CompTIA Security+ costs $439 for one exam attempt when you buy directly from CompTIA in the US, a price that took effect June 1, 2026, replacing $425 (Total Seminars). Authorized partners sell the same voucher for $365 to $395.10. Across a full three-year certification cycle, most candidates spend $515 to $1,208, or $14.31 to $33.56 per month.
| Quick fact | Answer |
| Difficulty | Moderate (editorial rating: 3 of 5) |
| Pass rate | Not published by CompTIA; treat any percentage online as unverified |
| Preparation time | 10 to 60 hours depending on experience (CompTIA CertMaster estimates) |
| Validity | 3 years, then renewal |
Find Your Answer Fast
| If you searched for | Short answer |
| how much does CompTIA Security+ cost | $439 retail, from $365 through partners |
| comptia security exam cost in usa | $439 USD for the US voucher |
| comptia security sy0 701 exam cost | Same price as SY0-801; only the deadline differs |
| Security+ retake cost | A full new voucher unless you prepay a retake |
| comptia security online course | Free to $1,058 depending on format |
| Security+ renewal cost | $150 per 3 years, or $0 with certain paths |
| comptia security cost per month | $14.31 to $33.56 over 3 years |
| comptia security exam cost for students | Academic pricing through CompTIA |
| Refunds, rescheduling, and expiry | Vouchers are final sale; deadlines are strict |
| comptia security cost reddit | Many threads quote outdated prices |
| comptia security salary | BLS median of $129,180 for the target occupation |
| comptia security worth it | Yes for most IT workers moving into security |
| Any other quick question | 18 short answers |
What Is on the Full Security+ Receipt?
Every possible charge falls into one of three types: required, optional, or avoidable.
| Line item | Cost | Type |
| Exam voucher (1 attempt) | $365 to $439 | Required |
| Renewal through CEUs | $150 per 3-year cycle | Required unless you renew another way |
| Retake insurance | $115 to $140 extra | Optional |
| Study materials and training | $0 to $1,058 (bootcamps cost more) | Optional |
| Second full-price voucher after failing | $439 | Avoidable |
| Exam fee forfeited for a no-show or late change | Full voucher value | Avoidable |
| Expired or retired voucher left unused | Full voucher value | Avoidable |
Which 5 Decisions Set Your Final Price?
Decision 1: Where Should You Buy the Voucher?
Buy only from CompTIA or an authorized partner, and buy the US-dollar voucher if you test in the US. CompTIA voucher terms state that vouchers are country and currency specific, cannot be resold, and that using an unauthorized discount code can invalidate your results (CompTIA Voucher Terms).
| Seller | Single voucher | Voucher plus retake | Validity and conditions |
| CompTIA (retail) | $439 | $579 | 12 months from purchase |
| Dion Training | $395.10 | $521.10 (Take 2) | 9 months; Pass Guarantee option costs $458.10 |
| Total Seminars | $393.99 | $518.99 | 11 months; the $125 retake add-on must be bought with the voucher |
| GetCertified4Less | $395 standard; $365 early-expiry | $510 | The early-expiry voucher must be used by April 30, 2027 |
Dion Training’s Security+ voucher page lists the 9-month validity, $521.10 with Take 2 against $579, $395.10 against $439, and $458.10 with Pass Guarantee. The GetCertified4Less prices were reported by HackerDNA in September 2026.
Decision 2: Should You Buy for SY0-701 or SY0-801?
The price is identical. Your test date and language decide the version.
| Detail | V7 (SY0-701) | V8 (SY0-801) |
| Available | Now | From November 17, 2026 |
| English retirement | June 11, 2027 | About 3 years after launch |
| Languages | English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai | English |
| Format | Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 750 of 900 | Same |
| Biggest content shift | None | Adds AI-related security risks; program management drops from 20% to 14% |
Sources: CompTIA Security+ V7 and CompTIA Security+ V8.
- Testing in English before June 11, 2027: Buy for V7. Its study materials are mature; Total Seminars lists its SY0-801 All-in-One guide as shipping in December 2026.
- Testing later, or starting from zero now: Prepare for V8.
- Testing in Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, or Thai: V7 stays available in those languages until August 13, 2027.
Decision 3: Do You Need Retake Insurance?
CompTIA charges the exam price for every attempt and offers no free or discounted retests. There is no wait between a first and second attempt; a third or later attempt requires at least 14 calendar days (CompTIA Retake Policy).
Insurance pays off on average only when your chance of failing exceeds the premium divided by the single-voucher price.
| Seller | Retake premium | Break-even fail probability |
| CompTIA | $140 | 31.9% |
| Dion Training | $126 | 31.9% |
| Total Seminars | $125 | 31.7% |
| GetCertified4Less | $115 | 29.1% |
The bundle shortcut: CompTIA’s Practice and Exam Bundle with Retake costs $593, which is $14 more than the $579 voucher plus retake, and it includes CertMaster Practice, which sells alone for $209 (HackerDNA, cited above).
Rule of thumb: Skip insurance if you consistently score at passing level on timed, full-length practice exams. Buy it if you have not tested yourself yet.
Decision 4: How Will You Prepare?
| Prep tier | Example cost | Best for |
| Free | $0: Professor Messer’s free SY0-701 course (121 videos, 15 hours 11 minutes) plus the official exam objectives | Experienced IT staff |
| Self-study | $40 to $60 book, $59 practice tests, $75 simulations (Total Seminars pricing) | Help desk staff and Network+ holders |
| Official CompTIA add-ons | CertMaster Study $149, CertMaster Labs $199, CertMaster Practice $209 | Candidates who want CompTIA’s own materials |
| CompTIA Learn and Exam Bundle with Retake | $884 | Beginners who want official content |
| CompTIA Complete Bundle with Retake | $1,058 | Beginners who need guided labs |
| Instructor-led bootcamp | $2,000 to $4,000 or more | Employer-funded candidates |
CertMaster, bundle, and bootcamp prices come from HackerDNA. Confirm them on the CompTIA store at checkout.
How long each comptia security online course takes, per CompTIA’s V7 page:
| CertMaster format | Estimated hours | Fits |
| Learn + Labs | 30 to 60 | No security experience |
| Learn | 25 to 40 | Foundational learners |
| Labs | 15 to 25 | Hands-on practice |
| Practice | 10 to 20 | Experienced candidates |
The exam includes performance-based questions, so prioritize labs or simulations over extra video hours.
Decision 5: How Will You Renew?
CompTIA’s total CE fee for Security+ is $150 per three-year period when you renew by uploading CEUs. The fee is waived if you pass the latest exam release, earn a higher-level CompTIA certification, or complete CertMaster CE.
| Renewal path | Cost | Best for |
| 50 CEUs plus CE fee | $150 plus activity costs | Professionals earning CEUs on the job |
| CertMaster CE | $209, fee included | Fastest single-activity renewal |
| Pass the latest Security+ (V8) | $439 retail, no CE fee | People who want the newest version |
| Pass CySA+ | $439 retail, no CE fee | Anyone moving into analyst roles |
CE fees can be paid with $25 or $50 CE tokens, which never expire.
What Will You Pay Over Three Years?
| Scenario | Exam and prep spend | Renewal | 3-year total | Per month |
| Early-expiry partner voucher, pass first try | $365 | $150 | $515 | $14.31 |
| Total Seminars voucher, pass first try | $393.99 | $150 | $543.99 | $15.11 |
| CompTIA retail, pass first try | $439 | $150 | $589 | $16.36 |
| GetCertified4Less voucher plus retake | $510 | $150 | $660 | $18.33 |
| CompTIA voucher plus retake | $579 | $150 | $729 | $20.25 |
| CompTIA Practice and Exam Bundle with Retake | $593 | $150 | $743 | $20.64 |
| Renew by passing CySA+ (two certifications held) | $878 | $0 | $878 | $24.39 |
| CompTIA retail, fail once, second voucher | $878 | $150 | $1,028 | $28.56 |
| CompTIA Complete Bundle with Retake | $1,058 | $150 | $1,208 | $33.56 |
Method: Exam and prep spend plus renewal, divided by 36 months for the monthly figure.
What Is the CompTIA Security Cost Per Month?
The comptia security cost per month ranges from $14.31 to $33.56 across a certification cycle. Renewal alone works out to $4.17 per month. CompTIA does not sell Security+ as a subscription.
Explore whether pursuing CompTIA Security+ is worth it or not: Is CompTIA Security+ is comptia security+ certification worth it in 2026?
What Does Security+ Cost for Your Situation?
What Is the CompTIA Security Exam Cost for Students?
Eligible students buy discounted vouchers through the CompTIA Academic student program. CompTIA publishes no fixed discount percentage, so check your price after verifying enrollment and compare it with your campus bookstore.
3-year budget: Academic voucher price plus $150.
Veterans and GI Bill Users
The VA reimburses up to $2,000 per test, including registration and administrative fees, even if you fail or retake (VA Licensing and Certification Tests). Your entitlement is charged by the amount reimbursed. Chapter 33, 30, 1606, and 35 beneficiaries qualify by filing VA Form 22-0803 with a receipt and test results.
3-year budget: Voucher paid upfront and reimbursed later, plus the $150 CE fee, which is not a test fee.
Help Desk Technicians With Network+
Pair a free video course with a partner voucher and one practice-test set: $393.99 plus $59 equals $452.99.
3-year budget: $602.99, or $16.75 per month.
Career Changers With No IT Background
Build IT fundamentals before buying any voucher, because a failed first attempt costs more than a fundamentals course.
3-year budget: $1,034 with the Learn bundle ($884 + $150), or $1,208 with the Complete bundle.
Employer-Sponsored and DoD Candidates
Security+ maps to DoD 8140 work roles including cyber defense analyst and incident responder, per CompTIA’s V7 page. Ask your employer to buy the voucher directly, and note that DoD components and qualifying enterprises can buy CE tokens from CompTIA in bulk.
3-year budget: $0 out of pocket when your employer covers both.
Current Holders Renewing
Choose the cheapest path in Decision 5. If CySA+ is on your roadmap, passing it renews Security+ and adds a credential for the same $439 as retesting.
Delve into the details of: CompTIA Certification Salary Breakdown: A Comprehensive Analysis for IT Professionals.
Which Money Traps Cost Candidates the Most?
- Missing the reschedule window. In-person exams must be changed at least 24 hours ahead; online exams can be changed any time before the start; no-shows forfeit the fee and cannot be rescheduled (CompTIA Help Center).
- Expecting a refund. CompTIA voucher purchases are final, and vouchers, including retakes, expire 12 months after purchase with no extensions (CompTIA Return Policy).
- Holding a V7 voucher too long. Retirement dates override voucher expiration dates, and retake vouchers cannot be redeemed for another version of the exam (CompTIA Voucher Terms, cited above). A V7 retake unused by June 11, 2027 has no value.
- Skipping the first attempt. A retake option activates only after you take and fail the exam; if you never test, the retake is forfeited.
- Letting an early-expiry voucher lapse. The $365 price disappears if you are not ready by April 30, 2027.
- Buying from an unauthorized seller. CompTIA will not replace fraudulent vouchers and may void resold ones without a refund.
- Letting the certification lapse. If you renew through CEUs, the CE fee is due by your expiration date.
Recoverable spend: Unredeemed CertMaster products can be returned within 30 days of purchase under the same return policy.
Explore further: A Complete Guide to CompTIA IT Certification Roadmap – 2026
Which Security+ Price Claims Online Are Wrong?
| Claim seen in some cost guides | Verified fact |
| “Security+ costs $404 in 2026” | Retail has been $439 since June 1, 2026 |
| “Security+ costs $425” | That price ended June 1, 2026 |
| “The retake bundle adds about $49” | That was pre-June pricing; CompTIA’s voucher plus retake is now $579 |
| “Students get up to 50% off” | CompTIA publishes no fixed academic discount percentage |
| “Rescheduling costs a flat $50 fee” | CompTIA’s help center states only the timing rules and forfeiture for no-shows |
| “Security+ pays about $81,000” | No official Security+ salary exists; use BLS occupation data |
| “All partner vouchers last 12 months” | Validity varies: 12 months at CompTIA, 11 at Total Seminars, 9 at Dion Training |
Should You Trust CompTIA Security Cost Reddit Threads?
Use Reddit for study tactics, not prices or policies. A comptia security cost reddit search mixes posts from before and after June 1, 2026, and pass-rate claims there have no official source. Check every number against the post date and the CompTIA store.
What Is the CompTIA Security Salary Outlook?
There is no official comptia security salary, because Security+ is a certification, not a job. The closest official benchmark is the occupation many holders target.
| BLS measure (May 2025) | Annual wage |
| Information security analysts, lowest 10% | Less than $75,090 |
| Information security analysts, median | $129,180 |
| Information security analysts, highest 10% | More than $199,850 |
| Network and computer systems administrators, median | $99,130 |
| Computer support specialists, median | $62,890 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
| Industry (information security analysts, May 2025) | Median annual wage |
| Information | $138,650 |
| Computer systems design | $132,410 |
| Finance and insurance | $130,630 |
| Management of companies | $128,950 |
| Consulting services | $125,420 |
- Demand: BLS projects 21% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,100 openings per year.
- Education: A bachelor’s degree is typical, though some workers enter with a high school diploma plus training and certifications.
- Caveat: BLS percentiles do not measure certification status or experience, so none of these figures is a “Security+ salary.”
Is CompTIA Security Worth It?
For most IT workers moving into security, yes. The $589 retail three-year cost equals 0.46% of the analyst median wage, and 0.89% of the $66,290 gap between help desk and analyst medians. These are occupation medians, not promised outcomes.
How Does Security+ Compare With ISC2 CC on Cost?
ISC2 closed its free Certified in Cybersecurity program to new enrollments on May 20, 2026; the CC exam now costs $199 plus a $50 annual maintenance fee, and previously issued free codes must be used by December 31, 2026 (ISC2).
| Factor | ISC2 CC | CompTIA Security+ |
| Exam fee | $199 | $439 retail |
| Maintenance over 3 years | 150(50 per year) | $150 (CEU path) |
| 3-year total | $349 | $589 |
| DoD 8140 work-role mapping | Not covered in this guide | Yes, per CompTIA |
CC costs $240 less over three years and is a low-cost test of interest in security. Security+ is the stronger buy for DoD-aligned roles.
Who Should Skip Security+ for Now?
- No IT background: Build fundamentals first.
- Experienced security professionals: CySA+ may advance your career further for the same $439.
How Does Security+ Fit Among CompTIA Certifications?
| Path | Retail voucher cost | Renewal effect |
| Security+ only | $439 | $150 CE fee per cycle |
| Network+ then Security+ | $838 | Security+ renews Network+ |
| A+ (two exams), Network+, Security+ | $1,386 | Security+ renews the lower certifications |
| Security+ then CySA+ | $878 | CySA+ renews Security+ with no CE fee |
Prices are 2026 retail from Total Seminars. Across CompTIA Certifications, you pay CE fees only on your highest-level certification when it fully renews the lower ones.
Delve into the details of: Boost Your Career with New CompTIA xpert Series Certifications
Your Security+ Buying Path
- Ready to test in English before April 30, 2027? Buy an early-expiry partner voucher. 3-year cost: $515.
- Ready before June 11, 2027, but want flexibility? Buy a standard partner V7 voucher and check its validity window. 3-year cost: $543.99.
- Not yet passing practice exams? Buy a partner voucher plus retake ($510 to $521.10); at CompTIA, choose the $593 Practice and Exam Bundle over the $579 voucher plus retake.
- Starting from zero? Prepare for V8 and buy a voucher only when practice scores are consistent.
- Veteran, student, or employer-sponsored? Use your funding route before spending your own money.
CompTIA Security+ Cost FAQs
How much does the CompTIA Security+ exam cost?
The CompTIA Security+ cost is $439 for one attempt when bought directly from CompTIA in the US, effective June 1, 2026. Authorized partners sell the same voucher for $365 to $395.10.
How much is a Security+ retake?
A retake costs a full new voucher, $439 at retail, because CompTIA offers no free or discounted retests. Prepaying a retake option costs $115 to $140 extra, depending on the seller.
How hard is the Security+ exam?
Security+ is moderately difficult: up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions in 90 minutes, with a passing score of 750 on a 100 to 900 scale. CompTIA does not publish pass rates.
Is there a student discount for CompTIA exams?
Yes. Eligible students buy discounted vouchers through the CompTIA Academic student program. CompTIA does not publish a fixed discount percentage, so the price appears after enrollment verification.
Can I get Security+ for free?
The exam itself is not free. GI Bill reimbursement, employer sponsorship, and state workforce programs can cover the full cost, and free study resources can bring preparation costs to $0.
Is there a payment plan for Security+?
This guide found no CompTIA installment plan in its published policies, so confirm at checkout. To spread costs, buy study materials first and the voucher once your practice scores are consistent.
Can I get a refund on a Security+ voucher?
No. CompTIA voucher purchases are final and cannot be returned, refunded, or exchanged. Unredeemed CertMaster products can be returned within 30 days of purchase.
How long is a Security+ voucher valid?
CompTIA vouchers expire 12 months after purchase. Partner validity varies: 11 months at Total Seminars and 9 months at Dion Training. An exam retirement date overrides any voucher expiration date.
Can I use an SY0-701 voucher for SY0-801?
CompTIA vouchers are exam-series specific and sometimes exam-code specific, so confirm with your seller before buying. Retake vouchers cannot be redeemed for a different version of the exam.
What salary can I get with Security+?
There is no official Security+ salary. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $129,180 for information security analysts, an occupation many holders target, but pay depends on role, experience, and location.
Is CompTIA Security+ worth it?
For most IT workers moving into security, yes. The $589 retail three-year cost equals 0.46% of the BLS median wage for information security analysts. Career changers without IT experience should build fundamentals first.
