Comparison of Popular Online PMP Training Courses 2021


Top Recommended Online PMP Training Courses 2017

As I have mentioned in my PMP journey, I did not attend any bootcamps but get my 35 Contact Hours through online training courses. I have researched a vast number of online training courses providers during my search for quality online courses and this article documents my selection criteria and findings.

Note: all the online training courses listed below has been updated to cover the new PMP Exam syllabus for 2021 and beyond. The contact hours earned through these courses will still be valid for the PMP Exam forever.

I document my research and findings in details below with a view to helping fellow Aspirants to decide the best online courses for their Certification success!


Why Online Training and Not Bootcamps?

First thing first, why not bootcamps? For me, there are two core reasons:

  • I cannot take a  leave from my work and my family for 5 consecutive days owing to my professional and family obligations.
  • The bootcamps are way too expensive for me. The online training courses are just around 1/10th of the bootcamps. 

I know Bootcamps are quite effective in helping Aspirants to ace the exam. But the kind of commitment and expense is just out of my exam prep budget both in terms of time and cost. As the project manager for my exam prep project, I have to search for alternatives that would serve my end purpose equally well (or, at least as effective).

Criteria for Online Training Courses

After reading numerous lessons learned of successful exam takers, I have established my list of criteria for the best online courses that I consider most effective in helping me best prepared for the real exam:

  • The 35 Contact Hours certificate can be obtained after going through the course.
  • The access period to the course materials is long enough in case I need to reschedule my exam date.
  • There are at least dozens of aspirants recommending the  online course that can really help one to pass the exam.
  • The course comes with guaranteed refund if I am not satisfied with the quality.
  • The course can be watched on my mobile phone on the go.

Popular Courses

The following is the top 5 courses I have found during my research. These courses match many of my selection criteria. Though I did not make use of them ALL in my exam prep, I will document my findings here as the best online courses for me does not necessarily be the best training for others as we may have different studying preferences, learning styles and budget(!) (in order of my preference for the best online Courses).

  1. PM PrepCast™ — by OSP International LLC
  2. PMP Training – Online Self Learning — by GreyCampus
  3. PMP Certification Training Course Self Paced Learning — by Simplilearn
  4. PMP Certification Bootcamp On-Demand Course — by PMtraining
  5. PMP E-learning Courseby KnowledgeHut

Summary Comparison of the Top 5 Online Courses

PM PrepCast™ GreyCampus Simplilearn PMTraining KnowledgeHut
Updated for PMP 2021
35 Contact Hours Certificate
Mobile
Lecture Videos Downloadable
Chapter-end Quizzes
Mock Exams Included (2100 questions in PM PrepCast™ Elite^) 3 7 1 6
Course Progress Tracking
Study Aids (notes, flashcards…)
Full Refund 90 days 3 days 3 days 24 hours
Access Period Forever# 1 year 30 days 90 days
Pricing US$279 %%%%GreyCampusPricePM%%%% US$499 US$349 Not Available Yet
Rating ✭✭✭✭✭ ✭✭✭✭✭ ✭✭✭✭✩ ✭✭✭✭✩
Learn More PM PrepCast™ GreyCampus Simplilearn PMtraining KnowledgeHut
Discount Coupon Coupon Code Coupon Code Coupon Code


# While students can keep the downloaded course lecture files forever, the access period to the download area for PM PrepCast™ will cease once the PM PrepCast™ has been updated to a new exam edition.
^ PM PrepCast™ Elite is the package of PM PrepCast™ video lecture course plus PM Exam Simulator 2.0

Below are the descriptions, pros and cons of online courses recommended for your reference:


PM PrepCast — by OSP International LLC

PM PrepCast™ — by OSP International LLC

The PM PrepCast™ is a downloadable training course which can be stored and played on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android or any mobile phones capable of playing videos. All the video lessons can be downloaded at once after purchase. What I like best is that every course is only around 10 – 30 minutes long, short enough to be watched during my transit time or waiting time — make the best use of my time. And once downloaded, the files are mine to keep, forever.

The course instructor, Cornelius Fichtner is a seasoned trainer with over 30,000 students. He will guide students all the way and teach everything one will ever need to know before, during and after the exam. There are 15 review questions after each chapter for students to check whether the course materials have been correctly understood. There is a 25-question final exam for the course and students can try as many times as needed to pass it and to get the 35 Contact Hours Certificate.

Additionally, over 2100 mock exam questions are included in the PM PrepCast™ Elite bundle which includes the PM PrepCast™ online course plus the PM Exam Simulator (also updated for the new PMP Exam 2021). A 90-day full refund is offered in case I am not satisfied with the purchase provided I have not tried the final exam and got the 35 Contact Hours Certificate (fair enough).

Pro

  • Downloadable — can be carried everywhere to study during the idle time
  • Comprehensive  — covering almost everything required for the exam
  • Quality Guaranteed — 90-day full refund allowed if haven’t taken the “Final Exam”
  • Flexible — can obtain the 35 Contact Hour Certificate in as short as two weeks’ time
  • Access Forever — the downloaded lecture files can be kept forever
  • 1800+ Mock Exam Questions — PM Exam Simulator included in the PM PrepCast™ Elite package includes “live feedback” feature in which your queries will be answered by PMPs asap

Con

  • No Tracking — as the lectures are downloadable, there is no online dashboard to track the progress
  • No Access Deadline — according to the Parkinson’s law (Aspirants will tend to fill up all the allocated time to finish the course), no definite access deadline would mean the progress on the online course would be slow as there is no urgency to finish the course
  • No Course Textbook — aspirants will need to make their own study notes
Edward’s Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭
(best – 5 stars; worst – 0 star)

Read my detailed review of PM PrepCast™ here…


PMP Training - Online Self Learning — by GreyCampus

PMP Training – Online Self Learning — by GreyCampus

The GreyCampus Course includes almost all the resources Aspirants would need to be prepared for the exam — video course, 35 Contact Hours certificate, questions, ITTO games, course notes… (except the PMBOK® Guide which can be downloaded for FREE on PMI website if you are a PMI member). The GreyCampus PMP Training comes with an access period 1 year. The 35 Contact Hours Certificate for project management education can be obtained after successful completion of the course and the exam. The course itself includes 3 Simulated Exams and Chapter Quizzes for Aspirants to understand their knowledge gap. Online Flashcards are also included to help remember key facts and definitions for the exam.

The downside is that all the video courses need to be watched online. Though the videos can be watched on a mobile phone browser, a data connection is required as the videos cannot be downloaded to the phone.

GreyCampus online Self-Learning courses have a 3-day refund policy. If you are not satisfied with the course within 3 days from the date of purchase, GreyCampus will refund the entire amount.

Pro

  • Downloadable Course Book — can help you study the course materials while no watching the lecture videos
  • Lots of Studying Resources Included — chapter quizzes, mock exam questions, ITTO games, etc.
  • Course Dashboard — track  your progress through the course and mock exam performance according to knowledge areas

Con

  • Only 3-day refund guarantee
  • No Video Download — Lecture videos must be watched online
Edward’s Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩
(best – 5 stars; worst – 0 star)

Read my detailed GreyCampus Online Self Learning here… 


PMP Certification Training Course Self Paced Learning — by Simplilearn

PMP Certification Training Course Self Paced Learning — by Simplilearn

The Simplilearn course is an online course package which provides almost all the materials and resources for the exam. It provides an access period of 180 days to watch the lessons and attempt the mock exams. There is a course-in-a-book e-book that can be downloaded and kept — the e-book is virtually a transcription of the online course. Five Simulation Exams are also included to allow Aspirants to understand their exam readiness as the level of difficulty is on par with the real exam.

There is a mobile app (called Simplilearn) provided to allow Aspirants to go through the course easily on mobile phones. However, since the course videos cannot be downloaded, many mobile data would be needed if there is no WIFI access.

100% Money Back Guarantee is provided for the first 3 days of purchase and the progress must be less than 50% of the whole course.

Pro

  • Mobility — can be assessed through a dedicated Simplilearn mobile app (note: must be connected to the internet to access the course materials and lecture)
  • Mock Exams Included — 5 simulated mock exams are included in the course package
  • E-book — an e-book can be downloaded for studying which can form the basis for notes taking

Con

  • Only 3-day refund guarantee
  • No Video Download — even though there is a mobile app for accessing the courses, the course lecture must be viewed online
Edward’s Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩
(best – 5 stars; worst – 0 star)

Read my detailed Simplilearn Self Paced Learning Course here…


PMP Certification Bootcamp On-Demand Course — by PMtraining

PMP Certification Bootcamp On-Demand Course — by PMtraining

The PMtraining Online Course includes most of the study materials Aspirants would need, including access to the course for 90 days, 35 Contact Hours Certificate of project management education, downloadable course lecture slides, 1 Mock Exam, Quiz Questions and Exam Prep e-book. In particular, there are also downloadable “Memory Map” Exercise, Printable Process Maps, Formula Cheat Sheet and Exam Taking Tips. The PMtraining course includes much more study materials and study aids than other online courses.

The PMtraining website is coded with the most advanced responsive technology so that it is convenient to watch the videos and attempt the exams on mobile phones. But as many others, videos cannot be downloaded.

Students can request a refund within 24 hours provided that the student has not used the content.

Pro

  • Responsive Website — course website fits the screens of mobile phones, iPad and desktops perfectly
  • Lots of Study Aids — downloadable “Memory Map” Exercise, Printable Process Maps, Formula Cheat Sheet and Exam Taking Tips
  • PMP Exam Prep E-book — an e-book can be downloaded for studying which can form the basis for notes taking

Con

  • 24-hours refund guarantee
  • Online 1 Mock Exam is included
  • Relatively more expensive
Edward’s Rating: ✭✭✭✭✩
(best – 5 stars; worst – 0 star)

Read my detailed PMtraining Bootcamp On-Demand Course here…


knowledgehut

PMP E-learning Course — by KnowledgeHut

Not Yet Available…

KnowledgeHut is one of the largest online and classroom Certification training provider featuring a large portfolio of certification training courses. KnowledgeHut offers both classrooms, virtual classroom as well as e-learning training courses for the PMP. The exam prep kit of the e-learning course includes an array of resources including online video lectures, 1800+ practice exam questions, downloadable lecture powerpoint PDF and more. This e-learning course has an emphasis on mock practice questions as it includes one of the largest mock exam question bank.

Pro

  • Economical — the KnowledgeHut online course is the cheapest among all recommended courses as it offers an access period of 45 days as an option. Aspirants on a budget will find this option extremely helpful for them to get the 35 Contact Hours without breaking their banks
  • 1800+ mock test questions included — all the questions are explained in details so that Aspirants will be able to understand their knowledge gaps
  • Lots of extra exam prep resources included — downloadable lecture powerpoint PDF, additional mock questions, application guide, etc.

Con

  • Strict refund conditions (within 24 hours)
  • Video lectures are not long enough to cover every detail of the PMBOK® Guide
Edward’s Rating: ✭✭✭✩✩
(best – 5 stars; worst – 0 star)

Read my detailed KnowledgeHut E-learning Course here…


Conclusion:

The above are my findings from my research into the best PMP online courses. I hope the info provided here would be useful for Aspirants to find the best online course that is most suited to their learning style. I finally chose the PM PrepCast™ and GreyCampus ones — which I consider are great in quality and value-for-money.

But remember: the most popular online course is not always the best online course for you. You may choose the course based on your budget, learning style and requirements of study aids.

Wish you PMP success!

 

Please note that the information for the online training courses provided above is accurate at the time of writing. Aspirants are highly advised to look through the respective websites of the online courses for the latest information and offer. 

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Edward Chung

Edward Chung aspires to become a full-stack web developer and project manager. In the quest to become a more competent professional, Edward studied for and passed the PMP Certification, ITIL v3 Foundation Certification, PMI-ACP Certification and Zend PHP Certification. Edward shares his certification experience and resources here in the hope of helping others who are pursuing these certification exams to achieve exam success.

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26 Responses

  1. Elsi says:

    Planning to subscribe for plural sight. Could you suggest if that be useful for my preparation ?

  2. Hello Edward,

    I took and passed the PMP exam last week Friday and it was the most amazing feeling to see that congratulatory message after 4 hours of gruelling hard work. The questions were not what I would consider “easy” and I most definitely did not see any of the questions I had practised in various mock exams. I came away with the distinct impression that you had to actually know this stuff to pass! I took a one-week prep course in January and only studied intensely in the last 3 weeks leading to my exam. I found this https://edward-designer.com/web/pmp-easily-confused-terms/ to be extremely useful, along with the other sections of Edward’s website.
    All the best to everyone who will be taking the exam soon!

  3. Ddd says:

    Hi Edward,
    Does anyone of the above services (especially the 2 first ones) provide Application review service? If not, is there one that you recommend?
    Thanks.

    • Edward Chung says:

      Not such service as far as I know for online courses, but they may be able to guide you or answer your queries on PMP application. You may also share your questions with me and I will try my best to attend to them.

      Wish you PMP success!

  4. Elle says:

    Hi Edward,
    Thank you so much for this information you have provided. I am thinking of taking the Project Management Academy 4 day boot camp and was wondering if you think it is worth the $1895? Do you know anyone who has taken it and what do they think. about it?

    • Edward Chung says:

      Sorry that I have no experience with this bootcamp and is not in the position to comment on this. But as I took the online course route, I would say studying for the PMP Exam through online self-learning is completely doable and more cost effective.

      Anyway, wish you PMP success!

  5. Julie Joshua says:

    Thank you!

  6. Abhishek Chowla says:

    Hi Edward Chung,

    A very good evening and thank you for creating such an informative website with facts and very useful documents and analysis. I am very much thankful. Was going through many online tutorials before I stumble across your site. I now no that I can be surely guided in the right direction. I am already past the March 2018 date for new syllabus and material/exam. And have gone through the Head First PMP 3rd edition once, currently in the last chapter and still reading or going through it. I would like to know or get your help in getting me started on what comes first in taking the exam. Do i need to sign up for PMI membership first go through their review as a Project manager then book my exam, or what are the steps. I should first book an exam date and same time enrol with PMI? please guide. Would be highly obliged to get your right guidance over this. Looking forward to hear from you and will ask you more questions. I am in the process of starting with my PMP journey. I have waited wasted almost 3 years before having the right focus and confidence to take up this exam. So now fairly believe now I am some what prepared. And want to start from the right steps. So thus need your valuable help on this.

    Thanks!

    Abhishek Chowla

  7. Quentin says:

    Hi Chung,

    First of all, thanks you for all this information that I found on your web site. PMP Certification is quite a straightforward goal but there are more than 1.000 ways to achieve it.

    On this page you spoke about popular online courses. While looking around, I found this website: http://learning.pmi.org which gather a few hundred of online courses. I have the feeling that this is the “official” website for PMP online courses and others are “unofficial” R.E.P. online courses providers. Before discovering your website I thought about going in learning.pmi.org to pick up some courses but now I think this is not the best idea. Could you give a word about http://learning.pmi.org and if it is worth going there?

    Thank you in advance,
    Quentin

    • Edward Chung says:

      Thanks for your comment. http://learning.pmi.org contains a good list of project management courses but it seems that not many of them are preparing you to ace the PMP Exam. In fact, there are no “official” and “unoffical” R.E.P. (as in fact, PMI does not require you to take project management courses provided by PMI R.E.P. in order to recognize your education). I think the courses on http://learning.pmi.org are those who are willing to pay a premium to get listed. So, it all about money but not quality. I took the PM PrepCast and this is the best (in my opinion) PMP Exam prep online course. Just take a look or test-drive to try it yourself.

      Wish you PMP success!

  8. Chris says:

    Your chart says that PM PrepCast should have been updated for PMBOK 6th edition in late January. It still has not updated for the 6th edition. I bought it thinking it had already been updated. Should I get a refund? Is this something I should be concerned about and is there another training that has been updated that might be better at this point?

    • Edward Chung says:

      Hi Chris,

      Sorry for the info here not being up-to-date. The PM PrepCast team is currently working very hard to come up with an updated version. If you purchase the PM PrepCast within 2018, you will be able to get the 6th Edition for FREE later when it is updated. So, there is no need to request a refund. But if you are anxious to begin your preparation, you may try other education providers’ courses. However, I would say the PM PrepCast is of exceptional quality and it is worth the wait.

      Wish you PMP success!

  9. Michael says:

    Hello Chung,

    Thanks for materials on your site – formulas are very well explained, which is a huge help for me.

    I bought pmtraining.com subscription beginning of the week for $59 and they are offering 22 mock exams plus custom build exams based of process groups and knowledge areas. Also PMBOK6 is supported. So I am curious where do you have your information from. Is it probably a different site?

    Regards

    • Edward Chung says:

      Hi Michael,

      Seems that you just subscribed to the mock exam only package but the not the on-demand training right? There are only around 1000 questions in this package (around 5 full mock exams).

      Anyway, wish you PMP success!

  10. Karthikeyan says:

    Hi Chung,
    I hope you’re doing good!
    I have 5+yrs of handling multiple projects for Automotive ancilliary organizations and one couple of months back associated with Vehicle manufacturing (OEM) organization. I am much interested to do PMP.
    Can you please guide if I should take the classes now and appear before Mar’18 (or) should I wait to take the classes and appear after Mar’18?

    Regards,
    S Karthikeyan

    • Edward Chung says:

      Hi Karthikeyan,

      I personally took 2 months to be well prepared for the PMP Exam. And there are only 2 months left before the exam change. If you are new to PMP (i.e. haven’t read PMBOK Guide or carried out projects based on PMI methodology before), it is safe to take the PMP Exam after Mar 2018 as you will have the freedom to choose whether you would like to postpone your exam later on.

      Wish you PMP success!

  11. Hamid says:

    Thank you for sharing this thorough analysis.

    While you did not assess in person, bootcamp training options, I wonder if you anecdotally have one or two bootcamp PMP training programs you might recommend? I am looking for one.

    • Edward Chung says:

      Sorry as I haven’t tried the bootcamp courses personally, I am not in the position to recommend courses based solely on the course descriptions. Maybe you can try out the big brands like Simplilearn, Edwel, etc. But I don’t know their qualities.

      Wish you PMP success!

  12. Samat Ryskulov says:

    SimpliLearn is not a R.E.P.

  13. Dan Schaeffer says:

    GreyCampus’ money back guarantee is NOT for 7 days, it’s 24 hours. That’s very misleading.

    • Edward Chung says:

      Hi Dan,

      Thanks for alerting this. GreyCampus has recently updated its refund policy. For online self learning courses, the refund period is 3 days while for classroom training courses, the refund period is 24 hours after the first session of the course.

      Hope this has cleared your doubts.

      Wish you PMP success!