# CFA Essentials vs Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam at 13.0 against CFA Essentials's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CFA Essentials sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CFA Essentials ships an update every 3 months, Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on July 6, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CFA Essentials | Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cfa-essentials-review-and-prep/id6745157137/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [晔斌 范](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609081920) | [3328833 Nova Scotia Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1757830011) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtue-prep-cfa-level-2-exam/id6747369921)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CFA Essentials free?

CFA Essentials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam free?

Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do CFA Essentials or Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam have ads?

Neither CFA Essentials nor Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam shows ads.

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

CFA Essentials ships an update every 3 months, and Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam every 2 months. Most recently, CFA Essentials was updated on July 6, 2026 and Virtue Prep CFA® Level 2 Exam on September 9, 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.*