Becker CPA Review vs Gleim CPA Review (2026)

Video Lectures: Teaching Style and Production Quality

This is one of Becker's clearest advantages, and it has been for years.

Becker CPA Review provides 900+ video lectures plus 2,000+ SkillBuilder videos that walk you through task-based simulations step by step. Their instructors are multiple credentialed subject-matter experts. Lectures run 40-60 minutes, which allows for deep dives but can challenge attention spans. Production quality is high with clean visuals and professional editing.

Gleim CPA Review offers 100+ hours of video lectures included with the Premium and Premium Pro packages (the Traditional tier does not include video lectures). The content is thorough and covers what you need to know, but the teaching style is more straightforward and textbook-oriented. Gleim won't win any production awards compared to Becker's polish, but the material itself is solid.

If you prefer a more engaging, high-energy lecture experience, neither Becker nor Gleim is your best bet. UWorld Roger CPA Review leads the industry on instructor charisma with Roger Philipp and Peter Olinto. But between these two courses, Becker is the stronger lecture platform.

Becker wins on volume, production quality, and SkillBuilder videos. The fact that Gleim's entry tier doesn't include lectures at all makes this a decisive win for Becker. If video lectures are central to how you study, Becker is the clear choice.

Practice Questions: Where Gleim Has Always Dominated

This is Gleim's competitive stronghold and the primary reason many CPA candidates choose them.

Gleim offers 10,000+ multiple-choice questions and 1,300+ task-based simulations. That's the largest question bank in the CPA review industry. Each question links back to the relevant section of the study text, so you can immediately drill into the source material when you get something wrong. The MegaBank interface mirrors the CPA exam software, which helps build familiarity with the testing environment.

Becker offers 9,000+ MCQs and 400-900+ TBSs. The question count is competitive, and Becker's answer explanations are considered among the best in the business. Where Becker compensates for having fewer raw questions is through 2,000+ SkillBuilder videos that walk you through simulations step by step.

Gleim has more questions across both MCQs and simulations. If you're someone who learns primarily by grinding through practice problems, Gleim's volume is hard to beat. Becker partially offsets this with SkillBuilder videos, but on raw practice volume, Gleim wins.

AI and Adaptive Technology: Newt AI vs Prep Pal AI

Both courses now offer AI-powered study tools, but the availability and implementation differ significantly.

Becker's Newt AI Tutor is included with all tiers, from the $2,499 Advantage package up through Concierge. Newt answers content questions in real-time while you study. If you're stuck on a complex FAR concept at midnight, you can ask Newt and get an explanation without leaving the platform or waiting for support to respond.

Gleim's Prep Pal AI provides similar on-demand tutoring, helping break down complex accounting concepts and adapting to your study progress. The catch: Prep Pal is only included with the Premium Pro tier ($3,499). If you're on Gleim Premium ($2,999) or Traditional ($2,499), you don't get AI assistance.

Both courses also offer adaptive learning technology. Becker uses Adapt2U and Gleim uses SmartAdapt. Both analyze your quiz performance and guide you toward weak areas. SmartAdapt also gives you the option to manually track your results, which is a nice touch for candidates who want control over their own analytics.

Becker's Newt AI being available on every tier is a meaningful advantage. At Gleim, you'd need to spend $3,499 on Premium Pro to get comparable AI assistance. The native mobile app is another technology edge for Becker. Gleim's SmartAdapt with manual tracking is solid, but the overall technology package favors Becker.

Live Instruction: A Clear Becker Advantage

This is one of the most decisive differences between the two courses.

Becker offers 90+ hours of LiveOnline classes included with Premium and above. These are scheduled virtual classroom sessions led by experienced instructors, with real-time Q&A, interaction, and a structured curriculum. For candidates who learn best in a classroom environment, this is a major feature that few CPA courses can match.

Gleim offers live webinars as part of the Premium Pro package only ($3,499). These are supplemental sessions focused on key topics but don't approach the breadth of Becker's full LiveOnline program. If you're on Gleim Premium or Traditional, there's no live instruction component.

If live, scheduled instruction matters to your learning style, Becker wins convincingly. 90+ hours of LiveOnline classes is a significant differentiator. Gleim's webinars are helpful but only available at the highest tier and don't match the breadth.

Mock Exams and Simulated Testing

Simulated exams matter because the CPA exam tests time management and mental stamina as much as content knowledge.

Becker provides 12 mini exams (shorter knowledge checkpoints placed throughout the course) and 8 full-length simulated exams designed to mirror exam-day conditions. The mini exams serve as progress checks while the full simulated exams help you practice pacing and endurance.

Gleim includes an Exam Rehearsal mode with Premium and Premium Pro packages that simulates the actual testing experience with timing and question distribution matching the real CPA exam. This is effective for exam-day preparation, but Becker's combination of mini + full exams gives you more structured assessment points throughout your study timeline.

Becker's layered approach with both mini exams for ongoing progress checks and full simulated exams gives you more structured assessment opportunities. Gleim's Exam Rehearsal is solid but doesn't offer the same granularity.

Course Access Length and Pass Guarantees

Access length matters more than most candidates realize. Life happens: job changes, family obligations, health issues. You need a course that gives you enough runway.

Becker's pass guarantee (formerly "Pass Promise") has strict requirements. You must complete 80% of every module's content and score 50%+ on all simulated and mini exams. If you don't follow their prescribed study path exactly, you don't qualify. This forces you to prioritize course completion over actual understanding, which can be counterproductive for some learners.

Gleim takes a simpler approach with Premium and Premium Pro: you get unlimited access until you pass. No complex conditions to qualify for continued access. If your timeline is unpredictable, this simplicity has real value.

Becker gives more time at the entry tier (24 months vs 18). Gleim's unlimited access is straightforward with no hoops. Both offer unlimited access on their mid and upper tiers. Call it a wash depending on which tier you're considering.

Customer Support and Study Guidance

Gleim provides a Personal Counselor plus a team of Accounting Experts with Premium and Premium Pro packages. Your counselor helps with scheduling, study planning, and general CPA exam questions. The accounting experts handle content questions directly within the platform, and all your questions are saved and organized for easy access later. This dedicated support is one of Gleim's strongest selling points.

Becker provides email, phone, and message board support with typical response times of 24-72 hours on non-weekdays. Their Newt AI provides instant answers to many content questions (which partially offsets slower human response times). Premium and above get CPA Success Coaches. Pro tier gets 5 hours of 1-on-1 tutoring, and Concierge gets 25 tutoring sessions.

Supplement gap: Both courses have areas where support could be stronger. If you need ongoing mentorship, accountability, and study strategy coaching beyond what either course provides, Kesler CPA Review is designed to fill that gap and works alongside both Becker and Gleim.

Gleim's Personal Counselor model with direct access to accounting experts is more proactive and personal than Becker's standard support. Becker compensates with Newt AI for instant content answers and 1-on-1 tutoring at higher tiers, but the baseline support experience is better at Gleim.