The enrolled agent designation is the highest mark of distinction awarded by the IRS. And, as with anything worth pursuing, you’ll have to put in some serious effort to earn it, namely, by passing the EA exam.
But let’s face it: it’s tough to go it alone. A prep course can save you time, money, and your sanity.
Surgent and Gleim are two of the best EA review courses on the market, but it’s time to settle the score in the battle of Gleim vs. Surgent EA: which is the better option for aspiring enrolled agents?
Gleim vs Surgent EA Course Comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $499 to $799 | $499 to $999 |
| Discounts | Save $349 | Save $210 |
| Access | 12 Months to Unlimited | 18 Months to Unlimited |
| Guarantees | Access Until You Pass® Money-Back Guarantee | Access Materials Until You Pass Money-Back Guarantee |
| Video Lectures | 30+ Hours | 60+ Mini Lessons |
| Practice Questions | 3,500+ MCQs | 2,000+ MCQs |
| Support | Email, Phone, Chat,Personal Coaching,Accounting Experts | Email, Phone, Chat, PersonalCoaching |
| Get Started | Start Now | Start Now |
Surgent vs Gleim: Which EA Prep Course to Choose
- If you want the largest question bank and the deepest learning experience, then Gleim’s extensive materials are the clear winner.
- If you value unlimited expert support from accounting professionals, then Gleim’s unmatched customer assistance has you covered.
- If you prefer in-depth practice exams and mock tests, then Gleim’s six full-length exams and final review tools are ideal.
- If you’re on a tight budget, then Gleim’s slightly lower price point makes it the better choice.
- If you want cutting-edge tech like ReadySCORE™ to assess exam readiness, then Surgent’s adaptive AI tools are the perfect fit.
- If you’re trying to minimize study time, then Surgent’s focus on efficiency with a 40% reduction in study hours is a major advantage.
Surgent EA Review
Surgent has made a name for itself in the exam prep industry as a cutting-edge innovator thanks to their gamified CPE courses, expedited exam prep, and adaptive learning technology. Not only do you have a 97% pass rate to reassure you through your studies, but you can expect a 40% reduction in study hours.
Plus, every purchase comes with a 100% money-back guarantee if you fail the EA exam. It’s difficult to go wrong with Surgent EA, but their challenger has something to say.
“I used surgent for all the 3 parts and passed all on first atempt within exactly 3 months. I really feel Surgent is the plug, they explain all the concepts well.”
u/enrolledagentvee
Surgent EA
Gleim EA Review
In every test prep area where Gleim’s created a product, they’ve strived to have the largest, highest-quality question bank; they know that practice truly does make perfect. And it’s clear they’re doing something right. Gleim states, “For over 20 years, more EAs have passed with Gleim than any other EA exam prep provider.”
As the preferred provider of the National Association of Tax Professionals, Gleim’s methodology focuses on deep learning and topic comprehension, so students not only pass but actually retain the information they’ve spent so much time learning. It’s no surprise that Gleim recently celebrated their 50th anniversary because the companies who care about their customers’ success (and win awards for their customer service) are the companies that create lasting legacies.
“I used Gleim and was averaging in the 70s for the study units for Part 1, and got a 69% on Mock Exam 1 and like 68% on Mock Exam 2 and passed the actual exam on the first try.”
u/Witty_Somewhere7
Gleim EA
How Gleim and Surgent EA Review Courses Compare
Both Gleim and Surgent have unique strengths, making them excellent choices for different types of learners. Here’s how they compare in key areas:
- High-Quantity Question Bank: While both prep providers offer stellar-quality practice questions, Gleim has 1,500+ additional test bank entries.
- Dig Deeper: Surgent’s study method is designed for efficiency. Gleim wants students to dig deep and fully understand the material, boosting their chances of passing.
- Above and Beyond Support: Gleim offers accounting experts to answer all of your questions, so you’ll never get stuck while studying, on top of multiple support channels and coaching.
- Exclusive Bonus Tools: From final review materials to a study planner to up to 72 hours of free CPE, Gleim has unparalleled bonuses students won’t want to miss out on.
- Slight Price Advantage: While prices are relatively comparable, students on a strict budget will appreciate saving $200 on the highest tier package compared to Surgent.
So, now you have an idea of what I think, but the perfect prep course is different for everyone. I highly encourage you to follow me as I uncover the finer details of both courses so you can choose which course best fits your goals.
Course Features
Learning Materials
Let’s talk about the learning materials you’re getting with each prep provider to figure out if their resources will fit your learning style.
The highlight of Gleim’s teaching tools is the SmartAdapt™ course, which uses adaptive learning technology to help students study more efficiently. The tool identifies your topic strengths and weaknesses as you progress through the course and practice materials, encouraging you to take advantage of opportunities to study topics that will have the most positive effect on your exam score. Students can also access digital and printed books, video and audio lectures, a customizable study planner, and detailed performance reports to monitor their progress.
Meanwhile, Surgent’s full course bundle uses “proprietary predictive AI technology.” I’m not a tech expert, but it’s very similar to Gleim’s adaptive learning technology in that it tracks your progress, informs you of your weak points, and gives dynamic recommendations for what to study next. Also, like Gleim, you can receive printed and digital textbooks, as well as audio and video lectures.
🏆 Winner: Though both providers offer similar study tools, Gleim offers a few more, winning the round.
Practice and Review Materials
Gleim EA Prep is known for its top-quality question banks, which remain highlights across every exam review course. With Gleim’s EA Test Bank, you’re unlocking over 3,500 multiple-choice practice questions alongside resources like detailed answer explanations, unlimited practice exams, digital flashcards, final review mode, and up to six full-length mock exams.
Notably, Gleim’s practice questions are much harder than what you’ll find on the exam, which many students mark as a selling point:
“They make the questions more difficult than the actual exam to over prep, and in a way, I think I’d prefer it that way. I’d rather be over prepared than be on the level of the exam. So, I would recommend the Gleim program.”
u/Squirrel_Wizard
Meanwhile, Surgent’s EA Exam prep offers only around 2,000 multiple-choice questions. And, while the quality is still outstanding, it’s a clear downgrade from Gleim’s question banks, which offer nearly twice as many questions. Surgent also offers unlimited practice exams featuring their proprietary ReadySCORE™ technology, which helps students determine what they can expect their score to be on the actual exam with, as they report, 98% accuracy.
🏆 Winner: Gleim offers nearly double the number of practice questions Surgent does, as well as final review material to try to earn some last-minute knowledge for the EA exam.
Audio and Video Lectures
Both Gleim and Surgent’s EA Exam reviews feature audio and video lectures, with roughly the same number of content hours given by both providers. So, the real differentiator here is the quality, entertainment value, and how well they actually work to help you pass the EA exam.
Gleim offers 30+ hours of video content via the Gleim Instruct Video Series alongside audio-only versions. These virtual lectures are led by head instructor Nate Wadlinger, who Gleim describes as “a CPA, attorney, and Lecturer in Taxation at Florida State University.” But he’s also a beloved professor, sporting a 4.8-star average rating on Rate My Professors, where his most frequent tags include “hilarious,” “caring,” and “amazing lecturer.”
One student describes Professor Wadlinger,
“Best accounting professor at UCF, makes classes fun and engaging. […] He actually cares about the success of his students. Really enjoyed taking his class.”
Surgent doesn’t necessarily have the same star power, but they feature 60+ bite-sized videos that may be especially appealing for the modern learner with a hectic schedule. After all, Surgent is designed to shorten your study time. And naturally, that includes audio lecture versions as well. Surgent’s biggest advantage here is its iOS and Android mobile app, allowing students to watch videos and listen to lessons on the go.
🏆 Winner: Gleim’s engaging and entertaining lectures featuring Nate Wadlinger grab your attention and don’t let go, making it an invaluable resource for auditory and visual learners.
Technology
Gleim’s technology selects the “quality over quantity” approach, appearing primarily in their SmartAdapt™ course. Again, SmartAdapt™ uses adaptive learning technology to help students identify and strengthen their weak points, boosting their scores on exam day.
Surgent, however, thrives in the technology arena. Not only is their proprietary predictive AI technology considered some of the best in the industry, but their ReadySCORE™ technology is an unparalleled study tool to assess exam readiness (again, with 98% accuracy!).
Surgent student Tanner Thompson sings ReadySCORE’s praises:
“My ReadySCOREs were all between 81 and 85 and I passed all tests with scores between 88 and 96. I felt it prepared me more than adequately and in very little time compared to other programs.”
🏆 Winner: Surgent grabs a category win thanks to their innovative, science-driven methodologies and resources.
Student Support
Finally, let’s talk about the levels of support you get from each provider.
Both Gleim and Surgent both offer support via email, phone, chat, and personal coaching. However, Gleim includes what’s essentially an expert hotline to get your questions answered by successful accountants. It’s the equivalent of having a personal tutor through a chat function. As you can imagine, that adds a lot of value to Gleim’s pitch.
Alternatively, though Surgent lacks this style of expert hotline, they do offer virtual 1-on-1 coaching sessions, which may be preferable for students who learn best through face-to-face instruction. However, whereas Gleim’s support is unlimited, Surgent’s coaching includes three 20 to 30-minute sessions per exam part, for a total of nine.
🏆 Winner: Gleim’s unlimited support earns a win compared to Surgent’s effective yet limited personalized coaching.
Course Discounts
Why spend more when you can get an EA exam review course for less? I’ll answer for you: you shouldn’t. Luckily, Gleim and Surgent both offer some great discounts on their offers.
Gleim EA Discount
Save $349 on your Gleim EA Review course. Use our exclusive Gleim discount code to get the best deal on their trusted prep materials. Gleim is known for its comprehensive content and adaptive tools, making it perfect for mastering the enrolled agent exam. Don’t miss out—start studying smarter today!
Surgent EA Discount
Preparing for the EA exam with Surgent EA Review? Save $210 with our Surgent discount code and get access to their award-winning adaptive learning technology. Surgent’s personalized study plans focus on your weak areas, helping you pass the exam faster. Use the code and get one step closer to becoming an enrolled agent!
Final Verdict
So, who’s the better prep course: Gleim vs. Surgent EA? The results are in…
Gleim EA Review is your choice if you want engaging video lectures, best-of-the-best practice materials, a comprehensive SmartAdapt™ course, and unlimited student support. It makes for an outstanding prep course designed to help EA candidates pass with flying colors.
Surgent EA Review is still a great choice for students looking for an efficient, high-tech study experience. Its adaptive ReadySCORE™ technology personalizes study plans and helps students focus on their weakest areas, making it ideal for busy professionals who want a data-driven approach to exam preparation.
Whichever course you choose, I wish you the best of luck on your EA journey. Good luck!
FAQs
It depends on your goals—Gleim excels in question quantity, deep learning, and unlimited support, while Surgent focuses on speed and high-tech tools.
Yes, Surgent is excellent for students who want efficient prep with adaptive learning and ReadySCORE™ technology to track exam readiness.
Absolutely, Gleim is highly regarded for its large question bank, SmartAdapt™ technology, and expert support, making it ideal for thorough preparation.
Gleim and Surgent are both excellent options, and the Becker EA Exam Review is a fan favorite. The Lambers EA Review course and Fast Forward Academy EA Review are also great picks.
Pass rates for the EA exam range from 56% to 70% per part in recent years, though individual results depend on preparation and familiarity with the material.
