Looking for a Boson Alternative for CCNA? Here's an Honest Comparison
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CCNA-EXAM-BS1
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In This Guide
Why I wrote this page
If you've searched for a Boson CCNA alternative, you already know the landscape. Boson ExSim-Max has been the industry-standard CCNA practice exam for over a decade. It's well-written, thorough, and trusted by tens of thousands of candidates. If you can afford it and it fits your study style, it's a safe choice, and nothing on this page is going to change that.
This article is for a specific group of candidates:
- Candidates who want a cheaper option ($18 instead of around $99 per exam).
- Candidates who want to try before paying a premium. Boson does not publish a free trial exam version.
- Candidates who want a different kind of feedback. Not just a score and explanations per question, but a concept-level diagnosis that tells them: "you miss OSPF LSA Type questions," not "you scored 48% on IP Connectivity."
I'm a senior network and security engineer. I built FigigExams because I was mentoring junior engineers through CCNA prep and kept seeing the same pattern: they'd take a practice exam, get a score, read the explanations, and still not know which concepts were actually holding them back. So I built the tool I wished existed, a practice exam that talks back to you at the concept level. This page is my honest take on where it fits next to Boson, and where it doesn't.
What Boson does well
Credit where credit is due. Boson ExSim-Max for CCNA 200-301 is a polished product. The question bank is deep, the explanations are detailed and reference IOS behavior accurately, and their items are well-calibrated to the difficulty of the real Cisco exam. If you're already using their IndexPro study book, the integration between the book and the exam is genuinely valuable, it's a single study path from reading to testing.
Boson ExSim-Max for CCNA is listed at around $99 per exam. That's a fair price for a product that took serious editorial investment to build, and many candidates happily pay it. If you can, and if the format works for you, you will not regret the purchase.
None of what follows is an attack on Boson. FigigExams solves a different problem for a different candidate.
Side-by-side comparison: Boson CCNA ExSim vs FigigExams CCNA
The numbers below for Boson reflect their public product listing for ExSim-Max for CCNA 200-301. Check Boson's site for current pricing and access terms, I do not control their catalog.
| Feature | Boson CCNA ExSim | FigigExams CCNA |
|---|---|---|
| Price per exam | ~$99 | $18 |
| Free tier | No | Yes 5 sample questions per topic, plus a free try of the full exam |
| Number of exam versions | 3 practice exams (per Boson's ExSim-Max listing) | 4 exam versions |
| Results analysis | Score, domain breakdown, per-question explanations | Score, concept-level breakdown, weak-domain analysis, personalized study plan, readiness score, follow-up chat with a Personal Exam Coach |
| Question types | Multiple choice, multiple-select, drag-and-drop, simulation-style items | Single-answer, multi-answer, drag-and-drop, refer-to-exhibit |
| Personal Exam Coach | No | Yes Concept diagnosis with follow-up chat |
| Access model | Activation required; see Boson's site for current access window | Lifetime access per exam, no expiration |
Accuracy matters, so the Boson column intentionally avoids details I cannot verify from outside their product. If any of the Boson figures above are out of date on their site, please email me at [email protected] and I will correct this page.
Where FigigExams stands out: the Personal Exam Coach
This is the single feature I am most proud of, and the reason I built FigigExams in the first place. Every exam attempt produces a personalized report. Below is a static preview of what that report looks like for a candidate who scored about 48% on a CCNA 200-301 practice exam. Everything is concept-level, not just domain-level.
You are fluent in IPv4 subnetting and OSI-model classification, no remedial work needed there. The missed questions clustered around IPv6 address assignment (SLAAC vs stateless/stateful DHCPv6). Review the flag bits in the RA message and when each method applies.
You know how to create VLANs, but STP port roles (root, designated, alternate) are consistently confused. The EtherChannel protocol-matrix questions also tripped you up. I'd prioritize this domain above everything else: it's 20% of the exam and the fastest to recover points.
Static routing is solid, but OSPF behavior beyond basic router ospf syntax is your biggest single weakness. You are guessing on LSA Types (1 through 7) and on when the DR/BDR election re-runs. Do the OSPF configuration guide and rework the practice questions there before your next attempt.
DHCP, NAT, and NTP concepts are locked in. The only gap is QoS marking (DSCP values for voice, video, and signaling). Review the AF and EF class definitions, it's typically 1 to 2 questions on the real exam, worth the 20 minutes.
This is the domain where I'd spend focused study time next. ACL placement questions (inbound vs outbound, near source vs destination) are counterintuitive until they click. Port security violation modes (protect, restrict, shutdown) each behave differently, memorize the table, not just the names.
This is only 10% of the exam weighting, so it's a lower-priority remediation target, but you are currently leaving most of those points on the table. Focus on REST API verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and recognizing JSON structure. Ansible is agentless, Puppet and Chef are agent-based, know which is which.
This is an example output. Every exam produces a personalized report tailored to your specific answers, your weakest concepts, and a study plan ordered by impact on your score. Try a free CCNA practice exam to see your own breakdown →
The two things that hold a candidate's attention from question 1 to 105
The Exam Coach is what you see at the end of the exam. The two sections below are what you see during and after each question, and they are what most CCNA candidates remember about FigigExams. Test it yourself rather than take my word for it: the full exam is free with the code at the bottom.
6 question types · the same shape as the real CCNA
Single-answer and multi-answer items get most of the headlines, but scenario, configuration, and troubleshooting questions are where the v1.1 exam separates the candidates who memorized from the ones who built a mental model. Every FigigExams CCNA exam version covers all six.
Pick one correct option. The classic multiple-choice item, sharpened for v1.1.
- ○ Init
- ○ ExStart
- ● Full
- ○ Loading
Pick all that apply. Punishes guessing, rewards understanding.
- ☑ Stub
- ☐ Anycast
- ☑ NSSA
- ☐ Mesh
Match labels to slots. Tests classification under exam-like UI.
Multi-router exhibit + a question that requires reasoning across the topology, not just one fact.
Hands-on CLI items. You read or complete a running-config snippet, not a multiple-choice gloss of it.
interface Gi0/1
switchport mode trunk
switchport trunk allowed vlan 10,20
?show-output debugging. Read the symptoms, identify the misconfiguration, pick the fix.
R1# show ip ospf neighbor
Neighbor ID State Interface
10.1.1.2 EXSTART Gi0/0Boson covers single-answer, multi-answer, drag-and-drop, and simulation-style items at a high standard. The advantage on the FigigExams side is that scenario, configuration, and troubleshooting items are baked into every exam version, not gated to a separate sim product.
Exam Tips on every single question
Boson, ExamTopics, every other CCNA practice test ships one block per item: a paragraph of explanation. We bundle a second block on every question - the memorize-this-table version of the concept being tested, written by a certified engineer, not crowdsourced. This is the part candidates pull up as their week-4 cheat sheet, and it's in the free version too.
Q: Area 3 is connected to area 0 by exactly one ABR (R4) and contains no ASBRs. Which OSPF area type minimizes the LSDB on routers inside area 3 while preserving full connectivity?
Totally stubby is the most aggressive LSDB minimization for areas with a single exit point and no internal ASBRs. The ABR injects only a default route (Type 3) and blocks all other Type 3 summaries, Type 4 summaries, and Type 5 externals. Stub area still floods Type 3 inter-area summaries (less reduction). NSSA is for areas that contain ASBRs and need Type 7 translation - not the case here. Standard area would receive every LSA type, the largest LSDB.
OSPF area type matrix to memorize: Standard (everything), Stub (no Type 5, default injected), Totally Stubby (no Type 3, 4, 5; default injected; Cisco-only), NSSA (no Type 5 but Type 7 from internal ASBR translated to Type 5 at ABR), Totally NSSA (no Type 3, 4, 5; only Type 7 internally and default for everything else). Config: area 3 stub on every router in the area, plus area 3 stub no-summary on the ABR for totally stubby. Trap on this exam: candidates pick NSSA whenever externals are mentioned. NSSA is specifically for areas that contain an ASBR and inject Type 7 internally.
The Explanation teaches the question. The Exam Tips teach the concept the question is testing - the part you'll see again in a different shape on the real exam. This is the section candidates routinely call out on Reddit, and it's why the Exam Coach above can give a concept-level breakdown rather than just a domain-level one.
Skip the comparison - test it yourself
Try the CCNA practice exam free, all six question types, with full Explanations and Exam Tips on every item and the personalized Exam Coach when you finish. Create an account on the next screen, the code auto-applies. No credit card.
CCNA-EXAM-BS1
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What a real CCNA candidate said
I didn't pay for this review, and I didn't ask for it. It was posted on the r/ccna subreddit in April 2026 by a candidate comparing the free FigigExams test to Boson:
"the free test is way better than boson imo and its free and 105 questions and it shows you the result and what you had wrong in the end, you can use a mock email to create the account idk why you guys hate so much, I have my ccna on tuesday and got 96% on this practice test which really boosted my confidence"
Quote preserved verbatim, including original spelling and capitalization. I don't know Rootkid443 personally. I don't know if they passed on Tuesday. But the fact that a candidate in the middle of active prep chose to defend my product on a forum where alternatives are routinely bashed is worth more to me than any paid endorsement.
When Boson is still probably the better choice
I'm not going to pretend FigigExams is better for everyone. Here are the scenarios where Boson is the honest recommendation:
- You want the full textbook + practice exam package. Boson's IndexPro study books are tightly integrated with ExSim-Max and designed to be used together. If your study style is "read the book, take the exam, cross-reference," that integrated path is hard to beat, and I don't offer a competing textbook.
- You have a $200+ prep budget and want the industry standard. Boson is the safe, well-understood, widely-recommended default. If budget isn't a constraint and you want the name-brand choice hiring managers and instructors recognize, buy Boson. This is not sarcasm, it's just true.
- You've used Boson for previous Cisco certifications. If you already passed CCNP or a CCIE written with Boson and you're used to their question framing, switching tools mid-cert-journey for a small dollar saving usually isn't worth the cognitive load.
If any of those describe you, go buy Boson, that's the right call. If none of them do, keep reading.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is FigigExams a replacement for Boson ExSim for CCNA?
FigigExams is a lower-cost alternative that focuses on concept-level feedback through a personalized Exam Coach. Boson remains a strong choice for candidates who want the full textbook plus exam package or are already familiar with the Boson format. Many candidates combine both: FigigExams early in preparation to diagnose weak domains, then a final readiness pass with Boson.
How much does Boson ExSim-Max for CCNA cost compared to FigigExams?
Boson ExSim-Max for CCNA 200-301 is listed around $99 on their site (check boson.com for current pricing). A FigigExams CCNA practice exam is $18 per exam, and there is also a free tier with sample questions plus a free try of the full practice exam, no credit card.
Can I try a CCNA practice exam before paying?
Yes. FigigExams offers 5 free sample questions on every topic page (see OSPF Configuration or VLANs & Trunking for examples), plus a free try of the full CCNA practice exam, no account or credit card required. Boson does not currently offer a free trial of ExSim-Max.
What is the FigigExams Exam Coach and how is it different from a score report?
The Exam Coach analyzes your answers at the concept level, not just the domain level. Instead of telling you you scored 48% on IP Connectivity, it identifies that you missed questions involving OSPF LSA Types and DR/BDR election specifically, then gives you a follow-up chat to ask clarifying questions and a targeted study plan based on your weakest concepts. See the example preview above for the exact format.
Does FigigExams include drag-and-drop and exhibit-based questions like the real CCNA?
Yes. FigigExams CCNA practice exams include single-answer, multi-answer, drag-and-drop, and refer-to-exhibit question types to mirror the CCNA 200-301 exam format.
Can I use FigigExams and Boson together?
That's exactly what I'd recommend if your budget allows. Use FigigExams early in preparation to identify your weakest concepts and get a targeted study plan, then validate your final readiness with a Boson ExSim-Max run. The two products are complementary, not mutually exclusive.