Looking for the best online real estate school?
If so, you’ll surely come across two names - Colibri Real Estate and The CE Shop.
Both these online schools provide pre-licensing and continuing education courses in almost every state. Plus, they’re both 100% online, meaning you can study it from the comfort of your home.
But you might ask the question, “Which is better?”
To help you answer that, we’ve done a side-by-side comparison for you. This way, you’ll be able to determine which one fits your needs and preferences more.
So shall we?
Colibri Real Estate Overview
Colibri Real Estate is one of the most popular and reputable online real estate schools in the country.
It goes as far back as 1996 and is considered a pioneer in online real estate education.
Every year, it helps tens of thousands of aspiring real estate agents achieve their career goals.
Also, Colibri Real Estate is a part of the Colibri Group, a family of brands that provide learning solutions for licensed professionals.
The CE Shop Overview
The CE Shop is another online real estate school that has built a solid reputation over the years. It is one of the biggest and most trusted brands in the US.
Its quality of education has enabled it to reach more states than most real estate schools have.
In 2017, one of its pre-licensing programs was awarded the Online Education Program of the Year.
Colibri Real Estate vs The CE Shop: A Side by Side Comparison
To compare both schools, we’re going to look at:
- Availability
- Course options
- User experience
- Pricing
- Reviews
- Features
Here’s a quick comparison chart you can refer to:
Colibri Real Estate | The CE Shop | |
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Pre-Licensing Courses Available in: | 34 States
| 39 States
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Course Options |
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User Experience |
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Pricing |
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Reviews |
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Features |
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Sign Up |
Pricing as of 03/28/2022
Availability
As we mentioned, both Colibri Real Estate and The CE Shop offer pre-licensing courses in almost every state.
This is what makes them so popular all around the US.
As for continuing education, since that is The CE Shop’s specialty, they offer it to all states, plus the District of Columbia.
Colibri Real Estate, on the other hand, only offers CE courses to 2 states (NJ and PA). However, if you want, you can check out their sister company, McKissock, which provides CE courses to all states and the district of Columbia.
So whichever school you pick, it’s a win-win situation when it comes to availability.
Course Options
The great news is that both Colibri Real Estate and The CE Shop have courses that match all your real estate needs.
Want to get a license? Take the pre-licensing courses!
Want to renew your license? There are the CE courses.
Want to upgrade your license from agent to broker? License upgrades are available, too.
Keep in mind, though, state availability will vary. So check with your preferred provider before you enroll in any program.
What’s more, both schools have available Exam Prep programs that you can purchase as an additional study method. This will help you ace your licensing exam on the first try!
User Experience
Content-wise, Colibri Real Estate’s online courses are thorough. Chapters are broken down into bite-sized chunks, making information more digestible. However, there are long sections that are somewhat wordy and boring.
There are a few videos to keep engagement, but those are only in the summary sections. The plus side is that they make you look forward to finishing each unit.
Also, although these videos are a bit outdated, it’s still fun to watch.
Colibri Real Estate, however, has other ways of encouraging interaction.
For one, it has a student forum where learners can engage in discussions with others.
If you opt for the Exam Preparation Plus package, you get to participate in live weekly sessions. These live Q&A sessions are a great way to interact with your instructor. You also get to meet other course learners virtually.
Other learning materials include Fearless Math. This is a free guide that will help you with common real estate math computations. Other eBooks available include Principles of Real Estate Practice and Real Estate Math Handbook.
The CE Shop’s real estate courses are more interactive compared to Colibri Real Estate.
Unlike Colibri Real Estate, The CE Shop has many more images and video content that makes studying a little less eye-straining.
The CE Shop appeals more to visual learners. Each unit resource has a video version for when you’re too lazy to read text. Of course, that doesn’t mean they don’t provide PDFs, eBooks, and other text-based resources.
You can even download these reading materials so you can study them offline.
Both schools also have easy-to-navigate user interfaces. They make sure to show you your course progress.
Pricing
Price-wise, there isn’t much difference between the two schools.
With the basic packages, you get similar features within the same price range.
However, if you want to go for a more expensive course option, I think you’re better off with Colibri Real Estate.
With its most expensive package called Ultimate Learning, you get premium privileges apart from printed textbooks. You’ll receive a free 1-year membership on professional development. You’ll also get to attend a 90-day boot camp led by real estate expert Sherri Johnson.
Now, isn’t that exciting?
On the other hand, there’s isn’t anything special about The CE Shop’s premium package. You just get additional learning materials such as downloadable resources, digital flashcards, and a real estate glossary.
Reviews
Most customer reviews you will see onColibri Real Estate say the course is boring. However, they had to admit that it was very thorough and easy to understand.
You have to expect a lot of reading, and you will need to memorize a ton of stuff.
With that said, you can rely on Colibri Real Estate to help you pass your licensing exam.
Users find the course well-formatted and the modules well organized. Many course takers found that the final course exam questions are similar to the state exam.
It has many resources that provide all the essential information you need. The course also gives you quick access to a coach who will answer all your questions.
Many previous users say that the instructors are helpful and are quick to respond.
So overall, it might not be the most fun course, but it will provide everything you need.
On the other hand, many users enjoy the mix of reading, watching videos, and answering quizzes in The CE Shop’s courses. However, they had to mention that it lacked in some areas.
One review said that the course is missing some information. Others complained that some terms or concepts were in the final course exam but not included in the course content.
Many previous users also agree that some questions on the final exam were not taught in the program.
Despite that, these students were still satisfied with what the course taught them.
Features
Both schools offer great features.
Colibri Real Estate has a pass-or-don’t-pay guarantee. The company prides itself on giving you the best value for your money. Isn’t it good to know that they have confidence in their service?
Meanwhile, The CE Shop gives you time to decide whether to proceed with your purchase or not. The school lets you try the course for FREE for five days. Not many schools have this option, so this is nice if you’re still undecided.
Verdict
Colibri Real Estate vs The CE Shop: Which is better?
The answer will all depend on YOU.
If you’re looking for a thorough, straightforward course, then Colibri Real Estate will appeal to your learning style. Plus, they offer a lot of great features to help you succeed in your real estate career.
If you learn better with visuals and interactivity, the CE Shop will cater more to you. And, if you need to renew your real estate license later on, you can always rely on them to provide some of the best continuing education courses in the country (I mean, they offer this course to all 50 states!).
So what will it be?
It’s your call!