Best CompTIA A+ practice tests in 2026 (an honest comparison)

The short version: Professor Messer is the best free foundation, Jason Dion's Udemy exams are the best-value paid practice (with real PBQ prep), and CrushCert adds adaptive practice plus hands-on labs at a low monthly price. Almost everyone who passes A+ uses more than one source.

We build A+ prep ourselves, so weigh our own entry with appropriate salt — but the rest of this is an honest rundown of what the CompTIA community actually relies on, and who each option is genuinely best for. CompTIA A+ is two exams (Core 1 220-1201 and Core 2 220-1202), and it leans heavily on performance-based questions (PBQs) — so how you practice matters as much as how many questions you grind.

Quick comparison

1. Professor Messer

FREE STARTProfessor Messer's free YouTube series covers both cores end to end and is a fixture in the A+ community. Video is free; optional practice exams run about $25 and study notes about $30. The teaching is clear and maps tightly to the exam objectives.

Best for: learning the material from scratch on a budget. Trade-off: it's video-first — most people add a separate question bank for heavier testing and PBQ practice.

2. Jason Dion (Dion Training)

BEST PAID PRACTICEJason Dion's Udemy practice exams — six full tests per core, frequently on sale around $13–20 (list ~$130) — are the paid set most candidates point to, largely because they include PBQ-style items and detailed explanations. PBQs are what trip up borderline candidates, so realistic PBQ practice is worth a lot.

Best for: realistic paid practice before test day. Trade-off: it's a question set, not a full course, and it isn't adaptive.

3. CrushCert

LABS + ADAPTIVEThat's us. CrushCert pairs an adaptive question bank (it tracks what you miss and serves more of it) with hands-on labs and full timed mock exams, plus a readiness score, for $10–19/month. For A+, the drag-and-drop labs and PBQ-style practice mirror how the exam actually tests you.

Best for: people who want practice and hands-on reps in one place, and anyone stacking certs (the Associate plan also covers Network+, Security+, CCNA, and several AWS exams). Trade-off: we're newer, and a subscription fits ongoing study better than a one-time cram. Here's CrushCert's A+ prep.

4. CompTIA CertMaster

CompTIA's own self-paced CertMaster Learn course plus the CertMaster Practice question tool. It's well-aligned to the objectives (CompTIA writes the exam), but it's the priciest option here — usually only worth it when an employer is footing the bill.

5. ExamCompass & free question sites

ExamCompass and similar sites offer free A+ questions that are fine for casual extra reps. Quality and explanations vary, and few include PBQ-style practice — use them as a supplement, not your main source.

Our honest recommendation

Start with Professor Messer for the free foundation. Add an adaptive bank with PBQ-style labs (that's where CrushCert fits) to drill weak spots hands-on. Then stress-test with Jason Dion's practice exams under timed conditions. Learn, practice hands-on, stress-test — that's the combination that passes A+ on the first try. Still deciding? Read Is CompTIA A+ worth it? or, for what comes next, Security+ vs Network+.

Frequently asked questions