FreeFellow vs Gleim CMA: Honest 2026 Comparison
Gleim is the established leader in CMA prep. It has the largest test bank in the category, a long track record, and graded essay practice for the constructed-response section that both CMA parts include. If you ask the CMA study groups what to buy, Gleim is the first name most people give.
I built FreeFellow as a free and low-cost alternative for CMA candidates who want to drill the full question bank without paying four figures first. I am the founder, Jeffrey Ting, FSA, CFA, and this post is self-interested. I will be direct about where Gleim is ahead, and the essay section is one of those places.
What Each Provider Offers
Gleim CMA (2026)
Gleim sells a two-part CMA review (Gleim, 2026 pricing as published on gleim.com):
- Traditional through Premium packages run about $1,499 to $1,799 for both parts.
- 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 (2026)
FreeFellow has two tiers:
- Free: $0. The full CMA question bank: Part 1 (Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics, 758 questions) and Part 2 (Strategic Financial Management, 585), with step-by-step solutions, 40 written lessons with audio narration, mixed practice, readiness scoring, and a copy-to-AI essay prompt builder. No trial, no question cap, no credit card.
- Fellow: $59 per quarter or $149 per year per track. Adds timed mock exams, SM-2 spaced-repetition flashcards, performance analytics, and a personalized study plan.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | FreeFellow Free | FreeFellow Fellow | Gleim CMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $149/yr per track | ~$1,499 to $1,799 |
| Browse the full bank free | Yes, both parts | Yes | No, paywalled |
| Practice questions | 758 + 585 | Same | Largest bank in category, paywalled |
| Video lectures | None | None | Full library |
| Lessons | 40 written, with audio | 40 written, with audio | Study text |
| Graded essay practice | Copy-to-AI prompt builder | Copy-to-AI prompt builder | Dedicated in-app 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 |
Gleim is the established CMA leader, with the largest test bank, video instruction, and dedicated graded essay practice. FreeFellow gives the entire bank away free and is a small fraction of the cost on the paid tier, with the honest gap being essays and video. The two solve different problems.
Where Gleim Is Genuinely Better
Graded essay practice
Each CMA part includes a constructed-response essay section. Gleim has dedicated graded essay practice built into the platform. FreeFellow free tier ships a copy-to-AI prompt builder that hands you a structured prompt to paste into your own ChatGPT or Claude for feedback, but FreeFellow does not yet have a dedicated in-app CMA essay grader. If you want hands-on graded essay practice inside one platform, Gleim is stronger there today.
Established leader and largest bank
Gleim has the deepest CMA test bank and decades of refinement against the exam. FreeFellow is newer and has a smaller bank.
Video instruction
Gleim includes a full video library. For candidates seeing variance analysis or strategic financial management for the first time, video earns its keep. FreeFellow has audio-narrated written lessons but no video.
Where FreeFellow Is Genuinely Better
The full bank is free
FreeFellow gives you the entire CMA question bank for both parts, with step-by-step solutions and 40 written lessons, for $0, with no trial and no credit card. Gleim gates its bank behind a course purchase. If you want to start drilling today before spending anything, FreeFellow is the lower-friction start.
Cost
Gleim two-part CMA review runs $1,499 to $1,799. FreeFellow free is $0, and Fellow is $149 per year, a small fraction of the Gleim price. For candidates without employer reimbursement, this is the load-bearing difference.
Adaptive practice and mobile-first design
FreeFellow quiz engine targets your weakest topics automatically, and the platform is built for phone and tablet study with audio lessons for hands-free review. Gleim is usable on mobile but is built desktop-first.
Honest about the gaps
FreeFellow has no video lectures and no dedicated in-app essay grader. We say so plainly. If those are what you need, Gleim has them and we point you there.
Recommendation by Candidate Type
Candidate without employer reimbursement
FreeFellow free plus the IMA learning materials. Drill the full bank across both parts, use the copy-to-AI prompt builder for essay feedback, and add Fellow ($149) for timed mocks and a study plan.
Candidate who wants dedicated essay grading and video
Gleim. The graded essay practice and video lectures are the things FreeFellow does not have in-app. Supplement with FreeFellow free for extra question volume.
Repeat taker on one part
FreeFellow Fellow. You need question volume, timed mocks, and analytics to find the gap, plus essay practice through the prompt builder.
Buying a $1,799 package and using half of it is worse than using a free bank fully and adding only what you need. Start free, and pay for essays or video only if you will actually use them.
What I Would Pick If I Were Sitting Today
I would drill FreeFellow free question bank across both parts, read the 40 lessons, and use the copy-to-AI prompt builder to grade my essays in Claude. I would add Fellow ($149) for timed mocks and a study plan. If I felt I needed structured in-app essay grading or video on a tough topic, I would consider Gleim for that. Total out of pocket: $0 to $149, plus a targeted Gleim purchase only if I wanted essays or video in one place.
Gleim is genuinely good and is the established CMA leader. It is also expensive. For candidates who want to keep prep affordable and grade essays with a free AI workflow, FreeFellow is built for that.
Start Today
FreeFellow's CMA practice pages are open with the full Part 1 and Part 2 question banks and 40 lessons free. No signup required to browse. The Fellow tier (mocks, flashcards, analytics, study plan) is 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.