How much does CompTIA Security+ cost in 2026?

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) costs $439 as of the June 1, 2026 price increase, up from $425 before that date. Retakes are full price with no discounted standalone retake fee. The "exam plus retake" bundle runs about $579 — roughly 30% more than a single voucher (SecuSpark; Simpliaxis, August 26, 2026).

How much does CompTIA A+ cost in 2026?

CompTIA A+ requires two exams: Core 1 (220-1201) at $274 and Core 2 (220-1202) at $274, for a total of $548 as of the June 1, 2026 increase. A+ retake bundles jumped to $359 with the price hike, up $45 from the prior price (SecuSpark; Simpliaxis, August 26, 2026).

How much does CompTIA Network+ cost in 2026?

CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) costs $399 as of the June 1, 2026 increase, up from $390. The Network+ with Retake bundle is $519, up $80 from the prior price. There is no discounted standalone retake fee; the bundle is the only way to lock in a discounted second attempt (Simpliaxis, August 26, 2026).

What other CompTIA exams were affected by the June 1, 2026 increase?

The June 1, 2026 lineup-wide price hike affected Security+ ($425 → $439, +$14), A+ ($265 → $274, +$9), Network+ ($390 → $399, +$9), CySA+ ($425 → $439, +$14), PenTest+ ($425 → $439, +$14), Tech+ ($125 → $129, +$4), and SecAI+ (the newest cert, came down to $359). CASP+/SecurityX is the expert-tier cert at roughly $509 (Simpliaxis, August 26, 2026).

What is the cheapest way to get a CompTIA voucher?

Three legitimate discount routes: (1) CompTIA Academic Store — 35% to 55% off for verified students at four-year institutions (and some two-year), with Security+ landing near $220; (2) CompTIA Authorized Partners — roughly 10% to 20% off list price for anyone; (3) Bundles with a retake included — best value if you might fail, but only useful if you actually take the exam (SecuSpark, 2026).

How much do CompTIA retakes cost?

CompTIA does not offer a discounted standalone retake fee. If you fail an exam and did not purchase a retake bundle in advance, you must buy a brand-new full-price voucher. Security+ is $439 again, A+ is $274 again per exam, Network+ is $399 again. There is a 14-day wait after the first failure and after every subsequent failure. There is no lifetime attempt limit (SecuSpark; Simpliaxis, 2026).

CompTIA Security Plus Cost 439 June 2026 Price Hike

Q: Can employers or the military cover CompTIA exam fees?

Yes. Army COOL, Navy COOL, and Air Force COOL can pay for CompTIA exam vouchers directly for active-duty personnel in eligible work roles, up to an annual funding cap. Veterans can reclaim fees through the GI Bill after passing, claimed on VA Form 22-0803. Many employers and workforce development programs also cover the cost. There is no free voucher available to the general public (Certcrush, 2026).

CompTIA Security Plus Cost 439 June 2026 Price Hike

Last verified: Sep 16, 2026.

At a glance

Effective date: June 1, 2026
Security+: $439 (was $425, +$14)
A+: $548 total (was $530, +$18)
Network+: $399 (was $390, +$9)
CySA+ / PenTest+: $439 each
CASP+ / SecurityX: ~$509 (expert tier)
SecAI+ (new): $359 (came down)

What changed in the June 1, 2026 price hike

Most CompTIA exams went up $9 to $14, with retake bundles jumping $80 to $105. Security+ SY0-701: $425 → $439 (+$14, +3.3%). A+ Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202): $265 → $274 per exam (+$9 each, +3.4%). Network+ N10-009: $390 → $399 (+$9, +2.3%). CySA+ and PenTest+ followed the same pattern as Security+: $425 → $439 (SecuSpark; Simpliaxis, August 26, 2026).

The retake bundle increases were the largest. Security+ with Retake went from $474 to $579, up $105 (+22.1%). Network+ with Retake went from $439 to $519, up $80 (+18.2%). A+ with Retake went from $314 to $359, up $45 (+14.3%). The bundle increases disproportionately affect first-time candidates who want failure insurance.

What stayed flat or dropped

One new certification came in lower than its predecessor: SecAI+ at $359. SecAI+ is CompTIA's newest AI-security credential. Tech+ (the IT fundamentals cert) went from $125 to $129, a smaller $4 increase. CASP+ (now SecurityX), the expert-tier cybersecurity cert, remains at approximately $509 (Simpliaxis, August 26, 2026).

For candidates considering multiple CompTIA certifications in 2026, the path-level economics matter: Security+ alone covers the bulk of entry-level cybersecurity hiring; CySA+ and PenTest+ build on Security+; CASP+ / SecurityX is the expert tier. A full stack of A+ → Network+ → Security+ → CySA+ runs $1,825 at retail, $913 with the academic discount.

Cheapest ways to get a CompTIA voucher

Three legitimate discount routes, plus the bundle-for-failure-insurance option. The CompTIA Academic Store offers 35-55% off for verified students at four-year institutions (and some two-year schools) — Security+ lands near $220 there, roughly half the retail price. CompTIA Authorized Partners routinely offer 10-20% off list (Security+ around $350-$375 at Professor Messer, Dion Training, and similar storefronts). Military personnel in eligible work roles can get vouchers funded 100% through Army/Navy/Air Force COOL programs, with annual funding caps; veterans can reclaim fees through the GI Bill after passing (Certcrush, 2026).

The bundle-with-retake option is the third lever. If you are not 100% confident you will pass on the first attempt, the Security+ bundle at $579 saves you about $300 compared to paying for two separate $439 vouchers. If you are confident, the single voucher at $439 (or less through Academic Store) is the right call.

Retake policy in detail

No lifetime limit, but a 14-day wait after the first failure. First retake: full price, no waiting period — you can rebook the same day you fail. Second and subsequent retakes: full price with a mandatory 14-day wait between each attempt. No lifetime attempt limit means you can retake any CompTIA exam as many times as needed (SecuSpark, 2026).

The bundle structure is the only way to pre-buy a discounted second attempt. The catch: you have to actually take the exam and not pass to activate the retake — if you never sit the exam, the voucher is voided and the retake option goes with it. That makes the bundle the right call only for candidates who will definitely sit the exam in the 12-month voucher window.

Voucher expiration and exam retirement

CompTIA vouchers expire 12 months from purchase, and the expiration date cannot be extended. Exam retirement supersedes voucher expiry — if the exam version retires before your voucher runs out, the voucher dies with the exam. CompTIA had several exam version refreshes in flight during 2026 (Certcrush, 2026).

The implication for candidates: buy the voucher close to your planned test date. A flash sale today does not help if you do not actually sit the exam in the next year — and you cannot extend the expiration if your test prep takes longer than expected.

How candidates should budget now

For a self-funded candidate, the cheapest path through CompTIA certifications is the Academic Store. Security+ at $220 (academic) is the entry point. CySA+ at $219 (academic, with Security+ discount stacking). PenTest+ at $219 (academic). Full stack A+ → Network+ → Security+ → CySA+ at academic pricing runs about $913 — less than half the retail cost. The student discount requires a .edu email verified through SheerID (Certcrush, 2026).

For an employer-funded candidate, the calculus is simpler: any CompTIA Authorized Partner at 10-20% off is enough savings to justify the partnership, and the GI Bill reimbursement for veterans makes the effective cost zero post-exam.

What to watch next

Three near-term datapoints. First, any 2027 price increase — CompTIA typically announces pricing changes 30-60 days before the effective date. Second, the next A+ and Network+ exam version refreshes — current versions have been in market for 18+ months, and a refresh cycle could land in late 2026 or 2027. Third, SecAI+ adoption as the AI-security credential of choice — if it stabilizes at $359, expect a price increase as it gains market traction.

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Written by

Fazlur RahmanAI, Entrepreneurship, EdTech

Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practi… Read more

Fazlur Rahman is the founder of Tutorsbot, building AI-powered tools for learning and career growth. He writes about applying AI in real products and the practical side of building an ed-tech startup.