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've evaluated the top providers across five criteria: curriculum depth, Q-bank quality, pass rates, price, and topic-level strength. Here's what we found.
Our Top Picks
AnalystPrep CFA Review
Best for: Candidates who want deep topic-level practice
$299–$499
- ✓Strongest Ethics and FSA coverage
- ✓3,000+ practice questions with detailed rationales
- ✓Video lectures + study notes
Kaplan Schweser CFA
Best for: Systematic learners who want the most trusted study materials
$399–$799
- ✓Industry-standard SchweserNotes
- ✓Structured curriculum trusted by 300k+ candidates
- ✓Practice exams with detailed answer explanations
Bloomberg Exam Prep
Best for: Data-driven learners and Bloomberg terminal users
$549
- ✓AI-powered adaptive question engine
- ✓Bloomberg terminal data integration
- ✓Bite-sized mobile-first study sessions
Disclosure: Sophos Academy earns a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
How We Evaluated
Curriculum depth: Does the material cover all LOS at the right level of detail?
Q-bank quality: Are questions representative of the actual exam difficulty? Do explanations teach, not just reveal the answer?
Pass rates: Providers who track candidate outcomes tend to have higher accountability.
Topic-level strength: Some providers excel at Ethics (AnalystPrep), others at quantitative material (Schweser). We map this to your diagnostic weak spots on our practice questions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours should I study for CFA Level 1? CFA Institute recommends 300+ hours. Most first-time passers study 250–350 hours over 4–6 months.
Is one prep course enough? Yes, if you use it consistently. Many candidates supplement with a secondary Q-bank. Our diagnostic practice tool identifies which topics need extra work.
When should I start studying? 6 months before your exam date is the standard recommendation. Start earlier if you are working full-time.
Disclosure: Sophos Academy earns a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. Not affiliated with CFA Institute.