ISACA official prep vs Surgent for the CISA
ISACA’s Review Manual and QAE database are the official materials most candidates use; Surgent is a complete adaptive course from $349 with a money-back guarantee. Many candidates use Surgent to learn and ISACA’s QAE to practice.
Surgent from its own pages; ISACA prices as reported. Checked October 11, 2026. Not hands-on tested.
| ISACA official | Surgent | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Manual, QAE, online course | Adaptive full course |
| Questions | 1,070 (QAE) | 1,020+ |
| Price | QAE about $299-$399; manual $109-$139 (reported) | $349 / Premier / $999 |
| Guarantee | None | Money-back |
Choose ISACA official if
- You want the exam-writer’s own practice and are comfortable self-studying.
Choose Surgent if
- You want a structured, adaptive plan and a guarantee.
Official source & community discussion
ISACA: CISA (official) →
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