Boson ExSim Security+ Alternative: Take a Free Full Security+ Practice Exam (then $18, not $99)
FigigExams is a free, full-length alternative to Boson ExSim-Max for CompTIA Security+ SY0-701. You can take a complete Security+ practice exam free, with no credit card, with every question type - including the performance-based questions (PBQs) candidates worry about - full explanations, and a personalized Exam Coach that diagnoses your weak concepts. If you keep going, exams are $18 each instead of around $99 for Boson ExSim. Here is the honest side-by-side so you can decide.
Skip the comparison - test it yourself
Try the Security+ SY0-701 practice exam, every question type including PBQs, with full Explanations and Exam Tips and the personalized Exam Coach when you finish. Create an account on the next screen, the code auto-applies. No credit card.
SECPLUS-EXAM-BS1
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In This Guide
Why I wrote this page
If you've searched for a Boson Security+ alternative, you already know the landscape. Boson ExSim-Max has been a go-to practice exam for CompTIA and Cisco certifications 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 are anxious about the performance-based questions (PBQs) and want realistic reps of them, not just multiple choice.
- Candidates who want a different kind of feedback. Not just a score and per-question explanations, but a concept-level diagnosis that tells them: "you miss SIEM log-correlation questions," not "you scored 45% on Security Operations."
I'm a senior network and security engineer. I built FigigExams because I was mentoring people through Security+ 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.
The free Boson ExSim alternative for Security+
If you searched for a free Boson alternative, Boson ExSim free, or a free Boson Security+ practice test, this is the part that matters: Boson ExSim-Max does not publish a free version of the full exam, but FigigExams does. You can take a complete, full-length Security+ SY0-701 practice exam free, no account upgrade and no credit card, with every question type (including PBQ-style items), an explanation and exam tip on every item, and the personalized Exam Coach when you finish.
It's the closest thing to trying Boson ExSim for free: a full-length, exam-realistic Security+ practice test you can sit start to finish at no cost. If it helps and you want more reps, additional exams are $18 each rather than around $99 - so even the paid path stays a fraction of Boson's price.
Start the free Security+ practice examCode SECPLUS-EXAM-BS1 auto-applies on the next screen. No credit card. Free full practice exam, not just sample questions.
What Boson does well
Credit where credit is due. Boson ExSim-Max for Security+ SY0-701 is a polished product. The question bank is deep, the explanations are detailed and reference current CompTIA objectives accurately, and their items are well-calibrated to the difficulty of the real exam. If you're already using their study materials, the integration between the reading and the exam is genuinely valuable, it's a single study path from reading to testing.
Boson ExSim-Max for Security+ 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, and it does it at a different price.
Side-by-side comparison: Boson Security+ ExSim vs FigigExams Security+
The numbers below for Boson reflect their public product listing for ExSim-Max for Security+ SY0-701. Check Boson's site for current pricing and access terms, I do not control their catalog.
| Feature | Boson Security+ ExSim | FigigExams Security+ |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Multiple exam versions |
| Performance-based questions | Simulation-style items included | Yes Drag-and-drop, configuration, and log-analysis PBQ-style items in every version |
| 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 |
| 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 62% on a Security+ SY0-701 practice exam (the real exam passes at 750/900, so this candidate is not ready yet). Everything is concept-level, not just domain-level.
You are fluent in the CIA triad and the control-type taxonomy (preventive, detective, corrective). The misses clustered around change-management terminology and the difference between a control's category (technical, managerial, operational, physical) and its type. Quick review, not a deep gap.
Malware classification is solid. The misses are in the social-engineering vocabulary (the exam loves to separate phishing, smishing, vishing, and pretexting) and in matching indicators of compromise to the right attack. Review the types of attacks guide and rework the practice questions there.
You know the cloud shared-responsibility split, but secure-protocol port numbers (the secure vs insecure pairs) are costing you points, and the Zero Trust components (policy engine, policy administrator, PEP) are blurry. Start with the ports and protocols cheat sheet, it's the fastest single-topic win on the exam.
This is the domain to attack first: it's 28% of the exam and your lowest score. The incident-response phase order (prepare, identify, contain, eradicate, recover, lessons learned) is a guaranteed question, memorize it cold. Your SIEM and log-analysis misses also show up in the PBQs, so practicing those items pays double.
Governance concepts are mostly in place. The arithmetic of quantitative risk (SLE = AV x EF, ALE = SLE x ARO) tripped you up, and the vendor-risk vocabulary (SLA, MOU, BPA, MSA) is fuzzy. These are pure-memorization wins, an hour with flashcards closes most of this gap.
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 Security+ practice exam to see your own breakdown →
The two things that hold a candidate's attention from question 1 to the end
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 Security+ 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.
Every question type on the SY0-701 · including the PBQs candidates fear
Multiple choice gets most of the attention, but the performance-based questions (PBQs) are where SY0-701 candidates lose the most confidence, you usually get a handful at the start of the exam and they are heavily weighted. FigigExams builds PBQ-style drag-and-drop, configuration, and log-analysis items into every Security+ exam version, alongside the "best response" scenario items that test judgment, not just recall.
Pick one correct option. The classic multiple-choice item, sharpened for SY0-701.
- ○ CBC
- ○ ECB
- ● GCM
- ○ CTR
Pick all that apply. Punishes guessing, rewards understanding.
- ☑ Fingerprint
- ☐ Smart card
- ☑ Retina scan
- ☐ PIN
Match labels to slots under exam-like UI. A staple PBQ format on Security+.
Read or complete a rule set. You build the answer, not pick a gloss of it.
# Rule Src Dst Port Action
1 any WEB 443 ALLOW
2 any WEB 80 DENY
3 10.0.0.0/8 DB 3306 ALLOWRead the log, identify the attack. The PBQ format candidates fear most.
GET /login.php?user=admin'--
&pass=x HTTP/1.1
200 OK src=203.0.113.9A realistic situation where several answers look right. You pick what to do FIRST or BEST.
Boson covers multiple choice, multiple-response, and simulation-style items at a high standard. The advantage on the FigigExams side is that PBQ-style drag-and-drop, configuration, and log-analysis items, plus best-response scenarios, are baked into every exam version - not gated to a separate sim product - so you rehearse the exact formats that rattle candidates on test day.
Exam Tips on every single question
Boson, ExamTopics, every other Security+ 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 final-week cheat sheet, and it's in the free version too.
Q: A developer must protect API tokens in transit so that any tampering is detected and the payload stays confidential, in a single operation. Which encryption choice meets both requirements?
GCM is an AEAD (Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data) mode: it encrypts the data and produces an authentication tag that detects tampering, in a single step. CBC only provides confidentiality, you would need to add a separate HMAC (encrypt-then-MAC) to detect tampering, which is two operations, not one. ECB is never acceptable because identical plaintext blocks produce identical ciphertext, leaking patterns. CTR alone, like CBC, provides no integrity.
Confidentiality vs integrity, the table to memorize: AEAD modes (GCM, CCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305) = confidentiality + integrity in one. CBC / CTR = confidentiality only (add HMAC for integrity). ECB = never use, reveals patterns. SHA-256 = integrity only, it is hashing, not encryption. HMAC = integrity + authenticity using a shared key. Trap on this exam: candidates pick a hash like SHA-256 when the question asks for confidentiality. Hashing is one-way, it does not encrypt anything.
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, 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 Security+ SY0-701 practice exam free, every question type including PBQs, 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.
SECPLUS-EXAM-BS1
Try the exam free
Already have an account? Log in to start · Returning candidates land on the same screen.
Two free ways to start: the study guide and the full practice exam
Not ready to sit a full timed exam yet? Start with the study guide. It's the same SY0-701 content, written by the same engineer, in a read-at-your-own-pace format. Chapter 1 is free to read with no account, so you can see the depth before you commit to anything, then the full guide and all the practice exams unlock together.
Security+ SY0-701 Study Guide
A chapter-by-chapter walkthrough of all five domains with interactive slides, key-concept call-outs, and a quick quiz at the end of each chapter to lock it in.
- Chapter 1 is free to read, no account needed
- Covers all five SY0-701 domains in plain language
- Chapter quizzes, explanations, and exam tips throughout
- Full guide unlocks together with the practice exams
Full SY0-701 Practice Exam
When you want a real readiness signal, sit the full-length practice exam. The code below auto-applies on the next screen, no credit card, and your Personal Exam Coach report is waiting at the end.
- Full-length, every domain, including PBQ-style items
- Explanation + Exam Tips on every question
- Personalized concept-level Exam Coach report
- Unlocks the full study guide too - code SECPLUS-EXAM-BS1
The study guide and the practice exams share one unlock: redeeming SECPLUS-EXAM-BS1 when you create a free account opens the full guide and your first full exam at no cost. That's the whole library of Security+ value for the price of a mock email address - versus around $99 for a single Boson product.
What a real 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. It's about our CCNA exam, not Security+ - but it's praising the exact thing that's identical across every FigigExams certification, Security+ included: a free, full-length test that shows you what you got wrong at the end.
"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, and attributed to the CCNA exam where it was posted. The free-test-plus-end-of-exam-breakdown experience they're describing is the same engine behind the Security+ exam, that's why I'm comfortable showing it here. If you take the free Security+ exam and have feedback, good or bad, email me, I read all of it.
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 study materials 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 a safe, well-understood, widely-recommended default. If budget isn't a constraint and you want the name-brand choice instructors recognize, buy Boson. This is not sarcasm, it's just true.
- You've used Boson for previous certifications. If you already passed a Cisco or CompTIA exam with Boson and you're used to their question framing, switching tools mid-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. Comparing other tools too? See the CertMaster alternative (CompTIA's own course) or my Security+ practice exam guide.
Try a free Security+ practice exam with personalized Exam Coach analysis
No credit card required. Takes 5 minutes to start. See your own concept-level breakdown in 20.
Start Free Security+ Practice ExamA free try of the practice exam, no credit card. Attribution in the link helps me track which articles are useful, thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FigigExams a replacement for Boson ExSim for Security+?
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 Security+ cost compared to FigigExams?
Boson ExSim-Max for Security+ SY0-701 is listed around $99 on their site (check boson.com for current pricing). A FigigExams Security+ 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 Security+ practice exam before paying?
Yes. FigigExams offers 5 free sample questions on every topic page (see Types of Attacks or Cryptography & PKI for examples), plus a free try of the full Security+ practice exam, no account or credit card required. Boson does not currently offer a free trial of ExSim-Max.
Does FigigExams include performance-based questions (PBQs) like the real Security+ exam?
Yes. FigigExams Security+ practice exams include single-answer, multiple-response, drag-and-drop matching, configuration and log-analysis PBQ-style items, and best-response scenario questions to mirror the SY0-701 exam format - including the performance-based questions that most candidates worry about. They're in the free version too.
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 45% on Security Operations, it identifies that you missed questions involving SIEM log correlation and the incident-response order 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.
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.