Validates knowledge of security threats, protective controls, risk management and incident response across modern IT environments.
A good Security+ course takes you through all five SY0-701 domains and prepares you for the hands-on questions. We compared the most-used options on exam coverage, practical practice, depth and price.
Most people should start with Professor Messer's free videos. Choose Mike Meyers if you are new to IT, Andrew Ramdayal for a 30-day plan with labs, Jason Dion for one in-depth paid course, and CertMaster Learn when an employer pays.
Security+ V8 (SY0-801) launches around November 17, 2026; SY0-701 stays available until June 11, 2027. Source ↗
| Course | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Security+ SY0-701 Video Course | Free full course | Video | Free |
 TOTAL: CompTIA Security+ Course + Practice Exam SY0-701 | New to IT | Video | $25 |
| Security+ Complete Course & Practice Exam | One in-depth course | Video | $120 |
| CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Full Course, Labs, and Study Plan | 30-day study plan | Video | $120 |
 CertMaster Learn for Security+ | Employer-funded study | Interactive | $599 |
 Security+ Study Guide, 9th edition | Learning by reading | Book | $33 |
121 short videos, about 15 hours in total, that follow the SY0-701 objectives one by one, so you always know where you are in the syllabus. Messer also posts free study group replays and sells 96-page course notes and practice exams separately.
Great fit if you want a free, focused course and can organize your own practice
Poor fit if you are new to IT and want concepts built up slowly; start with Mike Meyers
About 20 hours of plain-language video lessons from Mike Meyers and two co-instructors that build each concept from the ground up. It suits learners without much IT or networking background and ends with a practice exam.
Great fit if you are new to IT or networking and want concepts explained step by step
Poor fit if you want a shorter route through the objectives; start with Messer
Over 31 hours of video with a downloadable study guide, quizzes after each section and a full practice exam. Jason Dion goes into more detail than most courses, teaching mostly as lecture with fewer visuals than Messer.
Great fit if you prefer detailed explanations and one structured paid course
Poor fit if you want a shorter route through the objectives or more on-screen visuals; start with Messer
About 26 hours of video organised as a 30-day study plan, with hands-on labs for the performance-based questions and a full-length mock exam. You can follow it day by day from the first lesson to booking the exam.
Great fit if you want a day-by-day schedule and labs to follow
Poor fit if you want a bigger question bank; add Dion's practice exams
CompTIA's own course for SY0-701, combining written lessons, videos, interactive exercises, simulated labs, assessments and practice tests. CompTIA estimates 25 to 40 hours, and the content comes from the organisation that writes the exam.
Great fit if your employer funds official training and you want lessons and labs in one place
Poor fit if you are paying yourself and want a low-cost video course; choose Messer or Dion
Mike Chapple and David Seidl's study guide covers every SY0-701 objective chapter by chapter, with review questions at the end of each. The book comes with online practice questions, flashcards and a glossary.
Great fit if you learn by reading and want a reference to return to
Poor fit if you learn best through video or practical tasks; use Messer or Ramdayal's labs
For most people, Professor Messer's free SY0-701 course plus a set of practice exams. Mike Meyers suits complete beginners, and Andrew Ramdayal suits learners who want a day-by-day plan.
Yes. Professor Messer's free videos cover the full exam. Most candidates add a paid practice exam set to check they are ready.
The video courses here run 15 to 31 hours. Plan for about 80 hours of preparation in total, including review and practice exams.
No. CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years of experience, but neither is required. Mike Meyers' course explains the networking basics you need.
