Becker CPA Review starts at $2,499 for the Advantage package. That makes it the most expensive CPA review course on the market by a wide margin.
I used Becker to pass 2 of my CPA exam sections. It's a solid course. But after going through it and then testing every major competitor over the last decade, I can tell you this: cheaper does not automatically mean worse.
Several of the courses below have features Becker doesn't offer at all. And some have more practice questions than Becker despite costing a fraction of the price.
This page ranks every viable Becker alternative by price, from lowest to highest, with an honest breakdown of what you gain and what you give up at each price point.
Here's every course ranked by lowest entry price, with the key specs that matter most. Becker sits at the bottom as the benchmark.
| Course | Lowest Price | MCQ Count | Video Hours | Access Length | Pass Guarantee? | Key Trade-Off vs Becker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kesler CPA Review | $97/mo ($997/yr) |
8,000+ | 100+ short MCQ walkthroughs | Monthly / Annual | 30-day money-back | Save $1,502+ No traditional lectures, less brand cachet with Big 4 |
| Surgent CPA Review | $999 (Essentials) |
9,000+ | 350 short lectures | Unlimited | Yes (conditional) | Save $1,500 Less polished video production |
| Gleim CPA Review | $999 (MegaBank: test bank only) $2,999 (Premium: full course) |
10,000+ (Premium) ~8,000+ (MegaBank) |
100+ (Premium only) | Unlimited (Premium) | Yes (Premium only) | Save $500+ More utilitarian interface, no mobile app |
| UWorld Roger CPA Review | ~$1,999 (Premier, after discount; MSRP $3,500) |
9,000+ | 100-120+ | 18 months | Varies by tier | Save $500+ Newer post-acquisition platform |
| NINJA CPA Review | $67/mo ($87/mo all sections) |
7,000-8,000+ | Sparring + Blitz videos | Monthly | 30-day (conditional) | Less polished platform, fewer TBS than Becker |
| Becker CPA Review (benchmark) |
$2,499 (Advantage) |
8,000-9,000+ | 900+ lectures | 24 months | Yes (w/ conditions) | Benchmark |
Prices last verified February 2026. Video hours are approximate and vary by section.
Kesler CPA Review
$97/month ($997/year) Save $1,502-$5,002 vs Becker
Kesler started as a mentorship platform and study supplement. It's grown into a complete CPA review course with 8,000+ unique multiple choice questions, video lectures, simulations, and study tools for all 6 CPA exam sections (AUD, FAR, REG, BAR, ISC, TCP).
Fun fact: Jimmy Chilimigras, who became one of the youngest CPA passers, used Kesler as part of his study system.
Surgent CPA Review
$999 (Essentials) Save $1,500 vs Becker
Surgent is built around one core idea: don't waste time studying what you already know. Their A.S.A.P. (Adaptive Study and Practice) technology analyzes your performance in real-time and routes you to your weakest areas first. The result, according to Surgent, is that candidates can cut hundreds of hours off their study time.
The star feature is ReadySCORE, a real-time score predictor that estimates how you'd perform on the actual CPA exam right now. When your ReadySCORE hits 75+, Surgent's data shows an 88% pass rate. No other major course offers anything like this.
Gleim CPA Review
$999 (MegaBank supplement) / $2,499 (Traditional full course) Save $1,500+
Gleim has been in the CPA prep business since 1974. Their biggest selling point is simple: they have the largest question bank of any CPA review course. Period. 10,000+ multiple choice questions. That's more than Becker, more than Surgent, more than everyone.
If you just need raw question volume and don't care about flashy video lectures, the MegaBank at $999 gives you a massive standalone test bank with ~8,000+ MCQs, 500+ TBS, SmartAdapt analytics to identify your weak areas, and detailed explanations for every answer. Note: the MegaBank is a test bank only, with no video lectures. Many candidates use it as a supplement alongside another course. The full Premium course ($2,999) unlocks 10,000+ MCQs, 1,300+ TBS, 100+ hours of video instruction, and unlimited access.
Read my full Gleim CPA Review breakdown >> | See Gleim vs Becker comparison >>
UWorld Roger CPA Review
~$1,999 (Premier, 18-month access) Save $500-$1,000 vs Becker
UWorld Roger CPA Review (formerly known as Roger CPA Review, and before that, it absorbed what was Wiley CPAexcel) is the closest direct competitor to Becker in terms of overall course quality. The key difference: the lectures.
Roger Philipp, CPA, and Peter Olinto, CPA, are two of the most well-known CPA instructors in the industry. Their lectures run 15-30 minutes instead of Becker's 40-60 minute sessions, and they're genuinely more engaging. If you've ever zoned out during a Becker lecture (and let's be honest, most people have), this is the alternative worth considering.
Read my full UWorld Roger CPA Review breakdown >> | See Becker vs Roger comparison >>
NINJA CPA Review
$67/month ($87/mo for all 6 sections)
NINJA is the cheapest entry point in CPA prep and has evolved well beyond its origins as a simple supplement. Created by Jeff Elliott, CPA of Another71.com, NINJA is now an AICPA-licensed complete course that can be used standalone or as a supplement to another course.
The MCQ bank is larger than most candidates realize: 7,000-8,000+ questions and simulations across all six CPA exam sections (AUD, FAR, REG, BAR, ISC, TCP). The adaptive learning software routes you toward your weak areas, and the platform emulates the actual AICPA exam interface so exam day feels familiar.
Beyond the test bank, NINJA includes: the NINJA Study Guide and Planner, downloadable PDF textbooks, condensed Blitz cram videos for last-minute review, audio lectures you can stream via Spotify or any MP3 player, digital flashcards, and live Sparring tutoring sessions four times per week with archived sessions available on demand.
The Real Cost of the CPA Exam
Your review course is just one line item. Before you decide based on course price alone, factor in everything else:
Exam fees: $300-400 per section (times 4 sections = $1,200-1,600 total).
Notice to Schedule (NTS) fees: Varies by state, typically $50-200 per application window.
Application and evaluation fees: $50-250 depending on your state board.
Opportunity cost: Every month you spend studying is a month you're not earning your full CPA salary premium, which averages $10,000-$15,000/year more than non-CPAs.
The cost of failing: If you fail a section, you pay the exam fee again ($300-400), you lose the time you already invested, and you extend your 30-month testing window. The average retake costs $1,000+ when you add up fees, lost study time, and stress.
The cheapest course that gets you to pass the first time is the best value. Period.
A $999 course that helps you pass all 4 sections on the first try saves you more money than a $2,499 course that leads to two retakes. Choose based on fit, not just sticker price.
For a full breakdown of CPA exam costs and how to plan for them, check out my CPA Exam Application Process guide.
NINJA CPA Review has the lowest monthly cost at $67/month and is a complete AICPA-licensed course, not just a supplement. For a one-time purchase option, Surgent CPA Review starts at $999 (Essentials tier) and Kesler CPA Review starts at $97/month with no long-term commitment required.
Yes. Thousands of CPA candidates pass every year using Surgent, Gleim, UWorld Roger, Kesler, and other courses. Becker is the most well-known brand, but the most important factor in passing the CPA exam is how you study, not which course you buy. For study strategy, check out my 21 CPA Exam Study Tips.
It depends on who's paying. If your employer covers it, Becker is a strong course and the price is less relevant. If you're paying out of pocket, the value proposition gets harder to justify when Surgent ($999), Kesler ($97/month), and Gleim ($999 MegaBank) offer comparable or better features for significantly less. See my full Is Becker Worth It? analysis for the longer answer.
The main trade-offs vary by course. Common ones include: less brand recognition with employers (though this rarely affects hiring decisions), potentially fewer total MCQs (though Gleim actually has more than Becker), no Newt AI tutor, and sometimes less polished video production. On the flip side, several cheaper courses offer features Becker lacks, like Surgent's ReadySCORE, Kesler's gamification system, NINJA's live tutoring sessions, and Gleim's 10,000+ question bank.
Every course below offers either a free trial or a money-back guarantee. Try before you buy.
$97/mo | 30-day money-back guarantee
Starting at $999 | Pass guarantee on all tiers
MegaBank $999 | Full course from $2,499
Starting at ~$1,999 | 14-day trial
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bryan Kesler, CPA is the founder of Kesler CPA Review & Ultimate CPA Exam Guide which earned him a spot on CPA Practice Advisor's Top 20 Under 40.
He has helped thousands of CPA candidates pass the CPA exam since 2013. He failed 5 sections in a row before finally cracking the code, and built Kesler CPA Review to make sure other candidates don't have to struggle the same way.