The CFA Institute recommends candidates study for 300 hours per exam level, or 900 total. When you’re spending that much time with a prep course, picking the right one counts. So, today, I’m going to show you two of the most popular CFA® prep courses out there to answer this question:
AnalystPrep vs. Kaplan CFA®: Which is the best CFA® exam prep course for you?
As a professional course reviewer, I dug through both options in great detail, comparing video lectures, mock exams, practice questions, pass guarantees, study notes, and overall CFA® study materials to help you decide which is the better fit.
Which CFA® Course Fits You Best?
- If you’re a visual learner, AnalystPrep’s engaging, professor-led video lectures make dense topics easier to absorb and retain.
- If flexibility matters to you, AnalystPrep’s lifetime access means you can study at your own pace without stressing over deadlines.
- If you prefer simplicity, AnalystPrep’s clean, user-friendly interface helps you focus on learning, not figuring out where to click next.
- If you value ongoing support, AnalystPrep’s unlimited ask-a-tutor feature gives you expert help whenever questions pop up.
- If you like a wide range of study formats, Kaplan’s resources include notes, videos, quizzes, and performance tracking to fit different learning styles.
- If printed materials and guided outlines help you retain more, Kaplan’s SchweserNotes™ and Secret Sauce® summaries are student favorites.
Introducing the Competitors: AnalystPrep vs Kaplan
Before we get into the meat and potatoes of the courses, let’s briefly touch on the two competitors, what makes them stand out, and which students would benefit the most from their packages.
AnalystPrep CFA® Review
AnalystPrep CFA® Review is beloved for its affordable price, enjoyable lecture videos, and lifetime course access. In particular, AnalystPrep’s lead lecturer, Professor James Forjan, gets a lot of attention in reviews. He has a 4.4-star average rating on Rate My Professors, and one of his top tags is “amazing lectures.” Here’s one of the reviews to give you an idea of how his students feel about him:
“Easily one of the best instructors I have ever had. He is clear, concise, and extremely knowledgeable. Learned a lot. And to make it better, he made it interesting and entertaining. You will laugh, and if you pay attention in his classes, you will pass and take away a lot.”
To be clear, most of the reviews read like this—take a look for yourself. I was thoroughly impressed. So, if video lectures matter to you or you’re a strong visual learner, few people get it done like Professor Forjan through AnalystPrep.
Pros
- Engaging, entertaining, and enjoyable video lectures with memorization strategies
- Significantly more affordable than competitors like Kaplan Schweser
- Lifetime access, so no anxiety about renewal or not having enough time
- Great reviews on Facebook, Google, and Trustpilot (5.0, 4.8, and 4.7 stars, respectively)
- Fast, thorough customer service that’s actually helpful
Cons
- Not as comprehensive as Kaplan Schweser for CFA® exam preparation
AnalystPrep
Kaplan Schweser CFA® Review
Where AnalystPrep excels in video content, Kaplan Schweser is better known for its study notes and impressive volume of materials, perfect for CFA® candidates who want to overprepare, leaving no stone unturned in their sessions.
Kaplan CFA® Review also sports a 95% recommendation rate as reported by their website, claiming to have helped over 700,000 aspiring chartered financial analysts earn their stripes. Plus, they’re known for their ability to stand alone without supplemental materials. One student praises Kaplan, saying,
“To add on to this – I just passed L3 using exclusively Kaplan material and did so without opening a single CFAI book or even using the CFAI learning ecosystem. I totally agree that using practice material that is overly difficult and not representative of what you will see on the exam is counterproductive. I was worried I might regret that decision, but I ended up feeling extremely confident walking out of the exam and found out yesterday that I passed.”
If you want the most comprehensive course out there, Kaplan Schweser is the best choice.
Pros
- PassProtection™ grants students extended access with updates if they fail the exam
- 50+ more video lesson hours than AnalystPrep, not including additional workshops
- Kaplan’s practice questions are exam-quality and relevant to the actual exam content
- The written materials are excellent, succinct ways to cover the learning outcomes
- Larger library of unique materials than AnalystPrep
Cons
- Nearly 3x more expensive than AnalystPrep (and more than 3x with coupons)
- Access is limited to your exam date, where AnalystPrep provides unlimited access
Kaplan
Feature Comparisons
| Provider |  (Three Level Bundle) |  (Three Levels, Premium Package) |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Lifetime Access | Until the End of Your Exam |
| Price | $1,297 | $3,297 |
| Discounts | Save 30% | Save 15% |
| MCQs | 6,000+ | ~6,000 |
| Mock Exams | Unlimited | 6 |
| Video Lessons | 120+ Hours | 170+ Hours |
| Guarantees | Annual Updates | Schweser’s PassProtection™ |
| Get Started | Learn More | Learn More |
Kaplan vs AnalystPrep: The Highlights
Kaplan Schweser is a solid choice if you want structure and a name with decades of credibility behind it. But AnalystPrep edges ahead for most candidates thanks to its streamlined platform, engaging video instruction, and lifetime access—all of which make it easier to stay focused and actually enjoy the process.
That said, both courses cater to different study styles, and which one you should pick depends on what helps you learn best. I’ll dive deeper into content, tech, flexibility, and overall value next to help you make the smartest choice for your CFA® prep.
Feature Face-Off: Who Does It Better?
Course Structure
All in all, AnalystPrep is extraordinarily straightforward. I loved the structure; the user-friendly interface makes it simple to click between resource tabs, so rather than going through a section and having to use every tool, whether it’s actually helpful or not, I got to choose whether I wanted to use every resource at my disposal or just the videos and a few practice questions here and there. A huge bonus for me was that I was never overwhelmed, and everything was structured so I didn’t have to guess what to do next.
Meanwhile, Kaplan Schweser kept its resources divided by section and topic, not type. I preferred this strategy, but where they fell off a bit, in my opinion, was the huge number of materials. Every learner is different, and don’t get me wrong, the materials are high quality. However, with so much to go through, the course can feel more intimidating than comprehensive at times. However, if you’re thorough and want a lot to go through, or just prefer having more options, Kaplan delivers in spades.
🏆 Winner: I preferred AnalystPrep’s short and sweet approach over Kaplan’s “go hard or go home” course.
Videos
AnalystPrep technically has less video content than Kaplan—120 hours compared to roughly 300 across all three levels—but the video content really is the backbone of the course, alongside the study notes, practice questions, and mock exams. And I truly loved AnalystPrep’s videos. Professor Forjan is a gifted lecturer; he’s a knowledgeable expert, but he speaks more like a high school teacher than a pretentious academic.
Further, his stories, metaphors, analogies, and his quirky sense of humor kept me locked in on the material, eagerly taking notes over the hour timeframe of each lesson. If you’re worried about falling asleep during your lectures, AnalystPrep could be the remedy.
Meanwhile, if sheer video volume matters most to you, Kaplan Schweser may be a better fit. Take a look at the video included in the Premium Package, Kaplan’s most popular option:
- 170+ hours of video lessons
- 19+ hours of CFA Institute question review videos
- 110+ hours of review workshop videos
I don’t like the videos as much as AnalystPrep’s because they don’t have the same level of personality and personability, but I still really enjoyed them, especially the crisp, clean slides with key points highlighted for note-taking. Further, the lecturers are pretty good, giving succinct breakdowns of trickier concepts. I was impressed, but I wasn’t as entertained as I was with AnalystPrep.
🏆 Winner: AnalystPrep wins in terms of quality, but Kaplan Schweser wins regarding quantity.
Support and Access
Some of AnalystPrep’s biggest selling points revolve around access and support. For example, their complete three-level bundle includes lifetime access and unlimited ask-a-tutor questions. Further, AnalystPrep has some of the quickest replies from a customer service team I’ve ever received. Not only did I receive responses within minutes of sending my questions, but they were multi-part replies with numerous linked resources.
On the other hand, Kaplan Schweser keeps most of their support options confined in the Ultimate Package, though the Premium Package still features their excellent customer service, which is accessible through phone, chat, and email. Naturally, chat is the fastest, comparable to AnalystPrep’s support speed. However, Kaplan’s biggest support feature is the Kaplan Schweser community forum, where students can connect with their instructors and one another for a greater sense of community. This may sound like an afterthought, but you’d be surprised at the value of an active group to talk to when studying has leeched away your social life. I was thrilled to see several new posts and responses a day, all supportive and kind.
🏆 Winner: Kaplan Schweser’s community forum puts it over the edge.
Value
When you’re weighing value, it’s not just about what you’re paying—it’s what you’re getting for the long haul. AnalystPrep stands out here with lifetime access to all three CFA® levels in their full bundle, so you’re not boxed into a 6- or 12-month window. That makes a huge difference if you’re juggling full-time work and life obligations or just want the flexibility to retake without repurchasing materials. You also get unlimited mock exams and full access to updated content if the curriculum shifts.
Kaplan Schweser offers a ton of content, but it comes with stricter limits. You’ll lose access after your chosen exam window unless you qualify for PassProtection™, which extends your access if you fail but doesn’t offer a refund or flexibility upfront. There’s no trial or preview period either—once you’re in, you’re committed. For some, that’s fine. However, for students who value adaptability and long-term ROI, it may feel limiting compared to AnalystPrep’s more open model.
🏆 Winner: AnalystPrep, for lifetime access, automatic updates, and a more flexible experience that gives you space to study at your own pace without added pressure.
Course Discounts
Both courses offer discount codes so that you can grab your preferred choice for a reduced price.
AnalystPrep CFA® Promo Codes
Save 30% on AnalystPrep’s CFA® courses, ideal for visual learners who want a more efficient and streamlined approach to the exam.
Kaplan Schweser CFA® Promo Codes
Save 15% on Kaplan Schweser’s CFA preparation packages, ideal for readers who want to go above and beyond to get the best possible score.
Final Verdict
In my opinion, AnalystPrep’s outstanding videos, lifetime access, efficient approach, and affordable price make it my top pick. However, Kaplan’s second place isn’t distant—their excellent practice questions, 300+ hours of video content, review classes, and PassProtection™ make it ideal for students looking to cover every topic as thoroughly as possible.
Want a budget-friendly, video-centric option?
Want a comprehensive course from a historically successful provider?
FAQs
It depends on your learning style—AnalystPrep is great for video-focused self-learners, while Kaplan is ideal for structure and live options.
Yes, AnalystPrep offers high-quality video lessons, lifetime access, and strong practice tools at a budget-friendly price.
Definitely—Kaplan Schweser is a trusted, comprehensive option with tons of content, live classes, and structured study paths.
Typically yes, though CFA Institute doesn’t publish a set passing score; 70% is considered a safe benchmark.
They’re tough in different ways—CFA® is more quantitative and time-intensive, while CPA has more sections and a broader scope.
