CompTIA Security+ vs EC-Council CEH
A comprehensive comparison of CompTIA Security+ and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certifications to help you choose the right path for your cybersecurity career.
- Comptia
- Security Plus
- Ceh
- Ec Council
- Certifications
- Ethical Hacking
- Penetration Testing
- Career Path
| Feature | CompTIA Security+ | EC-Council CEH |
|---|---|---|
| Certification Focus Primary skill area covered | Defensive security fundamentals | Offensive security & ethical hacking |
| Experience Level Recommended experience before taking the exam | 0-2 years | 2+ years IT/security |
| Exam Cost Base exam fee (USD) | $404 | $1,199 (ECC Exam Center) |
| Training Cost Official training investment | Free to $500 | $2,000-$3,500 required |
| Number of Questions Questions on the exam | 90 questions | 125 questions |
| Exam Duration Time allowed for completion | 90 minutes | 4 hours |
| Passing Score Minimum score to pass | 750/900 (83%) | 70% |
| Hands-on Labs Performance-based questions | Included | Not included |
| DoD 8570 Approved Meets US Department of Defense requirements | Included | Included |
| Renewal Period How often recertification is needed | 3 years | 3 years |
| CEUs Required Continuing education for renewal | 50 CEUs | 120 ECE credits |
| Global Recognition International employer acceptance | Very High | High |
| Prerequisites Required certifications or training | None | Official training or 2 years experience |
CompTIA Security+
- Certification FocusPrimary skill area covered
- Defensive security fundamentals
- Experience LevelRecommended experience before taking the exam
- 0-2 years
- Exam CostBase exam fee (USD)
- $404
- Training CostOfficial training investment
- Free to $500
- Number of QuestionsQuestions on the exam
- 90 questions
- Exam DurationTime allowed for completion
- 90 minutes
- Passing ScoreMinimum score to pass
- 750/900 (83%)
- Hands-on LabsPerformance-based questions
- Included
- DoD 8570 ApprovedMeets US Department of Defense requirements
- Included
- Renewal PeriodHow often recertification is needed
- 3 years
- CEUs RequiredContinuing education for renewal
- 50 CEUs
- Global RecognitionInternational employer acceptance
- Very High
- PrerequisitesRequired certifications or training
- None
EC-Council CEH
- Certification FocusPrimary skill area covered
- Offensive security & ethical hacking
- Experience LevelRecommended experience before taking the exam
- 2+ years IT/security
- Exam CostBase exam fee (USD)
- $1,199 (ECC Exam Center)
- Training CostOfficial training investment
- $2,000-$3,500 required
- Number of QuestionsQuestions on the exam
- 125 questions
- Exam DurationTime allowed for completion
- 4 hours
- Passing ScoreMinimum score to pass
- 70%
- Hands-on LabsPerformance-based questions
- Not included
- DoD 8570 ApprovedMeets US Department of Defense requirements
- Included
- Renewal PeriodHow often recertification is needed
- 3 years
- CEUs RequiredContinuing education for renewal
- 120 ECE credits
- Global RecognitionInternational employer acceptance
- High
- PrerequisitesRequired certifications or training
- Official training or 2 years experience
Verdict: Security+ is the better choice for beginners and those seeking broad security knowledge at an affordable price. CEH is ideal for experienced professionals specifically targeting ethical hacking and penetration testing careers. Most professionals benefit from obtaining Security+ first, then adding CEH for offensive security specialization.
Which should you choose?
Starting your cybersecurity career
Security+ is designed for beginners with no prerequisites and provides essential foundational knowledge recognized by employers worldwide.
Pursuing penetration testing roles
CEH focuses specifically on offensive security techniques and ethical hacking methodologies used in penetration testing.
Budget-conscious career transition
Security+ costs significantly less ($400-$900 total) compared to CEH ($3,000-$4,700), making it more accessible for career changers.
Government or defense contractor jobs
Both certifications are DoD 8570/8140 approved. Security+ covers IAT Level II, while CEH qualifies for CSSP Auditor roles.
Already have IT experience and want to specialize
With existing IT knowledge, CEH allows you to quickly specialize in offensive security without covering basics you already know.
Building a well-rounded security skillset
Security+ provides broader coverage of security domains, making it better for general security roles and as a foundation for specialization.
Overview
Choosing between CompTIA Security+ and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is one of the most common decisions aspiring cybersecurity professionals face. While both are respected certifications that can advance your career, they serve fundamentally different purposes.
Security+ is a vendor-neutral, foundational certification that validates your understanding of core security concepts. It's the industry standard for entry-level cybersecurity positions and is recognized globally by employers across all sectors.
CEH is a specialized certification focused on offensive security. It teaches you to think and act like a hacker—using the same tools and techniques malicious actors use—but for defensive purposes. It's designed for those pursuing careers in penetration testing and ethical hacking.
Key Differences
Philosophy and Approach
The fundamental difference lies in their approach to security:
Security+ takes a defensive stance, teaching you:
- How to identify and mitigate threats
- Security architecture and design principles
- Risk management and compliance frameworks
- Identity and access management
- Cryptography and PKI
CEH takes an offensive approach, covering:
- Reconnaissance and footprinting techniques
- Network and system hacking methodologies
- Web application attack vectors
- Social engineering tactics
- Malware analysis and evasion
Cost Comparison
The financial investment differs significantly:
| Cost Factor | Security+ | CEH |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Fee | $404 | $1,199 |
| Training (Optional/Required) | $0-$500 | $2,000-$3,500 |
| Study Materials | $50-$200 | $200-$500 |
| Total Investment | $454-$1,104 | $3,399-$5,199 |
Security+ allows self-study with free resources like Professor Messer's videos. CEH traditionally requires official EC-Council training to sit for the exam, though an experience waiver exists for those with 2+ years of information security experience.
Exam Format and Difficulty
| Aspect | Security+ | CEH |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 90 | 125 |
| Duration | 90 minutes | 4 hours |
| Passing Score | 750/900 (83%) | 70% |
| Question Types | Multiple choice + PBQs | Multiple choice only |
| Hands-on Component | Yes | No (practical exam separate) |
Security+ includes performance-based questions (PBQs) that test your ability to solve problems in simulated environments. CEH's main exam is purely multiple choice, though EC-Council offers a separate practical exam (CEH Practical) for additional validation.
Career Impact
Security+ opens doors to:
- Security Analyst
- Security Administrator
- Systems Administrator (Security)
- Network Administrator
- IT Auditor
- Security Consultant (entry-level)
CEH qualifies you for:
- Penetration Tester
- Ethical Hacker
- Red Team Operator
- Vulnerability Assessor
- Security Consultant (offensive)
- Bug Bounty Hunter
Which Certification Comes First?
For most career paths, Security+ should come first. Here's why:
- Foundation matters: Security+ teaches concepts that CEH assumes you know
- Broader applicability: Security+ qualifies you for more entry-level positions
- Lower risk: Smaller financial investment to validate your interest
- Faster employment: More jobs require Security+ as a minimum
The exception is if you already have:
- Significant IT/networking experience
- A clear goal of becoming a penetration tester
- Budget for the higher CEH investment
- Employer sponsorship for CEH
Study Resources
For Security+
-
Free Resources
- Professor Messer's video course (YouTube)
- CompTIA's official exam objectives
- Cybrary's Security+ course
-
Paid Resources
- Jason Dion's Udemy course ($15-$50)
- CompTIA CertMaster Practice ($159)
- Mike Meyers' All-in-One book ($40)
For CEH
-
Official Training
- EC-Council iClass (online self-paced)
- Authorized Training Centers
- Live online instructor-led courses
-
Supplemental Materials
- Matt Walker's CEH Guide
- Hands-on practice labs (TryHackMe, HackTheBox)
- EC-Council's iLabs environment
Alternative Certifications to Consider
Instead of Security+
- CompTIA Network+: If you need networking fundamentals first
- ISC2 CC: Free entry-level certification with similar scope
Instead of CEH
- OSCP: More respected in penetration testing community, entirely hands-on
- CompTIA PenTest+: Vendor-neutral offensive security certification
- eJPT: Affordable entry-level penetration testing certification
Making Your Decision
Choose Security+ if you:
- Are new to cybersecurity
- Want the most recognized entry-level certification
- Have a limited budget
- Seek broad security knowledge
- Want to keep career options open
Choose CEH if you:
- Have 2+ years of IT/security experience
- Specifically want penetration testing roles
- Have employer sponsorship or training budget
- Already hold Security+ or equivalent
- Work in a region where CEH is highly valued (parts of Asia, government sectors)
Consider both if you:
- Want comprehensive offensive and defensive skills
- Plan a long-term career in cybersecurity
- Have time and budget for sequential certification
- Want maximum marketability
- Is CEH harder than Security+?
- CEH has a lower passing score (70% vs 83%) but covers more specialized content. Security+ is broader but requires a higher percentage to pass. Difficulty depends on your background—IT professionals often find Security+ harder due to its breadth, while beginners typically struggle more with CEH's technical depth.
- Can I get a job with just Security+?
- Yes, Security+ is often sufficient for entry-level security positions. It's the most requested certification in cybersecurity job postings and is required or preferred for many government and corporate security roles.
- Is CEH worth the cost?
- CEH's value depends on your career goals. For penetration testing or ethical hacking roles, it demonstrates specialized skills employers value. However, alternatives like OSCP offer more hands-on validation at similar or lower costs. Consider your target role before investing.
- Which certification has better job prospects?
- Security+ appears in more job listings due to its foundational nature. However, CEH holders often command higher salaries in specialized penetration testing roles. Security+ opens more doors initially; CEH opens higher-paying specialized doors.
- Should I get both certifications?
- Getting both is a strong strategy. Start with Security+ for foundational knowledge and job qualification, then add CEH to specialize in offensive security. This combination shows employers you understand both defensive and offensive perspectives.
- How long does it take to prepare for each certification?
- Security+ typically requires 2-3 months of study for beginners. CEH requires 2-4 months depending on your hands-on experience. Those with strong IT backgrounds may prepare faster for either exam.