Google IT Support Professional Certificate vs CompTIA A+ (Core 1 & Core 2)
Google IT Support and CompTIA A+ are two of the most popular ways into an IT career, but they work differently. Google IT Support is a beginner-friendly Coursera career certificate covering networking, operating systems, system administration and troubleshooting, with no separate exam. CompTIA A+ is the classic entry-level IT certification earned by passing two separate, paid exams — the course here prepares you for them. A common path is Google first for the skills, then A+ for the credential.
Side-by-side comparison
Price, certificate, length, rating and more — straight from each course, compared field by field.
IT supportNetworkingOperating systemsSystem administrationTroubleshootingSecurity basics
IT supportHardwareOperating systemsNetworkingTroubleshootingSecurity basics
Length
130h
27h
Price
Audit courses free · Certificate on subscription
One-time purchase, sales ~$15
Certificate
Professional Certificate
Course Certificate
Certificate cost
Free to audit · paid certificate
Included with subscription
Rating
4.8 (214,000)
4.7 (18,000)
Enrolled
2.1M
210K
Language
English
English
Figures are pulled from each course listing and can change — always confirm price, certificate cost and availability on the provider’s own site before enrolling. We’re not affiliated with either provider, and blank fields mean the data isn’t published, not zero. Last reviewed August 2026.
Which should you choose?
There’s no single winner — it depends on where you’re starting and where you’re headed. If you are…
A complete beginner with no IT background → Google
You want the classic recognised entry IT certification → CompTIA A+
You want deeper hardware knowledge → CompTIA A+
You want the quickest exam prep → CompTIA A+
You’re not sure where to start → Google
You want a broad, guided foundation → Google
You want a help-desk job the fastest → CompTIA A+
Google IT Support is the better broad starting point for a complete beginner, while CompTIA A+ is the recognised entry-level certification many help-desk and support roles ask for — a common path is Google first, then A+.
Best for: Both suit people starting an IT career with no experience, but they serve different purposes. Google IT Support is a structured course that builds practical support skills and awards a completion certificate. CompTIA A+ is exam preparation for the industry’s classic entry credential — the certification is the two exams you sit separately, not the course. They complement each other well.
Career outcomes: Both point toward entry-level roles like Help Desk Technician, IT Support Specialist and Desktop Support. CompTIA A+ is a widely requested baseline certification for these roles, while Google IT Support builds the hands-on skills to do the job. Whichever you pick, hiring depends on demonstrated skills and a focused search; and to actually hold A+ you must pass the two separate CompTIA exams (a few hundred dollars total), which the course only prepares you for.
Frequently asked questions
Get A+ first if you want the credential most help-desk and support employers recognise. Start with Google IT Support if you want a cheaper, gentler introduction to build fundamentals before paying exam fees.
Yes. Despite the online debate, A+ remains a widely requested baseline for help-desk, desktop-support and junior IT roles — it just costs more because it’s a paid, exam-backed certification.
A+ is the more common baseline on job postings; Google IT Support is a strong hands-on skills signal. Ideally you’d have both — the skills from Google, the credential from A+.
Google IT Support awards a completion certificate with no separate exam. CompTIA A+ requires passing two separate, paid exams (Core 1 and Core 2) — the course only prepares you for them.
Google is a Coursera subscription (~$49/month, free to audit). The A+ course is cheap on Udemy, but the two exams cost a few hundred dollars in total, paid separately.
Yes — a common route is Google IT Support first for the skills and confidence, then CompTIA A+ to earn the recognised certification.