Google IT Certificate vs CompTIA A+: Which One to Get First

Two Credentials, Very Different Animals

The Google IT Support Professional Certificate and CompTIA A+ are the two most common starting points people land on when they’re trying to break into IT. They both target the same general audience (beginners with no experience), they both aim at the same job category (entry-level IT support), and they both show up constantly in “how to get into tech” conversations. So you’d think they’re interchangeable. They’re not.

These two credentials differ in format, cost, how employers perceive them, what they actually teach, and how far they carry your career after the initial job hunt. Picking the wrong one isn’t catastrophic, but picking the right one for your specific situation can save you months of wasted effort and hundreds of dollars. Let me walk through the differences that actually matter.

What Is the Google IT Support Professional Certificate?

Google built this program in-house and launched it through Coursera as a way to train people for entry-level IT support roles. It’s not an exam you sign up for and pass on a Saturday morning. It’s a structured learning program with five courses covering technical support fundamentals, networking, operating systems, system administration, and IT security. You work through video lectures, hands-on labs, quizzes, and projects at your own pace.

The program runs $49 per month on Coursera after a seven-day free trial. Most people finish in three to six months, which puts the total cost somewhere between $147 and $294 depending on how fast you move. Financial aid is available for people who qualify.

When you complete all five courses and their assessments, you earn the certificate. There’s no separate proctored exam at the end. You finish the coursework, you get the credential. That’s a meaningful structural difference from CompTIA A+, and it affects how employers interpret the two.

Google also built an employer consortium of over 150 companies (including Deloitte, Target, Verizon, and Google itself) that have committed to considering certificate graduates for entry-level IT positions. That’s not a job guarantee, but it is a direct pipeline that most other entry-level credentials don’t offer.

What Is CompTIA A+?

CompTIA A+ is a vendor-neutral certification that’s been around since 1993. It validates foundational IT knowledge across hardware, software, operating systems, networking, mobile devices, troubleshooting, and security. The certification requires passing two separate proctored exams: Core 1 (220-1201) and Core 2 (220-1202).

Each exam voucher costs about $265 in 2026, bringing the total exam cost to roughly $530. That’s just the testing fees. Study materials, practice exams, and training courses are separate and can run anywhere from free (if you use open resources) to several hundred dollars more. CompTIA also sells its own CertMaster training suite, which adds to the total investment.

A+ is the most widely recognized entry-level IT certification in the world. It appears in about 65% of help desk and IT support job postings, according to industry hiring data. It’s approved under the DoD 8570/8140 directive for government and defense contractor positions. And unlike the Google certificate, A+ is earned by passing standardized exams, which means the credential is independent of whatever study method you used to prepare.

The certification is valid for three years. After that, you renew through continuing education credits or by earning a higher-level CompTIA cert (which automatically renews A+).

How Do the Costs Actually Compare?

On paper, this looks like a blowout. Google’s certificate runs $147 to $294 total. CompTIA A+ exam vouchers alone cost $530, and most people spend additional money on study materials. When you factor in practice tests, books, or a video course, the total A+ investment can easily land between $700 and $1,000.

But cost-per-credential isn’t the only number that matters. What matters is what each dollar buys you in terms of job access and salary potential.

Data from multiple sources puts average starting salaries for A+ holders in the $56,000 to $65,000 range, with some reports showing the upper end reaching into the high $80,000s depending on location and role. Google certificate holders tend to land in a similar range for entry-level positions, with Coursera citing a median entry-level salary around $65,000 for IT support roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median wage for computer user support specialists at $60,340 as of May 2024.

So the salary floors are comparable. The difference shows up in how quickly you can convert the credential into an interview, and that depends heavily on where you’re applying and who’s reading your resume.

Which One Do Employers Care About More?

This is where the conversation gets real. CompTIA A+ has been the standard for three decades. HR departments know what it is. Applicant tracking systems look for it. Government agencies require it. Large enterprises with compliance requirements treat it as a checkbox that candidates either pass or don’t. When a hiring manager sees A+ on a resume, the immediate reaction is “this person passed a standardized, proctored exam that covers the fundamentals.” No additional questions about what the credential means.

The Google certificate has a different kind of recognition. It carries Google’s brand, which is powerful. Younger, tech-forward companies and the 150+ employers in Google’s consortium take it seriously. But at traditional enterprises, staffing agencies, and government contractors, A+ still carries more weight. Some hiring managers at those organizations may not know what the Google IT Support Certificate is, or they may view it as a course completion rather than a certification.

That distinction matters. A certification (A+) says “I passed an independent exam.” A certificate (Google) says “I completed a training program.” Both demonstrate knowledge. But in the eyes of many HR departments, particularly at companies with rigid credential requirements, a certification carries more authority. If you’re targeting government IT, defense contracting, or large healthcare systems, A+ is the safer bet. If you’re applying at tech companies, startups, or the Google consortium employers, the Google certificate is recognized and valued.

What Does Each One Actually Teach You?

There’s significant overlap. Both cover networking basics, operating systems, troubleshooting methodology, system administration, and security fundamentals. You’ll learn about TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, hardware components, and how to diagnose common IT issues regardless of which path you take.

Where they split is emphasis. CompTIA A+ goes deeper on hardware. You’ll study motherboard components, RAM types, cable standards, printer troubleshooting, and mobile device repair at a level of detail the Google program doesn’t match. If you’re going to be hands-on with physical equipment in your first job, that depth matters.

Google’s program goes further on practical workflow. The labs simulate actual help desk scenarios, ticketing systems, and end-user interactions. It also covers Linux and cloud computing in more depth than the A+ exam objectives require. And it explicitly teaches customer service skills, which sounds soft until you realize that most help desk firing decisions happen because of communication problems, not technical ones.

For a broader look at how these foundational programs connect to cybersecurity career paths, Cyber Training Guide lays out the progression from entry-level support into security roles.

Can You Get Both? Should You?

Yes and yes, in most cases. Google and CompTIA actually partnered to create a dual credential. If you complete the Google IT Support Certificate and then pass both CompTIA A+ exams, you can earn a Google/CompTIA dual badge through Credly. That dual credential tells employers you have both the structured training (Google) and the independent exam validation (CompTIA).

The Google program is designed to align with CompTIA A+ exam objectives, so completing it gives you a head start on A+ preparation. You won’t be fully A+ ready after just the Google coursework (A+ goes deeper on hardware and has its own question format to get used to), but you’ll have covered a substantial chunk of the material.

The most cost-effective sequence for most people is to complete the Google certificate first, then use that knowledge as a foundation to study for and pass the A+ exams. You spend $150 to $300 on the Google program, build your skills through hands-on labs, and then invest the $530 for A+ exam vouchers when you’re already partially prepared. Total investment: roughly $700 to $830 for two credentials instead of one.

That said, if you’re tight on money and need to pick only one right now, keep reading.

Which One Should You Get First?

Your answer depends on three things: your budget, your timeline, and who you want to hire you.

If you have less than $300 to spend and need a credential as fast as possible, go with Google. You can finish in as little as three months, the monthly cost is manageable, and the certificate plus Google’s employer consortium give you a reasonable shot at landing interviews. Once you’re working and earning, you can circle back for A+ and stack the dual credential.

If you’re targeting government IT, defense, healthcare systems, or large enterprises with rigid HR requirements, go straight for A+. These organizations often have specific credential mandates, and A+ satisfies them in ways the Google certificate doesn’t. The higher cost is an investment in access to a larger slice of the job market.

If your timeline is flexible and you can afford both, start with Google and then layer A+ on top. That sequence gives you structured learning first (Google’s strength), followed by exam validation (CompTIA’s strength), and ends with a dual credential that covers both bases. For more on how to map out an IT certification path that builds on itself, that’s worth reviewing before you commit.

Google IT Certificate vs. CompTIA A+ at a Glance

	Google IT Support Certificate	CompTIA A+
Type	Course completion certificate	Proctored certification exam
Cost	$49/month (~$147 to $294 total)	~$530 (two exam vouchers at $265 each)
Time to Complete	3 to 6 months at 10 hrs/week	Self-paced study, exam when ready
Prerequisites	None	None (9-12 months experience recommended)
Format	Online courses, labs, quizzes, projects	Two proctored exams (Core 1 and Core 2)
Renewal	Does not expire	Every 3 years (CE credits or higher cert)
Employer Recognition	Google consortium (150+ employers), growing	Industry standard, DoD approved, global
Best For	Budget-conscious beginners, career changers	Broadest job access, government/enterprise IT
Entry-Level Salary Range	$52,000 to $65,000	$56,000 to $65,000+

The Verdict Nobody Wants to Hear

There’s no universally correct answer here, which is why the question keeps getting asked. Both credentials work. They lead to real jobs, and either one is a legitimate starting point for someone with zero IT background.

But if I had to give you one sentence of advice, it would be this: get the Google certificate if you’re short on cash and long on motivation, then get A+ as soon as you can afford it. The dual credential is stronger than either one alone, and the Google-first sequence is the most cost-efficient path to both.

What you do after either credential matters more than which one you pick. Build a home lab. Practice troubleshooting real problems. Learn Active Directory. Get comfortable with the command line. The certificate or certification gets your resume noticed. Everything after that is up to you.

For a full breakdown of entry-level IT and cybersecurity training options, Cyber Training Guide keeps an updated list worth bookmarking.