What Is TryHackMe? Honest Review and Guide (2026)

What Is TryHackMe?

TryHackMe is an online cybersecurity training platform that teaches hacking and defensive security through short, gamified labs called "rooms." Founded in 2018 by Ashu Savani in the UK, the platform has grown to over 3 million registered users by focusing on one thing most competitors ignored early on: making cybersecurity accessible to people with zero technical background.

Each room on TryHackMe covers a specific topic, from basic Linux commands to advanced Active Directory attacks. Rooms contain a mix of reading material, multiple-choice questions, and hands-on tasks where you interact with virtual machines directly in your browser. You earn points and badges for completing rooms, which feeds the platform's gamification system.

In practice, TryHackMe feels more like a guided course than a hacking lab. Each task tells you exactly what to do, and many rooms include answer hints. This is what makes TryHackMe popular with beginners, but it can also feel limiting once you have the basics down and want to tackle open-ended challenges.

How TryHackMe Works

Getting started on TryHackMe takes about five minutes. Create a free account, pick a learning path or individual room, and start hacking. Here is how the platform is structured.

Learning Paths

TryHackMe organizes its content into structured learning paths that guide you through a topic from start to finish. Popular paths include:

• Introduction to Cybersecurity - No prerequisites, covers basic concepts
• Pre Security - Networking, Linux, and web fundamentals
• Jr Penetration Tester - Offensive security techniques and methodology
• SOC Level 1 - Blue team skills, log analysis, and incident response
• Red Teaming - Advanced offensive operations for experienced users

Each path contains a curated sequence of rooms. The platform tracks your completion percentage and rewards streaks, which helps maintain motivation during long study periods.

Rooms and Tasks

Individual rooms are the core learning unit. A typical room has 5 to 15 tasks, each with a specific objective. Some tasks ask you to read and answer questions. Others require you to launch a virtual machine and find a flag (a hidden text string that proves you completed the challenge).

TryHackMe rooms generally fall into two categories:

• Walkthroughs - Step-by-step guided rooms that teach concepts with detailed explanations
• Challenges - Less guidance, more problem-solving. You get an objective but need to figure out the approach

Virtual Machine Access

TryHackMe provides two ways to connect to lab machines:

• AttackBox - A browser-based Kali Linux machine that loads directly in your browser. Free users get 1 hour per day; Premium users get unlimited access. No local setup required.
• OpenVPN - Download a VPN configuration file and connect from your own machine. This gives you more flexibility and better performance, but requires a local penetration testing setup (like Kali Linux in a VM).

The AttackBox is one of TryHackMe's strongest selling points for beginners. You can start hacking from any computer with a browser, no installation or configuration needed.

King of the Hill and CTF Events

Beyond learning paths and individual rooms, TryHackMe offers competitive features. King of the Hill (KoTH) is a multiplayer game where you compete against other users to compromise a machine, patch vulnerabilities, and maintain access. The platform also hosts regular CTF (Capture the Flag) events using its CTF Builder feature, which draws from 200+ challenges. These competitive modes add variety but are not the platform's core strength. Most users spend their time in structured learning paths rather than competitions.

Community and Support

TryHackMe has built one of the largest cybersecurity learning communities online. The platform's Discord server, forums, and social media channels provide a support network where beginners can ask questions and share progress. Many rooms also have community-created writeups and walkthroughs, though TryHackMe officially discourages sharing answers to active rooms. When you get stuck, the community is often faster than official documentation for getting unstuck.

TryHackMe Pricing and Plans (2026)

TryHackMe uses a freemium model. Here is what each tier includes as of March 2026.

The free tier lets you explore the platform, but the 1-hour daily AttackBox limit and locked rooms make it hard to maintain a consistent study routine. Most serious learners upgrade within the first few weeks.

For a deeper breakdown of every pricing option, including student discounts and seasonal promotions, see our detailed TryHackMe pricing breakdown.

Last verified: March 2026

TryHackMe Pros and Cons

After spending time on the platform and reviewing community feedback, here is an honest assessment of what TryHackMe does well and where it falls short.

Pros

• Extremely beginner-friendly - Step-by-step rooms assume no prior knowledge. The platform explains every concept before asking you to apply it.
• Browser-based AttackBox - No local setup required. Start hacking from any computer in minutes.
• Structured learning paths - Clear progression from beginner to advanced topics. You do not need to guess what to study next.
• Active community - Forums, Discord, and social media channels provide help when you get stuck.
• Gamification - Points, badges, streaks, and leaderboards keep you motivated through long study sessions.
• Affordable pricing - At ~$10/month annually, TryHackMe is one of the most budget-friendly premium cybersecurity platforms.

Cons

• Limited free tier - The 1-hour daily AttackBox limit and locked rooms restrict what you can accomplish without paying.
• Guided format can feel restrictive - Experienced users often find the hand-holding slows them down. Rooms rarely require creative problem-solving.
• Less depth on advanced topics - While TryHackMe covers many topics, the coverage tends to stay surface-level compared to platforms focused on intermediate and advanced learners.
• AttackBox performance - The browser-based VM can lag, especially on slower internet connections. Some users report timeouts and disconnections during longer sessions.
• Certifications are newer - TryHackMe's certifications (SEC1, SAL1, PT1) launched recently and have less industry recognition than established certs like OSCP or CompTIA Security+.

Is TryHackMe Worth It?

Is TryHackMe worth it? For complete beginners, yes. TryHackMe is one of the best platforms for learning cybersecurity fundamentals from scratch in 2026. The guided rooms, structured paths, and low price point make it an easy recommendation for anyone who has never touched a terminal before.

The answer changes depending on where you are in your learning journey:

For Complete Beginners

TryHackMe is an excellent starting point. The Pre Security and Introduction to Cybersecurity paths teach networking, Linux, and web basics with zero assumptions about your background. If you are exploring whether cybersecurity is the right field for you, TryHackMe's free tier lets you test the waters before committing.

For Career Changers

TryHackMe provides solid foundational training, but you will likely outgrow it within 6 to 12 months. The SOC Level 1 and Jr Penetration Tester paths align well with entry-level job requirements. However, employers value practical skills over platform badges, so supplement TryHackMe with hands-on labs that challenge you without step-by-step guidance.

A common pattern among successful career changers: use TryHackMe to learn the fundamentals over 3 to 6 months, then transition to platforms with unguided labs and realistic scenarios. This combination gives you both the knowledge base and the independent problem-solving ability that hiring managers look for in security roles.

For Experienced Pentesters

TryHackMe is likely too basic. If you already have networking knowledge, Linux proficiency, and exploitation experience, you will find most rooms too guided and the challenges too straightforward. Platforms with unguided vulnerable machines or realistic network environments provide more value at this stage. The Red Teaming path offers some advanced content, but the overall platform design prioritizes accessibility over depth.

TryHackMe vs Other Platforms

How does TryHackMe compare to the other major cybersecurity training platforms? Here is a quick comparison to help you choose.

For a deeper comparison between TryHackMe and Hack The Box, read our TryHackMe vs Hack The Box comparison. If you are exploring more options, our guide to Hack The Box alternatives and our roundup of the best cybersecurity labs cover additional platforms.

TryHackMe Certifications

TryHackMe launched its own certification program to help learners validate their skills. As of 2026, the platform offers three flagship certifications:

• SEC1 (Cyber Security 101) - Foundational certification covering security concepts, networking, Linux, and basic threats. Entirely hands-on assessment. Best for complete beginners who want proof of their foundational knowledge.
• SAL1 (Security Analyst Level 1) - Entry-level blue team certification focused on SOC skills, log analysis, SIEM tools, and incident response. Aimed at aspiring SOC analysts.
• PT1 (Junior Penetration Tester) - Entry-level red team certification covering reconnaissance, web exploitation, and basic privilege escalation. Designed for those targeting junior pentesting roles.

These certifications are relatively new and still building industry recognition. They are a useful milestone for beginners but should not be your only credential. Pairing them with established certifications like CompTIA PenTest+ or practical experience from hands-on labs strengthens your resume significantly.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The skills you develop on TryHackMe are powerful. Use them responsibly. If you are interested in applying these skills professionally, pursue authorized roles like penetration tester, security analyst, or bug bounty hunter where you operate within clear legal boundaries. Every major cybersecurity certification and employer expects you to understand and follow ethical guidelines. Building good habits early on platforms like TryHackMe carries over into your professional career.