CompTIA Security+ Exam Cost 2026: Full Breakdown

Updated October 5, 2026. The CompTIA Security+ exam cost is the first number every aspiring security professional looks up, and the sticker price is only part of the story. Between the voucher, optional training bundles, practice tests, potential retakes and the three-year renewal cycle, the real cost of getting and keeping Security+ ranges from about $404 to over $900 depending on how you prepare. This guide breaks down every component for the current SY0-701 exam series, shows where the money is worth spending, and lists the legitimate ways to pay less.

Last verified: October 5, 2026 - prices checked against CompTIA store pricing, October 2026.

Quick answer: The US exam voucher costs about $404 in 2026 (CompTIA store pricing, October 2026). Bundles with training and labs run roughly $550 to $700. There is no free retake - a second attempt costs full price, so budget a cushion. Renewal costs $50 per year under the CE program, or is free if you pass a higher-level CompTIA exam. A realistic all-in self-study budget is $600 to $900.

Security+ cost breakdown (2026)

Source: CompTIA store pricing, October 2026. Regional prices differ - confirm with your country selected.

The voucher: what you are actually paying for

A Security+ exam voucher buys exactly one attempt at the SY0-701 exam, taken either at a Pearson VUE test centre or online through OnVUE proctoring. In the United States the list price is about $404 as of 2026, set per region and periodically adjusted, so treat that number as a planning figure and confirm the live price on the CompTIA store before you buy (CompTIA store pricing, October 2026). Regional pricing differs meaningfully - the UK, India and other markets have their own price points - so search the store with your country selected rather than converting the US price.

The voucher is valid for a fixed window from purchase, typically around 12 months, so do not buy it until your study plan has a real exam date. Vouchers are also not transferable between exam series: if CompTIA retires SY0-701 for a newer series, check that your voucher covers the exam you intend to sit.

Bundles versus standalone vouchers

CompTIA sells the CertMaster bundle family - voucher plus CertMaster Learn e-learning, CertMaster Labs and CertMaster Practice - typically in the $550 to $700 range depending on the combination. The maths is simple: if you would otherwise spend $80 to $150 on a video course and $50 to $100 on practice tests, the bundle usually wins on price and has the advantage of being officially aligned to the exam objectives. If you already own a course, have employer-provided training, or learn from free resources, the standalone voucher is the cheaper path. Third-party training subscriptions and bootcamps price their own way, from $30 monthly video libraries to four-figure bootcamps that sometimes include a voucher - read the inclusion list carefully before comparing headline prices.

Retakes and the waiting periods

Failing the first attempt is common enough that you should budget for it. CompTIA does not include a free retake on the standard voucher; you buy a second voucher at full price. The retake policy requires waiting 14 days after the first attempt before sitting again, with up to three attempts permitted within a policy cycle after further waits. The practical takeaway: book your first attempt when practice scores are consistently passing, not when they are borderline, because a $404 retake is the most expensive study motivation there is.

Keeping the certification: renewal costs

Security+ is valid for three years from your pass date. The CompTIA Continuing Education program renews it for a $50 annual CE fee plus 50 continuing education units earned through training, work experience activities, or approved coursework - $150 total across the cycle. The alternative costs nothing extra: passing any higher-level CompTIA exam, such as CySA+, PenTest+ or CASP+, automatically renews Security+. Many professionals plan their next certification anyway, which makes the free renewal route the default for career-progressors.

Realistic total budgets

• Minimum path - about $404: voucher only, free video courses, free practice question sets, one attempt, renewal via a higher exam later.
• Standard path - $600 to $750: voucher, a paid video course, one or two paid practice test banks, one attempt, $150 CE renewal across three years.
• Comfort path - $850 to $900: bundle with official labs and practice tests, a retake cushion, CE renewal. This is the budget most career-changers should actually plan.

Legitimate ways to pay less

• Academic pricing. Verified students and educators get discounted vouchers through CompTIA's academic store - often the single biggest saving available.
• Employer or programme funding. Many employers pay for Security+ as a baseline security credential, and government workforce programmes, veterans' benefits and some bootcamp financing plans cover vouchers. Ask before you self-fund.
• Buy only from CompTIA or authorised resellers. Marketplace listings offering steep voucher discounts are frequently expired, region-locked or outright fraudulent, and a rejected voucher at check-in costs you the slot.
• Time your purchase. CompTIA occasionally runs store promotions around major shopping events. If your exam date is flexible, waiting for a promotion can save 10 to 20 percent.

Bottom line

Plan on about $404 for the Security+ voucher in the US, $550 to $700 if a bundle replaces the courses and practice tests you would buy anyway, and $600 to $900 as a realistic total including a retake cushion. Spend on practice tests before you spend on more video hours - the SY0-701 exam rewards question fluency under time pressure. And remember the cheapest renewal is the next certification: passing CySA+ or CASP+ keeps Security+ alive for free.