Best Hack the Box Alternatives for Beginners in 2026

Why Look for Hack the Box Alternatives?

Hack the Box deserves credit for building an incredible community and some of the most realistic lab environments available. Their challenges push skilled practitioners to think creatively, and their competitive ranking system motivates many learners.

That said, several common frustrations drive people to explore hackthebox alternatives:

• Steep learning curve: HTB challenges assume prior knowledge of Linux, networking, and common attack vectors. Complete beginners often spend hours stuck without understanding where to start.
• Limited free tier: The free plan restricts you to a handful of active machines and retired content. To access the full library, you need a paid subscription.
• Pricing complexity: HTB Labs costs $18/month for individuals (or $162/year), and HTB Academy uses a separate Cubes-based system that makes total costs hard to predict. See our full HTB Academy review for pricing details.
• Minimal guidance: HTB is intentionally sink-or-swim. There are no step-by-step tutorials on the main Labs platform. You either figure it out or read community writeups after machines retire.
• Separate products: Learning (Academy) and practice (Labs) require separate subscriptions. Budgeting for both adds up quickly.

Best Hack the Box Alternatives in 2026

The table below gives you a quick comparison of the top alternatives. We break each platform down in detail in the following sections.

Each platform takes a different approach to cybersecurity education. The best choice depends on your current skill level, learning style, and budget. Let's look at each one in detail.

HackerDNA: Hands-On Labs and Guided Courses

HackerDNA solves the biggest problem with Hack the Box: the gap between learning concepts and applying them. Instead of splitting education and practice into separate products, HackerDNA combines structured courses with hands-on lab challenges in a single platform.

Each course walks you through a cybersecurity topic with clear explanations and real-world context. Then you immediately apply what you learned in practical lab challenges that reinforce the concepts. This tight loop between theory and practice builds skills faster than either approach alone.

Why HackerDNA Stands Out

• One subscription, full access: No confusing Cubes system. No separate subscriptions for courses and labs. You get everything for one price.
• Beginner-friendly structure: Courses assume no prior knowledge and build skills progressively. You never feel lost about what to learn next.
• Expert hints when stuck: Instead of hitting a wall and spending hours frustrated, HackerDNA provides expert-crafted hints that guide you in the right direction without giving away the answer.
• Affordable pricing: At $16.99/month or $10.19/month on an annual plan, it costs less than HTB Labs alone while including both courses and labs.

Who HackerDNA Is Best For

HackerDNA is the strongest choice for beginners and intermediate learners who want guided instruction alongside practical challenges. If you tried Hack the Box and felt overwhelmed, or if you want to learn cybersecurity from scratch, HackerDNA's approach will get you from zero to comfortable with real security tools and techniques.

TryHackMe: Beginner-Friendly Learning Paths

TryHackMe (THM) is the platform most frequently recommended for complete beginners, and for good reason. Its step-by-step "rooms" walk you through everything from basic Linux commands to web exploitation, with questions along the way that check your understanding.

Pros

• Extremely guided: Every room tells you exactly what to do, what command to run, and what to look for. You rarely feel lost.
• Browser-based labs: THM's AttackBox lets you practice directly in your browser without setting up a virtual machine.
• Structured learning paths: Pre-built paths like "Complete Beginner" and "Jr Penetration Tester" guide your learning progression.
• Large content library: Hundreds of rooms covering virtually every cybersecurity topic.

Cons

• Can create dependency: The heavy hand-holding means some learners struggle when they face challenges without step-by-step instructions.
• Less challenging: Experienced users often find THM too easy compared to HTB or real-world scenarios.
• Subscription adds up: Premium access costs $14/month or $10.50/month on a yearly plan. See our TryHackMe pricing breakdown for the full cost comparison.

Who TryHackMe Is Best For

TryHackMe is a solid choice if you have zero experience with cybersecurity and want maximum guidance. It is especially useful for understanding Linux basics, networking fundamentals, and introductory security concepts. However, you will eventually need to move to a less guided platform to develop real problem-solving skills.

Many learners start with TryHackMe to build foundational knowledge, then transition to a more challenging platform once they feel comfortable navigating a terminal and understanding basic security concepts. The key is recognizing when you have outgrown the guided approach and need to start solving problems independently.

PicoCTF: Free CTF Challenges for Students

PicoCTF is a free Capture The Flag platform built by Carnegie Mellon University specifically for students and beginners. If you want to learn cybersecurity through puzzle-like challenges without spending any money, PicoCTF is one of the best places to start.

Pros

• Completely free: No subscriptions, no paywalls, no premium tiers. Every challenge is available at no cost.
• Designed for students: Challenges are written to be educational, with progressive difficulty from absolute beginner to advanced.
• Annual competitions: PicoCTF hosts yearly competitions that attract thousands of participants and provide a motivating deadline to learn.
• Year-round practice: The picoGym platform keeps challenges from past competitions available for practice anytime.

Cons

• No structured courses: PicoCTF gives you challenges but does not teach you the underlying concepts. You need outside resources to learn the skills each challenge requires.
• CTF-focused skills: Some challenge categories (like forensics puzzles or crypto math) are more relevant to competitions than to real-world penetration testing.
• Limited feedback: When you are stuck, there are no built-in hints or guided explanations. You rely on community writeups and your own research.

Who PicoCTF Is Best For

PicoCTF is perfect for high school and college students who want free, educational security challenges. It also works well as a supplement alongside a structured learning platform. If you are new to CTF competitions, PicoCTF provides the friendliest on-ramp.

OverTheWire: Classic Wargames for Linux Skills

OverTheWire has been a staple of the cybersecurity learning community for over a decade. Their wargames teach Linux command-line skills, networking, and basic exploitation through a series of progressively difficult SSH-based challenges.

Pros

• Free forever: All wargames are completely free with no account required for most games.
• Builds real Linux skills: The Bandit wargame is widely considered the best free introduction to Linux command-line proficiency.
• Progressive difficulty: Each level builds on skills learned in the previous one, creating a natural learning curve.
• No browser needed: You connect via SSH from your own terminal, which itself teaches a fundamental skill.

Cons

• No guided instruction: OverTheWire gives you a goal and minimal hints. You figure out the rest on your own.
• Narrow scope: Focuses primarily on Linux, networking, and basic exploitation. Does not cover web security, Active Directory, or modern attack techniques.
• Dated interface: The website and challenge format have not changed much over the years. No dashboards, progress tracking, or gamification.

Who OverTheWire Is Best For

OverTheWire is ideal if you want to build strong Linux command-line fundamentals at no cost. Start with Bandit (the beginner wargame), then move to Natas for basic web security. Use it as a supplement to a more comprehensive platform rather than your only learning resource.

One of OverTheWire's biggest strengths is that it forces you to research and problem-solve independently. Every level requires you to read documentation, experiment with commands, and think critically. These are exactly the skills that separate hobbyists from professionals in cybersecurity. Pair it with a structured course platform to fill the gaps in theory and methodology.

How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Level

With so many options available, the best approach is to match your current skill level and goals to the right platform. Here is a straightforward guide based on where you are in your cybersecurity journey.

Complete Beginner (No IT Experience)

Start with a platform that provides structured learning paths and clear explanations. You need to understand fundamental concepts before tackling open-ended challenges.

• Best choice: HackerDNA (courses explain concepts, then labs reinforce them)
• Also good: TryHackMe (maximum guidance, very beginner-friendly rooms)
• Free supplement: OverTheWire Bandit (learn Linux basics alongside your main platform)

Some IT Knowledge (Comfortable with Linux Basics)

If you already know your way around a terminal and understand basic networking, you can handle platforms with less hand-holding.

• Best choice: HackerDNA (combines guidance with real challenges that push your skills)
• Also good: PicoCTF (free challenges to test and expand your knowledge)
• For competition prep: Start participating in CTF events alongside structured learning

Intermediate (Comfortable with Security Concepts)

At this level, you want challenges that mirror real-world scenarios and push you beyond guided tutorials.

• Best choice: Hack the Box (challenging machines that test real skills)
• Also good: HackerDNA labs for new topic areas where you want structured introduction before going deep

Budget Considerations

Your budget plays a significant role in choosing a platform. If money is tight, start with free resources like PicoCTF and OverTheWire to build foundational skills. When you are ready to invest in a paid platform, compare what you get for your money. HackerDNA and TryHackMe both cost less than Hack the Box and include more structured learning content. HTB makes the most sense when you are ready for advanced, unguided challenges.

Keep in mind that Hack the Box separates its learning (Academy) and practice (Labs) products with independent pricing. If you want both, budget $18/month for Labs plus an Academy plan, which can add $8-$105 per month depending on the tier. Most alternatives bundle learning and practice together, which simplifies budgeting considerably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hack the Box free?

Hack the Box offers a limited free tier that gives you access to a small number of active machines. However, the full experience requires a paid subscription. HTB Labs costs $18/month for individuals or $162/year ($13.50/month). HTB Academy, which provides structured courses, uses a separate subscription with its own pricing. The free tier is enough to try the platform, but most serious learners will need a paid plan.

What is the best alternative to Hack the Box for beginners?

For beginners, HackerDNA offers the best combination of structured courses and hands-on labs. Unlike HTB, which assumes prior knowledge and provides minimal guidance, HackerDNA teaches concepts step by step and then lets you practice immediately in real lab environments. TryHackMe is another good option if you want maximum hand-holding, though it may not challenge you enough as your skills grow.

Is Hack the Box worth it?

Hack the Box is worth it if you are an intermediate or advanced learner who thrives with minimal guidance. The realistic machines, active community, and competitive ranking system make it one of the best platforms for testing and sharpening existing skills. The challenges closely mirror real-world penetration testing scenarios, which is valuable preparation for certifications like OSCP or HTB's own CPTS.

However, if you are a beginner, HTB's sink-or-swim approach can be more frustrating than productive. Many newcomers spend hours stuck on the first machine without understanding why. In that case, starting with a guided platform like HackerDNA or TryHackMe and moving to HTB later is a smarter investment of your time and money.

Does Hack the Box offer a student discount?

Yes, Hack the Box Academy offers a student plan at $96/year (about $8/month) for users with a valid .edu email address. This provides access to Tier I and II modules, making it one of the more affordable options for students. You need to verify your student status through an .edu email during signup.

However, the student discount applies only to HTB Academy, not to HTB Labs. If you want both structured learning and challenge machines, you still need two separate subscriptions. The HTB Labs individual plan remains $18/month or $162/year regardless of student status.