# CFA Exam Level1 Studying vs CFA Essentials

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | CFA Exam Level1 Studying | CFA Essentials |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $12.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-exam-level1-studying/id1268291608/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-essentials-review-and-prep/id6745157137/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 21 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yin Kai Leung Joseph](https://appshunter.io/developer/843708119) | [晔斌 范](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609081920) |

## What reviewers say

### CFA Exam Level1 Studying

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-exam-level1-studying/id1268291608)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### CFA Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-essentials-review-and-prep/id6745157137)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CFA Essentials Monthly Access | $1.99 | per month |
| CFA Essentials Quarterly Access | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| CFA Essentials Lifetime Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*