Security+ Cost Breakdown, Line by Line
USD, from CompTIA's store and continuing education pages as of September 2026. Voucher prices differ outside the US.
| Line item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exam voucher (SY0-701) | $439 | US price. One attempt. Valid for the exam version on the voucher. |
| Retake | $439 | New voucher, unless you bought a voucher-plus-retake bundle. |
| Continuing education fee | $150 per 3 years | About $50 a year. Pay any time in the cycle. |
| 50 CEUs | $0 and up | Free webinars and self-reported learning count. Paid courses are optional. |
| Study guide and practice tests | Varies | Books, video courses, and question banks. Many free options exist. |
| Official training bundle or bootcamp | Up to about $1,000+ | Optional. Brings the first-year total toward $1,500. |
| First-year total | $439 to $1,500 | Voucher alone at the low end, official training at the high end. |
What Does the Security+ Voucher Buy?
One attempt at SY0-701: a maximum of 90 questions, a mix of multiple choice and performance-based items, in 90 minutes. The passing score is 750 on a scale of 100 to 900. CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of experience in a security or systems administrator role, but neither is required to sit the exam or hold the certification.
Timing matters in 2026. CompTIA expects Security+ V8 to launch on or around November 17, 2026, and the English SY0-701 exam retires June 11, 2027. If you are just starting, decide which version you will study for and sit before you buy a voucher.
How Much Does a Security+ Retake Cost?
A retake is a full new voucher, so failing once turns a $439 certification into an $878 one. CompTIA's retake policy has no waiting period between your first and second attempts, and requires at least 14 calendar days before a third or any later attempt.
If you are unsure about passing the first time, compare the store price of a voucher-plus-retake bundle against a single voucher before you check out. For first-time test takers who are consistently passing practice exams, the single voucher is usually the better buy.
Is Security+ Cheaper Than Other Entry Certifications?
No. Security+ sits at the upper end of entry-level exam fees. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity lists at $199 and has run free through ISC2 promotions, and the cloud vendor security exams cost less. Security+ earns its price through recognition: it is the baseline many job posts assume. Fees below are as of September 2026.
| Certification | Exam fee | Renewal | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Security+ | $439 | $50 per year CE fee, 50 CEUs every 3 years | The entry credential most job posts assume you already hold |
| ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) | $199 | $50 per year AMF | The lowest-cost recognized entry credential |
| AWS Certified Security - Specialty | $300 | Recertify every 3 years, $300 | Hands-on AWS security and cloud GRC |
| Microsoft AZ-500 | $165 | Free, yearly online renewal | Azure security engineers |
If GRC is the goal, the cheapest path is rarely a single exam. See the cheapest GRC certifications and GRC certification costs for the full ranking.
How Can You Pay Less for Security+?
Use a student price if you qualify
CompTIA runs a separate academic store for students. If you are enrolled, check it before paying retail.
Ask your employer or program
Employers, workforce programs, and military education benefits sometimes cover CompTIA exams. Ask before you buy, not after.
Study with free resources
Free video courses and CompTIA's published exam objectives cover the content. Spend on a practice-test bank, the one purchase most likely to prevent a paid retake.
Earn CEUs for free
The 50 CEUs over three years can come from free webinars, work activities, and self-reported learning hours from communities like the GRC Engineering Club, so renewal stays at $150.
What $70 a Year Adds After Security+
Security+ proves you know security fundamentals. GRC roles also ask whether you can map controls to frameworks, gather audit evidence, and automate the busywork. The GRC Engineering Club includes the CGE-P, CGE-AUD, and CGE-AZ certifications in one membership, with hands-on labs you build in your own cloud account. They are newer and less known to HR filters than Security+, so they work best as the GRC layer on top of it, with a portfolio to show for it.
What $70 a year gets you after Security+
Club membership is $70 per year, or $9.99 a month. Every certification in the Training Academy is included. Bought one at a time, the three current certifications are $350 each, so $1,050 of credentials come with a membership that costs less than most single exam vouchers.
- CGE-P, CGE-AUD, CGE-AZ: training, labs, exam, and certificate, no exam fee
- Hands-on AWS and Azure compliance labs you build in your own account
- Weekly private podcast and live Q&A with working GRC engineers
- Mock interviews, playbooks, and live builder sessions
- Local chapters and a Slack of 1,300+ GRC professionals
- Self-reported CPE hours for ISACA, ISC2, and IAPP renewals
Planning the next credential? See the best GRC certifications for beginners, free GRC training, and what CISSP costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Security+ exam cost?
A CompTIA Security+ exam voucher costs $439 in the United States as of September 2026. The voucher covers one attempt at the SY0-701 exam, and a retake requires a new voucher. CompTIA also sells bundles that pair the voucher with a retake or training.
What is the total cost of Security+ certification?
The minimum is the $439 voucher if you pass the first time using free study resources. A typical self-study budget with a book and practice tests lands around $500 to $700, and bundles with official training or a bootcamp push the first year toward $1,500. Renewal adds $150 every three years.
How much does it cost to renew Security+?
Security+ renewal costs $150 per three-year cycle in continuing education fees, which works out to $50 a year, plus 50 continuing education units (CEUs). You can pay the fee at any point in the three-year cycle.
How much is a Security+ retake?
A Security+ retake costs a new $439 voucher unless you bought a bundle that includes a retake. CompTIA has no waiting period between your first and second attempt, but requires at least 14 days before a third or later attempt.
Is Security+ changing in 2026?
Yes. CompTIA expects to launch Security+ V8 on or around November 17, 2026. The current V7 exam (SY0-701) stays available in English until June 11, 2027. If you are already studying for SY0-701, you have time to finish on that version.
Is Security+ worth it for GRC?
Security+ is a solid foundation for GRC because it covers security controls, risk, and governance basics that GRC work builds on. It does not teach audit, framework mapping, or compliance automation. Many people pair it with a GRC-specific credential, such as the CGE-P from the GRC Engineering Club, included in a $70 a year membership.