Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Gleim vs Superior
Where Gleim and Superior differ
| Compare |  Gleim |  Superior |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,499 | $40Lower |
| Prices by exam | cpa: $2,499 (Traditional), $2,999 (Premium), $3,499 (Premium Pro) | real-estate (NC broker pre-licensing, 75-hour online self-paced): $529; real-estate (NC Professional package): $639; real-estate (NC Ultimate Learning package): $949; real-estate (NC online exam prep course): $109; real-estate (NC exam crammer, livestream): $199; real-estate (NC exam prep workbook): $40 |
| Access period | 18 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Live classes | No | YesHas it |
| Score guarantee | Pass | Money back |
| Guarantee terms | Access Until You Pass guarantee on Premium courses: follow our program and do the work and you will pass; the Gleim CPA Review Replacement Guarantee keeps all components current for at least 18 months from purchase | Original purchase price of the CompuCram NC exam prep purchase is refunded if you do not pass on your first try; a broker pre-licensing course may be retaken within twelve (12) months for a $200 reduced tuition fee plus applicable taxes; attendance in class does not guarantee passage of any examination. |
| Practice questions | 12,000 | Not confirmed |
| Free trial | Yes | Not confirmed |
| State approvals | Not confirmed | NC, SC |
| Markets | US | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Money-back period (30 days).
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Key differences
- Superior scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at Superior: $40 vs $2,499.
- Access period is higher at Gleim: 18 months vs 6 months.
- Live classes: only Superior.
- Support channels: only Gleim offers Community.
- Founded is lower at Gleim: 1974 vs 2005.
- Exams: only Gleim offers CPA.
- Exams: only Superior offers Real estate.
Our verdict on each
Gleim
Gleim suits CPA candidates who can pay up front for access that runs until they pass, with 18 months of access and 12,000 practice questions behind it. The entry price of $2,499 sits far above budget rivals, and the CPA exam is the only exam it covers.
Superior
Superior suits people preparing for the North Carolina real estate licence who want live classes and an assessment built into the course. It pairs a 30 day refund window with a money back score promise on exam prep, and its catalogue stays inside real estate.
Score breakdown
| Area | Gleim | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.0Entry price of $2,499 is high, but 30 days money back and a pass guarantee sit above the 14-day refund window. | 9.0HigherEntry at $40 and a year price of $199 sit in the cheaper part of the field. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher12,000 practice questions with 18 months of access, though live classes are not part of the package. | 9.1Live classes, assessments and a free tier sit inside 27 courses. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher30 days money back, a pass guarantee on Premium courses, and nasba cpe credit from a publisher founded in 1974. | 9.3A 30 day refund window, a money back score promise and state approved courses. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Gleim | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Choosing between them
Pick Gleim if offer and access period matter most.
Pick Superior if cost, price from, and live classes matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Gleim | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 14 of 33 | 6 of 33 |
A third option
DRCertifications has price from at $19.99, against $2,499 for Gleim and $40 for Superior.
DRCertifications reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Gleim | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | CPA | Real estate |
| Continuing education credit | Nasba cpe | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Gleim Publications, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1974Lower | 2005 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Gleim | Superior | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,499highest quarter | $40below the median | $69 |
| Access period | 18 monthshighest quarter | 6 monthsbelow the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | 12,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | 3,000 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 50 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Gleim
Pros
- Access runs 18 months, so a slow study pace or a delayed exam date does not cut the material short.
- The bank holds 12,000 practice questions, the same count as the highest figure in this category.
- Premium courses carry a pass guarantee, and the replacement promise keeps components current after purchase.
Cons
- The entry price of $2,499 is far above Testprep Training at $12.99 and Allied Schools at $68.
- Live classes are not part of the offer, so study is self paced around 12,000 questions with no scheduled instructor.
- The catalogue covers CPA only, so anyone taking a different professional exam has to look elsewhere.
Superior
Pros
- Live classes and assessments are both part of the offering rather than an extra
- The catalogue holds 27 courses with 6 months of access each
- Courses are state approved in North Carolina and South Carolina, keeping licence education in step with the state
Cons
- The exam subject list is real estate, so candidates in other fields find nothing to take
- The money back score promise (money back) applies to the exam prep purchase, and a broker pre-licensing course is retaken at a reduced tuition fee instead
- Course access runs 6 months, so a slower study pace can outlast the window
Who each suits
Gleim
Who it suits
- CPA candidates in US who prefer to pay the entry price of $2,499 and keep the material until they sit the exam.
- Learners who want drilling volume, with 12,000 questions and 18 months to work through them.
- Anyone who wants phone support, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Testprep Training, if the budget decides it: entry there starts at $12.99.
- DRCertifications, whose entry price of $19.99 suits a small first purchase in a different format.
- Allied Schools, with an entry price of $68, for candidates who want state exam prep on a smaller ticket.
Superior
Who it suits
- North Carolina candidates looking for state approved pre-licensing and continuing education in the same catalogue
- Learners who want live classes alongside self paced material
- Study groups and brokerages that want a team plan for continuing education
Who should look elsewhere
- Learners after subjects outside real estate, where Academy for Health and Fitness and ACLS Now sit in other fields and the Superior exam list is real estate
- Candidates who want a timed free trial, since the free offer is a free tier and the paid fallback is a 30 day refund window
- Multi-state shoppers, since the state approved list is NC and SC while The Wild Rose at CAD 19.97 is a single market purchase
Country by country
| Country | Gleim | Superior |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Gleim
What does Gleim CPA Review cost at entry?+
Gleim's CPA Review is sold in tiers named Traditional, Premium and Premium Pro, and the entry price of that range is $2,499. The higher tiers sit above it, and the Premium tier is where the pass guarantee applies. Cheaper routes into the same exam include Testprep Training at $12.99.
Is there a free trial before I buy?+
Yes, a free trial is offered on the CPA Review, so the material can be sampled before paying. The trial is worth using on the higher tiers, where the entry price of $2,499 and the Premium Pro tier are the largest commitments on offer. If the trial is not enough, refunds run for 30 days.
Superior
What does Superior cost to get started?+
Entry sits at $40, which covers a small item in the range. A full pre-licensing course costs more, and the bundled packages cost more again, so the entry figure is not the price of a licence course. Cheaper starting points among the listed rivals include $9.95 and CAD 19.97.
What does the continuing education membership cost?+
The continuing education membership is $199, and that is the number to watch at renewal rather than the entry price. It pairs with the professional certificate type and the continuing education credits a working broker needs. Readers on a budget can weigh it against the free tier instead.