Updated September 30, 2026 · AcademyCue Editorial Team
Gleim vs The Princeton Review
Where Gleim and The Princeton Review differ
| Compare |  Gleim | The Princeton Review ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,499 | $299Lower |
| Prices by exam | cpa: $2,499 (Traditional), $2,999 (Premium), $3,499 (Premium Pro) | sat: $299 (SAT Self-Paced); sat + act: $499 (SAT & ACT Self-Paced) |
| Access period | 18 monthsHigher | 12 months |
| Live classes | No | YesHas it |
| Practice questions | 12,000Higher | 3,700 |
| 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 | Better scores or your money back on eligible test prep programs; pass your test or your money back on NCLEX-RN and CFA programs; repeat the program free if not satisfied; U.S. and Canada customers only |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 60 daysHigher |
| Markets | US | US, CACovers more |
| Full-length practice tests | Not confirmed | 9 |
| Tutoring add-on | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Free trial (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- The Princeton Review scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at The Princeton Review: $299 vs $2,499.
- Access period is higher at Gleim: 18 months vs 12 months.
- Live classes: only The Princeton Review.
- Practice questions is higher at Gleim: 12,000 vs 3,700.
- Money-back period is higher at The Princeton Review: 60 days vs 30 days.
- Support channels: only Gleim offers Email, Community.
- Founded is lower at Gleim: 1974 vs 1981.
- The Princeton Review is available in 1 more country.
- Exams: only The Princeton Review offers Sat, Act, Gre.
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.
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review suits US and Canadian students who want live classes, tutoring and a money back guarantee from a single provider rather than a bare question bank. It scores 9.1 overall, with 60 days of money back cover on eligible programs offsetting an entry price of $299.
Score breakdown
| Area | Gleim | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 8.7HigherEntry starts at $299, high next to rivals, though the tutoring subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99 softens ongoing cost. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher12,000 practice questions with 18 months of access, though live classes are not part of the package. | 9.23,700 practice questions, 9 full length tests and live classes inside 12 months of access. |
| Trust | 9.530 days money back, a pass guarantee on Premium courses, and nasba cpe credit from a publisher founded in 1974. | 9.7HigherA money back guarantee with a 60 day window, plus support on phone and help centre. |
Which one suits you
Pick Gleim if access period and practice questions matter most.
Pick The Princeton Review if cost, price from, live classes, and money-back period matter most.
Also worth a look
Zebra Education has price from at $49, against $2,499 for Gleim and $299 for The Princeton Review.
Zebra Education reviewSources behind this comparison
Gleim
- gleim.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
The Princeton Review
- princetonreview.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Gleim | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| CPA, CFA, PMP and nursing exam prep | 14 of 33 | 7 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Gleim | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | CPA | Sat, Act, Gre, Gmat, Lsat, Mcat, Nclex, CPA, CfaCovers more |
| Continuing education credit | Nasba cpe | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Gleim Publications, Inc. | TPR Education, LLC d/b/a The Princeton Review |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1974Lower | 1981 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Tutoring
| Fact | Gleim | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson price from | Not confirmed | $29 |
| Subscription price | Not confirmed | $39.99 to $179.99 |
| Trial lesson | Not confirmed | Free |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 14 days |
| Subjects | Not confirmed | Math, English, Science, Languages, Coding, School |
| Lesson format | Not confirmed | 1to1, App |
| Number of tutors | Not confirmed | 3,000 |
| Tutor vetting | Not confirmed | Screened |
| Tutor background checks | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Satisfaction guarantee | Not confirmed | Better grades guaranteed for students who work with a tutor 2 hours a month for 3 consecutive months in one subject |
Online courses
| Fact | Gleim | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | Not confirmed | $39.99 |
| Free tier | Not confirmed | No |
| Platform type | Not confirmed | Curated |
| Graded assessments | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Offline downloads | Not confirmed | No |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Gleim | The Princeton Review | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,499highest quarter | $299above the median | $69 |
| Access period | 18 monthshighest quarter | 12 monthsabove the median | 9 months |
| Practice questions | 12,000highest quarter | 3,700above the median | 3,000 |
| Full-length practice tests | Not confirmed | 9above the median | 8 |
| Money-back period | 30 daysat the median | 60 dayshighest quarter | 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.
The Princeton Review
Pros
- A money back guarantee on eligible test prep programs, with a 60 day window and a free repeat of the program for US and Canadian students.
- Breadth under one roof: sat, act and gre all sit within the same provider, spanning school and professional exams.
- Study depth of 3,700 practice questions and 9 full length tests, with live classes and 12 months of access.
Cons
- Entry price of $299 sits well above Testprep Training at $12.99 and Zebra Education at $49.
- There is no free tier, so the 14 day free trial and the free trial lesson are the whole no-cost taste.
- Offline download is not offered, so every practice session needs a live connection.
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.
The Princeton Review
Who it suits
- Students in US and CA who want live classes and one provider across sat, act and gre.
- Learners who would rather have money back protection than a bare course: the guarantee is money back and runs 60 days on eligible programs.
- Families who need tutoring alongside exam prep, with 3,000 screened tutors, background checks and a free trial lesson.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget shoppers, who would start at $12.99 with Testprep Training instead of $299 here.
- Students who need downloadable study material, since offline download is not offered; Zebra Education starts at $49 if entry cost matters more.
- IELTS candidates, who may prefer the specialist route E2Language covers from $69.
Current offers
The Princeton Review
Current offer
Bonus
10 hours On-Demand Tutoring reduced to $200: $200 (normally $349)
Add-on to the SAT & ACT Self-Paced package
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Free trial
14-Day Free Trial of SAT Self-Paced: 14 days
Offered on the SAT Self-Paced and SAT & ACT Self-Paced course options
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Gleim | The Princeton Review |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
The Princeton Review
How much does The Princeton Review cost?+
The SAT Self-Paced course starts at $299, and the combined SAT and ACT Self-Paced course is priced above that as a package. Tutoring is separate: $39.99 covers a month inside a subscription range of $39.99 to $179.99, and individual lessons are priced at $29. The course price is the entry payment, while recurring spend comes from the tutoring subscription.
Is there a free trial or a free tier?+
There is a free trial running 14 days, and there is no free tier of study material sitting underneath it. For tutoring, a free trial lesson gives a session at no charge before any commitment. Together those two make up the entire no-cost entry route into the brand.