Boson ExSim-Max alternative for Security+ and CISSP
Boson ExSim-Max is a respected practice exam simulator, which Boson describes as a way to assess your readiness and focus your study time by identifying knowledge gaps. This page covers the two security exams both products serve, Security+ and CISSP, and sets out how ExSim-Max and TierOne Defense Academy differ. Every Boson fact below links to the Boson page it came from.
What ExSim-Max does well
ExSim-Max is built around full-length practice exams. For CISSP it includes 6 full-length practice exams with 900 questions designed to mirror the format, difficulty and domain coverage of the live exam (source), and for Security+ 3 full-length practice exams covering 270 questions that replicate the difficulty, structure and question types of the live exam (source).
Each question comes with comprehensive explanations and references (source). ExSim-Max offers a simulation mode that corresponds to the live exam's timing, plus a study mode (source), reports that pinpoint the topics or questions where you may need more preparation (source), and it works on a laptop, tablet or smartphone (source).
Its No Pass, No Pay guarantee offers a refund of the price you paid (prorated if bought in a kit) (source), which is money back rather than extended access.
A simulator and a study platform
The main difference is study style. ExSim-Max is a practice exam simulator: you sit full-length exams and review the explanations. TierOne is a study platform: practice questions with cited explanations, spaced-repetition flashcards, an AI tutor, a readiness score by domain, and timed mock exams. Every explanation cites a public source such as a NIST publication, an IETF RFC or vendor documentation.
Neither replaces the other, and it is reasonable to use both: study and drill weak domains day to day, then use simulated exams near the end as a final check.
This page covers only Security+ and CISSP. Boson's catalog is much broader, with products for Cisco, CompTIA, Microsoft, ISC2, AWS, ISACA and PMI exams, including the NetSim network simulator (source).
Security+ SY0-701
| Boson ExSim-Max for CompTIA Security+ SY0-701product page | TierOne Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99, 1-year subscription, auto-renews, cancel anytime | $14.99 a month, $99 a year or $299 lifetime, covering all 9 certifications |
| Practice exams | 3 full-length practice exams covering 270 questions that replicate the difficulty, structure and question types of the live exam source | Timed mock exams drawn from the question bank (Full length: 90 questions in 1 hr 30 min), never allowing more time per question than the real exam |
| Explanations | Detailed explanations of why answers are correct and incorrect, with references source | An explanation on every practice question, citing a public source |
| Other study tools | Reports that pinpoint the topics or questions where you may need more preparation source | Practice questions with cited explanations, spaced-repetition flashcards, an AI tutor, a readiness score by domain, and timed mock exams |
| Free option | Free demo source | A 10-question diagnostic with no account, then 25 practice questions spread across every exam domain, per cert, and 1 full-length mock exam per cert |
CISSP
| Boson ExSim-Max for CISSPproduct page | TierOne Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99, 1-year subscription, auto-renews, cancel anytime | $14.99 a month, $99 a year or $299 lifetime, covering all 9 certifications |
| Practice exams | 6 full-length practice exams with 900 questions designed to mirror the format, difficulty and domain coverage of the live exam source | Timed mock exams drawn from the question bank (Speed drill: 100 questions in 1 hr 30 min; Full length: 150 questions in 3 hr), never allowing more time per question than the real exam |
| Explanations | Detailed explanations of why answers are correct and incorrect, with references source | An explanation on every practice question, citing a public source |
| Other study tools | Reports that pinpoint the topics or questions where you may need more preparation source | Practice questions with cited explanations, spaced-repetition flashcards, an AI tutor, a readiness score by domain, and timed mock exams |
| Free option | Free demo source | A 10-question diagnostic with no account, then 25 practice questions spread across every exam domain, per cert, and 1 full-length mock exam per cert |
Pass guarantees
Boson No Pass, No Pay
Refund of the price you paid (prorated if bought in a kit)
Conditions: The exam is failed within 6 months of purchase, on a single-user license bought directly from Boson, with proof of the failing score.
To claim: A claim form, the purchase receipt and the failing score report, filed no later than 30 days after the score report date. The product license is deactivated once the refund is processed.
TierOne Defense Academy
3 free months or a full refund, your choice
Conditions: 30+ days of Pro before your exam, and your official score report.
Compare five pass guarantees, including Pocket Prep and LearnZapp
When ExSim-Max is the better choice
- • You already have your study materials and want a dedicated exam simulator for a final check of timing and difficulty.
- • You are preparing for one exam and prefer to buy a product for just that exam.
- • You are also studying for exams TierOne does not cover, such as Cisco, Microsoft or PMI certifications, where Boson has products (source).
- • You want a pass guarantee that refunds the price you paid and you meet its conditions.
Try it before you decide
Take the 10-question Security+ or CISSP diagnostic with no account. If it is useful, a free account gives you 25 practice questions spread across every exam domain, per cert. No credit card.
Studying for CISSP instead? Take the CISSP diagnostic
FAQ
Is Boson ExSim-Max worth it for Security+ or CISSP?
For many candidates, yes. ExSim-Max for CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 includes 3 full-length practice exams covering 270 questions that replicate the difficulty, structure and question types of the live exam, and ExSim-Max for CISSP includes 6 full-length practice exams with 900 questions designed to mirror the format, difficulty and domain coverage of the live exam, each with comprehensive explanations and references. If you want a dedicated exam simulator for a final check, it is a strong choice. If you also want day-to-day study tools such as flashcards, an AI tutor and a readiness score, compare the details on this page.
How much does ExSim-Max cost for Security+ and CISSP?
As published on September 15, 2026, each is $99 (1-year subscription, auto-renews, cancel anytime), so both together are $198 a year. TierOne Pro is $14.99 a month, $99 a year or $299 once, and covers both along with the other 7 certifications.
Can I use Boson and TierOne together?
Yes. A study platform and a practice exam simulator do different jobs, so using both is reasonable: study and drill weak domains day to day, then use full-length simulated exams near the end as a final check of pace and readiness.
What does Boson's No Pass, No Pay guarantee require?
It offers a refund of the price you paid (prorated if bought in a kit) when the exam is failed within 6 months of purchase, on a single-user license bought directly from Boson, with proof of the failing score. To claim you send a claim form, the purchase receipt and the failing score report, filed no later than 30 days after the score report date. The product license is deactivated once the refund is processed. TierOne's guarantee offers 3 free months or a full refund, your choice, and requires 30+ days of Pro before your exam, and your official score report.
Can I try TierOne before paying?
Yes. The Security+ and CISSP pages each have a 10-question diagnostic you can take without an account. A free account then gives you 25 practice questions spread across every exam domain, per cert, with no credit card.
More comparisons
- LearnZapp alternative Per-app pricing for LearnZapp's ISC2, CompTIA and ISACA apps, its pass guarantee terms and features, next to TierOne.
- Pocket Prep alternative Pocket Prep's IT and cybersecurity subscription, its guarantee conditions and features, next to a cybersecurity-only platform.
- Pass guarantees compared What five cert prep pass guarantees pay out and the conditions you must meet to claim each one.
- All comparisons LearnZapp, Pocket Prep and Boson side by side with TierOne on one page.
Last verified September 15, 2026. Boson facts are summarized in good faith from Boson's public pages, which are authoritative and can change at any time. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Boson Software, ISC2, CompTIA or ISACA. All product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.