Becoming an EA is more than just learning the US tax code. After all, “enrolled agent” is the highest credential awarded by the IRS—there’s a reason you must pass a 3-part exam!
That’s why choosing the right EA review course is so important. If you’re stuck between Surgent and Gleim EA Review, this guide will help you decide the best fit for your learning style and study needs.
Both Surgent and Gleim EA are IRS-approved education courses, but they cater to very different types of learners. I dove into both prep courses personally; now, I’ll break it down step-by-step to help you choose the course that best suits your needs.
Key Takeaways
- 👉🏻 Gleim is More Comprehensive: It offers detailed coverage with a large test bank for deep learning.
- 👉🏻 Surgent is Faster: Its adaptive technology helps you focus on weak areas and study efficiently.
- 👉🏻 Both Have Pass Guarantees: If you don’t pass, you can extend your access with both courses.
- 👉🏻Gleim Can Ship Physical Books: Unlike Surgent, Gleim will send you physical copies of textbooks and flashcards for just the cost of shipping.
- 👉🏻 Surgent’s Mobile App: Access the course from anywhere.
Overview: Surgent vs Gleim EA
Let’s get into the main differences.
Surgent EA: Smarter, Not Harder
Surgent’s biggest strength is its adaptive learning technology. Instead of making you go through every single topic equally, Surgent EA Review focuses on the areas where you need the most improvement. This means you spend less time on what you already know and more time on what you need to learn, cutting your study time. Surgent is a good choice for budget-conscious students trying to pass as quickly as possible.
Surgent EA Review
Gleim EA: The Traditional Approach
If you like detailed explanations and a structured study plan, Gleim might be a better fit for you. Gleim EA Review takes a traditional approach by covering every topic in-depth, making sure no stone is left unturned. Gleim’s a better choice for students who don’t just want to pass, they want to ace all three parts of the EA exam.
Gleim EA
Feature Comparison
Surgent offers three levels of prep:
- Essentials
- Premier
- Ultimate
Gleim also offers three tiers, but they’re slightly different:
- EA Test Bank
- Traditional EA Review
- Premium EA Review
To make things straightforward, I’ll be comparing each company’s most popular offering: Surgent Premier and Gleim Premium.
| Surgent Premier | Gleim Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $799 |
| Discounts | Save $175 | Save $285 |
| Adaptive learning |  | |
| Practice questions | 2,000+ | 3,500+ |
| Practice exams | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Video lectures | 60+ bite-sized videos | 30+ hours |
| Mobile app | |  |
| Printed books | | |
| Audio lectures | | |
| Mobile app | | |
| Free CE included | | |
| Pass guarantee | | |
| Get Started | Start Now | Start Now |
Course Content & Structure
Surgent
Surgent’s course is built around its adaptive learning technology, which customizes your study plan based on your performance, and ReadySCORE™, which tracks your progress and indicates when you’re sufficiently prepared to sit for the exam. All of the information is presented in short, digestible lessons.
I loved being able to take my studies on the go—the companion app made listening in the car a seamless experience. Further, unlimited customizable practice exams were a major plus. Surgent Premier also includes some extra content that the Essentials tier does not, including:
- Digital textbooks
- Unlimited “access until you pass” guarantee
- Video lessons with downloadable study notes
Gleim
Gleim follows a more traditional, comprehensive approach. It provides structured, textbook-style learning with deep coverage of each topic. The course includes:
- Detailed study units that mirror the actual EA exam syllabus.
- One of, if not THE biggest, test banks of any prep course.
- Exam readiness checks to assess your progress.
- Step-by-step study planner for a structured approach.
My favorite aspect was how little I had to think about what to study next. Not only did my study planner give me hypothetical due dates for modules, but the course flowed perfectly from videos, to written content, to practice questions, to bonus tools. It’s sort of like color-by-number: do what it tells you to do, and you’ll succeed.
One Gleim user remarked on how the structure of the course helped her pass:
“I would recommend Gleim wholeheartedly to anyone needing an organized and regimented study course. Gleim helps you succeed effortlessly with the tools and unparalleled support they offer.“
Dianna Langley
Winner: Gleim
While Surgent’s fast, targeted approach is good for those who may already have some EA knowledge, Gleim is the most comprehensive and better for those who are just starting out in the tax field.
Tech & Video Content
Surgent
Surgent reports that their adaptive learning AI can reduce your study time by 40%, pushing you to review subjects you’re struggling with more than the ones you’ve already aced—essentially a personal tutor in your hand. Combine this with Surgent’s ReadySCORE™ and you’ll show up on exam day with a smile instead of a nervous laugh.
ReadySCORE is a metric that updates in real time, a departure from most score predictors. It weighs your progress on mock exams and quizzes, and when it turns green, you’re good to go. I personally felt motivated to study more when I saw the red areas, knowing I could push them to orange (and even green!) if I put in more effort. One user reported this experience:
“My ReadySCOREs were all between 81 and 85 and I passed all tests with scores between 88 and 96. I felt it prepared me more than adequately and in very little time compared to other programs.”
Tanner Thompson
More pluses for Surgent include a mobile app and fully customizable quizzes.
Gleim
If Surgent is digital, Gleim leans a bit more analog.
While there’s no real-time score indicator like ReadySCORE™, Gleim does employ their SmartAdapt™ technology to tailor the lessons to the areas where you need improvement. I appreciated knowing I could spend less time studying the topics I already knew, and more time learning new things, even though I wasn’t prepping for the actual exam. I can see real EA candidates having a similar experience—appreciating the company’s consideration for their time.
Gleim doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app, but it works on most mobile browsers.
Winner: Surgent
Surgent’s proprietary study AI and ReadySCORE™ tools are tough to beat.
Support & Access
Surgent
Surgent has customer support available via chat, email, and phone, but one-on-one coaching is only available in the Ultimate tier (another several hundred dollars up the ladder). However, Surgent offers unlimited course access until you pass your exam, so if there’s a hiccup the first time, Surgent will still be there to help. I really appreciated the customer support team’s patience with my questions and eagerness to get me the right answer—and they had no idea I was reviewing the course. They assumed I was another student, and still treated me with a lot of respect and consideration.
Gleim
Gleim provides access to accounting experts and personal counselors to answer your questions and help you through the EA process from start to finish. Like Surgent, you have full access until you pass the exam, with a guarantee that your materials will remain current.
Like my experience with Surgent, Gleim was great, but even better than Surgent purely due to the additional support provided at a similar price tag.
Winner: Gleim
Gleim offers more access to experts in this tier than Surgent.
Value
Surgent
While some of Surgent’s courses can get pricey, the Premier tier comes in at a slightly lower cost than Gleim’s Premium package. You can finance your Surgent course through Affirm to make monthly payments instead of paying upfront.
Whether the extra cost for Gleim is worth it really depends on your learning style, since the two courses are fairly different.
In terms of pass guarantees, Surgent offers a “pass the first time or it’s on us” policy. To qualify for a full refund, you need to meet a few requirements:
- You must enroll in the full course (not individual sections),
- You must fail all parts of the exam,
- You must complete a full-length practice exam in each section and score 75 or higher,
- Your ReadySCORE™ must be 75+ for each part,
- You must sit for each exam within 4 months of starting that section and attempt all parts within 18 months.
Gleim
If a large question bank is essential to your prep, Gleim is a strong contender. Their Test Bank-only option comes at a lower cost than the full package and may be better suited for students who don’t need every feature. Like Surgent, Gleim also offers financing through Affirm.
In addition to the “access until you pass” policy, Gleim will also offer a full refund for the course if you check all three of these boxes:
- You attempted the exam and didn’t pass,
- You followed the study steps outlined in their Premium package,
- You submitted your refund request within 12 months of purchase.
One thing that makes Gleim stand out is their offer of up to 72 free Continuing Educated (CE) hours if you purchase the 3-part review course. If you only purchase an individual course part, you can still access 16 hours of CE.
Winner: Tie
Surgent Premier comes at a lower cost, but has a very specific style that may not work for everybody — though its tech is hard to beat. Gleim’s slightly higher cost includes things like a much larger question bank and more video hours.
EA Course Discount Codes
Gleim EA Coupon
Gleim’s Premium EA course features a massive test bank, structured learning, and unlimited access until you pass—all with personal support from EA experts. Save $285 on its detailed EA review and get everything you need for confident, step-by-step exam prep.
Surgent EA Coupon
Surgent’s EA course focuses on efficient prep with adaptive tech, ReadySCORE™ insights, and fully mobile-friendly access. Save $175 on its Premier tier and streamline your study time with a course built for busy schedules.
$175 Savings on Surgent EA Review Ultimate Pass
Final Verdict
While Surgent is a reliable, well-known source for EA test prep with a lot of bells and whistles, I have to give this one to Gleim. Gleim’s vast question bank (over 3,500 MCQs strong!) is a huge plus. Further, I found a ton of value in their stellar support options at a reasonable price tag, physical materials that Surgent lacked, and a course comprehensive enough for students who want every question answered (to boost their chances on exam day).
But: If you’re somebody who prefers a faster, digitally-driven approach, Surgent is probably the course for you.
That being said, you deserve to prepare for the EA exam any way you see fit. So get out there and start studying! Learn more about your options below and grab your course discount:
FAQ
Surgent EA is better if you have limited study time since its adaptive learning system focuses on your weakest areas, helping you study more efficiently.
Gleim has a larger test bank with thousands of practice questions, making it a great choice if you prefer extensive question drills.
Both Surgent and Gleim offer video and audio lectures, but Surgent also includes a mobile app for studying on the go.
Yes, both Surgent and Gleim provide a pass guarantee, ensuring you get access until you pass the EA exam.
Surgent often provides a free trial or demo, while Gleim offers sample questions and study materials to help you decide before purchasing.
