A two-part Gleim CMA review costs about $1,499 to $1,799, and in the CMA study groups it's the first thing most people tell you to buy. FreeFellow's whole CMA question bank is free with an account: 788 Part 1 questions and 585 for Part 2, with 41 written lessons and a step-by-step solution for every question.
Gleim has the largest test bank in the category, a long track record, and graded essay practice. That last part depends on your testing window: from the September/October 2026 window, IMA uses case-based questions instead of essays in most regions, so check which format a package covers before you buy. I run FreeFellow, which competes with Gleim, and I built it for CMA candidates who want to work through the full bank without paying four figures first.
What each one includes
Gleim CMA
Gleim's CMA review page lists two-part review packages from Traditional through Premium at about $1,499 to $1,799 for both parts (June 2026 price record). You get the largest CMA test bank in the category, video lectures, a study text, simulated exams, graded essay practice, and an access guarantee on the higher tiers.
FreeFellow CMA
Prices here are in USD, and each FreeFellow subscription covers one credential track. Check pricing for your track and country.
FreeFellow's free tier ($0) includes the full CMA bank, Part 1 (Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics, 788 questions) and Part 2 (Strategic Financial Management, 585), plus 41 written lessons and a preview of the case-based question format. The full original question bank is free with an account, subject to usage limits. Worked solutions, written lessons, mixed practice, and your readiness score stay free. There's no trial period and no credit card.
Fellow costs $39 a month or $79 a quarter per track and adds the full case-based practice, timed mock exams, SM-2 spaced-repetition flashcards, analytics and a personalized study plan. Fellow Plus, the annual plan at $199 a year per track, adds Common traps on top of that, and it's the plan compared in the table.
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| Feature | FreeFellow Free | FreeFellow Fellow Plus | Gleim CMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $199/yr per track | $1,499 to $1,799 for both parts |
| Full question bank, free | Yes, both parts | Yes | No, paywalled |
| Practice questions | 788 + 585 | Same | Largest bank in category, paywalled |
| Video lectures | None | None | Full library |
| Lessons | 41 written | 41 written | Study text |
| Exam-format practice | Objective case-based question preview | Machine-graded case-based practice | Check current package format and grading |
| Mock exams | None | Multiple, timed | Simulated exams |
| Flashcards | None | SM-2 spaced repetition | Included |
| Analytics | Readiness score | Topic-level plus trends | Performance tracking |
| Track record | Newer (since 2024) | Newer | Long-established CMA leader |
Where each one is stronger
Gleim
Gleim has the deepest CMA test bank and decades of refinement against the exam, and it has a full video library. If you're seeing variance analysis or strategic financial management for the first time, video helps, and FreeFellow only has written lessons.
It also has dedicated graded essay practice. FreeFellow's case-based practice uses objective answer fields with machine grading, with a free preview and the full set in Fellow, and it doesn't include an essay grader or a copy-to-AI essay prompt. Whatever you buy, check that it covers the exam format for your testing window and region.
FreeFellow
The full bank is free for both parts, with the 41 lessons, no trial and no credit card. Gleim puts its bank behind a course purchase, so you can start on FreeFellow today and decide about a course later.
The price gap is big. Gleim's two-part review runs $1,499 to $1,799, while FreeFellow's free tier is $0 and Fellow Plus is $199 a year. Without employer reimbursement, that's the main reason to pick FreeFellow.
FreeFellow's focus practice (part of Fellow) sends you to your weakest topics, and the platform is built for studying on a phone or tablet, lessons included. Gleim's platform is desktop-first, though it works on mobile. FreeFellow has no video lectures and no in-app essay grader, so if you need those, Gleim has them.
Which one fits you
If your employer isn't reimbursing you, start with FreeFellow's free bank and the IMA learning materials. Work both parts, go through the solutions, and try the case-based preview. Fellow Plus ($199 a year) adds the full case-based practice, timed mocks and a study plan.
If you want video and a full review course, go with Gleim. Check which case-based or essay practice it includes for your testing window, and use FreeFellow for extra questions.
If you're retaking one part, I'd use Fellow Plus. Work the full bank, then use the timed mocks and topic analytics to find where you lost points.
For myself, I'd start with FreeFellow's free banks for both parts, read the 41 lessons and try the case-based preview, then add Fellow Plus for the full case-based practice, timed mocks and a study plan. If I needed video or a guided course, I'd check Gleim's current package and which exam format it covers before buying. Gleim is the established CMA leader and a good product, but buying its Premium two-part package and using half of it costs more than using a free bank fully and paying only for what you need.
Sample questions on FreeFellow's CMA practice pages are open to anyone. The full Part 1 and Part 2 banks and the 41 written lessons need a free account. Fellow and Fellow Plus prices are on the pricing page.
FreeFellow is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the IMA or ICMA. CMA and Certified Management Accountant are trademarks of the Institute of Management Accountants. Gleim is a trademark of its respective owner and is named here for identification and comparison only.