Cost · Cybersecurity
SY0-701 cost: full breakdown (2026)
What the SY0-701 actually costs once you add up the exam fee and everything around it - plus a realistic total, what a retake adds, and honest ways to keep the bill down. Fees change, so treat these as a planning guide and confirm the current amount on the official page before you pay.
Full cost breakdown
Every cost line we could confirm for SY0-701. Optional items are marked - you do not need them all to pass.
Only the items above are confirmed from the provider. We do not list fees we cannot verify, so your real-world total may include extras (travel to a test centre, optional courses) that are personal to you.
What you will realistically spend
At minimum you pay the exam fee: $404. For most candidates the real outlay lands higher than the bare fee once you add the items below - how much higher depends on the choices you make, not on a fixed price.
Included in the figures above: the official exam fee only.
Not included (and easy to forget):
- Study materials or a prep course, if you choose paid ones over the free and official resources.
- Travel or a test-centre surcharge, if you sit in person rather than online.
- Renewal or recertification later - this credential is valid for 3 years (continuing education).
- A retake fee if you do not pass first time (see below).
If you have to retake it
A resit means paying the exam fee again. Sitting once and retaking once would cost roughly $808 in exam fees alone - about double the single-sit cost.
Some providers run discounted or bundled resit pricing and may require a waiting period between attempts. Check the provider's retake policy before you book - the figure above assumes you simply pay full price twice.
How to spend less on SY0-701
- Lean on free and official material first. The provider's own objectives and guides are free and are the most accurate source - paid courses are optional, not required to pass.
- Watch for early-bird or scheduled-discount windows. Some bodies discount fees at certain times of year or for first attempts; book when a legitimate discount is live rather than assuming the price is fixed.
- Do the membership maths. Where a membership lowers the exam fee, add the membership cost to the discounted fee and compare against the non-member fee - it only saves money if the total is lower.
- Self-study before you buy a course. Try the free resources first; only pay for structured training if you genuinely need the structure. That single decision is usually the biggest line on the bill.
- Pass the first time. The cheapest exam is the one you only sit once - the retake fee above is the easiest cost to avoid.
Free, no-cost resources for SY0-701:
We keep this honest: there is no trick that removes the official exam fee. Real savings come from skipping paid extras you do not need and not paying for a retake.
Is it worth the money?
Yes, if you are entering cybersecurity. Security+ is one of the most-requested baseline credentials, vendor-neutral, and recognised across both private-sector and government roles, where it meets the US DoD 8140 baseline. For someone moving from IT support, helpdesk or a career change, it is an efficient, affordable way to clear HR screens and reach junior analyst, SOC and security-administrator roles, and its performance-based questions show you can do tasks, not just memorise terms. It is less worthwhile if you already hold higher-level certifications such as CySA+, CISM or CISSP, which will make it feel basic, or if your target is a developer or pure-networking path. Treat it as a door-opener and a foundation, not a guarantee of placement: experience and follow-on certifications carry more weight over time.
For the roles, pay bands and job outlook this credential is linked to, see the salary and career value section on the SY0-701 overview. That is where the cost above turns into a return - or does not.
Career paths that use SY0-701:
- How to become a penetration tester with certifications
- How to become a network engineer with certifications
- How to become a CISO with certifications
- How to become a SOC analyst with certifications
- How to become a cybersecurity analyst with certifications
- How to become a security engineer: build defences, not just watch them
How the price compares
Exam fees for other Cybersecurity certifications, for a sense of whether SY0-701 sits at the cheap or pricey end:
| Exam | Exam fee |
|---|---|
| SY0-701 (this page) | $404 |
| CS0-003 | $404 |
| CISA | $575–$760 (US$575 member / US$760 non-member, plus a US$50 application fee (approximate - confirm on ISACA's site)) |
| CISM | $575–$760 (member / non-member) |
Fees shown for comparison only and change over time. Currencies may differ by provider; confirm each on its official page.