Google IT Support Certificate vs CompTIA A+
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate is a self-paced online course on Coursera. CompTIA A+ is an industry certification you earn by passing two proctored exams. They overlap a lot, and Google's program page on Coursera says it prepares you for the CompTIA A+ exams. Here's how the two compare on cost, time and what each one proves, and how to use both.
The short answer
They aren't really rivals. Google's certificate teaches IT support from zero and checks your work with graded assignments inside the course. A+ tests what you know in two proctored exams, and passing them is the certification. If you're starting from zero, a strong path is both, in that order: learn with a structured course, then pass the A+ exams. Google and CompTIA award a dual credential to people who finish Google's certificate and pass A+.
Side by side
| Compare | Google IT Support Certificate | CompTIA A+ |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A self-paced online course on Coursera | A certification earned by passing two exams |
| Issued by | CompTIA, a vendor-neutral IT certification body | |
| How you earn it | 5 core courses with graded assignments and labs; no proctored exam | Pass Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202): up to 90 questions in 90 minutes each, proctored |
| Passing bar | Complete each course's graded work | 675 on Core 1 and 700 on Core 2, on a 100–900 scale |
| Time | 3–6 months, by Google's estimate | Depends on your study time; each exam is 90 minutes |
| Cost | Subscription: $49 a month after a 7-day free trial (U.S. and Canada) | Exam vouchers: $274 each, $548 for both |
| Renewal | Google lists no expiration or renewal requirement | Valid 3 years; renew with 20 CEUs, CertMaster CE, a qualifying higher-level certification, or by passing the current exam |
| Extras | ACE college credit recommendation (each college decides whether to accept it); after you finish, a job platform and an employer consortium of over 150 U.S. companies | A common starting point before CompTIA Network+ and Security+, though not a prerequisite |
What they cost
Google's certificate costs $49 a month on Coursera after a 7-day free trial, so finishing in 3 to 6 months comes to about $147 to $294. Coursera also offers financial aid. A+ costs $274 per exam voucher at CompTIA's U.S. store, or $548 for both exams, before any study materials. The A+ cost guide covers retakes, bundles and discounts.
What each one covers
Google's certificate has five core courses:
- Course 1: Technical Support Fundamentals
- Course 2: The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
- Course 3: Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
- Course 4: System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
- Course 5: IT Security: Defense against the digital dark arts
Google also includes an optional sixth course, Accelerate Your Job Search with AI. The A+ exams cover these domains:
- A+ Core 1 (220-1201): Mobile Devices (13%), Networking (23%), Hardware (25%), Virtualization and Cloud Computing (11%) and Hardware and Network Troubleshooting (28%).
- A+ Core 2 (220-1202): Operating Systems (28%), Security (28%), Software Troubleshooting (23%) and Operational Procedures (21%).
Both cover hardware, operating systems, networking, security and troubleshooting. Google's courses also touch mobile devices, virtualization, cloud and documentation, but A+ scores them as domains of their own: mobile devices (13% of Core 1), virtualization and cloud computing (11% of Core 1) and operational procedures (21% of Core 2). The A+ exams also include performance-based questions: hands-on tasks you complete in a simulated environment.
When one is enough
- Google's certificate alone can be enough if you mainly want structured learning, or if an employer you're targeting is in Google's employer consortium, whose members have committed to considering certificate graduates for entry-level jobs. It doesn't stand in for A+ when a job posting asks for A+ by name.
- A+ alone makes sense if you already know the basics from a job, a home lab or a class and want the certification without a months-long course. You can prepare with an A+ course, practice tests and labs instead.
- Both, if you're starting from zero: the course gives you structure, A+ gives you a proctored certification, and together they earn the dual credential.
Doing both, in order
- 1. Learn the material. Work through Google's five core courses, or an A+ course, until the topics feel familiar.
- 2. Practice the A+ exam format. Timed multiple-choice questions and performance-based questions, checked against the A+ objectives.
- 3. Pass Core 1 and Core 2. Finishing Google's certificate and passing both A+ exams earns the CompTIA and Google dual credential.
ExamWizardz is built for steps 2 and 3, alongside Google's course or on its own: the free A+ practice test, free performance-based questions, hands-on labs and the A+ vs Network+ guide for what comes after.
Sources: Google's IT Support Certificate page and the Coursera course page, checked October 2026; CompTIA's 220-1201 and 220-1202 exam objectives and its A+ renewal FAQ. Prices change, so check both before you buy.