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Pricing and verdict · Verified August 26, 2026
Absolute beginners should take Google IT Support first (6 courses, about 3 months, roughly $100–$150); go straight to Google Cybersecurity (9 courses, about 6 months, roughly $150–$300) only with helpdesk or other IT experience behind you.
There is no formal prerequisite — Google’s Cybersecurity certificate will enrol anyone — but entry-level security hiring usually expects IT fundamentals, so skipping them tends to produce a certificate without a plausible first job. Both programs bill at $49 a month after a 7-day free trial and both are included in Coursera Plus ($59/month or $399/year). IT Support prepares you for the CompTIA A+ exams; Cybersecurity includes a discounted CompTIA Security+ exam. The honest sequence for most beginners: IT Support, a helpdesk-type role, then the security program.
IT Support or Cybersecurity first? The short answer
If you are starting from zero, take the Google IT Support certificate first: six courses, Google’s estimate of three months at 10 hours a week, and a realistic total of roughly $100–$150 at $49 a month. Go straight to the Google Cybersecurity certificate only if you already have helpdesk or other hands-on IT experience. Formally there is no prerequisite — Coursera will happily enrol a complete beginner in the cybersecurity program. But entry-level security hiring usually expects IT fundamentals, so the beginner who skips them tends to end up with a security certificate and no plausible first job to point it at.
The good news is that this is not an expensive decision to get wrong. Both certificates bill at $49 a month after a 7-day free trial, and IT Support is the shortest Google Career Certificate, so the “IT first” route adds roughly $100–$150 and two to three months before you start the security material — with a CompTIA A+ preparation track thrown in.
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How this comparison was prepared
This is a documentation-based comparison, not a diary of completing both programs. Everything below comes from the official certificate pages on Coursera and Coursera’s pricing pages, checked on August 26, 2026, plus public help documentation. Where a figure is Google’s own claim — open-job counts, median salaries, graduate-outcome percentages — we attribute it to Google and treat it as marketing, not as a verified finding.
Coursera is the brand with affiliate links in this article. The verdict has not been bent to suit that: both certificates sit behind the same affiliate program, so we have no incentive to push one over the other, and there is a full section on who should buy neither.
The two certificates side by side
Both are self-paced course series on Coursera, both bill at $49 a month until you finish (US/Canada, after a 7-day free trial), and both are included in Coursera Plus. The differences that matter are length, content, and the exam credential each one points at.
| Feature | Google IT Support | Google Cybersecurity |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | 6 | 9 |
| Google’s time estimate | 3 months at 10 h/week | 6 months at 7 h/week |
| Realistic total at $49/month | Roughly $100–$150 | Roughly $150–$300 |
| Exam credential it points at | Prepares for CompTIA A+ (dual-credential option) | Helps prepare for CompTIA Security+ (discounted exam; dual credential) |
| Tools and skills | IT infrastructure, networking (TCP/IP), OS and system administration, troubleshooting, security basics, automation | Python, Linux, SQL, Bash, SIEM tools (Chronicle, Splunk), IDS (Suricata) |
| Rating and scale | 4.8 stars (~215k reviews), ~2.17M enrolled | 4.8 stars (~69k reviews), ~1.59M enrolled |
| Google’s job claims | 287,000+ open IT support jobs, $70,000 median entry salary (US) — Google’s figures | Employer consortium includes American Express, Deloitte, Mandiant, T-Mobile, Walmart — Google’s list |
Both programs carry Google’s broader claims: that graduates can apply directly to jobs with Google and 150+ US employers, and that “75% of certificate graduates report a positive career outcome within six months” — a self-reported survey figure (for the cybersecurity page, based on US 2022 survey data). Attribute those numbers to Google’s marketing, not to your own future.
Is IT Support formally required first? No — but read on
Google’s cybersecurity certificate does not require the IT Support certificate, or anything else, as a prerequisite. You can enrol on day one with no background at all, and the early courses do start from fundamentals.
The catch is not enrolment; it is employment. Security is rarely a true entry-level field. The typical first security job — SOC analyst, junior security analyst — sits on top of assumed knowledge: how networks are put together, how operating systems behave, what normal looks like on a helpdesk ticket queue. Hiring managers screening for those roles usually expect IT fundamentals or helpdesk experience, whatever the certificate page says. A certificate can get your resume read; it cannot answer the interview question about subnetting.
Why absolute beginners should take IT Support first
If you cannot yet explain what TCP/IP does or feel comfortable in a command line, the IT-first route is the honest recommendation, for three reasons.
- The security material lands better with context. The cybersecurity program works in Linux, SQL, Bash and SIEM tools. Those are far easier to absorb when networking and operating systems are already familiar rather than being learned simultaneously.
- It gives you an employable fallback. IT support roles are the classic on-ramp into security. Finishing the shorter certificate first means you can apply for helpdesk and desktop-support work — Google claims 287,000+ open US IT support jobs and a $70,000 median entry salary, its figures — while you continue the security program in the evenings. Many working security analysts started exactly this way.
- The detour is short and cheap. Six courses at Google’s three-month estimate is roughly $100–$150 of extra spend, and it doubles as preparation for the CompTIA A+ exams. (A+ requires two separately purchased exam vouchers from CompTIA — check current voucher prices there, as they are not trivial.)
The sequence beginners should picture is: IT Support certificate, then a helpdesk-type job or the Cybersecurity certificate (or both in parallel), then Security+ when target employers ask for it. That is slower on paper than jumping straight to the security program, and faster in practice at producing a first paycheck.
When to go straight to Cybersecurity
Skip IT Support and enrol directly in the Google Cybersecurity certificate if any of these describe you:
- You work, or have worked, in helpdesk, desktop support, system administration or networking. The IT Support certificate would mostly re-teach what your job already taught you.
- You hold CompTIA A+ or an equivalent credential, or a degree with real networking and OS coursework.
- You tinker seriously — home lab, Linux daily driver, comfortable in a terminal — and can honestly pass the “explain TCP/IP and file permissions” test today.
For this group the cybersecurity program is the better spend: nine courses across roughly six months at seven hours a week, hands-on with Python, Linux, SQL, Bash, SIEM tools (Chronicle and Splunk) and the Suricata IDS, plus a discounted CompTIA Security+ exam and a dual-credential option. Note the lighter weekly load: seven hours a week rather than ten. The calendar is longer but the weekly commitment is gentler, which suits people studying alongside a full-time IT job.
What each path actually costs
Both certificates bill at about $49 a month after a 7-day free trial (US/Canada pricing; Coursera runs regional pricing and periodic promotions, so your checkout price may differ). Because billing is monthly, pace is price:
- IT Support alone: Google estimates 3 months at 10 h/week — roughly $100–$150 for most finishers.
- Cybersecurity alone: Google estimates 6 months at 7 h/week — roughly $150–$300. Google says most learners complete its certificates for less than $300.
- Both in sequence at $49/month: roughly $250–$450 over about nine months, if you keep pace.
If you are fairly sure you want both — the recommended beginner path — look at Coursera Plus instead: $59 a month or $399 a year, covering both certificates plus 10,000+ other courses, with unlimited certificates on completion. The annual plan at $399 costs about the same as a slowish run through both certificates billed separately, and removes the meter-is-running pressure. (Degrees, MasterTrack and certain other programs are excluded; the annual plan has a refund window of up to 14 days, and certificates earned during those 14 days are revoked if you refund.)
The decision table
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No IT background at all | IT Support | Fundamentals first; employable in ~3 months for ~$100–$150; A+ prep included |
| Beginner, but certain security is the goal | IT Support, then Cybersecurity | Security hiring expects IT fundamentals; the detour is short and cheap |
| Current or former helpdesk / IT role | Cybersecurity | IT Support would re-teach your day job; go straight to SIEM, Linux, Python |
| Have CompTIA A+ or equivalent coursework | Cybersecurity | The prerequisite knowledge is already credentialed |
| Planning to take both within a year | Coursera Plus ($399/yr) | One price covers both certificates and removes per-month pressure |
| Employer specifically requires A+ or Security+ | Matching Google cert + the CompTIA exam | The certificates are study paths; the CompTIA exams are separate purchases |
Who should choose neither
Some readers should close both tabs:
- Experienced security professionals. Both programs are aimed at career starters. If you already work in security, vendor certifications or hands-on specialisations will serve you better than either.
- Anyone expecting the certificate alone to produce a job offer. Google’s direct-apply consortium and its 75% positive-outcome figure are Google’s own claims from a self-reported survey. Entry-level markets are competitive; the certificate gets attention, but interviews are decided by what you can do and show.
- People whose target employers only care about CompTIA. If every job posting you want lists A+ or Security+ and nothing else, budget for the exam vouchers first and treat the Google program as optional structured prep — not either/or, but exam first in priority.
- Degree-seekers. Neither certificate is a degree or transfers as one. If your target roles require a bachelor’s, this does not substitute.
For a broader look at how the certificates compare across all six Google tracks, see our guide to choosing the best Google Career Certificate, and the deeper dives on whether IT Support is worth it and whether Cybersecurity is worth it.
How to decide in 7 days without spending anything
Both certificates offer a 7-day free trial, so you can test your own honest starting level before a dollar leaves your account:
- Day 1: Start the free trial on the Cybersecurity certificate and work through the first course’s opening modules at full attention.
- Days 2–4: Push until it hurts. If the networking and OS assumptions feel comfortable, you have your answer: stay, and cancel nothing.
- Days 5–6: If instead you are googling every second term, switch the trial plan: cancel, start the IT Support certificate’s own 7-day trial, and confirm the fundamentals track fits.
- Day 7: Decide before the trial converts. Set a calendar reminder on day 6 — both bill $49/month once the trial ends. If you know you want both programs, price Coursera Plus at $399/year against your realistic pace before paying per-certificate.
One honest note to end on: whichever door you enter, plan on the portfolio work — labs, the capstone-style exercises, anything you can demonstrate — being the part interviews actually ask about. The certificate opens the conversation; the skills carry it.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Google IT Support certificate before the Cybersecurity one?
No. Google's Cybersecurity certificate has no formal prerequisite and starts from fundamentals. In practice, though, entry-level security hiring usually expects IT fundamentals or helpdesk experience, so absolute beginners are better served taking IT Support first — it is only 6 courses and about 3 months — while anyone with real IT experience can go straight to the security program.
How much does each certificate cost in total?
Both bill at about $49 a month after a 7-day free trial (US/Canada). Google estimates IT Support at 3 months at 10 hours a week, so roughly $100–$150; Cybersecurity at 6 months at 7 hours a week, so roughly $150–$300. Google says most learners complete its certificates for less than $300. Checkout prices can differ with regional pricing and promotions.
Is Coursera Plus cheaper if I want both certificates?
Often, yes. Coursera Plus is $59 a month or $399 a year and includes both certificates plus 10,000+ other courses with unlimited certificates on completion. Both certificates in sequence at $49/month would run roughly $250–$450 over about nine months, so the $399 annual plan is competitive if you keep a steady pace.
Which certificate leads to a job faster?
IT Support, for most beginners. It is the shorter program and points at genuinely entry-level roles — Google claims 287,000+ open US IT support jobs and a $70,000 median entry salary, which are Google's own figures. Security roles usually sit one step up the ladder and expect IT fundamentals first, so the cybersecurity certificate pays off fastest for people who already have that base.
Do these certificates include the CompTIA exams?
No. The IT Support certificate prepares you for the CompTIA A+ exams (with a dual-credential option) and the Cybersecurity certificate helps prepare for Security+ with a discounted exam, but the CompTIA exam vouchers are separate purchases from CompTIA — two exams for A+. Check current voucher prices at comptia.org and budget for them if your target employers ask for the CompTIA credential.
Is the Google Cybersecurity certificate enough to get hired as a security analyst?
Treat it as a strong starting credential, not a job guarantee. It teaches Python, Linux, SQL, Bash, SIEM tools (Chronicle, Splunk) and the Suricata IDS, and Google's employer consortium includes American Express, Deloitte, Mandiant, T-Mobile and Walmart — but the 75% positive-outcome figure is Google's own self-reported survey (US 2022 data). Entry-level security hiring is competitive; hands-on practice and demonstrable skills decide interviews.
Fact-checking note: official Coursera pricing and product pages were reviewed August 26, 2026. Reconfirm prices, plan limits, and features before purchase.