How we rank CPA review courses, and how we make money
This page explains how we rank CPA review courses, the method behind our course ratings and how this site earns money. We have not run hands-on tests of the courses we cover, and each review says what it is based on.
The rubric: how we rank CPA review courses
Each course is rated out of five in six categories. The weights below are the ones we intended to apply. The CPA ratings on this site were published before several corrections to prices and features, and have not been recalculated against them, so read them as editorial opinion rather than measured results.
| Category | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Question bank | 25% | Volume, difficulty and whether explanations teach |
| Simulations | 20% | How closely they behave like the real exam software |
| Lectures and materials | 15% | Clarity, pacing and coverage against the current blueprint |
| Platform and mobile | 15% | Navigation, progress tracking, offline study, app parity |
| Support and community | 10% | How quickly and usefully questions are answered |
| Value for money | 15% | Price, access length and cost per month of access |
What the ratings are based on
Ratings draw on providers’ own published pages and on third-party reviews and pricing roundups. Some of those sources are published by providers themselves, including UWorld, so we label them as the provider’s claims. We have not independently tested the platforms, so we do not make claims about how a course feels to use. Prices, packages and features change often, so a provider’s live checkout is the final word.
Facts about the exam itself, such as fees, requirements and pass rates, should come from the exam body or state board. Where a page relies on a third-party fee guide instead, it says so, and you should confirm the figures with the board.
Where we check facts
Exam rules, fees and scheduling come from the bodies that run the exam: NASBA’s CPA Exam FAQ and Candidate Guide, the AICPA’s CPA Exam content pages, and each state board of accountancy. Course prices, packages and guarantees come from each provider’s own course page, with the date we checked it. You can see the results side by side on our CPA course comparison page and the best CPA review courses ranking.
How the money works
We may earn a commission when someone buys through some links on this site. At the time of writing, our buttons go to providers’ own official sites. A commission is not meant to decide which course appears or where. See our affiliate disclosure for details.
Ownership is disclosed too. UWorld, which owns Roger CPA Review, acquired Surgent on April 30, 2026. Surgent’s own CPA page now directs candidates to UWorld CPA Review, so Surgent CPA Review is no longer offered as a separate course. Ownership does not change a score or a ranking position.
Corrections
In October 2026 we audited our CPA course pages and found prices, tiers and product descriptions that did not match providers’ published listings. We rebuilt the reviews and the ranking page, replaced the comparison pages and calculators with holding pages while they are rebuilt, and corrected the CPA exam fee. If you spot something wrong, email hello@mocktestprep.com with the page and what is wrong.
Update, October 13, 2026: the head-to-head comparison pages have been rebuilt from providers’ own pages, and the four Surgent comparisons now redirect to the matching UWorld pages. The course matcher and cost calculator are still being rebuilt.
Who writes this
These pages are written by the MockTestPrep editorial team. See About the team for more.
Common questions
How often are pages updated?
When prices, packages or exam rules change, and when we find an error. If something looks out of date, the provider’s live checkout and the exam body’s own site are the final word, and we would like to hear about it.
What would make you change a ranking?
A verified change in the product, such as new content, a platform rebuild, a pricing shift or a weakened guarantee, or a correction to something we got wrong. Not a commission rate.
Does the cheapest course rank highest?
Not directly. The rubric weights question bank, simulations, lectures, platform, support and value. Price feeds the value score, which is 15% of the total, so a cheaper course does not automatically rank higher.
Are your ratings based on testing each course?
No. Ratings are our editorial assessment from providers’ published pages and third-party reviews. Use the free trials each provider offers to judge how a course feels to you, and see our course comparisons for the details behind each rating.
Sources for exam facts: NASBA CPA Exam FAQ and AICPA CPA Exam content, checked October 13, 2026.