Prices side by side
| Provider and product | Price (USD) | Access | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CheapMocks: 3-month pass | USD 79.99 | One-time payment, 3 months, no renewal | Lessons, videos, flashcards, question bank and mock exams |
| CheapMocks: 6-month pass | USD 149.99 | One-time payment, 6 months, no renewal | Lessons, videos, flashcards, question bank and mock exams |
| CheapMocks: 12-month pass | USD 199.99 | One-time payment, 12 months, no renewal | Lessons, videos, flashcards, question bank and mock exams |
| CheapMocks: Monthly subscription | USD 29.99 | Monthly, cancel any time | Lessons, videos, flashcards, question bank and mock exams |
| FinQuiz: Practice Plus | USD 169 | One-time payment, no access length stated | Question bank, 6 mock exams, formula sheet. No lessons. |
| UWorld: Question bank | from USD 299 | Tied to your exam window | Question bank, analytics, notes, flashcard decks, mobile app. 7-day free trial. |
| UWorld: Prep course | from USD 399 | Tied to your exam window | Course range starts here; see UWorld for what each tier includes |
| AnalystPrep: Practice Package | USD 349 | One-time payment, 12 months | Question bank, mock exams, performance tracking. No video. |
| AnalystPrep: Learn + Practice Package | USD 499 | One-time payment, 12 months | Adds video lessons, study notes and review summaries. |
| Mark Meldrum: 2027 Self-Study | USD 440 | One-time payment, no access length stated | Reading and question videos, question bank, mocks, formula sheet. |
Kaplan Schweser and Bloomberg Prep are left out: Bloomberg Prep does not list a Level I price on its page, and Schweser's site could not be checked, so we won't quote a price we could not confirm. 300Hours is a review site and sells no prep. Prices are one provider's list price on the day we looked and exclude local taxes; promotions and discount codes change often.
How to read the prices
- Compare the same thing. A question bank, a question bank with mocks and a full course are different products. FinQuiz Practice Plus has no lessons; a course adds video or notes on top of the questions.
- Compare the same period. Some prices are one-time for 12 months, some are tied to an exam window, and some are monthly. Most candidates need 3 to 6 months, so a 12-month price you only use for 4 months is more expensive than it looks.
- Count what you already have. Your USD 1,140–1,490 exam fee includes the curriculum and CFA Institute's practice questions and mocks (see what Level I costs).
- The cheapest option is not always CheapMocks. If you only want a question bank and plan to keep it for a long time, a one-time purchase from another provider can cost less than several months here.CheapMocks is cheapest when you want lessons, flashcards, a question bank and mocks together for the few months you study.
What CheapMocks costs
CheapMocks All Access is USD 29.99 a month, or a one-time pass that never renews: USD 79.99 for 3 months (USD 26.66 a month), USD 149.99 for 6 months and USD 199.99 for 12 months (USD 16.67 a month). Every new account gets 7 days of the lessons and question bank free, with no card, and the first full mock exam is free. See pricing for details.
That is lower than the course prices above, but it is a newer product from one person with a smaller library than the long-established providers. Try the free mock and the trial before paying anyone, including us.
Cheapest-prep FAQ
- What is the cheapest way to prepare for CFA Level 1?
- Your exam registration already includes the curriculum and CFA Institute's practice questions and mocks, so the cheapest route is to use those. If you want a prep provider, a question bank alone is the cheapest add-on. Among full courses with lessons, a question bank and mocks, CheapMocks from USD 79.99 for 3 months was the lowest price we found on 16 Oct 2026.
- Is cheap CFA prep good enough to pass?
- Price does not decide the result; how much you practise does. Whatever you choose, do plenty of timed questions and at least a few full mock exams under exam conditions, and review every mistake. A cheap provider you use well beats an expensive one you don't.
- Do I need a prep provider at all?
- No. The curriculum and CFA Institute's practice material come with your registration. A provider adds shorter explanations, more questions and extra mocks, and many candidates find that worth paying for. Fewer than half pass Level I, so see the pass rates before deciding how much to rely on one source.
- Why do prices differ so much between providers?
- Mostly because of what is bundled. Some sell only a question bank, some add video lessons or live classes, and the access period differs: some are one-time payments for a year, some are tied to an exam window, and some are monthly. Compare what you actually get for the months you will use it.
- How current are these prices?
- They were read from each provider's own site on 16 Oct 2026. Providers change prices and run promotions often, so check the provider's page before you buy.
Prices read from each provider's own page on 16 Oct 2026. CheapMocks is not affiliated with CFA Institute or with any provider named here; product and company names belong to their owners. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.