
Bottom Line
UWorld CPA Review is the best choice if you care most about detailed answer explanations, visual learning, and strong question-based review. It’s especially useful for candidates who learn by missing questions, reviewing the logic, and drilling until the reasoning finally sticks.
Save $2,000 on UWorld CPA Elite-Unlimited+ Course
#4 Surgent CPA Review
Surgent didn’t feel as polished as Becker or UWorld when I used it, but I also don’t think that’s what it’s trying to be. The course feels built around efficiency first: take the diagnostic, let the software figure out where you are, and then use ReadySCORE™ to track whether you’re actually getting closer to exam-ready. I liked having that number update over time because it gave me a more concrete way to measure progress than just saying, “I studied for three hours, so hopefully that helped.”
The videos were quick and practical, which worked well for how I’d use Surgent. Liz Kolar led most of the lessons I watched, and while she isn’t a big-personality instructor like Roger Philipp, she’s clear, easy to follow, and good at pointing out exactly what to focus on. I also liked the answer explanations more than I expected because they include helpful extras like first-time score data, video links, key terms, and reference sections, so missing a question didn’t feel like a dead end.
Key Features
- 9,000+ Multiple-Choice Questions
- 500+ Simulations
- 700+ Bite-Sized Videos
- ReadySCORE™ Exam-Readiness Indicator
- Predictive AI Adaptive Study Technology
- Unlimited Practice Exams
- E-Books and Downloadable Lecture Notes
- Unlimited Access Until You Pass
Pros
- Best Readiness Tracking: ReadySCORE™ gives you a running estimate of where you stand instead of making exam readiness feel like a guess.
- Efficient Study Path: The diagnostic and adaptive tools help you focus on weak areas instead of restudying everything equally.
- Helpful Answer Explanations: The explanations include useful extras like first-time score data, video links, key terms, and references.
- Good Short-Form Videos: Surgent’s bite-sized lessons are easier to get through when you don’t want another long lecture block.
Cons
- Less Polished Design: The platform works well, but it isn’t as sleek or intuitive as some competing CPA courses.
- Not the Most Engaging Lectures: The instruction is clear and useful, but it lacks the same energy as Becker’s or UWorld’s big-name instructors.
- Support Feels More Matter-of-Fact: Support answered my questions, but the experience felt practical rather than especially warm or personal.
Bottom Line
Surgent is the best CPA review course for candidates who want adaptive technology, readiness tracking, and a more efficient study plan. It’s not the prettiest course, but it does a good job helping you figure out what to study, why you missed a question, and whether you’re actually getting closer to passing.
Take $510 Off Surgent CPA Ultimate Pass
#5 Lambers CPA Review
Best Supplemental Practice Tool: Lambers CPA Review
Lambers felt different from the bigger CPA review courses because it doesn’t try to bury you in a massive content library. I spent most of my time inside the test prep software, moving between Pretest, Adaptive Drill, and Simulated Exam modes. That structure made the course feel clean and direct: figure out what I know, drill what I don’t, then test myself under exam-style conditions.
I also liked that Lambers doesn’t make practice feel random. The adaptive mode kept pushing me back into weaker areas, and I could build drills from missed, unanswered, or correct questions, or even search for questions by keyword. The questions were tough enough to be frustrating at first, but that ended up being part of the value because the real exam feels a lot less intimidating once you’ve spent time working through harder practice.
Key Features
- 4,400+ Practice Questions Across CPA Exam Sections
- Pretest Mode
- Adaptive Drill Mode
- Simulated Exam Mode
- Custom Practice Drills
- Detailed Answer Explanations
- Progress Tracking by Weak Area
- Ask the SME Support
Pros
- Simple Practice Flow: Lambers makes the study process easy to understand by moving from baseline testing to adaptive drilling to simulated exams.
- Great for Targeted Review: The adaptive drill mode helps you focus on weak areas instead of wasting time on topics you already know.
- Tough Practice Questions: The questions can feel difficult, but that makes the real exam feel more manageable over time.
- Useful Support Response: Ask the SME support is helpful when you need a clear answer without waiting around for days.
Cons
- Not a Full Lecture-First Course: Lambers works better as test-prep software than as a complete teach-you-everything-from-scratch program.
- Less Polished Than Bigger Platforms: The interface is straightforward, but it doesn’t have the premium feel of Becker or UWorld.
- Best for Experienced Candidates: New CPA candidates may want more instruction before relying heavily on Lambers.
Bottom Line: Lambers is best for CPA candidates who want focused, adaptive practice without the clutter of a huge course platform. It’s especially useful as a supplement or for candidates who already understand the material and need a smarter way to drill weak areas.
Exclusive Offer – 30% Off Lambers CPA Course Package
FAQs
Which CPA course is the best for brand-new CPA candidates?
Becker and Gleim both provide brand-new CPA candidates with fantastic tools to pass the CPA exam as quickly as possible. These CPA review courses work for recent college grads, working professionals, and people looking for a career change.
What is the best CPA course for working professionals?
If you are working full time, it’s difficult to make time to study for the CPA exam. Thankfully, if you make the necessary sacrifices, it IS possible, even while working 40-60 hours per week. For working professionals, I recommend Becker’s CPA course offerings. They give you the ability to watch lectures, test yourself with flashcards, and take practice exams from your laptop or phone.
What CPA course should I use if I fail the CPA exam?
If you have already failed the CPA exam, the next step is to find new multiple-choice questions to use so that you don’t repeat the same questions over and over. We recommend using Becker CPA review for this.
Do I need to buy a CPA review course in order to pass the CPA exam?
Although we would like to say you don’t need one, the truth of the matter is, yes, everyone should buy some type of CPA prep materials. You’ll need a set of CPA study materials for a variety of reasons. College doesn’t teach everything on the exam, and even if it did, you’ll at least need something supplemental to jog your memory.
