Best Free CompTIA A+ Study Resources in 2026: Honest Guide to the 220-1201 & 220-1202 Exams

CompTIA A+ is the classic first IT certification, the one that says you can fix, configure, and support computers and the people who use them. It is broad: hardware, operating systems, networking basics, mobile devices, security fundamentals, and a heavy dose of troubleshooting. Because it is so wide, it can feel intimidating, but it is also one of the most beginner-friendly certs to study for free. Before anything else, a version note that trips people up: CompTIA retired the 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams in September 2025. The current certification is earned by passing two exams, 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2). Any resource you use must target those codes. This guide lists the free study materials that cover the current A+, explains what each does well, and is honest about where free study falls short, which for A+ is mainly realistic practice exams and genuine hands-on experience. Plan two to four months to get through both exams at a steady pace.

How we chose these resources

Four criteria guided the picks. First, current to 220-1201 and 220-1202 — we excluded anything built for the retired 1101/1102 or earlier, because hardware and OS content dates quickly. Second, free without hidden costs — no trials that quietly start charging. Third, covers a real need — each resource does one job, whether teaching, testing, memorising, or building hands-on skill, so your time is not wasted on overlap. Fourth, maintained in 2026 — the creator is active and the material reflects the live exams. A+ is unusual in how practical it is, so we have weighted hands-on experience more than we would for a purely theoretical exam, and we are clear about where you may want to spend a little money.

The best free CompTIA A+ study resources

1. Professor Messer’s A+ Core 1 course (220-1201)

This is the backbone of free A+ study for the first exam. Professor Messer’s 220-1201 course is a full set of free videos, around 63 of them and roughly ten hours, ordered to follow the Core 1 objectives: hardware, networking, mobile devices, virtualisation, and hardware troubleshooting. It suits complete beginners. You get clear, jargon-light explanations and the confidence that coverage matches the blueprint. The time commitment is ten hours to watch and several weeks to absorb. It is free with no credential of its own. The honest limitation is that Core 1 is heavily hardware-focused, and watching someone describe a RAM module is no substitute for handling one, so pair the videos with real components wherever you can.

2. Professor Messer’s A+ Core 2 course (220-1202)

The companion course covers Core 2: operating systems, security, software troubleshooting, and operational procedures. Like Core 1, it is a complete free video series watchable online in order. It suits anyone who has finished Core 1 or is comfortable with hardware and wants the software and OS side. You get methodical coverage of Windows administration, common malware and security practices, and the troubleshooting methodology the exam loves. The time commitment is similar, around ten hours of video plus review. It is free. The limitation is that Core 2 leans on practical OS tasks, so you will learn far more by actually navigating Windows settings, the command line, and security options on a real machine than by watching alone. Treat the videos as the map and your own computer as the territory.

3. Professor Messer’s free course notes (PDF)

Alongside the videos, Professor Messer publishes free course notes as downloadable PDFs that summarise each objective. It suits revision and quick reference rather than first learning. You get a condensed written version of the course you can search, annotate, and skim before the exam, which is far faster than rewatching videos. The time commitment is light and best used in the final weeks. The notes are free, with a more polished paid version available for those who want it. The limitation is that notes compress and assume you already watched the explanation, so they reinforce rather than teach. Use them to plug specific gaps and as a last-week refresher, not as your only source from day one.

4. Official CompTIA A+ exam objectives (free PDF)

CompTIA publishes the full objectives for 220-1201 and 220-1202 as free downloads, and they are your authoritative checklist. It suits everyone. You get the exact scope of both exams, broken down by domain and weighting, so you can audit any course for missing topics. The time commitment is an hour to read each and recurring use as a self-test. They are free. The only weakness is that they describe what, not how, so they are a syllabus rather than a teacher. Download both, and for every line item ask whether you could explain it or perform it. Anything you cannot is a study target. This single habit prevents the worst exam-day surprise: discovering an entire sub-domain you never covered.

5. ExamCompass free practice questions

ExamCompass provides free, topic-organised A+ practice questions with no sign-up. It suits the testing phase once you have watched the relevant videos. You get quick quizzes that reveal weak areas and full sets for end-to-end checks, with explanations on many answers. The time commitment is ten to twenty minutes per quiz. It is free. The honest caveat, true of nearly all free banks, is that the questions tend to be more definitional and easier than the real exam, which features performance-based tasks and scenario judgement. Use these to confirm coverage and build pace, but do not read a high score as proof of readiness. If you can stretch to it, a paid practice set closer to exam difficulty is the smartest single purchase.

6. Anki flashcards (spaced repetition)

A+ contains a mountain of small facts: port numbers, connector types, RAM standards, Windows editions, and command-line switches. Anki, the free spaced-repetition app, is the efficient way to retain them, and community decks aligned to the current exams exist so you can start straight away. It suits anyone who keeps mixing up similar specifications. You get short daily reviews that quietly build durable recall. The time commitment is ten to fifteen minutes a day, every day. The app is free on desktop and Android, with the iPhone version the one paid exception. Its limitation is the usual one: flashcards build memory, not the troubleshooting judgement the exam rewards, so they support the videos and hands-on practice rather than replacing them.

7. Hands-on practice with real or old hardware

A+ is the most practical of the entry certs, and nothing teaches it like touching hardware. An old desktop from a marketplace, a relative’s broken laptop, or even your own machine lets you practise installing RAM and drives, reseating components, navigating BIOS/UEFI, and reinstalling an operating system. It suits everyone, because the exam includes performance-based tasks that mirror these jobs. You get muscle memory and an intuitive grasp of how parts fit together. The time commitment is whatever you can give, spread across your study. The cost can be near zero if you use hardware you already have or can borrow. The limitation is access: not everyone has spare kit. If you do not, lean on detailed teardown videos and virtual machines for the OS side, which cost nothing to spin up.

8. The r/CompTIA community

The CompTIA subreddit is a free, busy support hub where people share A+ study plans, recent exam impressions, and resource recommendations. It suits self-taught learners who want company and reassurance. You get motivation, honest accounts of how the current exams feel, and fast answers to “is this still in scope?” questions. The time commitment is your choice. It is free. The weakness is the usual forum caveat: advice quality varies, and you will occasionally see requests for leaked questions, which break CompTIA’s policy and can cost you your certification. Use it for encouragement and plan feedback, not for shortcuts. The regular “passed both today” posts are a useful, grounded reality check on how prepared people felt against how the exams actually played out.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Studying the retired exams. Vast amounts of free A+ content still target 220-1101 and 220-1102, which retired in September 2025. Studying them wastes time and leaves gaps. Confirm every resource names 220-1201 and 220-1202 and check it against the current official objectives.

2. Watching without touching. A+ is practical. The exam includes performance-based tasks, and you cannot bluff hands-on skill. For every block of video, spend real time in BIOS, in Windows settings, and ideally inside a physical machine. Theory alone leaves you slow and uncertain on the interactive questions.

3. Underestimating Core 2. Many people coast through hardware in Core 1 and then hit the OS, security, and procedures of Core 2 unprepared. Give Core 2 equal respect and equal study time; its software troubleshooting and Windows depth catch out hardware enthusiasts.

4. Booking both exams too close together. You need to pass both, but cramming them back to back leaves no recovery room if one goes badly. Space them by a week or two, and only book the second once you are consistently scoring well on realistic practice for that core.

Frequently asked questions

Which A+ exams should I take in 2026?

The current exams are 220-1201 (Core 1) and 220-1202 (Core 2). The previous 220-1101 and 220-1102 versions retired in September 2025, so do not study or book those. You must pass both current exams to earn the A+ certification. Always confirm a resource targets the 1201 and 1202 codes before relying on it, as plenty of older material is still circulating.

Can I pass A+ with only free resources?

Yes for the knowledge. Professor Messer’s two courses, his notes, the official objectives, ExamCompass, and Anki cover both exams free. The gaps are realistic practice exams and hands-on hardware. If you have old kit to tinker with and can borrow practice questions, the only unavoidable cost is the two vouchers, around £360 in total.

How much does CompTIA A+ cost in the UK?

Each exam voucher is roughly £180 in the UK including VAT, and because A+ needs two exams, the total is around £360. Students with a valid .ac.uk email can use CompTIA’s academic store for substantial discounts, sometimes close to half price. Check that before buying, since it is the single biggest saving available on an otherwise unavoidable cost.

How long does it take to study for A+?

Most beginners take two to four months to prepare for both exams at one to two hours a day. People who already build PCs or work in basic IT support can move faster. The pace depends on how much hands-on practice you do; the breadth of topics, not their difficulty, is what makes A+ time-consuming.

Is CompTIA A+ worth it in 2026?

For help desk, desktop support, and field technician roles, yes. It remains the standard entry credential and is frequently listed as a requirement or strong preference for first IT jobs. It is less relevant if you are aiming straight at development or cloud engineering. As proof that you can support real users and real hardware, it opens the first door of an IT career.

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