Cheapest Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026 (Verified Prices)

By Donald Korinchak, MBA, PMP, CISSP, SecurityX, ITILv3   Published: 10/09/26   9 min read
Cyber Security Careers

Prices checked October 8, 2026. Every price below is the U.S. list price on the certification body’s own website or store on that date. Prices change and vary by country, so confirm at checkout. We list ongoing fees too, because the cheapest exam isn’t always the cheapest certification to keep.

Cybersecurity certifications range from under $100 to well over $1,000 before you buy a single book. If money is tight, the good news is that several respected credentials cost less than $200, and a few cost nothing to keep once you pass. The catch is that the cheapest certifications are mostly entry-level. They help you learn and get noticed, but they won’t replace experience or the certifications employers ask for by name.

This guide lists verified prices for 20 popular certifications, roughly from the cheapest exam fee to the most expensive, with renewal costs and a three-year total. For what each exam covers, follow the links to our full guides, or see our ranking of the best cybersecurity certifications for 2026.

The cheapest cybersecurity certifications at a glance

“3-year cost” means the exam fee plus the fees you would owe in the first three years if you pass on the first try and renew the standard way. Training, study materials and retakes are not included.

CertificationLevelExam fee (US)Ongoing fees3-year cost
Microsoft SC-900 (Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals)Beginner$99None; Fundamentals certifications don’t expire$99
AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerBeginner (cloud)$100Valid 3 years; free renewal through AWS Cloud Quest$100
Microsoft SC-200Intermediate$165Free annual renewal assessment$165
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)Beginner$199$50 a year AMF; 45 CPE per 3 years$349
Google Cybersecurity CertificateBeginner (training program)Coursera, $49 a month in the U.S.NoneAbout $294 at 6 months
Cisco CCNAAssociate (networking)$300Recertify every 3 years (30 CE credits or an exam)$300
AWS Certified Security – SpecialtyAdvanced (cloud)$300Recertify every 3 years$300
CompTIA Network+Beginner (networking)$399$150 CE fee per 3 years$549
CompTIA Security+Beginner/intermediate$439$150 CE fee per 3 years$589
CompTIA CySA+Intermediate$439$150 CE fee per 3 years$589
CompTIA PenTest+Intermediate$439$150 CE fee per 3 years$589
CompTIA SecurityXAdvanced$544$150 CE fee per 3 years$694
CompTIA A+Beginner (IT support)$548 ($274 x 2 exams)$75 CE fee per 3 years$623
ISC2 CCSPAdvanced$599$135 a year AMF$1,004
ISACA CISM / CISAAdvanced$575 members / $760 non-members, + $50 application$45 (members) or $85 a year$760 plus dues (member) / $1,065 (non-member)
ISC2 CISSPAdvanced$749$135 a year AMF$1,154
GIAC GSECIntermediate$999$499 every 4 years$999
EC-Council CEHIntermediate$950 + $100 application (self-study)$80 a year$1,290
OffSec OSCPAdvanced (hands-on)$1,749 course + exam bundle ($1,699 exam only)OSCP never expires; OSCP+ needs $145 a year to stay active$1,749 ($2,184 keeping OSCP+)

A+ is listed by total because it requires two exams. The Google certificate is a self-paced training program, not a proctored exam, so its cost depends on how fast you finish. Coursera charges $49 a month in the U.S. and Canada after a 7-day free trial and says most learners finish in under six months, so the table uses six months. CompTIA CE fees are paid once per three-year cycle, not every year.

The best options under $200

Microsoft SC-900: $99

SC-900 covers security, compliance and identity basics in Microsoft cloud services. It costs $99 in the U.S. (the price varies by country), and because it is a Fundamentals certification, it never expires and has no renewal cost (Microsoft, Microsoft renewal policy). It is a good first step if you expect to work in a Microsoft shop, but it is a fundamentals credential, not a job qualifier on its own.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner: $100

AWS calls Cloud Practitioner “a good starting point” for people “with no prior IT or cloud experience.” The exam is 65 questions in 90 minutes and costs $100 (AWS). It is valid for three years, and you can renew for free by completing AWS Cloud Quest: Recertify Cloud Practitioner in the six months before it expires (AWS). It is cloud literacy, not security, but cloud knowledge is expected in most security jobs now.

Microsoft SC-200: $165

SC-200, the Security Operations Analyst exam, is the best value on this list for anyone aiming at a SOC job. It costs $165 and renews for free every year with an online assessment on Microsoft Learn (Microsoft). It is more demanding than the fundamentals exams and focuses on Microsoft Sentinel and Defender. See our SC-200 guide.

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC): $199

CC is the cheapest vendor-neutral security certification from a major certification body. The exam is $199 and needs no experience; after that you pay ISC2’s $50 annual maintenance fee and earn 45 CPE credits every three years (ISC2, ISC2). ISC2’s free “One Million Certified in Cybersecurity” program closed to new enrollments on May 20, 2026, and free exam codes already issued must be used by December 31, 2026, so new candidates should plan on paying the $199 (ISC2). See our ISC2 CC guide.

Cheapest certifications that employers ask for by name

The under-$200 options are great for learning, but many job postings ask for specific certifications. Among those, Security+ ($439) is a common requirement for entry-level security jobs, and it is approved at the Intermediate level for 19 work roles in the DoD 8140 matrix (our guide to DoD 8140 approved certifications lists them by role). Network+ ($399) and the CCNA ($300) are the cheapest well-known networking certifications. For advanced roles, CCSP ($599) is ISC2’s cheapest senior exam, and CISSP ($749) is a frequent requirement for senior positions.

Hidden costs to budget for

Ways to pay less

Which cheap certification should you get?

Know what you can afford, but not what to take first? The full certification roadmap puts these certifications in order by career goal, so you can spend on the next one that actually moves you forward.

The cheapest way to keep learning costs nothing. The CyberExperts Daily Brief covers what changed in security and why it matters, in five minutes, weekday mornings. Get tomorrow’s brief.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest cybersecurity certification?

Among proctored exams we checked, Microsoft SC-900 is the cheapest at $99 (U.S. price, October 8, 2026), followed by AWS Cloud Practitioner at $100, Microsoft SC-200 at $165 and ISC2 CC at $199.

Is ISC2 CC still free?

Not for new candidates. ISC2’s One Million Certified in Cybersecurity program closed to new enrollments on May 20, 2026, and free exam codes already issued must be used by December 31, 2026. The CC exam now costs $199, plus a $50 annual maintenance fee after you certify.

Which cheap certifications don’t have renewal fees?

Microsoft Fundamentals certifications such as SC-900 don’t expire. Microsoft role-based certifications such as SC-200 renew free each year, AWS Cloud Practitioner can renew free through Cloud Quest, and the base OSCP never expires.

How much does Security+ cost in 2026?

$439 on the CompTIA U.S. store as of October 8, 2026, or $579 with Retake Assurance. Renewal costs $150 in CE fees per three-year cycle if you renew with continuing education.

Are cheap certifications worth it?

They are worth it for learning and for showing initiative, especially with no experience. For many jobs, though, employers ask for specific certifications such as Security+, CySA+ or CISSP.

What is the cheapest certification for DoD 8140?

In Qualification Matrix V2.1, ISC2 CC ($199) is a Basic option for five cybersecurity work roles, and A+ and Network+ are Basic options for some IT roles. Security+ ($439) covers far more roles at the Intermediate level.

Do certification prices vary by country?

Yes. Microsoft, CompTIA, ISC2 and others set prices by country or region. The prices in this guide are U.S. list prices.

Sources

Donald Korinchak, MBA, PMP, CISSP, SecurityX, ITILv3

Donald Korinchak is a Cybersecurity Professional in the Washington DC area. Donald holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business. Donald is considered a thought leader in business, leadership, and cybersecurity issues.