CompTIA A+ and Network+ are not really competitors: they are the first two rungs of the same vendor-neutral ladder. The real questions are which one you personally need first, and whether you need both. The answer depends almost entirely on how much IT experience you already have, so here is the detailed comparison beyond the table above.
The core difference
A+ (currently the V15 series, exams 220-1201 and 220-1202) is the standard entry certification for IT support, and it is unusual in requiring two separate exams. Core 1 covers mobile devices, networking, hardware, virtualization and troubleshooting; Core 2 covers operating systems, security, software troubleshooting and operational procedures. You must pass both, on the same version, to be certified: passing one earns no credential.
Network+ (N10-009) is a single exam focused on one subject: networking concepts, implementation, operations, security and troubleshooting, all vendor-neutral. CompTIA rates it intermediate, and it commonly sits between an entry certification and either CCNA or a security path such as Security+.
So A+ is broad and shallow across all of IT support; Network+ is one layer up, and one topic deep.
Cost compared
This is where the two-exam structure of A+ matters most:
- A+: US$274 per exam, so US$548 for the certification. There are no free retakes; a fail means a new voucher, though a per-exam voucher with one retake included costs US$359.
- Network+: around US$369 for the single voucher, with a retake at full fee if needed.
So the honest comparison is US$548 against US$369, not US$274 against US$369. A+ costs roughly US$180 more, spread across two sittings. Renewal differs too: both run on three-year cycles, with A+ needing 20 CEUs plus a US$75 CE fee, and Network+ needing 30 CEUs.
Difficulty and format
- A+: each core runs up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, mixing multiple choice with drag-and-drop and performance-based questions. Passing scores are 675/900 for Core 1 and 700/900 for Core 2. It is broad rather than deep: nine domains across the two exams. Complete beginners commonly budget 150 to 250 hours across both exams, often three to six months part-time.
- Network+: up to 90 questions in 90 minutes, also with performance-based questions, passing at 720/900. It goes deeper on a narrower field. Candidates with some IT background commonly budget 50 to 80 hours; people new to networking, 100 to 140.
Note one A+ trap: both cores must be passed on the same version, so take them reasonably close together. Also, V15 is currently offered in English only, while Network+ is available in English and Japanese.
Recognition and ecosystem
A+ appears as a baseline requirement in many help desk and desktop support job postings, and it maps to several US DoD 8140 work roles. It is the certification hiring managers expect from someone with no track record.
Network+ earns its place when an employer or a US government role specifically lists it, and as vendor-neutral groundwork before specialising. Employers treat it as more advanced than A+; people set on a Cisco-centric career sometimes skip it for CCNA, which carries more weight with networking employers.
Career fit
- A+ maps to: help desk technician, IT support specialist, and DoD 8140 support roles. It is a door-opener into first-line support.
- Network+ maps to: network technician, network administrator, junior network engineer, and IT support roles moving toward network or security work.
The classic path is A+, then Network+, then Security+. They stack rather than substitute.
How to decide
Answer one question: how much IT do you already know?
- No IT background, no certifications, targeting a first support job → A+, and budget for both exams on the same version.
- A year or two of hands-on IT experience already → skip to Network+ (or Security+); employers weight them more heavily, and A+ signals entry-level readiness you have outgrown.
- Clear networking direction and some fundamentals → Network+, then weigh CCNA against it for the vendor-specific step.
Neither is wasted study. But paying US$548 for A+ only makes sense if you actually need the entry-level signal it sends.