CEH
Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.
Full guide →CompTIA CySA+
Mid-level analyst certification focused on threat detection, security operations, and incident response.
Full guide →CEH vs CompTIA CySA+
Which certification is right for your career?
Full comparison
| Category | CEH | CompTIA CySA+ |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $1199 USD | ✓$404 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$15,000/yr | +$12,000/yr |
| Passing score | 70/1000 | 750/1000 |
| Exam duration | 240 min | 165 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 3 years |
| Issued by | EC-Council | CompTIA |
| Difficulty |
CEH
2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training
CompTIA CySA+
Security+ or equivalent experience, 3-4 years IT security experience
- You have 2–4 years in security and want to specialise your role
- You want a potential +$15,000/yr salary uplift
- You're drawn to offensive security, ethical hacking, or red-team work
- You have 2–4 years in security and want to specialise your role
- You want a potential +$12,000/yr salary uplift
- You want to work in defence — SOC analysis, threat detection, or incident response
CompTIA CySA+ is the more flexible choice — it's vendor-neutral and recognised across industries. CEH is the better pick if you're already committed to EC-Council and want a credential that maps directly to that platform. Both are at the intermediate level, so your career direction is the deciding factor.
Best CEH courses
Best CompTIA CySA+ courses
Is CEH harder than CompTIA CySA+?
Both CEH and CompTIA CySA+ are rated intermediate difficulty.
Which pays more — CEH or CompTIA CySA+?
CEH has an average salary uplift of +$15,000/yr, while CompTIA CySA+ has +$12,000/yr. CEH has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — CEH or CompTIA CySA+?
CEH is the better starting point — it's rated intermediate and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward CompTIA CySA+.
Can I get both CEH and CompTIA CySA+?
Yes — many professionals hold both. CEH and CompTIA CySA+ complement each other within cybersecurity. Holding both signals broader expertise and typically commands a higher salary than either cert alone.
Which is worth it in 2026 — CEH or CompTIA CySA+?
Both are worth it in 2026. CEH offers a +$15,000/yr average salary uplift; CompTIA CySA+ offers +$12,000/yr. CEH has the higher salary ceiling — making it the stronger ROI if you can only choose one.