FreeFellow vs Knopman Marks: Honest 2026 Comparison
Knopman Marks is the premium name in securities-licensing prep. It is widely used at the banks and broker-dealers that sponsor their new hires for the SIE and Series 7, and it is known for engaging, instructor-led teaching that makes a dry subject more bearable. If you are starting at a firm, there is a good chance Knopman is what they hand you.
I built FreeFellow as a free alternative for candidates who are self-sponsored, or who want to drill the full 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 Knopman is ahead.
What Each Provider Offers
Knopman Marks (2026)
Knopman sells per-exam packages for the securities-licensing exams (Knopman, 2026 pricing):
- Per-exam packages run about $300 to $600, depending on the exam and tier.
- You get polished instructor-led video, a question bank, practice exams, and study materials, with a reputation for engaging delivery and strong pass support at sponsoring firms.
FreeFellow Securities Licensing (2026)
FreeFellow has two tiers:
- Free: $0. The full question banks for SIE (761 questions), Series 7 (747), Series 63 (756), Series 65 (760), and Series 66 (779), with step-by-step solutions, written lessons, 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 | Knopman Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $149/yr per track | ~$300 to $600 per exam |
| Browse the full bank free | Yes, SIE + Series 7/63/65/66 | Yes | No, paywalled |
| Practice questions | Full banks per exam | Same | Bank, paywalled |
| Instructor-led video | None | None | Polished, engaging |
| Lessons | Written | Written | Instructor materials |
| Mock exams | None | Multiple, timed | Practice exams |
| Flashcards | None | SM-2 spaced repetition | Included |
| Analytics | Readiness score | Topic-level plus trends | Performance tracking |
| Employer-sponsored | Rare | Rare | Common at banks |
| Track record | Newer (since 2024) | Newer | Established at firms |
Knopman is the polished, instructor-led choice that firms sponsor. FreeFellow gives the full SIE and Series banks away free and is a fraction of the cost on the paid tier. The two solve different problems: Knopman if your firm pays, FreeFellow if you are self-sponsored.
Where Knopman Is Genuinely Better
Instructor-led teaching
Knopman reputation is built on engaging instructors who make securities regulation easier to absorb. For a candidate who learns best from a person walking through the material, that is real value. FreeFellow has written lessons but no instructor-led video.
Employer sponsorship and firm support
Knopman is the default at many sponsoring firms, and when the firm pays, the cost is not your problem. The pass support and the structured program fit the new-hire onboarding workflow. FreeFellow is newer and is not part of that pipeline.
Polish and structure
Knopman program is tightly structured for the high-stakes, time-boxed window a new hire gets to pass. FreeFellow gives you the bank and the tools, but you build the structure yourself unless you use the Fellow study plan.
Where FreeFellow Is Genuinely Better
The full banks are free
FreeFellow gives you the complete SIE and Series 7 banks, plus Series 63, 65, and 66, with step-by-step solutions, for $0, with no trial and no credit card. If you are self-sponsored and want to start drilling today before spending anything, FreeFellow is the lower-friction start.
Cost for self-sponsored candidates
If your firm is not paying, Knopman per-exam cost is real money for an exam you have to pass quickly. FreeFellow free is $0, and Fellow is $149 per year. For self-sponsored candidates, 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. Securities exams reward high question volume, and being able to drill on a phone between other commitments matters.
Honest about the gaps
FreeFellow has no instructor-led video and is not part of a firm-sponsored program. We say so. If polished instruction is what you need and your firm will pay for it, Knopman has it.
Recommendation by Candidate Type
New hire whose firm sponsors prep
Take the Knopman the firm provides, and use FreeFellow free for extra question volume and a second-opinion readiness check before exam day.
Self-sponsored candidate
FreeFellow free for the full bank, plus Fellow ($149) if you want timed mocks and a study plan to structure the weeks before your exam.
Candidate adding a Series 63, 65, or 66
FreeFellow free. These shorter exams reward focused question drilling, which the free banks cover fully.
If your firm is paying for Knopman, use it. If you are paying yourself, do not assume you need a premium course to pass the SIE or a lower Series exam. Volume and discipline carry most of the weight.
What I Would Pick If I Were Sitting Today
If a firm were sponsoring me, I would use the Knopman they provided and add FreeFellow free for extra question volume. Self-sponsored, I would drill FreeFellow free banks, add Fellow ($149) for timed mocks and a study plan, and skip the premium course entirely for the SIE and the lower Series exams.
Knopman is genuinely good, and the firm-sponsored experience is strong. For self-sponsored candidates watching their own budget, FreeFellow is built for that gap.
Start Today
FreeFellow's Series 7 practice page is open with the full Series 7 bank free, and the SIE, Series 63, 65, and 66 banks are free too. 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 FINRA or NASAA. The SIE, Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams are administered by FINRA and NASAA. Knopman Marks is a trademark of its respective owner and is named here for identification and comparison only.