Comparison

CFA Exam Level1 Studying vs CFA Essentials

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CFA Exam Level1 Studying

Prepare for the Level I CFA® exam with a comprehensive simulator. It offers over 1600 practice questions with detailed explanations, topic analysis, and customizable exam modes. Study offline and ace your certification.

Highlights
  • Over 1600 practice questions
  • Detailed explanations for each question
  • Topic-specific skill analysis
  • Customizable exam modes
  • Offline access
  • Official topic weight ratio exams
Features
Read full description

Study for the Level I CFA® Exam Simulator. 2025 ●Covers 1600 questions for complete Hardcore practise. ●Provide the best value for your "MONEY" and high 'PASSING' rate! Now that you have prepared and practiced for the Level I CFA® exam, you are ready to perform and put your skills and knowledge to the test. ____________________________________________________ **************** SPECIAL FEATURES ●Over 1600 exceptionally-written professional exam questions ●Contains up-to-date dumps and professional exam questions ●All questions come with detail explanations. ●All questions written by experienced professionals ●Analyse your skills of each Topic upon finished the exam ●Exam conducts in official exam 'topic weight ratio'. ●Provides a blend of theory and practice. ●Study Past exam ●Customise your own exam in 6 different mode ●Font size adjustment and more... ●The questions provide the best value for your "MONEY"! ●Unlimited Access (24*7) to our question pool ●Provided offline access -2024 MAJOR updating: Hypothesis Testing, The Firm & Market Structures, Understanding Business Cycles, Introduction to Geopolitics, Portfolio Risk & Return: Part I,Capital Structure, Financial Reporting Quality, ____________________________________________________ WHO should download this app? ● Ace the Exam ● Prepare for the CFA® Level I exam. ● Enhance your career path ● Retest (No more retest upon you have this app with you!) ____________________________________________________ *Our goal is to get you and your people CFA® accredited with the least amount of hassle, expense and time away from your desk. _____________________________________ Required Disclaimer: CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of the products or services offered by NevsTops. CFA Institute, CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute."

About

CFA Essentials

Prepare for CFA Levels I, II, and III exams with comprehensive curriculum coverage and LOS-focused content. Master complex financial concepts with clear explanations and essential formulas, perfect for on-the-go study.

Highlights
  • Complete curriculum coverage
  • LOS-focused content
  • Clear explanations of financial concepts
  • Essential formulas
  • Study on the go
Features
Read full description

Prepare for the CFA Level I, II, and III exams with confidence using CFA Essentials. Our app provides a comprehensive and structured approach to mastering the curriculum, designed specifically for busy candidates who need efficient study tools. **Key Features:** • Complete Curriculum Coverage: Access detailed explanations for all major topic areas across all three levels. • LOS-Focused Content: Every module is aligned with the official Learning Outcome Statements (LOS), ensuring you focus on exactly what you need to know for your specific exam level. • Clear Explanations: Complex financial concepts are broken down into easy-to-understand notes, helping you grasp difficult topics quickly. • Essential Formulas: Master the math with clear presentation of key formulas and equations, from Time Value of Money to Derivatives and Portfolio Management. • Study on the Go: Perfect for commuting or quick review sessions, giving you access to high-quality study material whenever you have a moment. Whether you are just starting your Level I journey or finalizing your preparation for Level III, CFA Essentials is your companion for exam success. Download now and take the next step towards your charter.

Screenshots

CFA Exam Level1 Studying4 screens
CFA Essentials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: CFA Essentials at Free against CFA Exam Level1 Studying's $12.99. CFA Essentials also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 14 months). CFA Exam Level1 Studying's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

CFA Essentials is free to download; CFA Exam Level1 Studying costs $12.99 up front. CFA Essentials sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CFA Exam Level1 Studying asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CFA Essentials holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CFA Exam Level1 Studying has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CFA Exam Level1 Studying ships an update every 14 months, CFA Essentials every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
CFA Exam Level1 Studying versus CFA Essentials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCFA Exam Level1 StudyingCFA Essentials
Price$12.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYin Kai Leung Joseph晔斌 范

Customer experience

CFA Exam Level1 Studying

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

CFA Essentials

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

CFA Exam Level1 Studying

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

CFA Essentials

Subscriptions2
  • CFA Essentials Monthly Access$1.991 Month
  • CFA Essentials Quarterly Access$3.993 Months
One-time1
  • CFA Essentials Lifetime Unlock$9.99

Questions

Is CFA Exam Level1 Studying free?
CFA Exam Level1 Studying costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CFA Essentials free?
CFA Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CFA Exam Level1 Studying or CFA Essentials?
CFA Essentials is rated higher. CFA Exam Level1 Studying averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while CFA Essentials averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do CFA Exam Level1 Studying or CFA Essentials have ads?
Neither CFA Exam Level1 Studying nor CFA Essentials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CFA Exam Level1 Studying or CFA Essentials?
CFA Exam Level1 Studying ships an update every 14 months, and CFA Essentials every 5 months. Most recently, CFA Exam Level1 Studying was updated on October 24, 2026 and CFA Essentials on October 24, 2026.

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