Cybersecurity
Cert Comparator
Filter 12 top cybersecurity certifications by cost, difficulty, and domain. Pick 2-3 to compare side-by-side.
Filter Certifications
Showing 12 of 12 certifications
CompTIA
CompTIA Security+
Cost
$425
Study time
80-160 hrs
Difficulty
Beginner
Recognition
Most beginners. The default first cert.
CompTIA
CompTIA Network+
Cost
$369
Study time
80-120 hrs
Difficulty
Beginner
Recognition
Networking foundations before Security+.
TryHackMe
TryHackMe SAL1
Cost
$349
Study time
80-120 hrs
Difficulty
Beginner
Recognition
Hands-on SOC analyst preparation. 80% practical exam.
CompTIA
CompTIA CySA+
Cost
$404
Study time
120-200 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Recognition
SOC Analyst Tier 2, threat hunters.
EC-Council
EC-Council CEH
Cost
$1,199
Study time
120-200 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Recognition
Pentest job listings that require it. Theory-heavy.
CompTIA
CompTIA PenTest+
Cost
$404
Study time
150-220 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Recognition
Affordable pentest cert. CEH alternative.
OffSec
Offensive Security OSCP
Cost
$1,649
Study time
400-800 hrs
Difficulty
Expert
Recognition
Serious pentesters. 24-hour hands-on exam.
ISC2
ISC2 CISSP
Cost
$749
Study time
200-300 hrs
Difficulty
Advanced
Recognition
Senior roles, management, $130k+ jobs. Requires 5 years experience.
ISACA
ISACA CISM
Cost
$575-$760
Study time
150-250 hrs
Difficulty
Advanced
Recognition
Security managers and CISO track. 5 years experience required.
Microsoft
Microsoft AZ-500
Cost
$165
Study time
80-120 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Recognition
Cloud security engineers in Azure environments.
AWS
AWS Security Specialty
Cost
$300
Study time
120-200 hrs
Difficulty
Advanced
Recognition
Cloud security in AWS environments. Strong salary impact.
SANS/GIAC
GIAC GSEC
Cost
$2,499
Study time
150-220 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Recognition
Government and defense contractors. SANS-trained candidates.
No certifications match your filters.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How to Use This Tool
Filter by your needs
Set your max budget, target domain, and difficulty comfort level. The list narrows automatically.
Pick 2-3 finalists
Click "Add to Compare" on the cards that interest you. You can compare up to 3 at once.
View side-by-side
See all stats stacked next to each other so you can spot the trade-offs and pick the right cert.