Professor Messer's pricing model is unusually honest. The free tier is not a stripped-down teaser — it's the entire course. The paid tier exists for learners who want supplements: printed notes, three practice exams, and a bundle that combines both. The question candidates ask is whether the paid bundle moves the needle on pass rates or just adds polish.
This breakdown walks through exactly what's free, what costs money, who each paid product is for, and the cheapest path to first-try success.
Professor Messer's free videos and monthly Security+ study group are genuinely complete — you can pass a CompTIA exam without ever spending a dollar with him. His paid products (SY0-701 digital Notes $30, digital Practice Exams $30, Notes and Exams $50, Success Bundle $119; checked September 8, 2026) are nice-to-haves, not requirements. Skip the bundle if you're on a budget; buy the practice exam set if you want a final readiness check from the same voice that taught you.
What You Get For Free
Free with no signup required: - Full video course for A+, Network+, and Security+. - Monthly Security+ study group on YouTube with Q&A. - Pop quizzes — short topic-focused question sets posted on the site. - Exam objective tracker showing where each objective is covered.
This is genuinely the complete curriculum. The free tier is not crippled.
- Full video course for A+ (select the course for your booked exam version), Network+ (N10-009), and Security+ (SY0-701).
What Costs Money And Who It's For
SY0-701 Course Notes ($30 digital / $50 physical, checked September 8, 2026) — a 96-page PDF that mirrors the video curriculum in text form. Worth it if: you learn from text, want a single document to highlight and review, or want to study without watching videos. Skip if: you're a pure visual learner who will only watch the videos.
SY0-701 digital Practice Exams ($30, checked September 8, 2026) — three 90-question exams with written multiple-choice questions, PBQs, and answer explanations. Worth it if: you want one final readiness check from the same teacher's voice, or you don't want to pay for Udemy. Skip if: you're using Jason Dion or another practice source.
SY0-701 Success Bundle ($119, checked September 8, 2026) — notes + practice exams + video downloads. Worth it if: you want the offline package and Messer is your only resource. Skip if: you'll use additional sources (most people).
The Right Path For Each Budget
$0 budget — Messer free videos + free adaptive practice questions + free PBQ samples on CompTIA's site. Study-material cost can be $0 with free resources. Use active recall and practical tasks to check your knowledge; this does not establish a pass rate or include the exam fee.
Small paid budget — Combine Messer’s free videos with an additional practice pack if it addresses a study gap. Check the current price and product sample; this guide does not establish a pass-rate advantage.
Additional practice budget — Consider Messer Practice Exams as another question set. For the listed SY0-701 digital practice exams, allow $30 as checked September 8, 2026. This does not establish a pass rate.
Larger budget — Compare official study guides and practical training products by their current price, exam version, and the gaps they address. A larger budget does not guarantee a better result.
Choose the Success Bundle when its offline materials suit your study needs. This guide does not establish which spending tier produces the most successful candidates.
Pro Tips
Buy the Course Notes only if you've already decided you're a text learner — videos cover the same ground for free.
Wait for Udemy sales before buying any Dion product — full price is never worth it.
Use Messer's free pop quizzes as your daily 10-question warmup before video sessions.
Don't buy the Success Bundle unless you specifically need offline video downloads.
Compare the specific exam editions before buying: Messer’s SY0-701 paid practice exams include written PBQs. Add hands-on practice alongside either provider.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buying the Success Bundle assuming the paid tier teaches "more" — it doesn't.
Skipping the free study group recordings — they're some of his most valuable content.
Paying the current listed price for Messer's practice exams when free adaptive tools cover the same MC ground.
Buying the physical Course Notes when you will mainly study on a screen; compare the current edition and price before buying.
Assuming "free" means "incomplete" — it doesn't with Messer.
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