CompTIA Network+ is where a lot of IT careers really begin. It builds the networking foundation that nearly everything else sits on, from security to cloud to systems administration. The good news for anyone studying on a budget: you can prepare for the N10-009 exam with a pile of excellent free resources and only spend money if and when you choose to.
We teach Network+, so handing you the free roadmap might look like we are working against ourselves. We are not. The folks who earn this certification are the ones who do the work, and pointing you to the best free material helps you do exactly that. If a guided course turns out to be the right move for you down the road, great. If you pass on your own, that is a win we are happy to have helped with.
Here is the roadmap.
Grab Our Free Network+ Study Guide
To go with the resources below, we built a free, branded IT Dojo Network+ N10-009 Study Guide. It is a printable PDF that condenses the whole exam into a domain-by-domain reference: the official domain weights, core concepts, comparison tables, memory aids, a CIDR and subnetting quick reference, a glossary, a suggested study plan, flashcards, and an exam cram sheet of pure must-know facts. Download it, print it, and use it as the spine of your study sessions. No email required.
Start With the Official Exam Objectives
Before anything else, download the official N10-009 exam objectives from CompTIA. This free PDF is the exact blueprint the exam is built from, so it works as your master checklist. Every video you watch and every practice question you answer should map back to something on this list.
You can find the objectives along with a set of free sample questions on the CompTIA Network+ practice questions page. Keep this document close and check items off as you master them. When in doubt about whether something is in scope, the objectives are the final word.
Professor Messer Is Your Backbone
For free video training, Professor Messer is the gold standard, and his Network+ course is no exception. The complete N10-009 Network+ video course covers every objective in clear, digestible segments and costs nothing to watch.
Get the most out of it like this:
- Work through the videos in order on your first pass, then return to specific topics to shore up weak spots.
- Sign up for his free weekly Pop Quiz emails for ongoing practice questions.
- Join his monthly live Study Group sessions, where he tackles harder questions and answers viewer questions about the exam and the field.
Networking has a lot of moving parts, ports, protocols, addressing, and troubleshooting steps, so plan to revisit the trickier videos more than once. That is normal.
Free Practice Questions
You do not truly know networking until you can answer questions about it under pressure. Practice questions reveal the gaps between “I watched the video” and “I understand this,” and they teach you the exam’s phrasing. A few strong free sources:
- ExamCompass has a large library of free N10-009 practice tests, including topic-specific quizzes on routing, wireless, cabling, troubleshooting, and network design. No signup required.
- The official CompTIA sample questions come directly from the source and match the real exam style.
- Professor Messer’s Pop Quizzes and Study Groups pile on even more reps for free.
Try to clear several hundred practice questions before exam day, and review every miss until the correct answer makes sense to you.
Free Cheat Sheets and Quick References
Network+ rewards memorization of a handful of high-value details, common ports, cable types and standards, IPv4 subnetting, and a long list of acronyms. A good quick reference that puts all of that on a page or two is worth printing for the final stretch:
- The StationX CompTIA Network+ cheat sheet is a free reference covering ports and protocols, the OSI model, subnetting, routing, wireless standards, and key acronyms.
- The official N10-009 exam objectives PDF includes the full acronym list at the back, which is perfect for last-minute review.
One note while we are here. Concept cheat sheets are a great study aid. So-called “brain dumps” that claim to be real, leaked exam questions are not. Using them violates CompTIA’s exam agreement and can get your certification revoked and your testing privileges suspended. Stick to legitimate material. It prepares you better anyway.
Lean on the Community
Plenty of people have walked this path before you and shared what worked. The community worth bookmarking is r/CompTIA, the main hub for everyone working through CompTIA certifications. Search it for “Network+ passed” and you will find a steady stream of write-ups where people lay out the exact resources, timelines, and tips that got them across the line. Reading a handful of those is one of the best free ways to calibrate your own plan.
Put AI to Work as a Study Partner
One of the best free study aids available today is a general-purpose AI assistant. Used well, it can re-explain a confusing topic until it clicks, drill you with practice questions tied to the exam objectives, and even walk you through subnetting problems step by step. Used carelessly, it can state wrong answers with total confidence, so technique matters.
We wrote a complete, free guide on doing it right: How to Use AI to Study for and Pass Any IT Certification Exam. It covers the exact prompts and workflows, the failure modes to watch for, and how to keep AI anchored to the official objectives so it strengthens your studying rather than misleading it. Pair it with the resources above for a study partner that is available any hour of the day.
Books Worth Buying
Free resources cover a lot of ground, but many learners like one solid book to read through and keep as a reference. If you buy just one, these are dependable choices:
- CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-009 by Todd Lammle and Jon Buhagiar (Sybex). Comprehensive, clearly explained, and full of real-world insight from one of networking’s best-known authors.
- Mike Meyers’ CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide (N10-009). A friendly, conversational read that makes the concepts approachable.
A popular winning combination is one of these books for depth, Professor Messer’s videos for review, and practice tests for readiness. Pick the writing style that keeps you engaged.
A Simple Free Study Plan
Want a starting structure? Here is a no-cost plan you can adapt:
- Download the exam objectives and skim them to learn the shape of the exam.
- Work through Professor Messer’s full video course one domain at a time, taking notes against the objectives.
- After each domain, drill the matching ExamCompass questions and review every miss.
- Set aside dedicated time to practice subnetting until it is fast and automatic. It shows up a lot.
- Once you have covered everything, take full-length practice tests until you are consistently scoring well above passing.
- In the final few days, cram with a cheat sheet and the acronym list, and revisit the questions you keep missing.
That plan costs nothing but time and consistency, and it has carried many people to a pass.
Where IT Dojo Fits
Self-study is a perfectly good path, and we hope these resources serve you well. The one thing free videos and question banks cannot provide is a live instructor who has guided hundreds of students through this exam, can untangle a confusing topic the moment it trips you up, and can tie the concepts to how networks actually behave on the job. That hands-on guidance is what a live course adds.
If you would prefer structure, labs, and an expert in your corner, our CompTIA Network+ training is available live remote online. Network+ is also the natural foundation for Security+ and the rest of the CompTIA pathway, so many students continue with us after building their base here, frequently through employer sponsored training budgets. Whatever route you take, we are glad to help you get certified.
Related Reading from IT Dojo
- How to Self-Study for CompTIA Security+ (The Best Free Resources)
- How to Use AI to Study for and Pass Any IT Certification Exam
- The CompTIA Certification Pathway Explained
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pass Network+ with only free resources?
Yes. Many people pass using Professor Messer’s free video course, free practice questions from ExamCompass and CompTIA, and the official exam objectives. A book and paid practice exams can help, but they are not strictly required.
What is the best free Network+ study resource?
Professor Messer’s free N10-009 video course is the most widely recommended starting point. Pair it with the official exam objectives and plenty of practice questions, and give subnetting extra attention.
Do I need Network+ before Security+?
It is not required, but it is strongly recommended. Network+ builds the networking foundation that Security+ assumes you already understand, which makes the security material much easier to absorb.
Are brain dumps a good way to study?
No. Brain dumps that claim to contain real exam questions violate CompTIA’s exam policies and can get your certification revoked. Use legitimate cheat sheets and practice questions instead.
How IT Dojo Can Help
If you would rather have a guide than go it alone, IT Dojo can help. Our CompTIA Network+ training is taught live remote online by instructors who know precisely what the exam emphasizes and how to get you ready, and it complements the free resources above. We also train the certifications that build on it, including CompTIA Security+, CISSP, and CCNA. Explore the full IT Dojo course catalog when you are ready to add structure and expertise to your study plan.