What CompTIA Security+ actually costs in 2026
Short answer: CompTIA Security+ is the priciest of the three core certs (A+, Network+, Security+) at about $439 in 2026, after a June price increase from $425. A realistic all-in with materials and your first renewal lands around $750 to $1,200 if you pass first try, or $1,200 to $1,650 if you need one retake. The spread is mostly how much you spend on materials. It is one exam. Plan for roughly 80 to 120 hours of study, about 8 to 12 weeks part-time if you have A+ and Network+ level fundamentals. Then you renew every 3 years.
Here is the honest breakdown.
One exam, top of the price list
Security+ (exam code SY0-701) is a single exam, but it is the most expensive of the core three at about $439 per attempt in the US as of the June 2026 increase (up from $425). It covers threats and attacks, architecture, operations, incident response, and governance. It is the cert most employers ask for when they say "security." Prices here were checked against CompTIA's published pricing on 2026-08-07. CompTIA changes them without much notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
The retake trap, and one way to soften it
No free retakes. Fail and the next attempt is another full ~$439.
- Retake immediately after a first fail.
- After a second fail, wait 14 days.
One thing worth knowing: some training providers bundle a second-attempt voucher with your first one, which costs less than buying another full $439 voucher later. CompTIA does not publish that add-on price, so it moves around by seller. Price it out at checkout rather than trusting a number you read somewhere, and if you are nervous about a first attempt, it can be cheaper insurance than a full retake.
Also worth knowing before you buy: a CompTIA voucher expires 12 months after purchase. Buy early to lock in a price, let your study plan slip past a year, and the voucher is gone along with the $439. Buy it when you are close to ready, not when you start.
Study materials
CompTIA's official CertMaster products for Security+ at full retail:
- CertMaster Learn: ~$369
- CertMaster Labs: ~$135
- CertMaster Practice: ~$149 to $200
- Official Study Guide: ~$95
The full official stack is $600 to $800 on top of the exam, and CompTIA's all-in bundles (voucher plus retake plus all the CertMaster products) often run well over $1,000.
Renewal: the 3-year clock
Security+ is good for 3 years. It asks for more than the lower certs:
- Earn 50 continuing-education units (CEUs) and pay about $150 in CE fees across the cycle.
- Or take CertMaster CE for about $195 to $220, which handles it in one.
- Or retake the current exam (~$439).
Note the 50 CEUs, which is more than Network+ (30) or A+ (20). Security+ expects you to keep learning.
The real total
For a realistic first-timer who buys some materials and might need a retake:
| Line item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Exam (one attempt) | ~$439 |
| A possible retake | ~$439 |
| Some official study materials | $150 to $600 |
| First renewal (3-year, CEU path) | ~$150 |
| All-in if you pass first try | ~$750 to $1,200 |
| All-in with one retake | ~$1,200 to $1,650 |
The time cost
With A+ and Network+ level fundamentals, plan for about 80 to 120 hours of study, more than Network+ because Security+ is broad and heavy on real-world security operations. In calendar terms:
- 10 to 12 hours a week: about 8 to 12 weeks.
- 6 to 8 hours a week: about 12 to 16 weeks.
An 8-week sprint is doable with strong fundamentals and daily study, but most working people are more comfortable in the 10 to 12 week range.
How to spend less without cutting corners
- You do not need the full official stack. A solid course, real practice questions, and hands-on reps cover it.
- If a first-attempt pass feels shaky, price out a provider bundle with a second-attempt voucher instead of gambling a full $439.
- Wait to buy the voucher until you are close to ready. Vouchers expire 12 months after purchase, so an early buy on a slow study plan can cost you the whole $439.
- Security+ rewards understanding over memorizing. Learn why a control exists, not just its name, because the exam tests judgment.
Where Revy's Tech Journey fits
The honest, small pitch: official CertMaster training alone runs $600 to $800, and Security+ is the exam you least want to pay for twice. Revy's Tech Journey gives you the Security+ practice questions, hands-on simulator, flashcards, and adventure-style lessons (plus A+ and Network+) for $24 a month on Pro, or a one-time Lifetime option. It does not replace the exam, and we will never promise it guarantees a pass. It is the reps layer that gets you to a one-and-done.
Study smart, sit it once, and the priciest core cert stings a lot less. The full objective map is on the Security+ certification track page, and pricing lays out Pro and Lifetime side by side.
Questions about your path to SY0-701? Email the team. We reply personally, usually within a day.
Sources
Figures are US, 2026. Sourced from CompTIA official pages, including the CompTIA Security+ certification overview, the certification retake policy, and the continuing-education renewal fees, plus 2026 pricing breakdowns tracking the June 2026 increase and current CertMaster retail pricing.
About the authors
IT Service Center Manager and former CTE / IT teacher. Owner of Revtek in Chicago's south suburbs. Writes everything that ships under his name and reviews every line of Revy-assisted drafting before publish.
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Who writes this, and who checks it
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When a post turns out to be wrong, the fix and the date it happened go on the corrections log, in public, including the ones nobody outside noticed. We do not use confidential, recalled, or leaked exam content. These posts are written from CompTIA's published objectives and authoritative technical sources. The AI policy has the longer version.
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