FreeFellow vs Gleim EA: Honest 2026 Comparison
Gleim is the default name in Enrolled Agent prep. Ask the EA study groups what to buy and Gleim comes up first, as it has for years. The test bank is large, the platform is established, and the Access Until You Pass guarantee on the higher tiers takes the time pressure off.
I built FreeFellow as a free alternative for candidates who want to drill the full EA question bank without paying for a course first. I am the founder, Jeffrey Ting, FSA, CFA, and this post is self-interested. I will be straight about where Gleim is ahead.
What Each Provider Offers
Gleim EA (2026)
Gleim sells a three-part EA review (Gleim, 2026 pricing as published on gleim.com):
- Traditional through Premium packages run about $699 to $799 for all three parts.
- You get a large multiple-choice test bank, video and audio lectures, a study text, simulated exams, and an Access Until You Pass guarantee on the higher tiers.
FreeFellow EA (2026)
FreeFellow has two tiers:
- Free: $0. The full EA question bank: Part 1 (Individuals, 774 questions), Part 2 (Businesses, 991), and Part 3 (Representation, Practices and Procedures, 870), with step-by-step solutions, written lessons with audio narration, mixed practice, and readiness scoring. 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 EA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $149/yr per track | ~$699 to $799 |
| Browse the full bank free | Yes, all three parts | Yes | No, paywalled |
| Practice questions | 774 + 991 + 870 | Same | Large bank, paywalled |
| Video lectures | None | None | Video and audio |
| Lessons | Written, with audio | Written, with audio | Study text |
| Mock exams | None | Multiple, timed | Simulated exams |
| Flashcards | None | SM-2 spaced repetition | Included |
| Analytics | Readiness score | Topic-level plus trends | Performance tracking |
| Pass guarantee | None | None | Access Until You Pass (tiers) |
| Track record | Newer (since 2024) | Newer | Long-established EA leader |
Gleim is the established EA leader, with video lectures, simulated exams, and a pass guarantee. FreeFellow gives the entire three-part bank away free and is a fraction of the cost on the paid tier. The two solve different problems.
Where Gleim Is Genuinely Better
Established EA leader
Gleim has been the standard EA recommendation for a long time. The test bank is deep, the content is refined against years of SEE exams, and the brand is trusted. FreeFellow is newer.
Video instruction and simulated exams
Gleim includes video and audio lectures and a bank of simulated exams. For candidates seeing business taxation or representation procedures for the first time, video earns its keep. FreeFellow has audio-narrated written lessons but no video lectures.
Access Until You Pass
Higher Gleim tiers keep your access open until you pass, which removes the renewal worry for a candidate who needs more time. FreeFellow free tier never expires, but the Fellow features renew annually.
Where FreeFellow Is Genuinely Better
The full bank is free
FreeFellow gives you the entire EA question bank across all three parts, with step-by-step solutions, for $0, with no trial and no credit card. Gleim, like every paid provider, gates its bank behind a course purchase. If you want to start drilling questions today before spending anything, FreeFellow is the lower-friction start.
Cost
The Enrolled Agent path is one of the most affordable credentials to sit, with total exam fees in the few-hundred-dollar range across the three parts. Paying $699 to $799 for prep on top of that is a real decision. FreeFellow free is $0, and Fellow is $149 per year, roughly one-fifth the cost of Gleim.
Adaptive practice and mobile-first design
FreeFellow quiz engine targets your weakest topics automatically, and the whole 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 pass guarantee. We say so. If video instruction is what you need, Gleim has it and we do not.
Recommendation by Candidate Type
First-timer on a budget
FreeFellow free plus the IRS publications and form instructions. Drill the full bank, track readiness, and add Fellow ($149) when you want mocks and a study plan.
Candidate who wants video and a guarantee
Gleim. The video lectures and Access Until You Pass are the things FreeFellow does not have. Supplement with FreeFellow free for extra question volume.
Repeat taker on one part
FreeFellow Fellow. You know most of the material. You need question volume, timed mocks, and analytics to find the gap on the part that bit you.
The EA is a low-cost credential to sit. Spending more on prep than on the exam itself only makes sense if you genuinely use the extra features. Start free and add what you need.
What I Would Pick If I Were Sitting Today
I would drill FreeFellow free question bank across all three parts, use the IRS publications as my reference, and add Fellow ($149) for timed mocks and a study plan. If I wanted video on the Part 2 business-taxation material, I would consider Gleim for that piece. Total out of pocket: $0 to $149, plus a targeted Gleim purchase only if I wanted video.
Gleim is genuinely good and is the established EA leader. It is also several hundred dollars. For candidates who want to keep prep cost near the cost of the exam itself, FreeFellow is built for that.
Start Today
FreeFellow's Enrolled Agent practice pages are open with the full Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 question banks free. No signup required to browse. The Fellow tier (mocks, flashcards, analytics, study plan) is on the pricing page.
FreeFellow is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Internal Revenue Service. Enrolled Agent and the Special Enrollment Examination are administered by the IRS. Gleim is a trademark of its respective owner and is named here for identification and comparison only.