Google's IT Support Professional Certificate has been completed by over 1 million people. The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking is Course 2 in that series — and it's the one where a large chunk of those learners quietly quit. That's not a knock on the course. It tells you something important about who this course actually serves, and whether it fits where you are right now.
This review cuts through the marketing. If you're searching bits bytes computer networking worth, you're probably deciding between spending weeks on this versus just watching YouTube, buying a CompTIA Net+ book, or enrolling somewhere else. Here's what the course actually delivers.
What "Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking" Actually Covers
The course runs five weeks at roughly 3–5 hours per week. It's taught by Google engineers, not academic instructors, which shapes the content significantly — it leans practical over theoretical.
Week by week, you move through:
- Week 1: TCP/IP model, the 5-layer networking model, MAC vs. IP addressing, subnetting basics
- Week 2: Network layer — IP datagrams, routing protocols, CIDR notation
- Week 3: Transport and application layers — TCP/UDP, ports, DNS, DHCP, NAT
- Week 4: Networking services — how DNS resolution works, how DHCP assigns addresses, VPNs and proxies
- Week 5: Connecting to the internet — broadband types, WAN technologies, wireless protocols
There are roughly 31 plug-in labs and Qwiklabs exercises scattered through the course. The interactive portions are where the course earns its reputation — you're not just reading about subnetting, you're doing it inside a simulated environment.
Is Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking Worth It for Your Specific Situation?
The honest answer depends entirely on where you're starting and where you're going.
Worth it: Complete beginners preparing for CompTIA IT Fundamentals or Google IT Support cert
If you've never worked with networking and want a structured foundation before sitting CompTIA ITF+ or the full Google ITSC, this course is genuinely good preparation. The 5-layer model walkthrough is clearer than most textbooks, and the labs give you hands-on context that YouTube tutorials don't.
Worth it: Career changers targeting help desk or IT support roles
Entry-level IT support roles — the ones paying $45K–$65K that you can realistically land within 6–12 months — require you to understand basic networking: how DNS works, what a subnet mask means, how to troubleshoot a client that "can't connect to the internet." This course covers exactly that layer of knowledge. Not deep enough for a network engineer role, but sufficient for Tier 1/2 support.
Not worth it: Anyone preparing specifically for CompTIA Network+
Network+ goes significantly deeper into routing protocols, network security, wireless standards, and troubleshooting methodology. Bits and Bytes is a reasonable warm-up, but if Net+ is your actual target, you'll still need a dedicated Net+ study resource. Don't confuse completing this course with being Net+-ready — the exam will expose that gap.
Not worth it: People who already know TCP/IP and subnetting
If you've configured a home router, understand DHCP vs. static IP, and can explain what a subnet mask does, this course will feel slow. You'll spend most of it confirming things you already know.
The Quality Question: Is the Teaching Actually Good?
The course carries a 4.8/5 rating across hundreds of thousands of completions, which is unusually high for a course this widely taken. Generic beginner courses tend to get inflated ratings (people rate what they successfully finished, not what was hard). But the Bits and Bytes reviews are notably specific — learners consistently call out the subnet labs and the DNS walkthrough as the moments things "clicked."
The Google instructor production quality is high. Videos are concise, diagrams are clean, and the pacing doesn't drag. Compared to courses that pad runtime with filler slides, this one moves efficiently.
One legitimate criticism: the course doesn't deeply connect networking concepts to troubleshooting real-world failure scenarios. You learn how DHCP works; you don't spend much time on what to check when DHCP stops working for 30 machines simultaneously. For that applied troubleshooting depth, you'd need to supplement.
Top Courses to Take Alongside or After Bits and Bytes
The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking (Coursera)
The course itself — free to audit, certificate requires Coursera subscription or financial aid. Start here if you're early in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate or need a structured foundation before touching any networking certification.
Cybersecurity Habits Masterclass (Udemy)
Once you understand how networks operate, understanding how they're attacked is the logical next step. This course pairs well with Bits and Bytes for anyone angling toward a security-adjacent IT role rather than pure networking.
Pricing: Free vs. Certificate
The course is free to audit — you can watch all lectures and access most content without paying. The Coursera certificate costs money through a monthly subscription (~$49/month), though financial aid is available and typically approved within a week for those who apply.
Is the certificate worth paying for? For entry-level IT roles: the Google IT Support Professional Certificate (all 5 courses) carries more weight than any individual course certificate. If you're going to pay, commit to completing the full specialization. Paying for just Course 2's certificate in isolation is low ROI.
For learning purposes only — no certificate, just the knowledge — auditing for free is a straightforward decision. The labs are accessible on audit, which is the main reason to take the course over just reading documentation.
Career Outcomes: What Can You Actually Do After This Course?
Completing Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking alone won't land you a job. But here's what it unlocks:
- You can speak credibly about TCP/IP, subnetting, and DNS in an IT support interview
- You qualify to sit the Google IT Support Professional Certificate exam (after all 5 courses)
- You have a concrete talking point on a resume for entry-level roles
- You have sufficient foundation to study CompTIA Net+ without starting from zero
The Google ITSC is directly recognized by over 150 U.S. employers through Google's employer consortium, including Walmart, Infosys, and Sprint. That's a real hiring pipeline, not just a credential for LinkedIn.
FAQ
Is Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking hard for complete beginners?
It's designed for beginners with no prior IT experience. Week 1 assumes nothing. Subnetting in Week 2 is the first place many learners slow down — it requires some mathematical thinking around binary and CIDR notation. If you struggle there, take it slow; the labs reinforce it well.
How long does it take to finish?
Coursera estimates 17 hours total. Most learners finish in 2–4 weeks depending on their pace. If you're studying part-time alongside work, budgeting 3 weeks is realistic without rushing.
Does this course prepare you for CompTIA Network+?
Partially. It covers core concepts that overlap with Net+ (TCP/IP model, DNS, DHCP, subnetting basics), but Network+ requires significantly deeper knowledge of routing protocols, wireless standards, security concepts, and troubleshooting. Use this as a foundation, then study a dedicated Net+ prep resource.
Is the certificate recognized by employers?
The individual course certificate has limited standalone recognition. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate (all 5 courses) is what carries weight with employers in the ITSC consortium. Don't stop at Course 2 if your goal is a job.
Can I get this course for free?
Yes — Coursera's audit option gives free access to lectures and most content. If you need the certificate and can't afford the subscription, apply for financial aid on the Coursera course page; approval rates are high and it covers 100% of the subscription cost.
Is Bits and Bytes better than just reading CompTIA Network+ study guides?
For pure knowledge transfer, both work. The labs in Bits and Bytes are the differentiator — hands-on subnetting and simulated network troubleshooting exercises build muscle memory that reading alone doesn't. If you're a self-directed learner who'll actually do practice problems from a Net+ guide, the guide covers more ground. If you need structure and interactivity, this course wins.
Bottom Line
Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking is worth it for a specific person: someone starting from zero who needs a structured, interactive introduction to networking fundamentals before pursuing an IT support career or Google ITSC certification. The labs are genuinely useful, the Google instructor quality is high, and the price floor (free audit) removes any meaningful downside risk.
It is not worth your time if you have any existing networking background, or if you're specifically preparing for CompTIA Network+. In those cases, you'll finish the course knowing roughly what you already knew and wishing you'd gone deeper.
If you fit the target profile — career changer, complete beginner, Google ITSC track — enroll and audit it for free. Spend the first week. If the pacing and depth match where you are, finish it. If you already know this material, you'll know within 2 hours and can bail without having spent anything.