Cheapest PMP prep: the lowest-cost realistic route
Update, October 23, 2026: PM PrepCast is closing, and PrepCast’s own site says all product access ends December 4, 2026. Its 50% sale until October 31 isn’t a bargain unless you’ll sit the PMP before then. See our PM PrepCast review.
Last checked October 23, 2026 · Sources: PMI’s new PMP exam page; membership, exam-fee and course prices as reported by third-party sites; TIA’s simulator page. Confirm prices before you pay.
The cheapest PMP prep route costs about $600: PMI membership, the member exam fee and a course on sale that gives you the 35 hours. The saving is real, but a cheap course rarely includes much exam practice, so budget something for that; adding PMI Study Hall brings the total to roughly $650 to $750.
The cheapest realistic PMP route
| Item | Reported cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PMI membership | About $160 a year | Lowers the exam fee and the renewal fee |
| Exam fee, member | About $445 | A few sources report $445 |
| 35 contact hours | About $15 to $25 on sale | A Udemy course such as Ramdayal’s or Phillips’s |
| Total | About $600 | Before any extra practice exams |
Reported prices from third-party sites; confirm before you pay.
Low-cost PMP prep options compared
| Option | Reported price | What you get | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramdayal on Udemy | About $15 to $25 on sale | 35+ hours, a 30-day plan, updated for 2026 per its listing | No serious simulator included |
| Phillips on Udemy | About $15 to $20 on sale | 35+ hours and two practice tests | Confirm the 2026 update |
| PMI Study Hall | About $49 to $99 | Practice questions and exams | Gives no contact hours |
| TIA simulator (Ramdayal) | Sold separately | 14 mock exams with video explanations, updated for 2026 | A second purchase |
| PM PrepCast Basic | About $229 | 35 hours of video | Closing: all access ends December 4, 2026 |
Reported prices; TIA details from its own page.
Where saving money backfires
The exam was refreshed in July 2026 and the Business Environment domain is now 26%. An older course can leave real gaps.
A video course gives you the hours, not the stamina for 180 questions in four hours. Budget for full-length practice.
Paying the non-member exam fee costs more than membership plus the member fee at the reported prices.
A discounted course that closes before your exam, like PrepCast on December 4, 2026, is no bargain.
Common questions about the cheapest PMP prep
What is the cheapest realistic path?
A Udemy course on sale for the hours, PMI membership for the lower exam fee, and a low-cost practice tool such as Study Hall. Expect roughly $650 to $750 all in at the reported prices.
Why do Udemy prices vary so much?
Udemy courses are discounted heavily and often, so the price you see changes. Check whether a sale is running before you pay a list price.
Is PMI membership worth it to save money?
At the reported prices, yes: membership (about $160) plus the member fee ($445) costs less than the non-member fee alone ($675).
Is PrepCast's 50% sale a good deal?
Only if you’ll sit the exam before December 4, 2026, when all PrepCast access ends.