Gleim vs Surgent CPA Review: Read Before Buying

Picking a top CPA exam review course will be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make on the way to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. And let’s be honest, these prep courses aren’t exactly cheap. 

Both Gleim and Surgent CPA are solid choices, but they take very different approaches to getting you across that passing-score finish line.

With the national CPA exam pass rate hovering around 50%, choosing the course that’s right for you might matter more than you think. So, which one is it?

Key Takeaways

• If you want the largest test bank in the industry, then Gleim will give you more practice materials than any other course on the market.
• If you prefer learning from professor-led instruction, then Gleim’s 100+ hours of video lectures will feel like having a college course at your fingertips.
• If you need unlimited access without time pressure, then Gleim’s Access Until You Pass® guarantee means you won’t have to worry about your course expiring mid-study.
• If you’re a busy professional who needs to study efficiently, Surgent’s A.S.A.P.® is designed to cut your study time by identifying exactly what you need to focus on.
• If you learn best through short, focused sessions, then Surgent’s bite-sized video lectures make it easy to squeeze in study time around your schedule.

Gleim vs Surgent CPA Review: How They Stack Up

Both of these courses are backed by solid reputations, but their success is built on totally different philosophies. Here’s an aerial view of what makes each one tick.

Gleim CPA Review: The Veteran

Gleim CPA Review has been helping accountants pass the CPA exam since 1974, so they kinda know what they’re doing. They know exactly what students need to succeed. 

One thing that impresses me every time I review Gleim’s material is how well they explain things. Every single practice question comes with explanations for both the right and wrong answers. They care about more than you getting the answer right; they want to be sure you understand why something is right—or wrong. That kind of deeper understanding will make a huge difference on the actual exam.

Their SmartAdapt™ platform is the equivalent of your personal study coach, tracking your performance and adjusting your study plan based on where you might be struggling. It’s silently working in the background, analyzing your quiz results and then pointing you to whatever resources you need the most.

Pros

Largest test bank available (over 12,000 MCQs and 1,600+ task-based simulations) 
Detailed explanations for every answer choice
Access Until You Pass® guarantee on Premium courses
100+ hours of video content 
PrepPal™ AI study assistant (Premium Pro)
Free CPE included (Premium Pro)

Cons

The video content can feel more academic than entertaining
There is a whole lot of material, and that can be pretty intimidating 
Premium packages require a hefty investment 

Despite any cons I can come up with, it has to be said that more than a million students have passed the CPA exam using Gleim materials. That’s solid proof that they have what it takes to prepare candidates for the real CPA exam.

“ I am exclusively using Gleim. I have just passed FAR and I took ISC at the end on July. Today I start studying for AUD.”

Reddit u/EmeraldJunimo

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Surgent CPA Review: The Efficiency Experts

Surgent’s approach is completely different. Surgent CPA Review is built around the smarter, not harder approach—as in, smarter studying beats longer studying every time. Sounds good to me!

The star of their show is A.S.A.P.® (Adaptive Study and Assessment Platform) Technology, which Surgent claims will reduce your study time. Here’s how it works: you start with an assessment phase that gauges how much you know across all the topics. Then the personalized study planner creates a customized study plan that focuses your energy on your weak spots instead of wasting time reviewing stuff you already know. 

Then they have their ReadySCORE™ feature, which I find incredibly useful. It gives you a real-time prediction of what you’d score if you sat for the real exam that very moment—trust me, this can be a bit demoralizing, but it’s super helpful, because it lets you know how ready you really are, not just how ready you think you are. According to Surgent, their score predictions are accurate to within 98%. 

Finally, their video lectures take a different approach from Gleim’s lecture-style format. Surgent’s 700+ bite-sized videos are about 10-20 minutes each. They’re perfect for anyone who’s busy and needs to study in smaller chunks. 

Pros

A.S.A.P.® Technology creates completely personalized study plans
ReadySCORE™ tells you exactly when you’re ready to take the test
Unlimited access until you pass on all packages 
Lower entry price for Essentials
1:1 coaching sessions with Premier and Ultimate 

Cons 

Smaller test bank than Gleim
Fewer task-based simulations 
The adaptive system may limit topics you want to study further

Surgent reports an 88% pass rate for students who achieve a ReadySCORE™ of 75 or higher, which is a pretty strong indicator that its adaptive approach works. 

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Gleim and Surgent CPA Feature Comparisons

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Why Choose Gleim or Surgent: It’s All About You

Look, let me be completely honest here. Whatever my preference, both Gleim and Surgent can absolutely help you pass the CPA. 

For me, Gleim pulls ahead because of how comprehensive the course is. If you’re the type who wants to deep dive into your subject material, who feels more confident when you’ve practiced every possible question type, then Gleim’s massive question bank gives you more preparation than anyone else. Their videos are led by professors and provide the type of detailed explanations that make the course more like a real learning experience instead of just exam prep. 

On the other hand, Surgent is built for anyone who prioritizes efficiency. It’s the work smarter, not harder principle that I mentioned above. And if you’re working or just have a busy life, you need to make smart use of your time. If that’s your situation and you already have a strong foundation from your accounting courses, Surgent’s adaptive tech can help you zero in on what you need to learn without wasting a minute of your precious time. 

Choose Gleim if:

• You want access to the industry’s largest question bank
• You prefer professor-style instruction
• You’d like detailed explanations that provide a deep understanding of the concepts 
• You need flexible access options with no expiration worries 

Choose Surgent if: 

• You have a busy life, and you need maximum efficiency when it comes to your study time
• You already have a solid foundation in accounting
• You prefer shorter, more focused video lessons
• You’re after a lower price point

Now let’s dig into the major areas to help you make a better-informed decision on what will work best for you. 

Gleim vs Surgent: Their Features in Depth 

Material and Content 

Gleim

Gleim’s CPA Review is entirely online and self-paced, giving you the flexibility to study whenever and wherever works best for you. I love how logically structured the course is through all CPA Exam content, but you know what I like even better? The freedom to work through the content in whatever order I pleased. 

The test bank is where Gleim really flexes its muscles. With over 11,500 multiple-choice questions and 1,600+ task-based simulations, you’ll have more practice material than most people would ever want—if you’re not most people, you do you and answer them all! Better yet, all of those questions can be done in study mode, where you get instant feedback, or in exam mode, where you won’t see the answers until you’re done. Either way, the platform tracks your progress. My favorite feature is being able to create endless custom quizzes on any topic. 

Surgent 

Surgent’s CPA review is structured around a three-phase approach. Assessment, study, and review. So, I started off with an assessment that evaluated how much I knew going in, then moved to a study phase that guided me through a personalized plan. Finally, there’s the review phase, where you can take unlimited practice exams. 

The question bank has 9,000+ MCQs and 500+ task-based simulations. You do get fewer questions, but the adaptive tech means you’re more likely to get questions relevant to your needs. Each question comes with detailed explanations, video links, and references to help you understand the concepts you’re working on. 

The Winner: Gleim 

Gleim takes the edge here. Sure, both courses have lots of content, but I just feel that Gleim’s huge test bank gives you more of a chance to practice. TBSs make up 50% of your score on most sections, so I think having access to all those simulations is a plus. 

Digital Experience 

Gleim

Gleim’s SmartAdapt™ platform is completely intuitive. The dashboard always gave me a clear picture of my progress and upcoming study sessions I could participate in. The Gleim Instruct video series includes over 100 hours of professor-led content in two formats: on-screen lectures with digital notes and graphics, and problem-solving sessions walking me through examples.

I enjoyed being able to take notes in the interface, adjust playback speed, and bookmark sections for later. 

Surgent

Surgent’s platform is about efficiency and personalization. The dashboard showed my ReadySCORE™ for each section, and I got daily Surge assignments that told me what to study. 

The video library includes 700+ bite-sized lectures that are about 10-20 minutes each. They’re led by instructors who just get to the point. They play beside the study text and notebook interface, meaning I could follow along and take notes without switching screens.  

The Winner: Gleim

Gleim wins here for video quality and depth. While Surgent’s shorter format works well for anyone who’s time-crunched, Gleim’s lectures provide a deeper understanding of complex topics. 

ROI Assessment 

Gleim

I’ve mentioned the huge question bank a few times, and it certainly adds value. Then there’s the free CPE they add to Premium Pro. Finally, Gleim’s Premium and Pro packages come with the Access Until You Pass® guarantee, so your access never expires as long as you’re still studying. They also offer multiple financing options so you can spread out the cost of their courses. 

Surgent

Surgent has the real bonus of a less expensive Essentials package. But, while they do offer a pass guarantee on all packages, it is much stricter than Gleim’s. They do have a standard refund policy that allows cancellation within 10 days. And like Gleim, they offer flexible payment plans. 

The Winner: Gleim

Gleim wins for overall value. Between the massive test bank, free CPE, and a straightforward Access Until You Pass® guarantee, you’re getting more bang for your buck—even at the higher price point.

Help and Guidance 

Gleim

Gleim provides each student with access to Personal Counselors who help with study planning and motivation. Support is available by phone and email, and responses are typically within one business day. Premium Pro students also get unlimited access to accounting experts who can answer content-specific questions. 

The Traditional Package provides 18 months of access, while Premium and Premium Pro include the Access Until You Pass® guarantee. 

Surgent

Surgent’s support varies by package level. The Essentials Pass includes standard customer and technical support. Premier Pass adds one-on-one coaching sessions from CPA exam success coaches. Ultimate Pass students get unlimited content and technical support with responses guaranteed within one business day. All three packages include unlimited access until you pass with no expiration. 

The Winner: Surgent 

Surgent takes this category. While Gleim offers Personal Counselors and access to accounting experts, Surgent provides unlimited access until you pass on every package, even the budget-friendly Essentials Pass. 

Final Verdict 

After comparing both courses head-to-head, Gleim comes out slightly ahead—at least from where I stand. The depth of their content, not to mention their massive test bank, gives you more than you need to prepare for the CPA.

That said, you may not want more than you need. Surgent is a great choice if you’re all about streamlined efficiency, since their A.S.A.P.® and ReadySCORE™ can cut your study time. They also offer a lower price point for anyone who needs to be budget-conscious. 

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