# CFA Level 2 Prep vs CFA Essentials

The clearest difference is price: CFA Essentials at Free against CFA Level 2 Prep's $5.99. CFA Essentials also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 41 months). CFA Level 2 Prep's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

CFA Essentials is free to download; CFA Level 2 Prep costs $5.99 up front. CFA Essentials sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CFA Level 2 Prep asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for CFA Level 2 Prep against 5.0 for CFA Essentials. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

CFA Level 2 Prep ships an update every 41 months, CFA Essentials every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 28, 2026 and July 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CFA Level 2 Prep | CFA Essentials |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-level-2-prep/id1560550788/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-essentials-review-and-prep/id6745157137/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 41 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 20 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Roxana Scurtu](https://appshunter.io/developer/960384962) | [晔斌 范](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609081920) |

## What reviewers say

### CFA Level 2 Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-level-2-prep/id1560550788)

Prepare for the Chartered Financial Analyst Level 2 exam with hundreds of up-to-date questions and instant feedback. Track your progress, review incorrect answers, and receive daily revision reminders to help you achieve certification.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of up-to-date exam-style questions, Instant feedback and scoring, Progress tracking and time spent, Targeted review of incorrect answers, Offline access, Daily revision reminders and 'Question of the Day'

**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

**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 Level 2 Prep free?

CFA Level 2 Prep costs $5.99, 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 Level 2 Prep or CFA Essentials?

CFA Level 2 Prep and CFA Essentials are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do CFA Level 2 Prep or CFA Essentials have ads?

Neither CFA Level 2 Prep nor CFA Essentials shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CFA Level 2 Prep or CFA Essentials?

CFA Level 2 Prep ships an update every 41 months, and CFA Essentials every 3 months. Most recently, CFA Level 2 Prep was updated on August 28, 2026 and CFA Essentials on July 6, 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.*