The CE Shop
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Buy if you need state-approved real estate pre-licensing or CE hours and can tolerate self-paced, text-heavy coursework.
New check
Comparison
The CE Shop vs Kaplan
The CE Shop lands on Worth it, and Kaplan lands on Depends.
Kaplan
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy Kaplan if you want structured, all-in-one prep for a major exam (MCAT, NCLEX, bar, CFA, securities) and can absorb the premium price.
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Worth it | Depends |
| Best for | New agents needing state pre-licensing | High-stakes exam takers (MCAT, NCLEX, bar, CFA) |
| Who it's not for | Anyone needing engaging, interactive instruction . students call it boring | Budget self-studiers . question banks and books cost far less |
| Privacy | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.⁸ | Data breach reported March 2026: 230,000+ people affected, SSNs exposed, ~19-day attacker access, lawsuits under investigation. |
| Support quality | Praised on Trustpilot; BBB complaints exist | No usable evidence in sources |
| Public sentiment | Trustpilot reviewers praise ease of use and fair pricing, while Reddit users frequently complain the coursework is boring enough to skip.¹ | Test-takers on Reddit credit Kaplan with helping them pass, but many say it is overpriced versus specialist rivals.15 |
| Biggest gotcha | List prices are inflated . 30-50% promo codes run almost constantly. Never pay full price.⁷ | March 2026 breach exposed SSNs of 230k+ people; consider a credit freeze before enrolling |
Pick The CE Shop when
- New agents needing state pre-licensing
- Licensed agents clocking CE credits
- Mortgage loan originator (MLO) licensing
- Self-paced learners on a budget
When The CE Shop is not a fit
- Anyone needing engaging, interactive instruction . students call it boring
- Guess: learners who require live, instructor-led classes
- Anyone expecting flexible refunds . BBB complaints on file
Pick Kaplan when
- High-stakes exam takers (MCAT, NCLEX, bar, CFA)
- Learners wanting live classes plus tutoring
- Career changers who need external structure
- Universities and firms buying prep at scale
When Kaplan is not a fit
- Budget self-studiers . question banks and books cost far less
- Anyone cautious about handing over SSNs . breach history
- Niche-exam takers with better specialist providers
- Buyers expecting software . this is a course catalog, not a tool
Sources
review
review
review
official
official
- Product security page . The CE Shoptheceshop.comsecurity
- The CE Shop acquires Mbition, AHIT, and Stringham Schoolscareercertified.comnews
- AceableAgent Review (2026): Cost, Pass Rate Claim, Appjamilacademy.comreview
- Kaplan Test Prep official sitekaptest.comofficial
- All Kaplan Exam Prep Courseskaplan.comofficial
official
- Kaplan real estate school reviews and pricinghooquest.comreview
- Kaplan is too expensive . Reddit r/usmlereddit.comreview