Best CFA Prep Courses 2026
Choosing the right CFA prep course is one of the highest-leverage decisions you can make. The right course can cut your study time by 20–30% and meaningfully improve your pass odds. We evaluated the top providers across curriculum depth, Q-bank quality, pass rates, price, and topic-level strength.
Key Takeaways
- We scored providers on curriculum depth, Q-bank quality, value, support, and interface.
- AnalystPrep wins on Ethics coverage and price; Kaplan Schweser wins on mock exam realism.
- CFA Institute recommends 300+ study hours; most first-time passers study 250–350 hours.
- Use free diagnostic practice to find your weakest topic, then pick the course strongest there.
Disclosure: Sophos Academy earns a commission if you purchase through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Quick Comparison
| Criteria | #1AnalystPrepEditor's Choice | #2Kaplan SchweserMost Trusted | #3Bloom Prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $299–$499 | $399–$799 | Not publicly listed — see free trial for pricing |
| Overall | ★★★★4.5 | ★★★★4.4 | ★★★3.6 |
| Curriculum | 4.5 | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Q-Bank | 5.0 | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Value | 4.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Support | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Interface | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Best For | Candidates who want deep topic-level practice | Systematic learners who want the most trusted study materials | Candidates who want AI-paced studying backed by a pass guarantee |
| View → | View → | View → |
Scores are editorial assessments based on curriculum coverage, Q-bank quality, and candidate feedback.
Detailed Reviews
AnalystPrep CFA Review
Editor's ChoiceStarting at
$299–$499
Practice Questions
3,000+
Mock Exams
8 full-length
Price
$299–$499
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class Ethics and Financial Statement Analysis coverage
- ✓3,000+ questions with detailed explanations that teach, not just reveal
- ✓Mock exams closely mirror actual CFA difficulty
- ✓Strong value compared to Schweser at a lower price point
Cons
- ✗Less brand recognition than Kaplan Schweser among employers
- ✗Video lectures shorter than Kaplan — assumes some background knowledge
Best for: Candidates who want deep topic-level practice
View Course →Kaplan Schweser CFA
Most TrustedStarting at
$399–$799
Candidates Served
300,000+
Practice Questions
4,000+
Price
$399–$799
Pros
- ✓Industry-standard SchweserNotes used by majority of CFA candidates
- ✓Thorough, structured curriculum covers every LOS methodically
- ✓Massive question bank with clear explanations
- ✓Study groups and instructor support available
Cons
- ✗Most expensive option in this category
- ✗Interface feels dated compared to newer platforms
- ✗Some candidates find the material dense and dry
Best for: Systematic learners who want the most trusted study materials
View Course →Bloom Prep
Starting at
Not publicly listed — see free trial for pricing
Pass Guarantee
Yes
Free Trial
Yes
Covers
CFA only
Pros
- ✓Adaptive engine adjusts your study plan based on performance
- ✓Pass Insurance offers a real money-back guarantee most competitors do not
- ✓Direct tutor access via one-on-one sessions and Ask-a-Tutor messaging
Cons
- ✗No public pricing — you have to start a free trial to see cost
- ✗CFA only, no CPA option, unlike some competitors covering both
- ✗Newer, smaller provider with a less established track record than AnalystPrep or Schweser
Best for: Candidates who want AI-paced studying backed by a pass guarantee
View Course →Disclosure: Sophos Academy earns a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
How We Evaluated
We scored curriculum depth, Q-bank quality, value, support, and interface for each provider — see our full scoring methodology for how each criterion is weighted.
Topic-level strength note: Some providers excel at Ethics (AnalystPrep), others at quantitative material (Schweser). After practicing on our free diagnostic tool, you will know your weakest topics and can pick the course with the strongest coverage there.
Bloom Prep — Full Review
Bloom Prep (bprep.co) is the course most CFA prep roundups skip over — it's a smaller, newer provider than AnalystPrep or Schweser, covering CFA, GMAT, and GRE. It has no connection to Bloomberg L.P.; the similar name is a coincidence, not a partnership.
Who it's for: candidates who want an AI-adaptive study plan and the reassurance of a real pass guarantee, rather than a fully self-directed Q-bank.
- Price: not publicly listed — you need to start their free trial to see current cost
- Curriculum depth: unverified against AnalystPrep or Schweser's published breadth — Bloom Prep doesn't publish detailed curriculum-coverage stats
- Standout feature: Pass Insurance — a full refund if you complete 95%+ of the course and still fail the exam, plus direct tutor access via one-on-one sessions and an Ask-a-Tutor messaging system
- Coverage: CFA only among the exams Sophos Academy covers — no CPA option
- Best fit: candidates who want a money-back safety net and don't mind starting a trial before seeing pricing
If you want the cheapest deep Q-bank, pick AnalystPrep. If you want the most structured, comprehensive materials, pick Schweser. If a pass guarantee and AI-paced studying matter more to you than transparent pricing upfront, Bloom Prep is worth a look — but it's the least established of the three.
Which Course Fits Your CFA Level?
The "best" course changes somewhat by level, since Level 2 and Level 3 shift toward application and portfolio construction rather than recall.
- Level 1 — heaviest on breadth (10 topic areas, pure recall + calculation). AnalystPrep's large Q-bank is especially strong here since Level 1 is largely about volume of practice.
- Level 2 — vignette-style item sets replace standalone MCQs. Schweser's more traditional, example-heavy notes tend to help candidates who haven't seen vignette format before; AnalystPrep's explanations are still strong but assume more comfort with the format.
- Level 3 — the exam shifts to essay/constructed-response plus portfolio management vignettes. None of the three providers here specialize in essay-format practice as heavily as they do MCQ/vignette prep — budget extra time with official CFA Institute mock exams regardless of which course you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not affiliated with CFA Institute.