Best Study Guide for Security+ (2026): Books Compared

Before a Security+ exam date, a reader with IT experience and a complete newcomer need different books, so this list of the best study guide for security+ compares the SY0-701 listings for each kind of reader. It is written for exam takers who want to know what each book contains, which edition they would get, and whether the listing states a reader level. Each pick below says who it suits and who should skip it.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Security+ Certification Kit by Chapple	9.7/10	Buy
2	Get Certified Get Ahead by Shelley	9.6/10	Buy
3	SY0-701 Certification Guide by Neil	9.5/10	Buy

1

Security+ Certification Kit by Chapple

Mike Chapple·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits exam takers who want a study guide and a practice test book together; skip it if you want a single volume.

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Pros

• The description names a 9th Edition study guide and a 3rd Edition practice tests book
• The listing states one year of complimentary access to the Sybex online learning environment after activation
• The description says the study guide was completely revised to align with the latest exam objectives

Cons

• The spec table lists a 7th edition, which does not match the 9th and 3rd editions named in the description
• The listing gives two page counts, 704 pages and 1,008 pages, so check the count before you buy
• The listing shows two publication dates, November 2023 and January 11, 2024

2

Get Certified Get Ahead by Shelley

Joe Shelley·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits IT and security staff who want chapter reviews and explained practice questions in one volume; skip it if you want a separate practice book.

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Pros

• The description lists a 50-question pre-test, practice questions at the end of each chapter, and a full 90-question practice exam
• Each practice question comes with an explanation, according to the description
• Eleven chapters, each with an Exam Topic Review section, according to the description

Cons

• The listing gives no edition number, and its October 26, 2023 publication date is earlier than the dates on the other two listings
• No audience level or grade level is stated, so readers judge fit from the description alone
• The practice material sits inside the one volume, and no separate practice book is listed

3

SY0-701 Certification Guide by Neil

Ian Neil·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits readers with or without an IT background who want mock exams and flashcards in one guide; skip it if you need a stated reading level.

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Pros

• The description says it suits readers with or without an IT background
• The listing states 3 full-length mock exams, flashcards and acronyms, plus lifetime access to web-based exam prep tools
• The listing gives 622 pages, a January 19, 2024 publication date and the 3rd edition

Cons

• No reading age, grade level or audience level is stated, so the reader level has to come from the description
• The publisher's copy says readers will pass on their first attempt, a claim the listing does not back with figures
• The description calls the practice tools web-based and does not state an offline option

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More picks to compare

• Security+ Study Guide by ChappleFor readers who want the study guide alone, with practice questions and flashcards.Check on Amazon
• Security+ Study Guide by HopperfieldFor SY0-701 exam takers who want an exam simulator, timed practice and flashcards.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the exam reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Only one of the three picks states an audience level, and the other two state no reading age, grade level or audience level, so their fit rests on the description and the exam named in the title. Read the scores as a comparison of listings, not a prediction of exam results. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best study guide for security+

Match the book to your background

A reader with an IT background may want a single volume with mock exams, which the Neil listing says suits readers with or without an IT background. A newcomer to security may prefer a set that keeps a study guide and a practice test book apart, as the Sybex kit does, so practice questions have their own book to work through. For a different licensing exam, see our EMT study guide list.

Check the edition and the dates

For a current exam, the edition and publication date matter more than the title. The kit’s listing gives two publication dates and two page counts, so confirm both on the page before you order. The Get Certified listing has the earliest date of the three, October 26, 2023, and gives no edition number.

Look for practice material you will use

Practice material differs by listing. The Get Certified guide includes a 50-question pre-test and a 90-question practice exam inside the book, while the kit describes hundreds of questions with no count stated. Count the questions a listing gives before you decide, because a stated number is easier to plan around than a word like hundreds.

Before you buy

• Check the edition and publication date on the listing, since the kit’s listing shows a 7th edition in its table and 9th and 3rd editions in its description.
• Confirm the page count, since the kit’s listing gives 704 and 1,008 pages.
• Check whether the listing states an answer key. None of these listings does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Security+ guide suits a newcomer?

The kit lists an audience level of Beginner to Intermediate, and the Neil listing says it suits readers with or without an IT background. Compare the description with your own experience before you choose.

Does the Security+ kit include a practice test book?

Yes. The description says the kit includes the Practice Tests: Exam SY0-701 book, listed as 3rd edition, along with the study guide.

Is there an answer key with these guides?

None of these listings states an answer key. The Get Certified listing says each practice question comes with an explanation.

Still deciding? Our top pickSecurity+ Certification Kit by Chapple

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