LeaPrep vs Kaplan Schweser for CFA Level 1
Kaplan Schweser sells four Level 1 packages: Basic at 379 USD, Essential at 749 USD, Premium at 1,049 USD and Ultimate at 1,449 USD. LeaPrep charges 399,000 VND once, about 15 USD. Kaplan’s strength is SchweserNotes, widely treated as the industry-standard condensed curriculum; LeaPrep’s strength is question practice with Vietnamese explanations. The two complement each other more than they compete.
Kaplan Schweser is the oldest and most widely used CFA preparation provider worldwide, best known for SchweserNotes, which condense the full curriculum.
Cost side by side
| Item | LeaPrep | Kaplan Schweser |
|---|---|---|
| Entry package | 399,000 VND, about 15 USD, paid once | Basic, 379 USD, with digital SchweserNotes and QBank |
| Common package | Single price only | Essential, 749 USD, adding OnDemand Masterclasses |
| Higher tier | None | Premium, 1,049 USD, adding charterholder guidance and a study plan |
| Top tier | None | Ultimate, 1,449 USD, adding live online classes, flashcards and audio |
| In Vietnamese dong | 399,000 VND | Roughly 9.9 to 38 million VND depending on tier |
Features side by side
| Item | LeaPrep | Kaplan Schweser |
|---|---|---|
| Condensed curriculum | 155 wiki pages and 136 modules in Vietnamese | SchweserNotes, the industry reference |
| Question bank | 3,023 questions with Vietnamese explanations | QBank, included in every package |
| Video lessons | None | From Essential upward |
| Flashcards and audio | None | Included in Ultimate |
| Language | Vietnamese explanations, English questions | English throughout |
Where they beat LeaPrep
- SchweserNotes has served generations of candidates as a substitute for reading several thousand pages of curriculum. Nothing here replaces that role, LeaPrep included.
- Material in many formats: books, video, flashcards, audio, so commuting time becomes usable study time.
- Written and revised each year by a dedicated team tracking curriculum changes, under a review process refined over decades.
- Enough institutional standing that employers funding study will accept a Kaplan invoice without further justification.
Where LeaPrep fits better
- About twenty-five times cheaper than Kaplan’s entry package, so adding it does not require cutting something else.
- Explanations in Vietnamese, which no international provider offers.
- Unlimited AI tutoring, as opposed to rereading a printed explanation that did not land the first time.
- Per-subject analytics that point at weak areas so revision time is allocated rather than spread evenly.
- No expiry, whereas most international packages are tied to a specific exam window.
The cheapest combination that still works
For candidates in Vietnam, a common economical setup is Kaplan’s Basic package for SchweserNotes as the primary reading, plus LeaPrep for question practice and Vietnamese reference. The combined cost lands near ten million dong, far below a centre course.
That keeps what Kaplan does best, a standard condensed text, while covering what Kaplan does not serve: first-language explanation and unlimited follow-up questions.
Why the price gap is not a quality gap
Kaplan maintains a large editorial team, revises material annually against CFA Institute changes, produces video and audio, and runs live online classes. That cost structure produces prices from several hundred to over a thousand dollars.
LeaPrep has far narrower scope and none of those components. The 399,000 VND price reflects that narrow scope rather than a claim of equivalence.
Who should skip LeaPrep
If you read technical English fluently, are comfortable with the SchweserNotes presentation, and your employer is paying, the marginal benefit from LeaPrep is small. Buying Premium or Ultimate outright and getting on with it is the tidier choice.
LeaPrep helps most when you are paying yourself, absorb material faster in Vietnamese, and need volume of practice with explanations you understand immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Can LeaPrep replace SchweserNotes?
Not entirely. The LeaPrep wiki serves quick lookups while you are answering questions; SchweserNotes is linear reading that substitutes for the original curriculum. Different roles.
Which Kaplan package is enough if I already have LeaPrep?
Basic is usually enough, since practice and explanations are already covered. Higher tiers mainly add video, live classes and alternative formats.
Does buying Kaplan cover the exam fee?
No. The fee goes separately to CFA Institute, 1,140 USD at the early deadline and 1,490 USD at the standard deadline under the 2026 schedule. No material provider includes it.
Does LeaPrep have audio or flashcards?
Not yet. If you learn well by listening, Kaplan’s Ultimate package serves that and LeaPrep does not.
No card required, no auto-renewal.
Compare with others
Sources
- Kaplan Schweser CFA Level 1 study package pricing (checked 2026-08-04)
- CFA Level 1 exam fee schedule 2026, CFA Institute (checked 2026-07-22)
- LeaPrep content figures, counted directly from the database (checked 2026-08-04)
Competitor figures come from information they published publicly on the date listed under sources. Prices and promotions change, so verify before deciding.