AnalystPrep Review (2026): Is It Worth It for the CFA and FRM?

Last updated: 27 September 2026; every price below was read on AnalystPrep’s own site that day. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.

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AnalystPrep has built its reputation on one thing: practice. Where the big CFA providers sell complete systems at premium prices, AnalystPrep sells a deep question bank and realistic mock exams at a fraction of the cost, with notes, videos and now live classes layered on top. For many candidates that is exactly the right trade, because the CFA exam rewards the hours you spend answering questions.

We read every CFA and FRM package page on AnalystPrep’s site on 27 September 2026 and set the prices against Kaplan Schweser’s the same day. AnalystPrep pays us a commission if you buy through our links; so does Kaplan Schweser, which is why this review can tell you honestly when Schweser is the better buy.

AnalystPrep at a glance

What AnalystPrep includes

Question banks

The core product. AnalystPrep says its question banks replicate the difficulty of the real exam, with detailed explanations, customisable quizzes by topic and difficulty, a global timer for exam conditions and performance tracking that compares your scores with other users. The paid CFA Level I bank has about 3,000 questions; the Live Online package lists 4,000 curriculum-aligned questions. Level II uses vignette-style item sets, and Level III adds essay-type questions.

Mock exams

Full-length mocks in computer-based format or printable PDFs. The Live Online package lists five full-length CFA mocks, and the FRM platform five as well. Mock exams are where candidates most often say AnalystPrep earns its money: they are designed to feel like exam day, not an easy warm-up.

Study notes and video lessons

The Learn + Practice and Unlimited packages add study notes (AnalystPrep lists about 2,000 pages for CFA Level I and for the FRM) and video lessons (60 hours for CFA Level I, 93 hours for the FRM), plus Essential Review Summaries for revision. The notes and videos are thorough and practical; they are not the reason people choose AnalystPrep.

Live Level I classes

The newest addition. The $1,299 Live Online package adds weekly instructor-led sessions for CFA Level I, taught by James Forjan and Martin Stoynov, with polls, guided discussion and Q&A, on top of full platform access. You can join at any point in the study cycle rather than waiting for a cohort, and existing customers can upgrade by paying the difference. An AI study planner is listed as coming soon.

Tutor support

AnalystPrep says its CFA tutors are all CFA charterholders. Ask-a-tutor questions are included in several packages (five on the Level II practice package, unlimited on the lifetime packages), and one-to-one tutoring is sold separately.

AnalystPrep prices in 2026

One inconsistency is worth flagging: AnalystPrep’s FRM page text mentions 12 months of question bank and mock access for $249, while its FRM package cards start at $349. Confirm the price at checkout.

Which AnalystPrep package to buy

• You plan to go for the full charter: the $799 Unlimited package. Two levels bought separately at $499 already cost $998, and lifetime access removes the cost of a retake or a curriculum change.
• You already have lectures from elsewhere: the $349 Practice package is the cheapest serious question bank available for a single level.
• You need structure and a schedule for Level I: the $1,299 Live Online package, which still costs less than Schweser’s top Level I tier.
• You are doing the FRM: the $799 Unlimited package if you will sit both parts.

See AnalystPrep CFA packages → See AnalystPrep FRM packages →

What AnalystPrep does well

• Price. $799 for lifetime access to all three CFA levels is the cheapest complete route we know of.
• Practice volume and realism. Thousands of exam-style questions and full-length CBT mocks, which is where CFA candidates build most of their score.
• No pressure to pay twice. Extensions until you pass and lifetime packages take the sting out of a failed attempt.
• Flexible payment. A 40/30/30 instalment plan with no credit check, which matters for candidates outside the US.
• Live classes without a cohort. Join the Level I sessions at whatever point you start.

Where AnalystPrep falls short

• Teaching is functional. The videos and notes are solid but not memorable; candidates who need to be taught often add a separate lecturer.
• No pass guarantee in the Schweser sense. Extensions and lifetime access protect your AnalystPrep spend, not your exam fee.
• Live classes cover Level I only. Levels II and III are self-study.
• Smaller ecosystem. Fewer print products, classes and third-party resources than Schweser.
• Some pages disagree on price. As with the FRM figures above, check the checkout page.

AnalystPrep for the FRM

The FRM is where AnalystPrep’s value case is strongest, because the premium providers charge CFA-level prices for a smaller exam. AnalystPrep says it is an approved prep provider of GARP, the body that runs the FRM, and its instructors are FRM holders. Its FRM platform lists about 2,000 pages of study notes written against the official GARP books, 93 hours of video, more than 4,000 exam-style questions and five full mock exams, with printed materials available for candidates who prefer paper.

The package logic is the same as for the CFA. If you will sit both parts, the $799 Unlimited package with lifetime access is the obvious buy; two Part I-style Learn + Practice packages would cost $998. If you only need practice, the Part I Practice package is the entry point. Because the FRM is two exams rather than three, the savings are smaller than on the CFA, but still meaningful. Our FRM certification guide covers the exam itself, and risk management certifications compared sets the FRM against the alternatives.

How to study with AnalystPrep: a plan that uses its strengths

• Start with the free question sample. Answer a few dozen questions before you buy anything; if the style and explanations suit you, the paid bank will too.
• Read, then question, topic by topic. Work through a reading in the notes or videos, then do a quiz on that topic the same day. Question practice immediately after learning is where the bank earns its keep.
• Mix topics once each area is covered. Use the customisable quizzes to build mixed-topic sets with the global timer on, so you practise switching between subjects under time pressure.
• Save the mock exams for the final weeks, and sit each one in full, timed, in one go. Review every wrong answer and every lucky guess.
• Use ask-a-tutor for stuck points, not for general revision. A precise question gets a precise answer from a charterholder.
• If you are not absorbing the material, change the input, not the practice. Add the live Level I classes or a lecturer, but keep AnalystPrep’s questions as the backbone.

AnalystPrep vs Kaplan Schweser

Kaplan Schweser is the provider most CFA candidates compare AnalystPrep against. On 27 September 2026 Schweser’s Level I packages ran from $429 to $1,499 (named Basic, Essential, Premium and Ultimate when we checked on 22 September), per level; AnalystPrep’s run from $349 to $499 per level, or $799 for all three. Schweser offers a more complete system, SchweserNotes, a larger class offering and its PassProtection guarantee. Our AnalystPrep vs Kaplan Schweser comparison goes through it level by level, and our best CFA prep courses guide covers Mark Meldrum, Wiley and UWorld as well.

See Kaplan Schweser CFA packages →

Is AnalystPrep legit?

Yes. AnalystPrep has been selling CFA and FRM prep for years, it describes itself as an approved prep provider of GARP for the FRM, it says more than 50,000 candidates have used its platform and that users have answered more than 4.5 million questions, and it has an active presence on independent review sites and candidate forums. Payment plans are processed by Partial.ly, a third-party instalment provider, rather than by an in-house credit scheme.

The reasonable caution is the same as for any prep provider: its pass-rate and satisfaction claims are its own, and no CFA prep company is endorsed by CFA Institute. The best test is the free question sample: if the questions feel as hard and as well explained as the exam demands, the rest of the platform will serve you well.

Who should choose AnalystPrep

• candidates who expect to sit all three CFA levels and want to pay once
• self-studiers who learn best by doing questions
• candidates outside the US who need a payment plan and a lower price
• FRM candidates looking for a GARP-approved provider at a budget price
• anyone who already has lectures from another source and needs a strong question bank

Who should look elsewhere

• candidates who want the most-used, most complete package and a pass guarantee: Kaplan Schweser
• candidates who need an engaging teacher above all: Mark Meldrum or Schweser’s classes
• anyone who wants live classes at Level II or III

Budgeting the whole CFA journey

Prep is only part of the cost. CFA Institute charges its own registration fee for each exam, and a failed attempt means paying it again. That is why lifetime access matters more for the CFA than for most exams: with AnalystPrep’s $799 Unlimited package, your prep cost is fixed however many attempts it takes. Our guide to the CFA-related certifications, CFA vs FRM, can help if you are still deciding between them.

Is AnalystPrep worth it? Our verdict

For most cost-conscious candidates, yes. AnalystPrep gives you what matters most for the CFA and FRM, a large, realistic question bank and full mock exams, at a price the premium providers cannot match, and its lifetime packages remove the fear of paying twice. Our 4.4 rating reflects that value. Its limits are in teaching: if you need to be taught rather than to practise, budget for the Live Level I package or pair it with a lecturer. If you want the most complete system and a pass guarantee, and can pay for it, Kaplan Schweser remains the safe choice.

Frequently asked questions

Is AnalystPrep good for the CFA exam?

Yes, especially as a question bank and as the cheapest complete route through all three levels. Its practice questions and mock exams are its strongest material, and its $799 lifetime package covers all three levels. Candidates who need a teacher to explain the material often pair AnalystPrep’s questions with separate lectures, or choose its $1,299 package with weekly live Level I classes.

How much does AnalystPrep cost?

On 27 September 2026 AnalystPrep listed CFA Level I at $349 (practice package, 12 months) or $499 (adds video lessons and study notes), all three levels for $799 with lifetime access, Levels II and III together for $649 lifetime, and a Live Online Level I package at $1,299. FRM packages ran from $349 to $799. Payment plans split the cost into 40% up front and two monthly payments of 30%.

Is AnalystPrep better than Kaplan Schweser?

It is much cheaper and very good value, especially for all three levels. Schweser is the more complete, more widely used package with a pass guarantee on its higher tiers. Budget-conscious or long-horizon candidates tend to do well with AnalystPrep; candidates who want the industry-standard system and are willing to pay for it choose Schweser. Our AnalystPrep vs Kaplan Schweser comparison goes through it level by level.

Does AnalystPrep have a free trial?

You can sign up free and practise with a sample of more than 150 exam-style CFA questions before paying. Paid packages open up the full question bank, mock exams and, on the higher tiers, video lessons and notes.

What happens if I fail with AnalystPrep?

AnalystPrep says it offers as many extensions as you need until you pass, and its lifetime packages remove the risk of paying again for the same level. You would still pay CFA Institute’s registration fee again for a retake.

Is AnalystPrep good for the FRM?

It is a strong budget option. AnalystPrep says it is an approved prep provider of GARP, which runs the FRM, and lists about 2,000 pages of notes, 93 hours of video, more than 4,000 questions and five mock exams. The FRM Unlimited package covers both parts with lifetime access for $799.

Does AnalystPrep have live classes?

Yes, for CFA Level I. The $1,299 Live Online package adds weekly instructor-led classes to the full platform; you can join at any point rather than in a fixed cohort. Levels II and III are self-study.

Related guides

• Best CFA prep courses
• AnalystPrep vs Kaplan Schweser
• FRM certification guide
• CFA vs FRM
• CAIA certification guide
• FMVA vs CFA