CompTIA certification exams cost between $239 and $466 each. That's the part you can't avoid. But the preparation—the courses, study materials, and practice exams—doesn't have to cost anything. There are enough genuinely free CompTIA courses and resources online that plenty of people pass A+, Network+, and Security+ having spent nothing on study materials. The trick is knowing which free resources are worth your time and which are teaser content designed to upsell you.
What Free CompTIA Courses Actually Exist
The landscape of free CompTIA courses breaks down into three categories: fully free, free-with-account, and free-trial-then-paid. Knowing which is which saves a lot of frustration.
Professor Messer (Fully Free)
Professor Messer's CompTIA study courses are the gold standard for free preparation. His full video courses for CompTIA A+ (220-1101/220-1102), Network+ (N10-009), and Security+ (SY0-701) are available at no cost on his website and YouTube channel. These aren't abbreviated samples—they cover the complete exam objectives, section by section. Tens of thousands of people have passed their CompTIA exams using only Professor Messer as their video resource. He funds the free content through paid study guides and practice exam bundles, which are optional.
Cybrary (Free-with-Account)
Cybrary offers free CompTIA Security+, A+, and Network+ courses after account creation. The core video content is free; some premium features like virtual labs and practice exams require a paid tier. For video-based learning alone, Cybrary's free tier is legitimate and substantial.
YouTube Channels Worth Bookmarking
Beyond Professor Messer, several YouTube channels publish complete CompTIA prep content:
- NetworkChuck — Strong on Network+ and Security+ concepts, especially networking fundamentals and subnetting. His style is conversational and fast-paced.
- Danielle Thé (DumbleDore) — Full A+ walkthroughs, good for absolute beginners.
- Andrew Ramdayal (TIA) — Primarily Security+. His free YouTube content often outperforms paid alternatives.
CompTIA's Own Free Resources
CompTIA itself publishes free exam objectives documents for every certification. These are the official blueprints for what appears on each exam. If you're combining free video courses with self-study, downloading the official objectives PDF first helps you identify gaps in any course you're using. CompTIA also maintains a free CertMaster Learn demo for each exam, though the full platform is paid.
Free CompTIA Courses by Certification Level
CompTIA A+ (Entry Level)
A+ has the most free course content available because it's the most popular entry-level IT certification. Professor Messer covers both Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) fully for free. For hands-on practice without hardware, the free tier of LabSim and some Udemy instructors offer free introduction sections covering hardware identification and basic troubleshooting. The GCFGlobal website also has free IT fundamentals content that complements A+ prep.
CompTIA Network+
Network+ free resources are strong. Professor Messer again covers the full N10-009 objectives. Subnet practice tools like SubnettingPractice.com and Subnetting.net are free and essential—subnetting questions appear on nearly every Network+ exam. Jeremy's IT Lab on YouTube (primarily Cisco-focused) has free content that transfers well to Network+ subnetting and routing topics.
CompTIA Security+
Security+ has the richest free content ecosystem, probably because it's required for DoD 8570 compliance and tens of thousands of government contractors need it. Professor Messer, Andrew Ramdayal, and NetworkChuck all publish substantial free Security+ content. Jason Dion has a free introduction section in his Security+ Udemy course that covers about 3-4 hours of material before the paywall.
CompTIA CySA+ and PenTest+
Free resources thin out significantly at the intermediate level. Professor Messer covers CySA+ in some depth; PenTest+ free content is sparse. For PenTest+, TryHackMe and Hack The Box both offer free tiers with hands-on labs relevant to the exam domains, though neither maps directly to the objectives.
The Honest Limits of Free CompTIA Courses
Free video courses can get you to exam-ready on the knowledge side. What they rarely provide for free:
- Practice exams with explanations — Realistic multiple-choice and performance-based practice questions with detailed rationale. This is where most candidates need to spend money. Professor Messer's paid bundle ($24-$34) is the most affordable option.
- Performance-based question (PBQ) simulation — The drag-and-drop and scenario questions on CompTIA exams require interactive simulation. Free versions usually don't replicate this well.
- Virtual labs — Hands-on lab environments cost money to run. Cybrary, Udemy instructors, and CompTIA's own CertMaster Labs are paid. Linux CLI practice (free) and GNS3/Packet Tracer for networking (free) partially substitute.
- Structured study plans — Free courses require you to build your own schedule and accountability system.
The sweet spot most successful test-takers land on: free video courses (Professor Messer or YouTube) plus one paid practice exam pack ($20-$40). Total spend under $50 on prep, plus the exam voucher.
Top Courses for Career Changers Studying for CompTIA
If you're using CompTIA certifications as a stepping stone to a tech career—rather than advancing from an existing IT role—a few adjacent skill-building courses pair well with your exam prep. These won't help you pass the multiple-choice questions, but they'll make you more employable once certified.
Learn How to Use LLMs Like ChatGPT for FREE
AI literacy is increasingly showing up in entry-level IT job descriptions alongside CompTIA credentials. This course covers practical LLM usage without the hype, useful for someone building out a foundational tech skill set while studying for A+ or Network+.
Complete Web Design: from Figma to Webflow to Freelancing
If you're targeting freelance IT work or a hybrid role, web skills complement CompTIA credentials. This course covers design-to-deployment workflow, which pairs practically with the web technologies and cloud concepts in Security+ and Network+.
Kickstart a Freelance Editor and Proofreader Career on Upwork
For career changers who aren't yet employed full-time in IT, building a freelance income stream during certification study is a practical bridge. Upwork freelancing skills transfer to IT consulting and contract work once you're certified.
FAQ: Free CompTIA Courses
Is Professor Messer really free, or is there a catch?
The video courses on professormesser.com are genuinely free—no account required, no trial period. He earns revenue from paid study notes, practice exam bundles, and study groups. Many people pass CompTIA exams having paid only for the optional practice materials ($24-$34). There's no catch in the free video content itself.
Can you pass CompTIA Security+ using only free courses?
Yes, candidates do it regularly. The more realistic constraint is practice exams, not video content. Free practice questions online are lower quality and don't reflect current exam difficulty. Most successful candidates combine free video courses with at least one paid practice exam pack. Attempting the exam without realistic practice questions is a common reason for first-time failures.
Does CompTIA offer any free exam vouchers or discounts?
CompTIA periodically offers discount vouchers through its partner network. CertBlaster, CompTIA's authorized partner, sometimes provides discounted bundles. CompTIA also has a Continuing Education (CE) program—if you hold an active certification, renewals through CE credits don't require exam retakes. Check the CompTIA website for current promotions; exam pricing itself rarely goes to zero.
Are there free CompTIA courses on Coursera or edX?
Coursera and edX offer CompTIA-adjacent content (IT fundamentals, cybersecurity basics) that can be audited free. Neither platform offers official, comprehensive CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+ exam prep courses that are fully free—the structured certificate programs on both platforms require paid enrollment. For dedicated CompTIA prep, Professor Messer and YouTube channels outperform Coursera's free tier.
How long does it take to prepare using free resources?
Realistic timelines with free resources only: CompTIA A+ requires roughly 80-120 hours of study for someone with limited IT background; Network+ 60-100 hours for someone who passed A+ first; Security+ 60-80 hours with Network+ experience. Free courses don't make preparation faster—they make it cheaper. Paid structured bootcamps sometimes compress timelines through accountability and curated content, but the knowledge base required doesn't change.
What's OnVue and does it cost extra for CompTIA exams?
OnVue is Pearson VUE's remote proctoring platform—it lets you take CompTIA exams from home via webcam monitoring instead of visiting a test center. The exam fee is identical whether you test at a Pearson VUE center or via OnVue. The only difference is convenience: you need a quiet room, reliable internet, and a webcam. No additional fee for the remote option.
Bottom Line
Free CompTIA courses are genuinely viable for exam preparation—Professor Messer alone has helped more people pass CompTIA certifications than most paid platforms. The realistic strategy: use free video courses for knowledge acquisition, budget $20-40 for quality practice exams, and save the rest for the exam voucher itself.
The one thing to avoid is confusing "free course access" with "free preparation." Low-quality free practice questions and outdated materials can give false confidence before an exam that costs $239+. Spend the study hours on Professor Messer or verified YouTube instructors, spend a small amount on realistic practice questions, and treat the exam voucher cost as the real investment you're protecting.
For candidates combining CompTIA prep with a broader career change, check the related courses above for adjacent skills that complement IT certifications in the job market.