# HackerX vs CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep

HackerX and CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 76% of HackerX's written reviews are positive against 31% of CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep's. CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HackerX sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HackerX against 4.7 for CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.8K and 2.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of HackerX's written reviews are positive against 31% of CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep's.

HackerX ships an update every 6 weeks, CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HackerX | CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerx-learn-ethical-hacking/id1542444199/reviews)** | [4.7 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comptia-a-plus-and-security-plus-prep/id1572747755/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 2.2K |
| Positive reviews | **75.6% of reviews** | 31.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nigel Crasto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1049691225) | [MastrAPI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618627725) |

## What reviewers say

### HackerX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackerx-learn-ethical-hacking/id1542444199)

Learn the fundamentals and advanced techniques of ethical hacking and cybersecurity. This app offers comprehensive courses for beginners and experienced individuals, covering topics from basic hacking concepts to penetration testing and digital forensics. Gain practical skills to secure systems and build a career in the field.

**Highlights:** Learn cybersecurity basics, Advanced hacking skills, Ethical hacking tutorials, Penetration testing, Digital forensics, Beginner-friendly lessons

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Limited Time Special Discount! | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hacking Lifetime Access Plan | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great teaching
- 💡 Beginner-friendly
- 🚀 Straightforward lessons
- 👍 Organized and simple

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy tests and quizzes
- 💰 Paywall for full access
- 🔍 Requires external tools/websites
- 🔍 Outdated content
- 🔍 Limited free content

**Reported bugs**

- Lessons not displaying properly
- Inability to select answers in tests
- App freezing or getting stuck on loading screens
- Compatibility issues with Mac OS

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More advanced content
- Ability to skip lessons based on prior knowledge
- Better support and troubleshooting
- Sync progress across devices


### CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/comptia-a-plus-and-security-plus-prep/id1572747755)

Prepare for CompTIA certification exams with a personalized study plan. Practice with thousands of questions, track your progress, and compare your scores to the community average to boost your confidence and pass on your first attempt.

**Highlights:** Personalized study plan, 5000+ practice questions, Track strengths and weaknesses, Detailed test statistics, Compare scores to community average, Choose exam topics

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly with Trial | $24.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Well-designed
- 👍 Good question quality
- 🚀 Helpful for exam preparation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy questions and errors
- 🐛 Reporting feature not working
- 🐛 Missing diagrams and images
- 🐛 Inconsistent question quality
- 🔒 Subscription issues and lack of transparency

**Reported bugs**

- Questions referencing missing pictures
- Incorrect answers and explanations
- Subscription issues across devices
- Reporting feature not functioning

**Requested features**

- Ability to target specific exam objectives
- Dark mode option
- More zoom options
- Improved exam version tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HackerX free?

HackerX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep free?

CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HackerX or CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep?

HackerX is rated higher. HackerX averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep averages 4.7 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do HackerX or CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep have ads?

Neither HackerX nor CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HackerX or CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep?

HackerX ships an update every 6 weeks, and CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep every 5 weeks. Most recently, HackerX was updated on October 14, 2026 and CompTIA A+ & Security + Prep on October 13, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*