By Quick answer: How do popular certifications compare head to head?
- Cloud — AWS SAA vs AZ-104: employer's cloud decides.
- Security — Security+ vs Google Cybersecurity.
- PM — PMP vs CAPM: experience decides.
- BI — PL-300 vs Tableau: tool decides.
Key takeaways
- Most comparisons are decided by your employer or experience.
- Learning credentials and hiring credentials differ.
- When unsure, check local job posts.
Most certification decisions are a choice between two options. Here are the most common match-ups and the deciding factor in each.
Ten certifications in five match-ups
Ranked for this reader. Costs and formats come from each issuer's own page, checked on 3 November 2026; prices change, so confirm before you book.
| # | Certification | Cost | Time | Prove it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateAmazon Web Services | $1501 | 130 minutes, 65 questions | Free test |
| 2 | Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Microsoft | Exam priced by country2 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 3 | CompTIA Security+CompTIA | Voucher price on the CompTIA store3 | V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk | Free test |
| 4 | Google Cybersecurity Professional CertificateGoogle / Coursera | $49/mo Coursera plan4 | 6 months at 7 hours a week | Free test |
| 5 | PMP – Project Management ProfessionalPMI | $425 PMI members / $675 non-members5 | 240 minutes, 180 questions | Free test |
| 6 | CAPM – Certified Associate in Project ManagementPMI | $225 PMI members / $300 non-members6 | 180 minutes, 150 questions | Free test |
| 7 | Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Scrum Alliance | Included in a 2-day course price7 | 16-hour course, then a 50-question test | Free test |
| 8 | Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum.org | Check the official page8 | Check issuer | Free test |
| 9 | Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)Microsoft | Exam priced by country9 | 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months | Free test |
| 10 | Tableau Certified Data AnalystTableau (Salesforce) | Check the official page10 | Check issuer | Free test |
Prove it free before you pay for an exam
Take the free test first. Pay for an exam only when you pass.
Every pick above has a matching free practice test on Science of Apps, one of the world's largest libraries of free certification tests (1,200+). Check your level before you pay for an exam, or add a verifiable credential to LinkedIn while you study. (Disclosure: we publish these tests; the certifications above earn us nothing.)
- AWS Solutions Architect Associate Practice ExamPractise for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate before you pay.Start free test →
- Azure Administrator AZ-104 Practice TestPractise for Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) before you pay.Start free test →
- CompTIA Security+ Practice TestPractise for CompTIA Security+ before you pay.Start free test →
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals CertificationPractise for Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate before you pay.Start free test →
Each certification in its match-up
- AWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect – AssociateVs AZ-104$150
- MicrosoftMicrosoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)Vs AWS SAAExam priced by country
- CompTIACompTIA Security+Vs Google CybersecurityVoucher price on the CompTIA store
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- Cost
- $1501
- Format
- 130 minutes, 65 questions
Choose if employers use AWS; $150. AWS's associate exam tests designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-aware systems on AWS. It's 130 minutes with 65 questions and costs $150, and it's the cloud credential most often named in job posts.
Best forvs AZ-104
Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country2
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Choose if employers use Azure. Microsoft's associate exam proves you can manage Azure identity, storage, compute and networking. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, and renews free online every 12 months, which keeps long-term cost low.
Best forvs AWS SAA
CompTIA Security+
- Cost
- Voucher price on the CompTIA store3
- Format
- V7 retiring; V8 adds AI-related risk
Choose for hiring; proctored. CompTIA's vendor-neutral security exam covers threats, architecture, operations and governance, and the new version adds AI-related risk. It's listed in ANAB's ISO/IEC 17024 directory; voucher prices vary by country.
Best forvs Google Cybersecurity
Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
- Cost
- $49/mo Coursera plan4
- Time
- 6 months at 7 hours a week
Choose for learning from zero. Google's professional certificate teaches security basics with Python, Linux, SQL and SIEM tools through hands-on labs. It's designed for beginners, takes about six months at seven hours a week and offers financial aid.
Best forvs Security+
PMP – Project Management Professional
- Cost
- $425 PMI members / $675 non-members5
- Format
- 240 minutes, 180 questions
- Entry
- 3–5 years leading projects (by education) plus 35 hours of training
Choose with 3–5 years' experience. PMI's Project Management Professional is a 240-minute, 180-question exam covering predictive, agile and hybrid approaches. It needs 3–5 years leading projects plus 35 hours of training and costs $425 for PMI members or $675.
Best forvs CAPM
CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management
- Cost
- $225 PMI members / $300 non-members6
- Format
- 180 minutes, 150 questions
- Entry
- Secondary diploma plus 23 hours of project management education
Choose without that experience. PMI's entry credential is a 180-minute, 150-question exam for people early in project roles. It needs a secondary diploma plus 23 hours of project management education and costs $225 for PMI members or $300.
Best forvs PMP
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Cost
- Included in a 2-day course price7
- Format
- 16-hour course, then a 50-question test
Choose for a trainer-led course. Scrum Alliance's Certified ScrumMaster is earned through a 16-hour, trainer-led course and a 50-question test. The price is set by the trainer, it renews every two years, and it's widely named in Scrum Master posts.
Best forvs PSM I
Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
- Cost
- Check the official page8
Choose for exam-only, no renewal. Scrum.org's Professional Scrum Master I is exam-only, with no course required, and it doesn't expire. Study the free Scrum Guide and practise before booking; check Scrum.org's page for the current fee.
Best forvs CSM
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300)
- Cost
- Exam priced by country9
- Format
- 100 minutes; renew free every 12 months
Choose for Power BI shops. Microsoft's Power BI Data Analyst exam proves you can prepare, model and visualise data and share reports securely. It's 100 minutes, priced by country, with free Microsoft Learn training and free online renewal every 12 months.
Best forvs Tableau
Tableau Certified Data Analyst
- Cost
- Check the official page10
Choose for Tableau shops. Tableau's analyst certification proves you can connect, prepare, analyse and visualise data in Tableau. It's most valuable where Tableau or Salesforce is the reporting standard; check Tableau's page for the current fee.
Best forvs PL-300
Match-ups and deciders
| Match-up | Deciding factor |
|---|---|
| AWS SAA vs AZ-104 | Your employer's cloud |
| Security+ vs Google Cybersecurity | Hiring vs learning |
| PMP vs CAPM | Experience |
| CSM vs PSM I | Course vs exam-only |
| PL-300 vs Tableau | Your BI tool |
| CISSP vs CISM | Technical vs management |
Table: Certification match-ups
How we ranked these picks
We compared popular certifications on cost, format and fit. Details from official pages, checked 3 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
AWS or Azure certification?
Whichever cloud your target employers use.
Security+ or Google Cybersecurity?
Google to learn; Security+ for hiring.
CSM or PSM I?
CSM for a course; PSM I for exam-only.
CISSP or CISM?
CISSP for technical leadership; CISM for management.
Is there a free test to compare?
Yes. Science of Apps offers free tests for both sides of each match-up.
Sources
- Amazon Web Services — AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- CompTIA — CompTIA Security+, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Google — Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — PMP – Project Management Professional, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- PMI — CAPM – Certified Associate in Project Management, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum Alliance — Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Scrum.org — Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Microsoft — Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst (PL-300), official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Tableau (Salesforce) — Tableau Certified Data Analyst, official page (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Checked November 4, 2026. Figures that change — fees, salaries, prices — are reviewed every six months; if something is out of date, tell us.
Where to go from here
- The best online certifications of 2027 — the full top 10 across every field
- Best AI Certifications of 2027: 10 Ranked by Career Impact — related guide
- Science of Apps free certification catalogue — 1,200+ free tests
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027Certification reviews for 2027: our honest verdicts on 18 popular credentialsHonest reviews of 18 popular certifications for 2027: Google certificates, AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, CSM, SHRM-CP, CFA and more, with verdicts.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The most in-demand certifications of 2027: the ten employers ask for most, field by fieldThe most in-demand certifications for 2027, field by field: AWS, Azure, Security+, PMP, PL-300, CISSP, Kubernetes and more, with costs and how to get them.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in the USA for 2027: what American employers name, with survey payThe top 10 online certifications in the USA for 2027: AWS SAA, Security+, CISSP, PMP, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, CISM, Salesforce, SHRM-CP and AI.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in the UK for 2027: what British employers recogniseThe top 10 online certifications in the UK for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, ITIL 4, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, Salesforce and AI.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in Australia for 2027: what Australian employers recogniseThe top 10 online certifications in Australia for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, ITIL 4, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, Salesforce and AI.
- Career guides by Science of Apps for 2027The top 10 online certifications in Canada for 2027: recognised credentials for Canadian employersThe top 10 online certifications in Canada for 2027: AWS, Azure, Security+, CISSP, PMP, PL-300, Google Data Analytics, CCNA, Salesforce and AI Essentials.
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