Mike Holt price comparison (review 2)

What you're actually comparing

Mike Holt sells training. Books, videos, exam prep, continuing ed. His catalog is built around the code cycle and the people trying to pass a test or teach one. Ask BONBON sells answers. You pull out your phone on a ladder, ask a question about NEC 210.8(A) or 250.122, and get a citation back in seconds.

So the "price comparison" isn't apples to apples. It's closer to comparing a library card to a flashlight. Both useful. Different jobs. Here's how the money actually shakes out for a working electrician who already has a license and is not studying for an exam.

Mike Holt pricing, rough numbers

Prices shift every code cycle, but the shape of the catalog is stable. Expect to pay real money for anything bundled with video.

• NEC Code book (softcover, current cycle): roughly $45 to $60
• Understanding the NEC Vol. 1 textbook: around $85
• Understanding the NEC Vol. 2 textbook: around $85
• Exam prep bundles with video library: $400 to $900 depending on state
• Continuing education online (per state CEU package): $60 to $200
• Master or Journeyman full program: $500 to $1,500

None of that is wasted money if you're preparing for a licensing exam or you like to sit down and study. The textbooks are well illustrated, the video library is genuinely good, and his team knows the code. If you want to understand why 230.70(A)(1) says the service disconnect has to be at a "readily accessible location" and what that phrase means in case law, a textbook is the right tool.

Ask BONBON pricing

Ask BONBON is a subscription app. Ask any NEC question, get a cited answer. It's built for the truck, not the classroom.

The free tier lets you try it. The paid tier runs less than a dinner out per month. Over a year, it costs less than one Mike Holt textbook. You don't buy it again every code cycle. The app updates with the code.

On a service call last month I had a homeowner ask why the bathroom receptacle kept tripping. Pulled the phone, asked about GFCI requirements for bathroom branch circuits, got 210.8(A)(1) cited back with the 6 foot rule from the edge of the sink. Closed the ticket in 90 seconds.

Where Mike Holt wins

If you're taking an exam, buy Mike Holt. Full stop. The practice questions, the video walkthroughs, and the structure of his programs are built specifically for passing a test. An AI tool is the wrong tool for that job because exams test your ability to navigate the code book under pressure, not your ability to query a chatbot.

Mike Holt also wins on depth. When you want the full explanation of grounding versus bonding, with diagrams, real examples, and 40 minutes of video, the textbook or the DVD set is going to teach you more than any 30 second answer will.

• Licensing exam prep
• Apprentice training programs
• Continuing education credits that your state requires
• Deep study on topics like grounding, transformers, motor calculations
• Shop or classroom reference that stays on a shelf

Where Ask BONBON wins

On the job. In the attic. In a crawl space. On a roof. Any time you need a specific answer to a specific question and you don't have 20 minutes to flip through the index of a code book or scrub a 90 minute video.

Common examples from a normal week:

1. "What's the minimum burial depth for 120V UF cable under a driveway?" NEC 300.5 table, 18 inches with GFCI.
2. "Do I need an AFCI on this garage circuit?" 210.12 and 210.8 cross reference.
3. "How many 12 AWG THHN can I pull through a 3/4 inch EMT?" Chapter 9 table 1 fill plus table 5 dimensions.
4. "Is a disconnect required within sight of this rooftop unit?" 440.14.

Those are questions you can technically answer with a code book. You can also technically drive a nail with a wrench. The app saves 5 to 15 minutes a call, and the citation means you're not guessing.

Treat any AI answer like a green apprentice giving you a page number. Useful starting point. Always open the code book and confirm before you bond something or size a conductor.

What most guys actually need

Both. And it's not close. A working electrician should own the current NEC, one solid study resource from Mike Holt or similar for the topics they're weak on, and a field app for the thousand small questions that come up on a truck.

The Mike Holt purchase is a one time hit every three years when the code cycle updates. The app is a small monthly line item. Together they cover study, reference, and field work without overlapping much.

If your budget forces a pick, ask yourself this: when did you last open a textbook on a job site? If the answer is never, the app is the better dollar. If you're 6 months out from a Master's exam, buy the books first.

Bottom line

Mike Holt is a teacher. Ask BONBON is a tool. A teacher costs more and gives you understanding. A tool costs less and gives you speed. You need both to work efficiently, and they don't compete for the same job. Price them separately, buy them for different reasons, and don't expect one to replace the other.

If you've only got one in your bag right now, the gap in your week will tell you which one to buy next.