How to Get AWS Certified for Under $200 (Complete Strategy)

Here's a controversial take: You don't need to spend $500+ to get AWS certified.

I've seen people spend:

• $200 on Udemy courses they never finish
• $50/month on A Cloud Guru for 6 months ($300)
• $30 per practice exam pack (buying 3-4 of them)
• Another $100-150 on the exam itself

That's $600+ for ONE certification. And some still don't feel ready when exam day comes.

There's a better way. Here's how to get AWS certified for under $200—and actually pass.

The $200 Budget Breakdown

That's it. No expensive course bundles. No multiple subscriptions. No throwing money at the problem and hoping something works.

Why Most People Overspend

Let me describe a familiar pattern:

1. You decide to get AWS certified
2. You buy a "highly rated" Udemy course on sale ($15-20)
3. You start watching... it's 40 hours long
4. After a few days, life gets busy
5. You fall behind, feel overwhelmed
6. You buy ANOTHER course, thinking this one will be better
7. Same thing happens
8. You sign up for A Cloud Guru "just to have everything in one place"
9. Months pass
10. You've spent $300+ and still haven't booked the exam

The problem isn't that you need more courses. It's that you're studying the wrong way.

You're consuming content without knowing what you actually need to learn. You're watching 40 hours of videos when you might only be weak on 10 hours worth of topics.

You're flying blind.

The $200 Strategy That Actually Works

Step 1: Start With Your Gaps (Not a Course)

Before you buy anything, you need to know what you actually need to study.

The old approach: Watch everything, hope you absorb what matters.

The smart approach: Take a skill assessment that shows you exactly what you know and don't know.

In 10 minutes, you can see:

• Which topics you're already solid on (don't waste time here)
• Which topics are holding you back (focus everything here)
• Your current exam readiness score

This single step saves you from buying courses you don't need.

Step 2: Use Free Resources Strategically

Here's what most people get wrong about free resources: they try to use them for everything.

Free resources are great for topics you're already somewhat familiar with. They fill gaps. But they're not great for topics you're completely lost on.

Best free resources:

AWS Skill Builder (Free Tier)

• Official AWS training
• Covers all exam topics
• Good for reviewing concepts you partially understand

AWS Documentation

• Detailed service explanations
• Best practices
• Use when you need depth on a specific service

AWS Whitepapers

• Well-Architected Framework (essential reading)
• Security Best Practices
• Free and directly relevant to exams

YouTube

• Good for visual explanations
• Specific topic deep-dives
• NOT good as your primary study source (too scattered)

Step 3: Invest in Gap-Based Learning (Not Courses)

Here's where your actual budget goes.

Instead of buying a 40-hour course that covers everything (including stuff you already know), invest in a platform that:

1. Identifies your weak areas automatically
2. Creates a personalized study plan around YOUR gaps
3. Tracks your progress in real time
4. Tells you when you're ready to book the exam

This is what StudyTech does.

For $25/month, you get:

• Skill assessment that finds your gaps
• Personalized daily study plan
• Flashcards and quizzes targeting weak areas
• Practice questions that adapt to you
• Exam readiness score that updates as you learn

No more guessing what to study. No more watching 40 hours of content hoping you're covering the right things.

You log in, and your study session is prepared for you. Focused on what actually matters for YOUR exam.

Step 4: Know When to Book

This is where most budget attempts fail.

People either:

• Book too early, fail, pay again ($100-300 wasted)
• Never feel ready, keep delaying, keep paying for study materials

The fix: An objective readiness score.

With StudyTech, you watch your exam readiness climb as you close knowledge gaps:

• 55%... keep studying
• 68%... getting there
• 78%... almost ready
• 85%+ ... book the exam

When you're consistently hitting 85%, the data says you're ready. No more hoping. No more expensive retakes.

The Complete $200 Timeline

Week 1: Assessment & Planning

• Take gap assessment (free)
• Review results—know exactly what you need to study
• Set up your personalized study plan
• Cost so far: $0

Week 2-3: Targeted Study

• Study 30-60 minutes daily
• Focus only on weak topics
• Use flashcards, quizzes, practice questions
• Watch readiness score climb
• Cost so far: $25 (one month of StudyTech)

Week 4: Final Prep & Exam

• Review remaining weak areas
• Hit 85%+ readiness consistently
• Book exam, pass
• Final cost: $125-175 total

Total time: 4 weeks Total cost: Under $200

What NOT to Spend Money On

Multiple Video Courses ($100-300 wasted)

You don't need 3 different instructors teaching you the same thing. You need to know what YOU specifically need to learn.

Multiple Practice Exam Platforms ($60-120 wasted)

One good source of practice questions that adapts to you is better than 4 static question banks.

Hands-On Lab Subscriptions ($50-150 wasted)

AWS Free Tier gives you 12 months of hands-on practice. You don't need a sandbox subscription for most certs.

"Complete Bundle" Packages ($200-500 wasted)

These include everything so you can skip nothing. But you SHOULD skip things—the topics you already know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really pass with just $200?

Yes. The exam is $100-150. One month of gap-based learning is $25-30. Free resources fill in the rest. If you know exactly what to study, you don't need expensive courses.

What if I need more than a month?

Some people do, and that's fine. Even 2 months at $25/month is $50—still way under $200 total. The key is studying efficiently so you don't need 6 months.

Isn't it risky to skip the comprehensive courses?

It's actually LESS risky. Comprehensive courses give you the false sense that if you watch everything, you'll be prepared. But you don't actually absorb 40 hours of content. Gap-based learning ensures you actually understand your weak areas.

What's the catch?

The catch is you have to actually study consistently. There's no magic here—just efficient use of your time and money. 30-60 minutes daily for 4-6 weeks, focused on what matters.

The Real Cost of the "Cheap" Approach

Some people try to go 100% free. Here's what usually happens:

• Scattered notes from YouTube videos
• No structured plan
• No way to track progress
• No idea when they're ready
• Months of unfocused studying
• Eventually give up or fail the first attempt

"Free" ends up costing more in time and retake fees.

The $200 approach isn't about spending as little as possible. It's about spending strategically on what actually helps you pass.

Your $200 Certification Starts Here

Stop buying courses hoping they'll work. Stop watching 40-hour video playlists. Stop guessing what to study.

1. Find your gaps (free, 10 minutes)
2. Study what matters (30-60 min/day)
3. Track your readiness (watch the score climb)
4. Book when ready (85%+)
5. Pass

Total investment: Under $200 and 4-6 weeks.

Over 1,000 learners are using StudyTech to get AWS certified smarter. Your certification doesn't have to cost $500+.