Test Prep Insight is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
AceableAgent vs The CE Shop
Determine which online real estate school is best for you between The CE Shop and AceableAgent
If your goal is to become a licensed real estate agent, you will need to complete the necessary pre-licensing requirements, regardless of which state you call home. That’s where The CE Shop and AceableAgent come into play. These are arguably the two most popular online real estate schools out there. In this article, we compare and contrast the pre-licensing courses and exam prep materials from both companies so you can quickly make an educated decision as to which one is right for your budget and learning style.
Given that this is a lengthy, detailed comparison, we’ve included jump-to links above for your convenience.
Video Review: AceableAgent or The CE Shop?
In the video above, Lara compares and contrasts the pre-licensing and exam prep materials from AceableAgent and The CE Shop. For more detail, be sure to continue reading our full written comparison below.
In order to keep this comparison actually helpful for you, we are going to focus on the major differences between The CE Shop and AceableAgent and the categories in which each company wins. With that in mind, let’s start by discussing The CE Shop.
Slightly Cheaper Course Offerings
The first win for The CE Shop is cost. Their pre-licensing courses are more affordable than those from AceableAgent (on average).
With that said, pricing between the two companies is almost neck and neck, and it does vary by state, but for the most part, The CE Shop seems to be the more affordable option.
Also, we should point out that the key is to compare the net cost between both companies, not MSRP, because both companies regularly offer sales and discounts.
The CE Shop typically offers four different course options
For example, in North Carolina, the Essentials package from The CE Shop costs around $475 after discounts, whereas the comparable package from AceableAgent after discounts costs around $565. And it’s the same story in California: The CE Shop’s Standard course costs around $160 post discounts, whereas the course from AceableAgent is closer to $250.
Remember though, pricing does vary quite a bit, but generally speaking, you’ll likely save around $50 to $100 by going with The CE Shop rather than AceableAgent.
Better for Visual Learners
The CE Shop is the better choice for visual learners, and that’s because a big chunk of the company’s educational content is delivered in video format (similar to Kaplan).
And I’m not talking about some 1980s style home video featuring a professor talking in a monotone voice. Instead, The CE Shop uses animated cartoon videos that really do a good job of holding your attention.
It’s clear the company has invested serious time and resources into creating these videos, and it shows: they are very high quality.
Example video lesson from The CE Shop
I also appreciated the lesson format. I was constantly hopping between a quick video lesson, a brief text explanation, practice questions, and interactive quizzes. The variety kept me from getting bored, and all the practice drills helped me think through the material, so I wasn’t clicking my way through on autopilot. Plus, the animated videos made dense regulatory content like contract law and disclosure requirements easier to understand.
AceableAgent also provides you with a mix of short videos, text materials, and comprehension quizzes. The difference is that Aceable doesn’t include as much video content as The CE Shop, and it’s not in the same engaging animated format.
If you learn best via video as opposed to reading, The CE Shop is an excellent choice.
The CE Shop platform includes lots of useful features that make the user experience much easier. Within the custom learning platform, you can easily bookmark any explanation, video, or quiz question to review at a later time.
All of your bookmarks are easily accessible right from the main dashboard, which is very convenient. It’s perfect for when you need a quick refresher on concepts or topics you are having trouble memorizing or understanding.
In fact, this is actually one of my biggest gripes with the digital platform from AceableAgent. There’s just nowhere to quickly take notes or bookmark key points. Instead with AceableAgent, you have to take your own notes in a separate doc or physical notebook, which is annoying.
The CE Shop also feels more efficient to me. I started by taking an initial assessment, and then the performance tracker broke down exactly which areas I needed to focus on based on my strengths and weaknesses.
After that, the readiness checklist gave me an idea of whether I was prepared for the state exam. That boosted my confidence and made me feel like my time wasn’t being wasted.
Pre-Licensing Courses for More States
Lastly, this category is straightforward. The CE Shop simply offers pre-licensing courses for more states in comparison to AceableAgent.
In fact, AceableAgent only covers 17 states, believe it or not. Therefore, your options are limited. You’ll definitely want to make sure AceableAgent even offers courses for your state before proceeding.
The CE Shop offers courses for almost the entire US
Whereas The CE Shop, on the other hand, covers pretty much the entire United States. Last we checked, the company offers pre-licensing courses for over 45 states!
A few states even have live weekly Q&A webinars, although most states only offer a self-paced course where you’re managing your own study plan, just like AceableAgent (neither course has a live class option).
Regardless, The CE Shop likely has you covered, no matter where you live.
Pass Guarantee
If you’re looking for some insurance, The CE Shop offers a nice pass guarantee.
If you demonstrate competency in all sections but don’t pass, you get a full refund. You can also request your money back if you buy the course and you’re satisfied within the first 30 days.
AceableAgent offers a similar “Ace or Don’t Pay” guarantee. If you aren’t satisfied within the first 30 days after signing up or if you fail the licensing exam after completing the full course, you get 100% of your money back. For the record, Kaplan Real Estate does not offer a money back guarantee, so this is an area where The CE Shop and AceableAgent both pull ahead.
Here’s where The CE Shop pulls ahead: they also offer a 5-day free trial, while AceableAgent doesn’t have any free trial option. It’s a real advantage to scope out the course without having to put any money down, and The CE Shop makes it easier to figure out whether they’re a fit before you commit.
Now that you have an idea of the areas in which The CE Shop excels, let’s turn the tables and discuss the areas in which AceableAgent wins.
Audio Narration
AceableAgent is clearly the better choice for auditory learners, and that’s due to the fact that the company provides audio narration for each lesson that includes text. This is great because that means you do not have to read at all if you don’t want to.
Each lesson includes audio narration
I hate PowerPoint presentations and text-only PDFs, so the fact that AceableAgent does the work for you is awesome. The AceableAgent lessons are a lot like listening to a podcast (similar to Real Estate U). I could work through a lesson while out on a walk, then breeze through a comprehension quiz after getting home.
Even the narrator does a great job using tone and inflection. In other words, it’s not just some monotone robot reading text. The narrator makes otherwise boring information sound interesting, so we have to give AceableAgent credit for that.
I also like Ace Mode, a new feature added in 2026 to make your review more efficient. The analytics create a customized study schedule for you that has you spend more time in the areas where you’re truly weak, so you’re never wasting time on content you’re already strong in.
Stellar Mobile App
The next win for AceableAgent is that they offer a mobile app, whereas The CE Shop does not.
Now to be fair, The CE Shop’s custom learning platform is mobile friendly, but still, it’s just not the same as having a dedicated mobile app. Plus, AceableAgent’s mobile app is fantastic. It’s quick, modern, and easy to use.
Stellar mobile app from AceableAgent
If you’re someone with a busy schedule and you plan to complete lessons and study for your state exam on the go (e.g., during your lunch break, waiting in the parking lot to pick up your kids, or doing household chores) then AceableAgent is likely the way to go. Their mobile app is convenient.
Plus, if you go with the Deluxe or Premium plan, you also get an AI virtual instructor available 24/7 to answer your questions, as well as interactive study tools and a custom practice exam builder so you can drill one category at a time.
The higher tiers also include Ace Mode Smart Practice, which uses analytics to track your weak areas and guide you through more efficient studying. It’s a great tool, but my one complaint is that AceableAgent makes you pay extra if you want personalized tracking, while The CE Shop includes analytics standard with every plan.
High Pass Rates
This category might be controversial, and please take this with a grain of salt, since a lot of this data is self-reported by the companies themselves based on their own surveys, but it does seem like AceableAgent students have a much higher pass rate compared to The CE Shop.
For example, in Texas, there’s 66% pass rate for AceableAgent and 56% for The CE Shop. It’s the same story for the overall national pass rate: AceableAgent claims to have a national pass rate over 90%, while The CE Shop only says they have a 64% national pass rate (both of which by the way are well above the national average of 52%).
Still, if you’re looking for the real estate school that gives you the best chance of passing your state exam, the stats from AceableAgent are eye-popping (even better than the pass rates from Colibri).
So, should you go with AceableAgent or The CE Shop to help you get your real estate license?
Well, after testing the pre-licensing courses and exam prep materials from both companies, I give The CE Shop the edge, as they offer better materials at more affordable rates.
AceableAgent still makes sense for people who learn by listening to podcasts or busy people who need to knock out lessons while on the go. But for visual learners, people who prefer engaging video content, and anyone on a tight budget, The CE Shop is our #1 pick on our list of the best real estate schools online.
Lesson format is probably the biggest difference between AceableAgent and The CE Shop. The AceableAgent lessons feature audio narration (almost like a podcast), whereas The CE Shop utilizes more video in their content (more ideal for visual learners).
Which is better - AceableAgent or The CE Shop?
For most people, The CE Shop is better than AceableAgent, since it provides you with engaging animated videos and better overall materials. AceableAgent is more expensive, although the audio lessons work well for people who learn by listening or are frequently on the go.
Is AceableAgent cheaper than The CE Shop?
Pricing between the two companies varies by state. However, on average, it seems like the courses and exam prep materials from The CE Shop are slightly more affordable.
Editor's Choice 
