The best CompTIA A+ practice tests in 2026
The disclosure first: CertBench is our product and it's on this list. Every entry is honest anyway — including where the others beat us — because A+ is most people's first cert, you'll spot a dishonest guide fast, and one that lies isn't worth ranking.
The thing to understand about A+: it's two separate exams — Core 1 (220-1101: hardware, networking, mobile, cloud) and Core 2 (220-1102: operating systems, security, troubleshooting) — and you pass them one at a time. So a good practice tool has to track two exams' readiness independently, and the best A+ prep pairs a daily practice system with one realistic simulator per core before you book.
Mike Meyers / Total Seminars (TotalTester)
About $60 per core, or bundled with his courseBest for: The A+ name most people already own
- The default A+ practice bank for a generation — huge question pool per core
- Pairs naturally with the Mike Meyers All-in-One book and video course most A+ students already use
- A traditional test-bank experience — no adaptive daily plan or spaced repetition
- Interface and reporting feel dated next to modern web apps
CertBenchour product — bias disclosed
Free tier; Pro $19/mo or $39 per exam cycleBest for: The daily adaptive system across both cores
- Tracks Core 1 and Core 2 readiness separately, each with its own daily plan and conservative readiness score
- Spaced repetition on every miss, plus playable PBQ simulations in the browser
- A free tier deep enough to study on every day — 1,100+ A+ questions across the two cores
- Web app only — no native mobile app or offline mode yet
- Newer question bank than the decades-old incumbents
Professor Messer A+ practice exams
About $25–30 per core (PDF)Best for: Pairing with his free A+ video course
- The natural companion if his free videos are already your primary course
- Solid question quality with written walkthroughs
- Static PDFs — no tracking, timing, adaptivity, or review tooling
Jason Dion A+ practice exams (Udemy)
Often $15–25 per core on Udemy salesBest for: Cheap volume of full-length exams
- Full-length exams per core with explanations at an impulse-buy price
- Udemy's player handles timing and basic review
- Community consensus says difficulty runs slightly off-real in places
- No study system around the exams — you manage your own loop
Boson ExSim-Max for A+
About $99 per coreBest for: The final-week dress rehearsal
- The most exam-realistic full-length simulation, per core
- Famously detailed explanations
- No study system: no plan, spaced repetition, or adaptivity
- Priced per core, so both exams get expensive
CompTIA CertMaster Practice for A+
Typically $150+ per coreBest for: When your employer or school pays
- Official vendor content aligned to the 220-1101/1102 objectives
- Integrates with CompTIA courseware and instructor programmes
- By far the most expensive option for self-funders — and it's per core
- Closer to a tracked question bank than an adaptive system
Start with a measurement, not a purchase
Whatever stack you choose, choose it from data: the free 25-question diagnostic gives you a readiness score and your weak domains in about twenty minutes.
Take the free diagnosticWant questions first? Try the free practice test — no account needed.
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Frequently asked questions
What's the best A+ practice test?
For most people the honest answer is a pairing, not a single product: a daily adaptive system that tracks Core 1 and Core 2 separately (the job CertBench was built for), plus one realistic simulator run per core in the final week. Mike Meyers' TotalTester is the traditional bank most A+ students already own; Boson is the closest to exam-day realism. If your budget is zero, a free video course plus free practice questions genuinely gets you a long way on A+.
How many practice questions do I need to pass A+?
Per core, aim to exercise every domain and revisit every miss until it sticks, with at least one full-length timed exam for stamina. Most people who pass comfortably see a few hundred distinct questions per core — but disciplined review of the ones you miss matters far more than raw volume. Remember A+ includes performance-based questions, so practise those hands-on, not just multiple choice.
Do I need separate practice for Core 1 and Core 2?
Yes — they're different exams with different content (Core 1 is hardware/networking/mobile/cloud; Core 2 is operating systems/security/troubleshooting) and you book and pass them separately. Track readiness for each core on its own so you know which one you're ready to sit; being ready for Core 1 tells you little about Core 2.
Are free A+ practice tests good enough?
Free resources cover A+ knowledge well in 2026 — free question banks, video courses, and topic quizzes. What free options rarely include is the feedback machinery: per-core readiness measurement, spaced repetition, and realistic full-length simulation. On a zero budget it's doable; if you can spend anything, spend it there.