CompTIA Security+ Review 2026: IT staff moving into security, especially anyone targeting US government or defence contractor roles that reference DoD 8140.
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Our verdict
CompTIA Security+ is the standard vendor-neutral security credential. The current SY0-701 exam has up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions in 90 minutes, a passing score of 750 on a 100 to 900 scale, and CompTIA maps it to DoD 8140 work roles such as cyber defense analyst and incident responder. A voucher costs $439, or $579 with Retake Assurance, and renewing through continuing education costs $150 for each three-year period (as of 2026-10-02). The value is in recognition, especially for US government roles; the cost is higher than the cloud exams here, and buyers should note that SY0-801 launches around November 17, 2026 in English only, with the English SY0-701 retiring June 11, 2027.
Score breakdown
- Outcomes (30%)7.0/10
- Cost & Value (25%)6.0/10
- Academics (20%)7.0/10
- Support Services (15%)6.0/10
- Flexibility (10%)7.0/10
Scored per our review methodology.
Who it's for
Best for: IT staff moving into security, especially anyone targeting US government or defence contractor roles that reference DoD 8140..
Pricing
$439 exam voucher, or $579 with Retake Assurance; $150 continuing education fee per three-year renewal cycle (as of 2026-10-02)
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exam voucher (SY0-701) | $439 (as of 2026-10-02) | Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, pass mark 750 of 900. |
| Voucher with Retake Assurance | $579 (as of 2026-10-02) | Includes a second attempt. |
| Continuing education fee | $150 per three-year cycle (as of 2026-10-02) | Paid when renewing by uploading CEUs; CE tokens can be bought from CompTIA. |
What the evidence says
- SY0-701: up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score 750 (100-900), five languages, recommended Network+ and two years of experience, DoD 8140 work roles listed, English retirement June 11, 2027; voucher $439 and $579 with Retake Assurance shown on the page (as of 2026-10-02). (CompTIA: Security+ V7 (official))
- SY0-801 launches November 17, 2026, up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, English, ISO 17024 accredited through ANAB. (CompTIA: Security+ V8 (official))
- Security+ continuing education fee is $150 for the three-year period (as of 2026-10-02). (CompTIA: Continuing Education Renewal Fees (official))
Pros & cons
Pros
- Vendor-neutral, so it applies across employers and tools
- CompTIA lists it against several DoD 8140 work roles, including cyber defense analyst and system administrator
- Renewal through continuing education costs $150 for the three-year period, so you do not have to resit the exam
- A $579 voucher with Retake Assurance includes a second attempt (as of 2026-10-02)
Cons & red flags
- At $439 it costs nearly three times the AWS associate exam (as of 2026-10-02)
- Timing: the current SY0-701 exam is due to be replaced by SY0-801 on or around November 17, 2026, and SY0-801 launches in English only
- CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of security or systems admin experience, which many beginners lack
How it compares
CompTIA Security+ scores 6.6/10 in our professional certifications evaluation. See where it lands in the full ranking: Best Professional Certifications of 2026.
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate review — 7.6/10, engineers and analysts who work on aws and want a respected, low-cost associate-level cloud credential.
- Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer review — 7.0/10, people working on google cloud, or early in a cloud career, who want an inexpensive associate-level credential.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Security+ cost?
$439 for a voucher on CompTIA's US page, or $579 with Retake Assurance (as of 2026-10-02).
Should I wait for Security+ V8?
CompTIA says SY0-801 launches on or around November 17, 2026, in English only at launch. The English SY0-701 exam retires June 11, 2027, so either version is available through mid-2027.
How do I renew Security+?
Through CompTIA's continuing education program. The CE fee for Security+ is $150 for the three-year period (as of 2026-10-02).
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