TryHackMe pricing changed more in 2026 than in the previous three years. There are now three tiers instead of two: Free, Premium and a new MAX plan launched in June 2026. Premium no longer unlocks everything, and US buyers see higher prices than the rest of the world. If a review still says "about $14 a month for everything", it is out of date.
Below: what the free account really gets you, what each paid tier costs and unlocks, the cheapest legitimate way to pay, and a straight answer on whether it is worth it. If you want to feel what hacking in a browser is like before paying anyone, the free Hack the Login lab on HackerDNA takes about ten minutes and needs nothing but a browser.
Updated September 2026 with current pricing.
TL;DR: TryHackMe pricing in 2026
- Is TryHackMe free? Yes. Free rooms, partial learning paths and one hour a day of AttackBox, with no card and no expiry.
- Premium: about $17-18/month billed monthly, or $126-134/year billed annually (roughly $10.50-11.20/month), depending on your region.
- MAX (new in 2026): about $29-31/month, or $216-228/year (roughly $18-19/month). Needed for advanced paths, cloud labs and full room access.
- Students: an extra 20% off annual Premium after an eligibility check, so about $100-107/year.
- Worth it? Annual Premium is good value for beginners who study every week. MAX only pays off if you are past the beginner paths or about to buy a TryHackMe certification.
Is TryHackMe Free?
Yes, TryHackMe is free to start and the free account never expires. You get the free rooms (TryHackMe advertises 100+ free guided labs), partial access to learning paths and one hour per day on the AttackBox, its in-browser attack machine. Full learning paths, premium rooms and path certificates require a paid plan.
What the free tier does not include:
- Premium rooms inside learning paths, so most structured paths stop part-way
- Unlimited AttackBox time (free is capped at one hour a day)
- Networks (multi-machine environments), premium challenges and private King of the Hill games
- Certificates of completion for learning paths
In practice, the one-hour AttackBox cap is the first wall people hit. A single medium room can take longer than that once you add reading, scanning and the inevitable dead end. The usual workaround is to connect your own Kali VM over TryHackMe's OpenVPN servers, which works on free rooms and does not use AttackBox time. Paid plans get private VPN servers; free users share public ones, which can feel slower at peak times.
TryHackMe Pricing in 2026: Every Plan Compared
Here is what each plan costs as of September 2026. The ranges are there because TryHackMe charges different amounts by region (explained below the table).
| Plan | Billed monthly | Billed annually | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Free rooms, partial learning paths, 1 hour/day AttackBox |
| Premium | ~$17-18/month | $126-134/year (~$10.50-11.20/month) | Full beginner learning paths, unlimited AttackBox, Networks, path certificates |
| MAX | ~$29-31/month | $216-228/year (~$18-19/month) | Everything in Premium plus advanced paths, cloud labs, every room and challenge |
| Premium + student discount | Not available | ~$100-107/year (~$8.40-8.95/month) | Same as Premium |
Why a range instead of one price? Since July 2026, US checkout has shown $18.11/month or $134.28/year for Premium (before sales tax) and $30.73/month or $227.88/year for MAX, on a plan TryHackMe labels as a pricing experiment. Most other countries still pay 16.99/month or 126/year for Premium and 29.11/month or 215.88/year for MAX in local currency, so a European buyer sees EUR 16.99 and EUR 126. Check the final amount on the TryHackMe pricing page before you pay.
Annual vs monthly: TryHackMe advertises annual billing as "Save 38%", which works out to paying for about seven months and getting twelve. The break-even is simple: if you would stay subscribed for more than about seven and a half months anyway, annual is cheaper.
TryHackMe Premium vs MAX: What Changed in 2026
Until mid-2026, Premium was the "everything" plan. Since MAX launched in June 2026, the catalogue is split in two: Premium covers the beginner learning paths, MAX covers the advanced ones. That single change is why older reviews of TryHackMe Premium are now misleading.
What TryHackMe Premium includes
- Full access to the beginner learning paths (SOC Level 1, for example)
- A certificate of completion for each finished path
- Unlimited AttackBox time and faster machines
- Networks, premium challenges, private OpenVPN servers and private King of the Hill games
- 15% off TryHackMe certifications on annual plans (some certification pages currently advertise 25%)
What TryHackMe MAX adds
- Access to the advanced learning paths
- Advanced cloud content, including AWS and Azure labs
- A persistent AttackBox that keeps your work between sessions
- Recent Threats labs built around current attacks
- Full access to every room and challenge
- 40% off one TryHackMe certification (annual plans)
When MAX pays for itself
The certification discount is the part people overlook. TryHackMe's Junior Penetration Tester (PT1) and Security Analyst Level 1 (SAL1) exams cost $349 each in the US. MAX's 40% takes about $140 off one of them, versus roughly $52-87 with Premium's 15-25%. That difference covers most of the roughly $90 gap between annual Premium and annual MAX, so if you were going to buy a certification this year anyway, MAX costs little extra. Our guide to TryHackMe certifications covers what each exam tests and whether it is worth taking.
If you are still working through beginner content and have no exam planned, Premium is the right tier. Most of what MAX adds sits beyond the beginner paths anyway.
How to Pay Less: Student Discount, Sales and Refunds
TryHackMe student discount
Students get an extra 20% off the annual Premium plan, on top of the annual billing discount. It is open to university and higher education students worldwide, and you do not need a .edu address: click "Check eligibility" on the TryHackMe students page, verify through Student Beans, and the discount applies at checkout. That brings annual Premium to about $100-107 a year. It does not apply to monthly billing or to MAX, and it does not stack with seasonal promo codes or vouchers.
Black Friday and other sales
TryHackMe's biggest sale lands around Black Friday. In recent years it has ranged from 20% to 40% off annual plans; the 2025 sale was 40% off annual subscriptions with the code BLACKFRIDAY40 and ended on November 28, 2025. As of September 30, 2026 there is no active sale and no working public promo code. Our TryHackMe coupon guide tracks what is legit and which "codes" to ignore.
Cancellation and refunds
- Monthly: cancel any time; access continues to the end of the billing cycle, but monthly payments are non-refundable.
- Annual: a 7-day cooling-off period gives a full refund, but only if you have not accessed the course material.
- Switching: you can move from monthly to annual and get prorated credit for the unused part of your month.
That last point suggests a low-risk way in: pay monthly for your first month, and if you are still logging in every week, switch to annual with the credit applied. You pay slightly more than going annual on day one, but you never lock in a year you will not use.
Is TryHackMe Worth It in 2026?
For most beginners, yes. Annual Premium at roughly $10.50-11 a month buys a structured route from zero to job-relevant basics, an in-browser attack machine and one of the largest security learning communities (TryHackMe reports over 8 million learners). It stops being good value if you study only occasionally or already work at an intermediate level.
Scale helps put the price in context. The SOC Level 1 path alone is 14 modules and around 65 hours of hands-on labs. At five hours a week that is three months of study, which is roughly where annual billing starts to beat monthly.
TryHackMe Premium is worth it if
- You are a beginner and want someone else to decide what to learn next
- You will study at least a few hours every week for several months
- You like reading-plus-practice rooms with hints more than open-ended machines
- You want path certificates for your CV and may take a TryHackMe certification later
- You are preparing for an entry-level exam: TryHackMe has prep content for certifications such as CompTIA Security+ and PenTest+
Skip it (or stay free) if
- You log in twice a month: the free tier, or one monthly payment for a focused sprint, is cheaper
- You already handle Linux, networking and basic exploitation comfortably: guided rooms will feel slow
- You mainly want web security: PortSwigger's Web Security Academy is free and excellent
- You only want the advanced paths: then the real question is MAX versus other platforms, not Premium
TryHackMe vs HackerDNA vs Hack The Box: Price Check
TryHackMe is not the only option at this price. Here is how the three most common choices compare on cost and style, using each platform's own published prices.
| Feature | TryHackMe | HackerDNA | Hack The Box Labs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes: free rooms, 1 hour/day AttackBox | Yes: free labs and a daily puzzle, no card | Yes: 20 active machines, 2-hour Pwnbox trial |
| Main paid plan | Premium: ~$17-18/month or $126-134/year | Pro: $16.99/month or $10.19/month billed yearly ($122.33/year) | VIP+: $25/month or $223/year |
| Top tier | MAX: ~$29-31/month or $216-228/year | Max: $35/month or $21/month billed yearly | Pro Labs: $49/month (VIP+ not included) |
| Runs in the browser | Yes, via AttackBox (or your own VM over VPN) | Yes, no VPN or VM needed | Pwnbox is limited on free; VPN otherwise |
| Learning style | Guided rooms with reading and questions | Hands-on labs, short courses, AI coach on Free and Pro | Less guided machines and challenges |
Where TryHackMe wins: sheer volume of guided content, clear career paths and its own certifications. If you want a curriculum laid out for you, it is hard to beat.
Where HackerDNA is different: every lab runs in your browser against a real vulnerable target, with no VPN, no VM and no AttackBox to manage. There is a free Daily Hack puzzle every day, and the AI coach that nudges you when you are stuck is the same on the Free and Pro plans. Pro costs about the same as TryHackMe Premium billed annually. The catalogue is smaller than TryHackMe's, so it works best as a hands-on complement, or as your main platform if you would rather do than read.
Where Hack The Box fits: it is the natural step up once guided rooms feel too easy, because its machines assume you can find your own way in. For the full breakdown, read our TryHackMe vs Hack The Box comparison.
TryHackMe Pricing FAQ
Is TryHackMe free?
Yes. A free account costs nothing, needs no card and does not expire. It includes the free rooms, partial learning paths and one hour a day of AttackBox. Full learning paths, premium rooms and path certificates need Premium or MAX.
How much is TryHackMe Premium per month?
About $17-18 a month billed monthly, or $126-134 a year billed annually (roughly $10.50-11.20 a month). US checkout currently shows the top of that range, $18.11 a month or $134.28 a year before tax; most other regions pay 16.99 or 126 in local currency.
What is the TryHackMe MAX plan?
MAX is the tier TryHackMe launched above Premium in June 2026. It adds the advanced learning paths, AWS and Azure cloud labs, a persistent AttackBox, Recent Threats labs, access to every room and 40% off one certification. It costs about $29-31 a month, or $216-228 a year billed annually.
Is TryHackMe Premium worth it?
For beginners who will study every week, yes: annual Premium unlocks the full beginner paths for roughly $10.50-11 a month. If you study only occasionally, stay on the free tier. If you are past the beginner paths, compare MAX with Hack The Box before paying.
Does TryHackMe have a student discount?
Yes. Eligible university and higher education students get an extra 20% off the annual Premium plan, on top of the annual discount. You verify through the "Check eligibility" button on TryHackMe's students page (Student Beans), not with a .edu email. It brings the price to about $100-107 a year.
Can I get TryHackMe Premium for free?
Not through any public code. TryHackMe no longer sells gift vouchers, though vouchers occasionally appear in festive giveaways, and some universities and employers pay for access through TryHackMe's education and business plans. Sites promising free Premium codes are not legitimate.
Can I cancel TryHackMe and get a refund?
You can cancel any time. Monthly plans are non-refundable, but access runs to the end of the billing cycle. Annual plans have a 7-day cooling-off period with a full refund, as long as you have not accessed the course material.
How We Verified These Prices
We checked TryHackMe's pricing page, students page and pricing FAQ directly, and compared the checkout prices shown to a US buyer and a European buyer. Hack The Box prices come from its help centre article on HTB Labs subscriptions. Prices exclude sales tax and VAT, and TryHackMe can change them at any time, so confirm the final amount at checkout.
Last verified: September 2026
Verdict: TryHackMe Pricing in 2026
TryHackMe pricing is still fair for what most people need. Start free, move to annual Premium once you are studying every week (or pay monthly first, then switch with prorated credit), and only consider MAX if you have outgrown the beginner paths or are about to buy a TryHackMe certification. Students should always take the 20% annual discount. Nobody should pay for a "promo code" from a coupon site.
If you would rather spend that time hacking than reading, HackerDNA's labs run entirely in the browser. Start with Hack the Login, then follow the Hacking 101 course for a structured path. Start with HackerDNA's free tier: no credit card required.
