CompTIA Data+ vs. Other Certifications: Is Data+ Worth the Investment?
There are many data certifications out there, and those looking to boost their data analytics skills, career prospects, experience with data analysis, and understanding of how data and business connect have many choices.
Let’s look at how the updated version of the CompTIA Data+ certification stacks up when compared to competing data certifications offered by Google, Microsoft, and INFORMS.
Introduction to CompTIA Data+ and its value
If you want to build a strong foundation in data analytics, CompTIA Data+ is the perfect place to start. This early-career certification proves you have the practical skills to take raw data, clean it, analyze it, and turn it into meaningful insights that drive smarter decisions.
With Data+ V2, you’ll gain hands-on skills across five key domains:
- Data concepts and environments
- Data acquisition and preparation
- Data analysis
- Visualization and reporting
- Data governance
You’ll learn to work with databases, APIs, and cloud platforms, transform and validate data, apply statistical methods, create dashboards, and ensure compliance with regulations.
Whether you’re just breaking into data analytics or looking to advance, CompTIA Data+ is a career-building certification that prepares you for the next generation of data roles and keeps you aligned with industry expectations.
Comparative analysis: CompTIA Data+ vs. other certifications
The CompTIA Data+ isn’t the only certification out there for data professionals. Here’s a look at some of the other data certifications on offer and how they compare to CompTIA Data+.
Google Data Analytics
The Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate is an online program offered through Coursera that delivers a structured series of nine courses covering foundational data skills. The program is aimed at true beginners—such as recent graduates or career changers—who want to break into data analytics. In contrast, CompTIA Data+ is designed for early-career professionals already working with structured data.
It can typically be completed in less than six months with under 10 hours of study per week, and learners earn a certificate upon completion rather than through a proctored exam. It costs $49 per month on Coursera, following a 7-day free trial. Since the average learner completes the program in under six months, the total cost is typically under $300.
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate (Power BI)
This intermediate-level certification is designed for professionals who collaborate with business stakeholders and other technology professionals to meet business requirements. Candidates should be proficient in Power Query and Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) to deliver meaningful business value through intuitive visualizations and enable self-service analytics. Unlike CompTIA’s vendor-neutral Data+, this certification is highly specialized, focusing on Microsoft Power BI best practices for business intelligence and data analytics roles. Training is free; the cost of the PL-300 exam is typically $165.
Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
Offered by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), the CAP certification is offered in Essentials (CAP-E) for those just starting a career in data, as well as mid-tier certification CAP-Pro (CAP-P) and advanced-level certification CAP-Expert (CAP-X). The certification process includes a nonrefundable application fee of $55. Once approved, candidates pay the exam fee, which is $440 for INFORMS members and $640 for nonmembers. For the CAP-E exam, members pay $195, while nonmembers pay $275. If a retake is required, the fee is $150 for members and $200 for nonmembers.
Career opportunities with CompTIA Data+
The CompTIA Data+ certification opens the door to some of the most in-demand roles in today’s job market—according to CompTIA’s analysis of Lightcast job postings, there were over 74,000 listings for data analysts in the past 12 months. The median salary for data analysts is $94,000, well above the national average and indicating a role with a moderate degree of complexity.
Beyond the role of data analyst, the CompTIA Data+ certification places you on a career path that can lead to a job as a data scientist. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientists are projected to see 36% job growth from 2024 to 2034, placing them among the fastest-growing occupations for the next decade.
Cost and investment analysis
The $255 Data+ voucher is available to take the Data+ (V2) certification exam at an authorized provider, and for $304 option bundles in exam retake assurance. A Data+ CertMaster Learn and Labs product is available for $448, while the Data+ CertMaster Practice platform is available for $139. The Data+ eBook can be purchased for $105 and provides full coverage of the Data+ exam objectives.
CompTIA also offers the Data+ Complete Bundle with Voucher Plus Retake Assurance for $799, which includes Voucher Plus Retake Assurance, CertMaster Learn+Labs, CertMaster Practice, and OnDemand Services.
At $255 for the exam voucher (or $799 for the full bundle), CompTIA Data+ is more affordable than certifications like CAP ($440–$640) while offering a more formal, high-stakes, proctored credential than Google Data Analytics (typically under $300 but non-exam based) or Microsoft’s PL-300 ($165, but vendor-specific).
The investment in CompTIA Data+ delivers strong career ROI by validating in-demand, vendor-neutral skills that open doors to a robust job market for data pros.
Making an informed choice
For aspiring data professionals, choosing the right certification comes down to balancing cost, career goals, and the skills you want to develop. The vendor-neutral, early-career certification offered by CompTIA Data+ validates essential analytics skills while keeping affordability in check compared to other options. With strong ROI potential, Data+ is a smart choice for those who want to build a solid foundation in data analytics and position themselves for long-term career growth.
