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Most buyers should pick TryHackMe.
Choose TryHackMe for guided paths and a gentler start; choose Hack The Box for advanced lab practice and team readiness. TryHackMe Premium lists an annual-billed price of $11.19/month. HTB Academy Student is $10/month, but requires a verified academic email. HTB also lists a free Labs tier with 20 active Machines and 80+ active Challenges. Team pricing is clearer at TryHackMe: its business plans list per-license rates, while HTB Workforce Development is custom quote.
01Side by side
| TryHackMe | Hack The Box | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting paid price | Premium: $11.19/month, billed annually | Academy Student: $10/month; academic email required |
| Free plan | Free rooms; AttackBox limited to one hour daily | 20 active Machines, 80+ active Challenges |
| Best for | Beginners building cybersecurity skills through guided paths | Learners pursuing advanced practice and team readiness |
| Core strength | Structured lessons, paths, and browser-based labs | Advanced labs, attack simulations, and team exercises |
| Learning curve | More beginner-friendly, per review scores | Less beginner-friendly, per review scores |
| Integrations/data | Enterprise API, LMS, SCIM, and just-in-time provisioning | Advanced workforce skills analytics and reporting |
| Team/seat costs | From $99/license/month; five-license minimum | Workforce Development price is custom quote |
| Support | Support score: 5/10 in published review | Support score: 5/10 in published review |
TryHackMe Choose TryHackMe if
- You want structured paths and a beginner-friendly start.
- You prefer browser-based practice with guided lessons.
- You need published per-license business pricing and integrations.
Hack The Box Choose Hack The Box if
- You have a verified academic email and want the $10 plan.
- You want advanced labs, Pro Labs, or retired challenges.
- You need team exercises, assessments, or workforce training.
02Pricing compared
TryHackMe has a free tier, Premium at $18.11 month to month or $11.19 per month with annual billing, and MAX at $30.73 monthly or $18.99 with annual billing. Free includes a one-hour daily AttackBox limit; Premium removes that limit for its non-persistent AttackBox, while MAX includes a persistent one. Business plans start at $99 per license per month, with a five-license minimum; Enterprise pricing is custom.
Hack The Box also has a free Labs tier: 20 active Machines, 80+ active Challenges and unlimited Machine resets. Labs VIP+ is $25 monthly or $18.58 with annual billing. Academy Student is $10 monthly, but requires a verified academic email. HTB Workforce Development is custom quote. The lower headline price depends on what you need: Academy Student is not open to everyone, and the two platforms package training differently.
03Features and depth
TryHackMe centers on guided learning paths, lessons and hands-on rooms, with topics spanning cybersecurity fundamentals, penetration testing and security analysis. Its homepage lists more than 1,400 labs and challenges and says it adds content weekly. Browser-based tools let learners access a machine through a browser, though an internet connection is required. Premium includes beginner paths; MAX adds advanced paths and AWS and Azure cloud labs.
Hack The Box combines Academy modules with Labs machines and challenges. Its free Labs tier includes 20 active Machines and 80+ active Challenges; VIP+ adds retired content, isolated machines and unlimited Pwnbox playtime, while PRO adds 10 Pro Labs in simulated corporate networks. For teams, HTB highlights attack simulations, threat emulation, analytics and reporting. Workforce Development lists 1,400+ offensive and defensive labs, CVE-based scenarios and certificate programs. HTB also lists 180+ scenarios for defensive CTF assessments. In short, TryHackMe emphasizes a guided route; HTB spans individual practice and workforce assessment.
04Ease of use and learning curve
TryHackMe is the more straightforward starting point if you want a sequence to follow: it offers guided paths and beginner content, and its review rates ease of use 8.5. Its free tier is limited, including a one-hour daily AttackBox cap, so sustained practice may mean paying.
HTB gives you a free way into Labs, but its offerings are split across Labs and Academy plans, each with different access. Its review rates ease of use 5 and says it is not the easiest place to start. Choose TryHackMe for structured learning; choose HTB if you already know what kind of lab or module you want to tackle.
Questions people ask
Which one is better, Hack The Box or TryHackMe?
Neither is better for every learner. TryHackMe is the stronger fit if you want guided paths and a gentler start. Hack The Box suits learners seeking advanced lab practice, simulated corporate networks or team-readiness features. Compare the specific plan limits before paying: their free tiers and paid products include different kinds of access.
Do ethical hackers make good money?
The published pricing and product information does not include salaries, so we can’t give a sourced pay estimate. These platforms offer cybersecurity training, but training access alone does not establish a salary outcome. Check current job listings and salary data for your location and target role before budgeting around a career change.
Is TryHackMe legit?
The published information describes TryHackMe as a cybersecurity learning platform with guided paths, browser-based practice, labs and challenges. Its review says it is worth considering for guided hands-on learning, while recommending independent practice for job preparation. That supports it as a training option, not a guarantee of employment or certification.
Is Hack The Box worth paying for?
It depends on what you need beyond the free Labs tier, which includes 20 active Machines and 80+ active Challenges. VIP+ adds retired content and unlimited Pwnbox playtime; PRO adds 10 Pro Labs. If you need Academy modules, check the tier limits and eligibility, including the verified academic email required for Student.