Choosing the best CFA® exam study material is the single most important decision you will make on your journey towards becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst.
A good CFA review course needs to be as comprehensive and versatile as the professionals who hold this certification. Since CFAs often work in industries ranging from portfolio management and risk analysis to research and strategy1, you’ll want to be an expert in these subjects when you sit for the exam.
But in order to become an expert, you’ll need to devote hundreds of hours to studying— so it’s crucial to find the CFA prep course that best fits your learning style and background.
Here’s the good news:
We have researched and reviewed every major online CFA exam prep course on the market so you don’t have to! The comparison chart below will help you determine which course best fits your needs.
These are the Top 7 Best CFA® Prep Courses & Study Materials for February 2021 :
- AnalystPrep
- Illumeo CFA® Review
- The Princeton Review CFA®
- Bloomberg CFA® Exam Prep
- Fitch Learning
- Kaplan Schweser
CFA COURSES | Analyst Prep | Illumeo | Princeton Review | Bloomberg | Fitch Learning | Kaplan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Course Image | ||||||
RANKINGS | #1 | #2 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
OVERALL RATING | ||||||
PRICE | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | $1,599 | $695 | $1,499 |
DISCOUNT | Save 20% | No Discount | Save $100 | No Discount | No Discount | No Discount |
VIDEO LECTURE HOURS | 40+ | 18+ | 50 | 0 | 120+ | 40 |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS | 3,000 | 90+ | 1,500 | 8,000+ | L1: 3,000+L2: 3,700+L3: 2,200+ | 4,000 |
FULL MOCK EXAMS | 8 | ![]() | 2 | 8 | 5 | 6 |
COURSE FORMATS | Online Self-Study, Live Tutoring | Online Self-Study | Online Self-Study | Online, App | Online Self-Study & Virtual Classes, Classroom, App | Self-Study & Online Class Room |
PASS GUARANTEE | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
FREE TRIAL | Free Practice Questions | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
LEVEL 2 COURSE OPTION | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
LEVEL 3 COURSE OPTION | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
EBOOK | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
FINAL REVIEW | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
FINANCING OPTIONS | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
COURSE EXPIRATION | 12 Months or Unlimited Access | 12 Months | 12 Months | Until You Pass | Until You Pass | After Exam |
READ MY FULL ANALYSIS | Read Full Review | Coming Soon! | Coming Soon! | Read Full Review | Read Full Review | Read Full Review |
GET STARTED | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
This chart reflects the features from the CFA® Level 1 online course offerings from each company.
Analyst Prep CFA® Prep Course
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
Multitasking: Although AnalystPrep offers an intuitive and calming interface, it does come with some limitations. The most notable of these is the inability to multitask— you can’t play videos next to text passages or compare community forum posts to practice tests.
Bottom Line: There are so many reasons to choose AnalystPrep as your CFA® review course. Whether you’re trying to relieve pre-exam anxiety or you just want the most up-to-date learning materials possible, this is the best possible choice!
Illumeo CFA® Prep Course
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
Limited Content: As I previously mentioned, there’s a reason this is the most affordable option on this list. You’ll only have materials that cover Level 1 of the exam— bad news if you’re planning to take the next two levels after. Also, they don’t offer nearly as much content as AnalystPrep’s course.
Bottom Line: If you’ve already got other certifications, Illumeo can help you earn CPE credits while preparing to take the Level 1 CFA® exam. This is just one of the many ways it offers you a stress-free study experience!
The Princeton Review CFA® Study Materials
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
Versatility: Any well-made self-study course is going to need a variety of materials for students to learn from in order to keep them motivated. Fortunately, The Princeton Review provides this versatility to all their CFA® Level I candidates. With study note-filled slideshows, several hours of video lectures, and some mock exams, there’s enough for students to work with that they won’t feel bored.
Teachers With Experience: The Princeton Review has always prided themselves for having excellent instructors who really grasp the material they teach. With their CFA® Level I exam prep course, this is no exception. The six instructors highlighted on their course page are all professionally certified and experienced CFAs®; in fact, many of them actually have several finance-related certifications under their belts!
Limited Curriculum: With so much to love about this prep course, there’s one major omission that’s cause for concern. The Princeton Review currently only offers review materials for students looking to pass Level I of their CFA® exams. This means that any students looking to take their education and financial expertise to higher levels will need to supplement with additional courses from other companies.
Bottom Line: If you have the discipline and motivation to complete a self-study course and want to save as much time and money as possible without sacrificing quality, The Princeton Review is an excellent choice. They may not offer all the bells and whistles that other courses do, but they’re still a fantastic option and will only get better as they add updates to their test prep library!
Bloomberg CFA® Study Materials
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
No Final Review: There are many excellent study tools available to students who enroll in one of Bloomberg’s CFA® exam review courses. However, something that is conspicuously absent from all of them is a final review cram course. Although you can definitely live without it, the lack of any cram materials can leave some Bloomberg students with pre-exam anxiety.
Bottom Line: Bloomberg’s CFA® prep course provides an intuitive dashboard and adaptive learning technology.
Fitch Learning CFA® Review Course
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
Limited Live Classroom Availability: Fitch Learning’s live Classroom Review Courses are an excellent way to learn important CFA® exam concepts and test-taking strategies. However, their availability is extremely limited to any students who don’t live near New York or Toronto.
Bottom Line: Fitch Learning ensures students truly understand the material included in their program with the aid of expert instructors and over 120 hours of video content. And if you’re still not satisfied, they offer a forgiving return policy.
Kaplan Schweser CFA® Review Course
OVERALL RATING: ★★★★★
Bottom Line: With regular updates and instructor support, students who enroll in Kaplan Schweser’s CFA® review course can rest assured that they will receive a comprehensive and up-to-date education.
Which CFA® Prep Course Is The Best?
Currently, the best review course for aspiring Chartered Financial Analysts can be found at AnalystPrep. This is because their team of highly qualified instructors provide a well-made and conveniently accessible curriculum of practice questions, video lectures, and mock exams.
What Is the Best Way To Prepare for CFA® Level 1?
The answer to this question will depend on your preferred learning style. If you’re interested in live instruction, Kaplan’s CFA® Level 1 study packages will be your best bet. But if you prefer learning independently through rigorous practice, AnalystPrep’s CFA® Level One Mock Exams will be your most effective resource.
Can CFA® Be Done By Self-Study?
Ultimately, you’re not going to be able to take the Chartered Financial Analyst exam on your own. You’ll need to have the test administered to you at a CFA® Institute-approved testing center. However, you can certainly study for the exam on your own with extremely positive results; just check out our list of the best CFA exam prep courses!
Additional Resources to Get You On the Right Track
Still can’t decide which course is right for you? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I’ve created some invaluable resources for selecting the best CFA® review course. Check out my comparison articles:
Wiley vs. Kaplan CFA® and Wiley vs. Fitch CFA®.
For information on why you should become a CFA®, click here.
And if you have any specific CFA® questions, just drop a comment below and I’ll personally help you find the right course for you!
Compare other professional finance and accounting certifications below:
Why should I become a CFA?
Although you don’t need to become CFA certified to work as a financial analyst, there are several benefits to certification that make it worthwhile. For example, you can make significantly more money— CFAs earn around $90,000 a year on average2, whereas ordinary financial analysts have an average annual salary of $60,000.3
Article Sources
Crush the CFA® Exam requires writers support their work by using primary sources. These include the exam’s governing body, white papers, government data, and interviews with leading experts in the field. You can learn more about the standards we follow by checking out our editorial guidelines.