Kaplan Schweser is the brand name in CFA prep. The orange SchweserNotes have been on candidate desks for over 25 years. Scroll r/CFA and you'll see Schweser referenced in dozens of weekly study-strategy threads. It's the default for a reason.
I sat for all three CFA levels while working full-time as an actuary. I used a mix of providers and the curriculum, and I built FreeFellow because I thought there was room for a free alternative that takes practice volume seriously. This post is a straight side-by-side of FreeFellow and Schweser for CFA Level I in 2026, and I call out the parts where Schweser is genuinely better.
Disclosure up front: I'm the founder of FreeFellow. The post is self-interested. I tried to be even-handed anyway.
What Each Provider Offers
Kaplan Schweser CFA Level I (2026)
The following packages are listed on Kaplan Schweser's Level I package page for the selected exam window (checked September 7, 2026):
- Basic: $429 per level.
- Essential: $799 per level.
- Premium: $1,099 per level.
- Ultimate: $1,499 per level.
You know what's in the box: condensed SchweserNotes mapped to the CFA Institute curriculum, a large practice question bank, full-length mock exams, recorded video lectures, and (in higher tiers) live instructor support.
FreeFellow CFA Level I (2026)
FreeFellow has a free tier and two paid tiers. The annual comparison below uses Fellow Plus:
Prices below are in USD. Each FreeFellow subscription covers one credential track. Check pricing for your track and country.
- Free: $0. 1,499 practice questions, 102 written lessons (each), a formula sheet, mixed practice across topics, readiness scoring, and detailed step-by-step solutions.
- Fellow Plus: $199 per year per track. Includes timed full-length mock exams, SM-2 spaced-repetition flashcards, performance analytics with topic-level breakdowns, and a personalized study plan keyed to your exam date. Fellow Plus also includes licensed curriculum practice and common traps. Fellow costs $39 per month or $79 per quarter per track and includes the mocks, flashcards, analytics, and study plan.
FreeFellow is a CFA Institute Prep Provider. Like all Prep Providers, FreeFellow is independent of CFA Institute and does not promise a passing score.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | FreeFellow Free | FreeFellow Fellow Plus | Schweser Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $199/yr per track | $1,099 per level (Premium, checked September 7, 2026) |
| Practice questions | 1,499 | 1,499 | ~4,000+ |
| Written lessons | 102 | 86 | SchweserNotes (5 books) |
| Video lectures | None | None | OnDemand library |
| Mock exams | None | Multiple, timed | 6+ full-length |
| Flashcards | None | SM-2 spaced repetition | QuickSheet PDF |
| Analytics | Readiness score | Topic-level + trends | QBank performance |
| Study plan | Manual | Personalized | Self-directed |
| Live classes | None | None | Optional paid upgrade |
| Track record | Newer (since 2024) | Newer | 25+ years |
| CFA Institute Prep Provider | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Schweser has more total practice questions, video lectures, and live instructor support. FreeFellow has more free content and is dramatically cheaper. The two products solve different problems.
Where Schweser Is Genuinely Better
Schweser does several things well, and skipping them would make this comparison useless.
Video instruction depth
Schweser's OnDemand video library is deep. If you're a visual learner, especially if you're fighting quantitative methods, derivatives, or the more abstract corners of fixed income, watching a Schweser instructor work through a full topic is a real advantage. FreeFellow has written lessons but no video lectures. If you need a chalkboard explanation of duration convexity, Schweser is better.
Condensed notes format
The SchweserNotes are five books that condense the CFA Institute curriculum (which runs roughly 3,000 pages) into roughly 1,500 pages with worked examples and end-of-section problems. The format is well-tuned and well-known. FreeFellow's lessons cover the curriculum but are organized as standalone topic lessons, not as a single condensed book set. If you'd rather read a textbook end-to-end, Schweser fits that workflow better.
Question bank size
Schweser's QBank has roughly 4,000-plus practice questions across CFA Level I. FreeFellow has 1,499. Schweser wins on raw volume.
Live instructor support
The Level I Ultimate package includes a choice of live online or OnDemand classes. Premium lists live classes as an optional paid upgrade (package page checked September 7, 2026). FreeFellow has none of that. If you learn well in a synchronous classroom and want to ask questions in real time, Schweser is the right product.
Track record and brand
Schweser has 25-plus years of CFA candidate history. The community knowledge, the alumni network, the established workflow patterns on r/CFA all reference Schweser. FreeFellow launched in 2024 and is much newer. If you value brand certainty and a deep base of past-candidate testimonials, that matters.
Where FreeFellow Is Genuinely Better
Free question volume
FreeFellow gives you 1,499 practice questions for $0 with no trial period and no credit card. Schweser's free trial is much narrower. If you want to start drilling questions before deciding what to buy, FreeFellow is the lower-friction starting point.
Cost
FreeFellow Fellow Plus is $199 per year per track. Kaplan Schweser's Level I package page lists Premium at $1,099 per level for the selected exam window (checked September 7, 2026). The free tier is $0.
Adaptive practice and analytics
FreeFellow's quiz engine targets your weakest topics automatically based on prior performance. The analytics dashboard shows accuracy by topic, by Learning Outcome Statement, and by difficulty band. Schweser's QBank tracks performance too, but it's less granular and not adaptive.
Mobile-first design
FreeFellow was built for mobile and tablet study. Practice on a phone during a commute, study a lesson while walking, take a quiz between meetings. Schweser's interface is desktop-first and the mobile experience is thinner.
What FreeFellow does not have
FreeFellow does not have video lectures, and 102 written lessons are not a substitute for OnDemand video. Candidates who learn best from video should factor that in, or pair the free bank with a video provider.
Prices and Access Periods
Schweser sells each CFA level for a selected exam window. FreeFellow sells annual access to the full CFA track. Schweser prices below are from its Level I package page, checked September 7, 2026.
| Option | Price (USD) | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Schweser Essential | $799 | Level I, selected exam window |
| Schweser Premium | $1,099 | Level I, selected exam window |
| Schweser Ultimate | $1,499 | Level I, selected exam window |
| FreeFellow Fellow Plus | $199 per year | CFA track, all levels and Level III pathways |
| FreeFellow Free | $0 | Full bank with an account, practice usage limits apply |
The upfront package price can be difficult to cover out of pocket. Video instruction, condensed notes, and the chosen access period are also part of the decision.
Recommendation by Candidate Type
Full-time professional with employer reimbursement
Schweser Premium plus FreeFellow free question bank for extra drilling. The reimbursement covers Schweser, your time is the scarce resource, and the video instruction is genuinely good.
Out-of-pocket candidate, first attempt
FreeFellow Fellow Plus ($199) plus the CFA Institute curriculum (included in your CFA Institute registration). Total marginal cost beyond CFA Institute fees: $199. Enough to pass if you put in 250 to 300 hours and use the platform consistently.
Visual learner who needs video
Schweser Premium. Use the OnDemand library as your primary teaching surface. Supplement with FreeFellow free question bank for additional practice volume.
Repeat taker who knows the material
FreeFellow Fellow Plus. You don't need another teaching surface. You need more practice volume, mock simulation, and analytics to find the gaps that bit you the first time.
Career changer from non-finance
Schweser Premium for the structured teaching, plus FreeFellow free for question volume. The video instruction matters more when you're learning concepts cold.
International candidate on a tight budget
FreeFellow free plus the curriculum. The free tier is enough to pass with discipline and consistent practice volume.
Buying Schweser Ultimate (Level I, $1,499 on its package page, checked September 7, 2026) and using only half of it is worse than buying FreeFellow Fellow Plus for $199 and using all of it. The platform you stick with beats the one with the deeper feature list.
What Reddit Says
This is anecdata, but it's useful. On r/CFA over the last 18 months, the most common Schweser comment patterns:
- "Schweser videos saved me on Quant." (positive)
- "SchweserNotes are great if you can read all 5 books, terrible if you only skim." (mixed)
- "Schweser QBank questions are easier than the real exam." (recurring criticism)
- "I passed using only Schweser." / "I failed using only Schweser." (both common)
For FreeFellow specifically, the community feedback I've seen is positive on free question volume and analytics; the recurring complaint is no video lectures.
The broader pattern: candidates who pass tend to do 2,000 to 3,000 practice questions and 3 to 4 full mocks. Whether those questions came from Schweser, FreeFellow, AnalystPrep, or some combination matters less than the volume itself.
What I Would Pick If I Were Sitting Today
At $199 a year, I'd use FreeFellow Fellow Plus as my primary platform, the CFA Institute curriculum as my reading source, and pull in Schweser videos only on topics where I needed visual instruction (probably derivatives and parts of quant). That stack costs $199 plus whatever I spent on additional Schweser material for a specific weak topic.
If money were no object and my employer were paying, I'd buy Schweser Premium and add FreeFellow free for extra question volume. The combination beats either alone.
There's no single right answer. There's a right answer for your situation, your learning style, and your budget. Pick the platform you'll actually use end to end.
Start Today
FreeFellow's CFA Level I practice page has open samples. All 1,499 questions and 102 written lessons are free with an account. The Fellow Plus tier (mocks, flashcards, analytics, study plan) is on the pricing page.
FreeFellow LLC is a CFA Institute Prep Provider. CFA Institute does not endorse, promote, or warrant the accuracy or quality of products or services offered by FreeFellow LLC. CFA Institute, CFA, and Chartered Financial Analyst are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.