Have you ever bought a book or a video game, only to be disappointed when you actually start to read or play it?
Chances are, you looked at the reviews, but didn’t fully consider the aspects of those things you loved the most—like that video game lacked a collectible aspect, or the book didn’t have the love story you craved.
That’s why choosing the best CFA® prep course is so important (especially with a pass rate as low as 39% in 2024). Your course isn’t just $20 or $60; there are hundreds of dollars on the line, and maybe even your self-esteem and exam-day confidence. I personally dug through over a dozen top courses, narrowing them down to the top four I’d most recommend looking at. Let’s dig in and find the right CFA® exam prep materials for you.
Best CFA® Prep Course Comparison
 |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $799 per part | $799 | $1,049-$1,199 (per part) | $599-$749 per part |
| Discounts | Save 15% | Save 30% | Save 15% | No Discounts |
| Access | Until End of Exam Date | Lifetime Access | Until End of Exam Month | Lifetime Access |
| Pass Guarantees | StudyPass and FreshStart | N/A | PassProtection™ Guarantee | Access Until You Pass |
| Refund Policy | No Refunds | No Refunds | 90% Within 14 Days | 100% Within 3 Days |
| Support | Chat, Email | Chat, Phone, Email | ||
| Best For | Best Prep Option for Most CFA® Exam Candidates | Students Looking for a Streamlined, Entertaining Approach | Students Who Want to Dig Deep and Master the Material | Tech-Loving Critical Thinkers Who Value Data and Analysis |
| Learn More | Start Now | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
Top CFA® Programs at a Glance
✅ Best Overall: UWorld
✅ Best for Beginners: AnalystPrep
✅ Best for Comprehensive Coverage: Kaplan Schweser
✅ Best for Modern Learners: Salt Solutions
1. UWorld: Best Overall
UWorld is best known for their exam-quality practice questions, ExpertConnect Q&A, Expert MasterClass video sessions, and customizable flashcards. There are even more impressive features, such as a structured 2-day boot camp and a variety of pass guarantee options; however, they’re only available in the most expensive package.
Nevertheless, in my experience with UWorld’s Advanced package for the CFA® levels, I found a lot to appreciate. The live boot camp and Q&A sessions were excellent, covering the content at an effective pace and going into each topic with an impressive level of depth. They were easy to follow, and the instructors seemed to actually care about whether or not I was picking up on the information.
However, the real selling point is the practice questions, which are very similar to those on the actual exam (I literally pulled around a dozen or so and compared them; UWorld’s are harder, but otherwise very close). UWorld is a bit pricey, and I’d like to see more mock exams for levels 2 and 3. Otherwise, I got so much out of UWorld, and I think CFA® candidates will have a similar experience.
See my full review of UWorld CFA® here.
Key Features
- 📚 Course Format: Live Classes and On-Demand Lessons
- 🔍 Number of Practice Questions: ~4,000
- 🎥 Live Online Classes or on-demand video lectures
- 🗒️ SimpleSheets+ for easily accessible reference
- ✍️ Up to 9 Mock Exams, 5 for Level I, and 2 each for II and III
- 📅 Course Access Until You Pass relieves some financial pressure
UWorld Student Testimonials
“UWorld is the best source out there for CFA level 1. Their infographics and explanation for each question is sublime and the difficulty of some of those questions rlly makes the final exam seem like a piece of cake. Not to mention their exam style interface so you are mentally prepared of the layout.”
Aggressive_Math378
“One of the most ridiculous questions from Uworld appeared in my L1 exam recently. Although the questions are hard, they are all aligned with the textbook’s content.”
Affectionate_Club866
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Pros
- Many students consider their practice questions some of the best for CFA® prep
- Includes live online classes at a relatively affordable price point
- Customizable virtual flashcards are a vital tool for traditional learners
- SimpleSheets+ is a helpful tool for quickly brushing up on key concepts
- Mobile app to watch lectures and study flashcards out in the world
Cons
- Expensive compared to AnalystPrep and Salt Solutions
- StudyPass, FreshStart, and Accelerate Bootcamp are locked to the premium tier
Bottom Line: Why Choose UWorld?
If you want great practice questions, useful bonuses, and live support at a price that won’t break the bank, I think UWorld is worth some serious consideration. Though they’re more expensive than AnalystPrep and Salt Solutions, students who value in-depth answer explanations, mobile apps, and live, interactive support can find a wealth of value in UWorld’s selections.
UWorld
2. AnalystPrep: Best for Beginners
Whether you’re on a budget, looking for engaging video lessons, over 6,000 quality practice questions, or want lifetime access to your course materials, AnalystPrep delivers. In fact, their package for all three levels is either the same price or more affordable than one level from Kaplan Schweser, Salt Solutions, and UWorld.
Oddly, one of the main selling points for AnalystPrep is their lead lecturer, Professor James Forjan. It was easy to see why in my own research: he has great energy, a clear passion for his students’ success, and a phenomenal ability to take an impossible finance topic—think quantitative methods and derivatives—and make it easy to understand. I obviously have a background in finance, but I was nevertheless impressed by how he could explain something simply in a way I would struggle to communicate effectively to a newbie.
Consequently, AnalystPrep is an excellent fit for audiovisual learners on a budget, particularly if you want a streamlined approach without all the distracting bells and whistles.
Key Features
- 📚 Course Format: On-demand
- 🔍 Number of Practice Questions: 6,000+
- 🎥 Video Lectures: 120+ hours of expert-led video content
- 🗒️ ~3,000 Pages of Study Notes that correlate with the video lessons
- ✍️ Mock Exams for all three levels of the CFA® exam
- 📊 Performance Tracking Tools that identify your weaknesses for more efficient study
- ❓ Unlimited Ask-a-Tutor Questions for personalized support
AnalystPrep Student Testimonials
“James Forjan, AnalystPrep instructor, is a bona fide professor and teaches the subject matter like an experienced teacher. The one-time low cost is a bonus–and it applies to all three levels. The study notes are very good. […] He has lots of mocks and what I really like is you can print them out and take them while the sun is shining; easily toggle and retake them as you please.”
efficient-frontier
“Jim is now currently recording L3 videos. I watched them while waiting for my L2 results. There are 40 so far. THESE are detail oriented. I mean they are really good. He’ll break readings up into 2 or 3 vids, each 45 minutes to an hour long. Anyone attempting L3 with the CFAI curriculum only should absolutely use these to supplement.”
mikestorm
Pros
- Vast bank of exam-quality practice questions
- Lifetime access prevents the anxiety of rushing to finish
- The price for all three levels is ≤ the price of one level from Kaplan or UWorld
- In-depth performance tracking is simultaneously insightful and motivating
- Engaging video lessons that break down tricky topics in an easily digestible way
Cons
- No pass guarantee, so if it doesn’t work, you’re out of luck
Bottom Line: Why Choose AnalystPrep?
What makes AnalystPrep shine in testing is how efficient and to-the-point the whole experience feels. The platform loads fast, the dashboard is dead simple to navigate, and there’s zero fluff—just a clean path from login to lesson to quiz. The video content, especially Forjan’s lectures, delivers exactly what you want: clear, practical explanations that make dry topics like quant methods feel less painful. Practice questions hit the right difficulty level, and the answer breakdowns actually help you learn—not just tell you you’re wrong. If you want a course that respects your time, doesn’t overcomplicate things, and just gets the job done, this is it.
AnalystPrep
3. Kaplan Schweser: Best for Comprehensive Coverage
Kaplan Schweser offers four unique packages for a variety of students, but their most popular is the Premium Package. Unlike AnalystPrep, you’ll have to buy study packages for each level separately. However, if you value the sheer amount of content—as in nearly 7,000 practice questions, hundreds of video content hours, a 55+ hour on-demand review masterclass, some of the best study notes out there, and a renewed course if you don’t pass—Kaplan Schweser is your choice for digging deep.
Their videos are professional, clean, and easy to listen to. They’re not as engaging as the video lessons from AnalystPrep, but they definitely get the job done. And if you want to leave no stone unturned, there’s no better choice. In my opinion, the biggest selling point for Kaplan is Schweser’s Secret Sauce®, a booklet packed with a simplified version of everything you need to know about the learning outcome statements. Key terms are bolded, bullet points are used, and it’s perfect to skim if you need a quick refresher on a topic.
Key Features
- 📚 Course Format: On-Demand (Live Classes Available to Add On)
- 🔍 Number of Practice Questions: 6,600+
- 🎥 Video Lectures: 140+ hours of expert-led video content
- 🎯 CFA® Institute Question Review Videos: 19+ hours of exam question answer explanations
- 🛠️ CFA® Review Workshop covering 55+ hours of content
- 📊 Activity Feed and Performance Tracking Tools for streamlined study
- 📅 PassProtection™ Guarantee gives you another study package if you fail the exam
Kaplan Schweser Student Testimonials
“Kaplan’s learning ecosystem was far and away the best of all the resources I relied upon. For ALL LEVELS the readings concentrated on testable material and were light on chaff. Similarly the mock exams for ALL LEVELS were surprisingly consistent with the actual exam.”
ggop_
“Passed all 3 levels using Kaplan exclusively. Didn’t touch any official material. 90% percentile on level 2 and 3. It’s entirely sufficient for many people.”
B4SSF4C3
Pros
- Hundreds of hours of video lectures for audiovisual learners
- Review workshop is perfect for last-minute “crunch time” study
- Schweser’s Secret Sauce® is a great written resource summarizing key concepts
- Extensive library of exam-quality practice questions
- Tons of bonuses for a more personalized experience, like QuickSheets and JumpStart materials
Cons
- Expensive compared to other courses on the list, especially AnalystPrep and Salt Solutions
- Live classes require an upgrade that can be really expensive for all three levels
Check out my full review of Kaplan CFA® to see if it’s right for you.
Bottom Line: Why Choose Kaplan Schweser?
If you want more than you need and you’d rather be overly prepared on exam day, Kaplan Schweser is an excellent choice. Whether you prefer to watch video lessons, read textbooks, study notes, or a combination of all three, Kaplan appeals to a wide variety of learning styles. While the classes are pretty steep price-wise, and that price only increases if you choose to add live review workshops and classes, it may be worth the investment if “more” is worth the money.
Kaplan
4. Salt Solutions: Best for Modern Learners
Salt Solutions takes a unique approach compared to the other courses on the list, focusing on a more budget-friendly, simplified approach than Kaplan Schweser and a more scientific, data-driven approach than AnalystPrep. However, Salt Solution keeping efficiency at the forefront makes less sense when you realize there’s over 175 hours of video content alone, accounting for a massive percentage of your study hours.
Nevertheless, Salt Solutions does a lot of things right. I loved their modern interface with geometric accents, which made me feel like a student attending a high-tech online private school, or something to that effect. Essentially, I felt bougie, and that is a feeling worth chasing. Further, I really appreciated the in-depth performance tracking tools, which did a great job of not only pointing out my progress and how far I had to go, but also where I should be focusing my attention to get the most out of every study session. Salt Solutions is a great choice for a student who wants a more technical, science-backed strategy, without the high price of competitors like Kaplan.
Key Features
- 📚 Course Format: On-demand
- 🔍 Number of Practice Questions: 4,000+
- 🎥 Video Lectures: 175+ hours of expert-led video content
- 🗒️ Formula Sheets for quick reference while studying and practicing
- ✍️ 3 Mock Exams for each level of the CFA® exam
- ❓ Discussion Forums for community and connection while getting questions answered
- 📊 Pace Keeper and Focus Analysis for better organization and comprehension
- 📅 Course Access Until You Pass relieves some financial pressure
Salt Solutions Student Testimonials
“I think in certain aspects Salt is really great, like for quant and ethics. The videos are good too, over all I’d say take it. I use a combo of salt, Kaplan notes, and CFA curriculum.”
adise1
“I used (Salt Solutions) for level 1 and 2 so far and passed above 90 percentile for both.”
36644665
Pros
- Sleek, high-tech interface that encourages organization and motivation
- More affordable per part than Kaplan Schweser and UWorld
- Pass guarantee includes extended access for as long as you need it
- Huge video library, ideal for visual learners
Cons
- Isn’t comprehensive enough as a standalone for some students
- Still more expensive than AnalystPrep by over $1,000 when you buy all three levels
- Some of the materials are free, so paying for packages including them feels strange
Bottom Line: Why Choose Salt Solutions?
If the traditional “nose in a book” approach just doesn’t do it for you, take Salt Solutions’ 14-day trial for a spin and see if this is a better fit. The complete level packages are relatively affordable, especially when you consider the nearly 200 hours of video lessons and deep-dive performance reports. However, it’s worth comparing the price to what you’re getting, as lots of video lessons are great, but not the deciding factor in helping you pass. Alternatives like AnalystPrep, Kaplan, and UWorld tend to give more bang for your buck.
Salt Solutions
Honorable Mentions
To narrow the list down to my top four, I went over a dozen prep courses. Here’s the complete list of the entries that didn’t make the cut, all featured on the CFA Institute website as approved courses.
- Bloomberg Prep
- Chalk & Board
- Edge Designations
- EDGE Education
- Financial Exam Help 123
- Fitch Learning
- IFT
- Mark Meldrum
- PWC Academy
- Quartic
- QuintEdge
CFA® Course vs Course Comparison
UWorld vs. AnalystPrep
The comparison of premium depth vs. budget efficiency.
- Choose UWorld if: You want the hardest practice. Choose this if you are willing to pay for “exam-quality” questions that are intentionally difficult to ensure you are over-prepared on test day.
- Choose AnalystPrep if: You want the most practice volume. Choose this if you want a massive bank of 6,000+ questions and simplified study notes that cut through the fluff, all while keeping costs low.
UWorld vs. Kaplan Schweser
UWorld vs Kaplan CFA is the choice between modern, active learning and traditional, comprehensive instruction.
- Choose UWorld if: You want active mastery. It’s the best choice if you prefer “learning by doing” with the industry’s most realistic practice questions and visual explanations that teach you the “why.” UWorld is perfect for those who want a digital-first experience with a top-tier mobile app.
- Choose Kaplan if: You want total immersion. It’s the best choice if you prefer a traditional path with famous printed notes (SchweserNotes™), live classroom instruction, and the peace of mind that comes with the most established brand in the industry
AnalystPrep vs. Kaplan Schweser
A battle between high-value efficiency and premium, exhaustive coverage.
Choose Kaplan if: You want deep-dive resources. Choose this if you want more mock exams and live review workshops, or if you prefer a structured study calendar that tells you exactly what to do every week to stay on track.
Choose AnalystPrep if: You want maximum value. It is the clear winner for budget-conscious students, offering lifetime access for all three levels at a fraction of the cost. It’s ideal for visual learners who love engaging, high-energy video lectures.+1
Salt Solutions vs. AnalystPrep
Two modern, digital-first platforms with very different approaches to content.
- Choose Salt Solutions if: You want tech-driven analytics. It’s the best pick if you love a minimalist, high-end interface and want data-backed tools like the “Pace Keeper” to manage your schedule automatically.
- Choose AnalystPrep if: You want an instructor-led personality. Choose this if you prefer a professor-style video experience and need a provider that covers all three levels for one low, flat fee.
Salt Solutions vs. Kaplan Schweser
A choice between a streamlined, data-backed approach and a massive, traditional ecosystem.
- Choose Salt Solutions if: You want modern efficiency. Choose this if you find Kaplan’s materials too “heavy” and want bite-sized videos and a clean dashboard that keeps you focused on your weak spots.
- Choose Kaplan if: You want the full safety net. Choose this if you want the option for live classes, community forums, and a long history of proven pass rates that only a legacy provider can offer.
Final Thoughts
As tough as it can be, choosing the right prep course can make or break your study experience. Knowing your learning style and matching it to a course that caters to your needs is a simple way to boost your chances of passing.
So, to refresh, UWorld is the best overall choice, particularly for learners who value mobile content and quality practice questions. AnalystPrep’s affordable price and strong resources for visual learners position them as a sound option for beginners. Kaplan Schweser is sort of like the Rolls-Royce of CFA® exam prep courses: expensive, but for that price, you get to dig deep and truly master the content, not just study enough to barely pass. And finally, Salt Solutions is a solid choice for students who prioritize efficiency and science-backed learning techniques.
Ready to make your next move? Check out UWorld, AnalystPrep, or Kaplan and start studying for the CFA® exam.
FAQs
UWorld, AnalystPrep, and Kaplan Schweser are three of the top options out there, but the best CFA prep course for you depends on your budget and learning style.
70% is generally a good target to shoot for, but it may not always be passing, depending on the specific exam being administered.
Anything is possible, but 3 months is highly unlikely. The recommended amount of studying per level is 300 hours, so 3 months might be enough for one level, but probably not all 3.
CFA prep courses can cost anywhere from roughly $800 for all three levels up to well over $4,000. Luckily, the overall price range tries to cater to every budget.
Absolutely. It’s extremely difficult to pass without one, so if earning your charter is important to you, choosing the right prep course is a big deal.
