The CompTIA Network+ exam (N10-009) covers a broader and deeper set of networking concepts than A+ — subnetting, routing protocols, network security, cloud networking, and more. The study materials that work for A+ aren't always sufficient here. This page covers the three resources I'd recommend, based on what Network+ candidates consistently report getting them across the finish line.
Network+ assumes you already understand networking fundamentals. Where A+ asks "what is a subnet mask?", Network+ asks you to calculate subnets, identify the correct CIDR notation, and troubleshoot routing issues. The exam is widely considered noticeably harder than A+ — but it's also more respected by hiring managers for networking and infrastructure roles.
If you haven't passed A+ yet, consider starting there. If you have, the networking content on this site is a solid foundation to build from before diving into Network+ study materials.
Quick Comparison
| Resource | Best For | Format | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lammle & Buhagiar Sybex Guide | Comprehensive | Book + exam coupon | ~$40–50 | ⭐ Top Pick |
| Dion Training Practice Exams | Exam Ready | Online practice tests | ~$30–40 | Best for test prep |
| Professor Messer | Budget | Free video course | Free | Best free option |
CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-009
by Todd Lammle & Jon Buhagiar · Sybex Study Guide Series · Covers current N10-009 exam
Todd Lammle has been writing networking certification guides for decades and is one of the most respected names in the space. This Sybex edition covers the full N10-009 exam objectives in a structured format that's thorough without being overwhelming. It's the guide I'd hand to someone who has A+ and is ready to go deeper — and it comes with a practical bonus that directly saves money on exam day.
- Covers the full CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam objectives
- Written by Todd Lammle — one of the most recognized names in networking certification prep
- Includes a coupon for 10% off the Network+ exam voucher (~$37 savings)
- Part of the trusted Sybex Study Guide series used across multiple IT certifications
- Covers subnetting, routing protocols, network security, cloud networking, and troubleshooting
- Includes review questions at the end of each chapter and practice exam access
- Comprehensive N10-009 coverage
- Exam voucher coupon offsets cost
- Lammle is a trusted, proven author
- Chapter review questions reinforce learning
- Dense — Network+ material is inherently technical
- Best paired with separate practice exams for full readiness
Dion Training Network+ Practice Exams
by Jason Dion · The most exam-realistic practice tests available for Network+
Jason Dion's practice exams are as useful for Network+ as they are for A+ — arguably more so, because Network+ scenario questions are more complex and the gap between "knowing the material" and "passing the exam" is wider. His questions mirror the real exam's wording and difficulty closely, and the detailed answer explanations are worth as much as the questions themselves for understanding why wrong answers are wrong.
- Question style and difficulty closely mirrors the real N10-009 exam
- Covers all Network+ domains — networking concepts, infrastructure, security, troubleshooting
- Detailed explanations for every answer, including why distractors are wrong
- Performance tracking shows your weakest domains so you can focus study time
- Consistently recommended by Network+ passers on r/CompTIA
For Network+, don't wait until you feel "ready" to start practice tests — take one early to see where your gaps are. The exam has a heavy troubleshooting component that's hard to learn from a book alone. Practice exams surface those gaps faster than re-reading chapters.
Professor Messer Free Network+ Course
by Professor Messer · Complete free video course covering all N10-009 objectives
Professor Messer's free Network+ course is one of the most widely used free resources in the certification community. The videos are well-structured, updated for the current exam version, and cover the full N10-009 objectives. For a topic as visual as networking — routing diagrams, protocol flows, network topologies — video often explains things more clearly than text. If budget is tight, this is the place to start.
- 100% free — no credit card, no subscription
- Covers all N10-009 exam objectives in organized, digestible videos
- Updated for the current Network+ exam version
- Visual format is well-suited to networking concepts like routing and subnetting
- Study notes available separately if you want printable summaries to review
Jason Dion Network+ Course on Udemy
by Jason Dion · Comprehensive N10-009 video course with practice questions · Udemy
Jason Dion's Network+ course on Udemy is one of the most popular CompTIA N10-009 resources on the platform. The video format is especially effective for networking topics — watching routing diagrams, subnetting walkthroughs, and protocol flows explained step-by-step tends to click faster than reading alone. Udemy's regular sales bring it down to $15–20, making it an easy add alongside a study guide or practice exam set.
- Covers all N10-009 exam domains with clear, structured video lessons
- Frequently discounted to $15–20 on Udemy
- Includes quizzes and practice questions to reinforce each section
- Lifetime access — go back and review any topic before exam day
- Pairs well with Dion's standalone practice exam set for full preparation
Which Should You Use?
The Winning Combination
For most Network+ candidates, the fastest path to passing looks like this:
Don't book your exam until you're consistently hitting 80%+ on practice tests. Network+ rewards preparation — the retake fee alone makes thorough prep worthwhile.
Brush Up on Core Concepts
These free guides cover the networking fundamentals that Network+ builds directly on:
What the CompTIA Network+ Exam Actually Tests
Network+ (N10-009) is a single exam — 90 questions, 90 minutes, passing score of 720 out of 900. It covers five domains: Networking Fundamentals (23%), Network Implementations (21%), Network Operations (19%), Network Security (19%), and Network Troubleshooting (18%). Unlike A+, which is two exams, Network+ is one exam that tests broad networking knowledge across all five areas simultaneously.
The N10-009 version (current) places increased emphasis on cloud networking, automation, and security integration compared to the previous N10-008. If you're using study materials older than 2024, check that they cover SASE, SD-WAN concepts, and cloud-native networking — these topics were expanded significantly in the current version.
Performance-based questions (PBQs) appear at the start of the exam and are the hardest part for most candidates. Common PBQ formats: drag-and-drop network topology diagrams, IP configuration tasks (assigning correct addresses given a subnet), cable type selection for a given scenario, and command-line output interpretation (identifying what a netstat or nslookup output means). These cannot be guessed — you need to actually know the material.
How Long Does It Take to Study for Network+?
Candidates with A+ or equivalent experience typically need 6 to 10 weeks. Those coming straight from no IT background may need 10 to 14 weeks. Network+ assumes you understand basic computing — if you're not comfortable with what an IP address is and how a router differs from a switch, spend time on A+ fundamentals first or the Network+ material will be harder than it needs to be.
The key difference between A+ and Network+ study is the depth of conceptual understanding required. A+ is broad but relatively shallow on any single topic. Network+ is narrower in scope but requires genuine understanding of how networking works — you can't pass by memorising facts if you don't understand why subnetting works the way it does or how a routing table is used to forward packets.
Aim to be consistently hitting 80%+ on full practice exams before booking. Network+ practice exams are harder to find than A+ ones — Dion Training is the most consistently recommended source for realistic Network+ questions that match the actual exam difficulty and format.
Network+ Study Strategy — What Actually Works
Master subnetting before anything else. Subnetting appears in multiple question formats on Network+ — multiple-choice, PBQ, and scenario questions — and it's the topic candidates most commonly underestimate. If you can't work out a subnet's network address, broadcast address, and usable host range for any /24 through /30 prefix within 60 seconds, you'll struggle with a significant portion of the exam. Practise until it's automatic, not just until you can do it slowly with a formula sheet.
Learn the OSI model deeply. The OSI model is the single most referenced framework across the entire Network+ exam. Every troubleshooting scenario, every protocol discussion, and many PBQs reference specific layers. You need to know which protocols operate at which layers, what devices operate at which layers (hubs at Layer 1, switches at Layer 2, routers at Layer 3), and how to use the model to diagnose problems from the bottom up.
Memorise port numbers. At minimum: HTTP (80), HTTPS (443), FTP (20/21), SSH (22), Telnet (23), SMTP (25), DNS (53), DHCP (67/68), POP3 (110), IMAP (143), SNMP (161/162), LDAP (389), SMB (445), RDP (3389). Know the port, the transport protocol (TCP vs UDP), and whether it has a more secure alternative (Telnet → SSH, HTTP → HTTPS, FTP → SFTP/FTPS, LDAP → LDAPS).
Understand routing protocols, not just definitions. You don't need to configure OSPF to pass Network+, but you need to understand the difference between distance-vector and link-state routing, why OSPF scales better than RIP, and what BGP is used for (routing between autonomous systems on the internet). The exam tests conceptual understanding of when and why each protocol is used, not configuration syntax.
Don't skip wireless and cloud. 802.11 standards (ax/Wi-Fi 6, ac/Wi-Fi 5, n/Wi-Fi 4), frequency bands (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz trade-offs), wireless security (WPA2 vs WPA3, 802.1X with RADIUS), and cloud networking concepts (SD-WAN, SASE, cloud-hosted services) collectively represent a significant portion of Network+ questions that many candidates under-study because they feel less "fundamental" than routing and subnetting.
The Most Tested Network+ Topics
Subnetting and CIDR (Domain 1 — 23%). Given an IP address and prefix length, find the network address, broadcast address, first usable host, last usable host, and number of usable hosts. VLSM (Variable Length Subnet Masking) — allocating different subnet sizes to different departments from a single address block. These appear in both multiple-choice and PBQ formats.
Network troubleshooting (Domain 5 — 18%). Given a symptom (users can't reach a website, a VLAN is unreachable, a wireless client won't connect), identify the most likely cause and the correct diagnostic step. The OSI bottom-up troubleshooting approach is expected. Tools: ping, traceroute/tracert, nslookup, netstat, ipconfig/ifconfig, arp. Know what each command reveals and when you'd use it.
Network security (Domain 4 — 19%). Common network attacks (DDoS, MITM, ARP poisoning, DNS spoofing), defence mechanisms (IDS vs IPS, firewall types, network segmentation, VLANs), and access control (802.1X, RADIUS, MAC filtering). The security domain overlaps with Security+ content — if you're planning to take Security+ after Network+, this is where your study investment compounds.
Common Reasons Candidates Fail Network+
Weak subnetting. This is the most cited reason for failing Network+. Subnetting is a skill — it requires practice, not just reading about it. If you're studying from a book and doing the chapter exercises but not drilling subnetting problems daily until they're fast, you will struggle on exam day under time pressure.
Underestimating PBQs. Many candidates do fine on multiple-choice practice but are caught off guard by the format and cognitive load of PBQs. If your practice materials don't include PBQ-style questions, you're preparing for a different exam than the one you'll sit.
Skipping wireless and cloud topics. These feel less important than "core" networking but represent a meaningful percentage of exam questions. Candidates who focus entirely on routing, switching, and subnetting and skip wireless standards, cloud networking, and SD-WAN often find themselves losing points in unexpected areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need A+ before Network+?
CompTIA recommends A+ or 9 to 12 months of IT networking experience, but it's not enforced. Many candidates skip A+ and go directly to Network+ if their background is specifically in networking. If you're completely new to IT, A+ first is the safer path. If you already understand basic computing concepts, you can start with Network+.
How much does Network+ cost?
The exam voucher is $369 USD (as of 2025). Unlike A+, Network+ is a single exam — one voucher, one sitting. CompTIA occasionally offers promotional discounts and bundle pricing when purchased with official study materials.
What jobs does Network+ qualify me for?
Network administrator, junior network engineer, IT support specialist (with networking focus), help desk tier 2, and NOC technician are the most common roles. Network+ alone typically earns $50,000–$70,000 depending on location. Combined with A+ and some experience, you're competitive for most entry to mid-level IT infrastructure roles.
Is Network+ harder than A+?
Most candidates find Network+ harder — not because the material is more complex, but because it requires deeper understanding rather than broad recall. A+ is wide and relatively shallow. Network+ is narrower but requires you to actually understand how networks function, not just identify what components are called. The subnetting requirement is the most commonly cited jump in difficulty.