Course certificates vs industry certifications
A course certificate shows you completed a course. An industry certification, such as ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity or CompTIA Security+, is awarded by the certifying body after you pass its exam, and can carry ongoing costs: ISC2, for example, charges an annual maintenance fee once you pass CC. The free courses below are best used to learn and test your interest before paying for an exam.
Free and low-cost options compared
CISA's page says CISA Learning is available to federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government staff and contractors, as well as Veterans, military personnel and U.S. residents. Coursera's page says most learners complete the Google certificate for less than US $300; at $49 a month, finishing in six months costs $294.
| Option | Cost | Time | Credential | Prepares for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alison cyber security courses | Free to study; certificate optional and paid | Alison's accreditation FAQ says Certificate courses typically take 2 to 3 hours | CPD-accredited Alison certificate; pass mark 80% (70% for beginner Certificate courses) | Topics including phishing, malware, network security, incident response, encryption; Alison references Security+, CISSP and NIST CSF |
| Cisco Networking Academy: Introduction to Cybersecurity | Free | Check the course page | Check the course page | Foundational awareness |
| CISA Learning (replaced FedVTE) | No cost | 850 hours of training mapped to the NICE Framework | Not stated | Certification prep topics including Ethical Hacking, CISM and CISSP |
| Google Cybersecurity Certificate (Coursera) | $49 per month in the US and Canada after a 7-day trial; financial aid available | About 6 months at 7 hours a week | Google certificate, shareable on LinkedIn | Google says it helps prepare graduates for CompTIA Security+ |
The exams the free courses lead to
If you already hold a free ISC2 CC exam code from the One Million program, the deadline to schedule and take the exam is December 31, 2026. ISC2 notes that completing its course is not required to sit the CC exam.
| Exam | Fee | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) | US $199 exam fee; US $50 Annual Maintenance Fee after passing | Not detailed on the page we checked | The free One Million CC program has concluded; new enrollments closed May 20, 2026, and unexpired free exam codes must be used by December 31, 2026 |
| CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 (V7) | Not shown on the page we checked; see CompTIA's buy page | Up to 90 questions, 90 minutes, pass mark 750 on a 100 to 900 scale | Recommended: Network+ and two years in a security or systems administrator role. English V7 retires June 11, 2027; V8 expected around November 17, 2026 |
A realistic path from free course to certification
- Weeks 1 to 4: take a free introduction (Alison or Cisco Networking Academy) to learn the vocabulary: threats, controls, networks and incident response.
- Next: if you qualify, use CISA Learning for deeper no-cost material, including certification prep topics.
- Then: choose an exam. ISC2 calls CC its foundational qualification, at $199; Security+ recommends prior networking knowledge and experience.
- If you want a guided program: the Google Cybersecurity Certificate on Coursera covers SIEM tools, Python, Linux and SQL, and Google says graduates get discounted access to Security+ training and the exam.
- Budget for renewal: ISC2 charges a $50 Annual Maintenance Fee after you pass CC.
Who should pay, and who should stay free
- Stay free if you are testing your interest or need security awareness for a non-security job; an Alison Learner Record or Cisco course is enough.
- Pay for an Alison certificate only if your employer accepts CPD-accredited certificates for training records.
- Pay for the Google certificate if you want structured hands-on practice and can finish in a few months, or apply for Coursera financial aid.
- Pay for an exam when job ads you are targeting name it; that is when the fee buys something the free courses cannot.
Questions before you decide
Is there a free cybersecurity course with a certificate?
Alison lists 85 free cybersecurity courses; studying is free, but the certificate is an optional purchase. Cisco Networking Academy's Introduction to Cybersecurity is free.
Is the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity exam still free?
ISC2 says its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity program has concluded, with new enrollments closed May 20, 2026. The standard CC exam fee is US $199.
How much does the Google Cybersecurity Certificate cost?
Google and Coursera list $49 per month in the US and Canada after a 7-day free trial, with financial aid available. Coursera says most learners pay under US $300.
What is on the CompTIA Security+ exam?
CompTIA lists SY0-701 as up to 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions in 90 minutes, with a passing score of 750 on a 100 to 900 scale.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- ISC2: One Million Certified in Cybersecurity Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CompTIA: Security+ V7 (SY0-701) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CompTIA: Security+ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CISA NICCS: Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE) and CISA Learning Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Grow with Google: Google Cybersecurity Certificate Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Coursera: Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Cisco Networking Academy: Introduction to Cybersecurity Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Cyber security courses Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do I get my Certificate? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison: Accreditation Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.