I came across the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) a month ago and I have now completed 4 courses.
But now I will share my experience so you can decide if it is a good platform for you or not.
In this CFI review article, I will let you know my personal experience with CFI, covering everything from their course content and learning platform to pricing and career support.
So, let’s get started.
Corporate Finance Institute Review (CFI): Is It Well Recognized?
For those who are wondering if CFI is a trusted platform, or Is CFI a good source?
So I can assure you that Corporate Finance Institute is a legitimate and respected online education platform.
Not only does it host finance courses, but it has also received authorization from several reputable organizations, including:
- National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).
- Certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) program.
- CPA institute
This proves that their courses are well-structured and their certificates are respected in the industry.
If you sign up for any membership plan and take premium classes on CFI, you are also eligible for 400+ CPE/CDE credit points.
Corporate Finance Institute Pros and Cons:
Now that you know how well-recognized and legit the CFI platform is, so here is a quick glance at its pros and cons.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ |
| CFI offers courses covering various aspects of finance, from basic financial to advanced financial modeling and valuation. The courses are well-structured and taught by industry experts. | Unlike traditional classroom settings, CFI’s courses are entirely online, which may be an issue if you are looking for classroom experience, but if you sign up for a Full Immersion plan, you do have the opportunity to have one-on-one guidance calls with your instructors. |
| Recognized Certifications are one of the best things about CFI. | While CFI certifications are valuable, they may not replace the need for a formal degree in finance. They can boost your resume but won’t be better than a full degree. |
| Courses build practical skills through quizzes, assignments, and case studies, making you ready for the workplace. | Some of the more advanced courses may be difficult for beginners without a strong foundation in finance. So I suggest starting with free introductory courses first. |
| Compared to other online platforms, CFI offers affordable membership pricing for its courses and certifications. They have one annual membership that will give you one year of unlimited access to all courses on their platform. | All cfi courses are pre recorded, there would be no live classes so you have to stay more self disciplined to complete the course. |
Courses Offered By Corporate Finance Institute
Before you sign up for a CFI membership plan, it is essential that you know what courses are available on CFI. The courses on CFI are from the following categories:
1. The Top CFI Courses Are:
- Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®)
| Course Name | CFI FMVA |
|---|---|
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.9/5 |
| Topics Covered | Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis Merger Models and Financial Analysis |
| Skills Taught | Financial Modeling Valuation, Excel and Presentation Skills |
| Certificate | Recognized certificate upon completion |
| Course Link | Click here |
- Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA®)
| Course Name | Capital Markets & Securities Trading |
|---|---|
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.9/5 |
| Topics Covered | Capital Markets, Securities Trading, Investment Banking, Equities, Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Commodities Trading |
| Certificate | Highly rated certificate course |
| Course Link | Click Here |
- Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA®)
| Course Name | CBCA-Certified Course |
|---|---|
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐4.9/5 |
| Topics Covered | Credit Analysis, Risk Assessment and Commercial Lending |
| Career Path | Commercial Banking, Credit Analysis and Financial Analysis |
| Certificate | CBCA Certification |
| Course Link | Click Here |
- Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA™)
| Course Name | CFI Certification in Data Analytics and Financial Analysis |
|---|---|
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐4/5 |
| Topics Covered | Data Analytics, Business Intelligence Tools and Financial Analysis |
| Best For | Advising Clients Managing Personal Finances |
| Certificate | CFI Certification |
| Course Link | Click Here |
These courses are designed by industry experts and provide practical skills directly applicable to finance roles.
2. CFI Specializations
If you are looking for a learning path and specialization over a topic, you will find that too in CFI. There are 11 specialization programs on CFI including:
- Accounting for Financial Analysts
- FP&A
- Leadership Effectiveness
- Environmental, Social, & Governance specialist
- Data Analysis in Excel
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Data Science
- Macabacus specialist
- Real Estate Finance
- Crypto and Digital Assets
- Business Essentials
3. FREE CFI Courses
However, a complete Corporate Finance Institute Review could not be completed if I didn’t mention that you can also sign up for CFI for FREE, start learning online for free, and get certificates of completion.
There are 29 free courses on the platform that you can sign up for without any cost. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Accounting Fundamentals
- Excel Fundamentals – Formulas for Finance
- Reading Financial Statements
- Corporate Finance Fundamentals
- Capital IQ Fundamentals
- Introduction to Business Intelligence
- Introduction to ESG
- Fundamentals of Credit
- Introduction to Banking
- Fundamentals of Data Analysis in Excel
Corporate Finance Institute Pricing and Plans Review
If you are considering signing up for CFI, here is how much it will cost.
CFI has an annual membership program, means you save up to 40% by using latest CFI coupons and have access to all courses for a year with one plan.
They currently have two types of membership plans:
- Individual Membership Plan
- Teams Membership Plans
Here is a quick review of the CFI membership plans that you have included in these plans.
Individual Memberships Plans
CFI currently has two Individual Membership plans with a 40% official discount in 2025. These are:
| Feature | CFI Self-Study | CFI Full-Immersion |
| Original Price | $497 | $847 |
| Price With Discount | $298.2** | $508.2** |
| Courses Offerings | Access to 270+ courses, six certifications, and eleven specializations. | Everything on the platform. |
| Blockchain-Verified Certificates | ✅ | ✅ |
| 400+ CPE/CPD Credits | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to Member-Only Community | ✅ | ✅ |
| Templates and Guides | Standard | Premium |
| AI-Powered Chatbot | ❌ | ✅ |
| Resume/CV Reviews | ❌ | ✅ |
| Personalized Financial Model Feedback | ❌ | ✅ |
| One-on-One Calls | ❌ | ✅ |
| Certification Exams and Fees | ❌ | ❌ |
Team Memberships
If you are a group of 2 or more, you would prefer a Team plan. However, I want to mention that there were no current offers on the Team Membership Plans in 2025.
| Feature | Basic Plan | Premium Plan | Custom Plan |
| Annual Cost | $399.00 USD | $497.00 USD | Contact Sales Team |
| All CFI courses | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to 6 Accredited Certifications | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Certification Exam Fees Included | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Role-Based Learning Paths | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Learning Paths | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Management Dashboard & Reporting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Premium Email Support | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Final Certification Exams | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Quizzes, Assessments, and Case Studies | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Intern Training and New Analyst Programs | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| SSO and LMS integrations | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Corporate Finance Institute Review (My Personal Experience With CFI)
If you are still wondering is CFI certification worth it or whether is CFI program worth it? Here is what I have to say, honstly CFI certifications are worth it because they add a valuable addition in the resume while i was searching for a job.
I have noticed that the FMVA certification, in particular is highly regarded in the industry.
If you do you will also get credit points as a student which you can use as a student discount.
So, if you are looking to upskill, switch careers, or simply learn, CFI certificates are worth it.
User Testimonial – Corporate Finance Institute Review
While I was exploring the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), I found a few testimonials here they are for your reference:
Source: Trustpilot
Source: Trustpilot
Source: Corporate Finance Institute
Source: Trustpilot
Corporate Finance Institute Reviews: Final Thought
Although the pricing of Cfi may be high but still one of my favorite platforms for financial and banking courses.
The reason being that the courses are not only certified but also Recognized and gives CPE/CDE credits.
But, will you get a job with a CFI certificate is something I have asked a lot.
I can definitely say that you will have a competitive advantage over your competitors when you are at an interview with a certificate and knowledge in finance.
If the pricing is holding you back, the ongoing active 40% OFF CFI discount code on the Individual Plans is the perfect way to start your journey on CFI.
FAQs
Is CFI trustworthy?
CFI online learning platform that provides recognized certificate courses as well as free courses taught by professionals and with legitimate course material. It is one of the premium, recognized platforms for financial and banking courses worldwide.
How to sign up for Corporate Finance Institute free courses?
To sign up for CFI’s free courses, visit the website, press the Start Free button at the top of the page, and create an account. Once you have an account, you can sign up for any free course available on the platform.
How much does CFI certification cost?
CFI works on a membership model. This means you do not pay for an individual certification program instead, you pay for unlimited access to all certificates on the platform for the duration of your membership. Currently, CFI memberships start at $298.20/year.
Is CFI better than CFA?
It depends upon user goals, CFI focuses on practical applications for corporate finance roles, whereas CFA is focuses toward careers in investment banking and asset management.
One Comment
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.