How we rank PMP courses
Last checked October 23, 2026 · Sources: PMI’s new PMP exam page and July 2026 content outline for exam facts; providers’ own pages for features, with prices labeled as reported where we couldn’t confirm them.
This page explains how we rank PMP courses. We rate each course out of 5 with the same six-category rubric we use across the site, based on what the provider publishes and the consensus of third-party reviews, plus two PMP-specific checks: whether the course matches the July 2026 exam, and whether it cleanly issues the 35 contact hours. Ratings are our editorial assessment, not hands-on tests.
The rubric
| Category | Weight | What we look at for the PMP |
|---|---|---|
| Question bank | 25% | Volume and realism of scenario questions |
| Practice exams | 20% | Full-length simulators matching 180 questions in 240 minutes |
| Lectures and materials | 15% | How well lessons explain PMI’s scenario logic |
| Platform and mobile | 15% | Ease of use on web and mobile |
| Support | 10% | Coaching, live sessions and Q&A |
| Value for money | 15% | Price against what’s included, and access length |
The same weights across every exam on this site.
Two PMP-specific checks
- Currency: whether the course matches the July 2026 content outline, where Business Environment rose from 8% to 26% of the exam. We say when we can’t confirm an update.
- 35-hour certificate: whether the course issues the contact hours cleanly for your PMI application. Practice-only tools like PMI Study Hall don’t.
Courses and simulators
Because the rubric weights practice heavily, and many PMP video courses sell their simulator separately, we rate a course together with its maker’s simulator where that’s how most candidates buy it, and say so on the review. Andrew Ramdayal’s rating, for example, covers his Udemy course plus his TIA simulator.
Current ratings
| Course | Rating | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Ramdayal (with TIA simulator) | 4.5 / 5 | Updated for July 2026 |
| PMI official prep | 3.9 / 5 | Study Hall gives no contact hours |
| Joseph Phillips | 3.6 / 5 | July 2026 update not confirmed |
| PM PrepCast | Not rated | Closing; all access ends December 4, 2026 |
October 2026. See each review for the breakdown.
Products that close or stop updating
When a provider announces it is closing, we withdraw its rating, put a warning at the top of every page that mentions it, and point readers to alternatives. That’s what we did when PM PrepCast announced that all product access ends December 4, 2026.
Where we have less certainty
PMP prices come from third-party sites that disagree with each other, such as a member exam fee that older guides give as $405, before the August 2026 increase, and recent guides as $445, and Udemy prices that move with sales. PMI does not publish a pass rate that we could find, and we do not rank on providers’ own claims. The pages say where a figure is reported rather than confirmed.
Hands-on testing
Our current ratings don’t come from hands-on testing. We may add hands-on testing later; if we do, each review will say so and show what changed.
How affiliate money is handled
We do not currently earn a commission on any links, and commission would not decide which course fits which situation, and every comparison names when the other course is the better buy. No provider sees a page before it is published.
Keeping it current
The PMP exam was refreshed in July 2026 and PMI’s fees and eligibility rules have moved this year. Each page states when its details were checked; if something has changed, PMI’s site and the provider’s live checkout are the final word.
Common questions about how we rank PMP courses
Do you test the courses yourselves?
No. Our ratings are editorial: we score what providers publish, and the consensus of third-party reviews, against the rubric above.
Do providers pay for their ranking?
No. We don’t currently earn commissions from PMP providers, and no one pays for placement.
Why isn't PM PrepCast rated?
Because its own site says it’s closing and all product access ends December 4, 2026, we can’t recommend buying it.