Short answer
- Exam voucher: $439 in the US (CompTIA).
- Voucher with Retake Assurance: $579, which includes a second attempt (CompTIA).
- Retake without it: another $439. CompTIA offers no free retests or retake discounts (retake policy).
- Renewal every three years: 50 continuing education units plus a $150 fee, paid once per cycle, not every year (CompTIA CE fees).
- Cheapest way to earn Security+ and keep it for three years: $439.
Security+ is priced as one voucher, but the real decision is about the second attempt and the renewal. This guide shows every CompTIA fee, four realistic totals, when Retake Assurance is worth buying, and the three ways to renew. Every price links to CompTIA. We checked them on September 22, 2026. For what the certification covers and who it’s for, see our Security+ certification guide.
Every Security+ fee in one table
| Fee | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Exam voucher (SY0-701) | $439 | When you buy it; valid 12 months |
| Voucher + Retake Assurance | $579 | Instead of the plain voucher |
| Retake without Retake Assurance | $439 | Per extra attempt |
| Continuing education (CE) fee | $150 per three-year cycle | Before your certification expires |
| CertMaster CE for Security+ (alternative renewal) | $209 | Instead of the CE fee and CEUs |
Sources: voucher and Retake Assurance, retake policy, CE fees. The CertMaster CE price is the one listed in CompTIA’s store in September 2026.
CompTIA’s own blog listed a lower voucher price earlier in 2026 for a sister exam (CySA+ at $425 in June). The store shows $439 for both today. If you’re reading an older guide, that’s why numbers differ.
What Security+ really costs: four scenarios
| Scenario | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| A. Pass on the first attempt | $439 | $439 |
| B. Fail once, no Retake Assurance | $439 + $439 | $878 |
| C. Fail once, Retake Assurance bought | $579 | $579 |
| D. Pass, then renew through CE for the next cycle | $439 + $150 | $589 |
Scenario D is the first renewal. CompTIA bills the CE fee once per three-year cycle and says you are “not required to pay your Continuing Education (CE) fees annually” (CompTIA). Security+ is valid for three years from the day you pass (CE FAQ).
Is Retake Assurance worth $140?
Retake Assurance costs $140 more than the plain voucher and saves you $299 if you fail once ($439 retake minus the $140 you paid extra).
The break-even point is a failure risk of about 32% ($140 ÷ $439). If your practice-test scores are well above the passing mark of 750 (on a 100 to 900 scale), skip it. If they hover near it, buy it. We found no official pass rate on CompTIA’s pages, so your own practice results are the best guide.
Two retake rules to plan around (CompTIA retake policy): there’s no waiting period before your second attempt, and a 14-day wait before any attempt after that.
Three ways to renew, compared
| Route | What you do | Cost per cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Continuing education | Earn 50 CEUs in three years and pay the CE fee | $150 |
| CertMaster CE | Complete CompTIA’s online renewal course | $209 |
| Earn a higher certification | Pass CySA+ (or another qualifying higher CompTIA exam); it renews Security+ too | $439 (CySA+ voucher) |
Sources: CEU requirements, CE fees.
The CE route is the cheapest if you can collect 50 CEUs from work, training or events you’d do anyway. The CySA+ route costs more but leaves you with a second, more advanced certification, and renewing CySA+ later also keeps Security+ current without a separate fee.
How to pay less
- Ask your employer, especially in government contracting. CompTIA aligns Security+ with DoD 8140 work roles such as cyber defense analyst, incident responder and system administrator (CompTIA), so many employers budget for it. In the US an employer can also cover up to $5,250 a year of education costs tax-free under an educational assistance program (IRS Publication 15-B). General information, not tax advice.
- Decide on Retake Assurance before you buy. It’s sold as a separate voucher option, and a plain retake costs the full $439.
- Use the voucher within 12 months. It expires.
- Plan the exam version. The English SY0-701 exam retires on June 11, 2027 (CompTIA). Study material for SY0-701 is fine until then.
- Log CEUs as you go. Fifty units over three years is manageable if you don’t leave it to the last months.
Security+ compared with related certifications
| Certification | Exam (US) | 3-year minimum | To renew |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security+ | $439 | $439 | $150 per 3 years + 50 CEUs |
| Network+ | $399 | $399 | $150 per 3 years + 30 CEUs |
| CySA+ | $439 | $439 | $150 per 3 years + 60 CEUs (also renews Security+) |
| CISSP | $749 | $1,154 | $135 per year + 120 CPE per 3 years |
Sources: CompTIA Network+, CompTIA CySA+, CISSP cost guide. All certifications side by side: Certification Cost Index.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CompTIA Security+ exam?
$439 for a voucher in the US, or $579 with Retake Assurance.
How much does it cost to retake Security+?
Another full voucher, $439, unless you bought Retake Assurance. CompTIA doesn’t discount retakes.
How much does it cost to renew Security+?
$150 per three-year cycle plus 50 CEUs, or $209 for CertMaster CE. Passing CySA+ also renews it.
Is the Security+ CE fee annual?
No. CompTIA’s fee page says CE fees don’t have to be paid annually; it’s one fee per three-year cycle.
Does the Security+ voucher expire?
Yes, 12 months after purchase.
How we checked these numbers. Every price comes from CompTIA’s own pages or store, linked where it appears, checked on September 22, 2026. CompTIA’s CE FAQ still refers to “annual CE fees” in one place while its fee page says the opposite; we follow the fee page. Certificate Quest is not affiliated with CompTIA and earns nothing from links on this page.