If you’re new to offensive security, the choice between HackTheBox Academy and TryHackMe is the first major one you’ll make. Both are excellent. They are not interchangeable.
TL;DR
- TryHackMe: gentler learning curve, broader topic coverage, lower cost. Best for beginners and breadth.
- HackTheBox Academy: deeper technical content, more rigorous assessments, structured paths to industry certs. Best for intermediate to advanced and depth.
For most learners: start with TryHackMe, transition to HTB once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals.
Side-by-Side
| Dimension | TryHackMe | HTB Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Price (2026) | ~$15/mo | ~$20/mo individual + cubes |
| Learning style | Guided rooms with hand-holding | Module-based, deeper writing |
| Difficulty curve | Gentle, hints visible | Steeper, problem-solving emphasized |
| Topic breadth | Wider | Narrower, deeper |
| Career paths | Yes — guided | Yes — more technical |
| Native certifications | Junior Penetration Tester (JPT) | CPTS, CBBH, CDSA, CWEE |
| OSCP alignment | Good prep for newer OSCP | Stronger prep, especially the AD module |
| Subjective community | Friendlier, more beginner-tolerant | More technical, less hand-holding |
TryHackMe — Strengths
- The first 30 hours of cybersecurity learning are best spent here. No other platform onboards as smoothly.
- Pre-Security path covers networking, Linux, Windows fundamentals before assuming any technical baseline.
- Active Directory path is excellent and covers the OSCP-relevant subset well.
- AttackBox runs in-browser — no VPN config, no Kali install on your laptop. Frictionless start.
TryHackMe — Weaknesses
- Some advanced rooms suffer from “click-the-button” content that doesn’t build deep skill.
- Hint culture creates a temptation to skip the struggle that develops real ability.
- Less hands-on coding required compared to HTB.
HTB Academy — Strengths
- Long-form, well-edited modules. The writing quality is genuinely the best in the industry.
- Skills assessments at the end of modules force you to apply concepts without instructions.
- CPTS, CBBH, CDSA, CWEE certifications are increasingly respected — CPTS is a credible OSCP alternative for hiring.
- The Pro Labs (Dante, Zephyr, Genesis) are the closest thing to a real corporate AD assessment in any learning platform.
HTB Academy — Weaknesses
- Steeper price once you factor in “cubes” for premium content.
- Less hand-holding can frustrate learners who haven’t built basics yet.
- AD lab content (in Academy proper, not Pro Labs) is leaner than TryHackMe’s.
Free Content Comparison
Both have free tiers. Free is enough to evaluate the platform but insufficient for serious progress.
- TryHackMe free: a couple dozen rooms; no AttackBox time after the first session.
- HTB Academy free: one or two introductory modules per skill.
The Free HackTheBox main platform (not Academy) — 24 retired machines and active boxes — is excellent and worth using regardless of which Academy you choose.
Specific Use Cases
“I want OSCP within 12 months”
- TryHackMe Jr Penetration Tester path → bridge to fundamentals.
- HTB Academy CPTS path → OSCP-level technical depth, in better-organized modules than the official PEN-200.
- TJ Null’s OSCP machine list on HTB main platform → exam-relevant practice.
“I want a SOC analyst role”
- TryHackMe SOC Level 1 path → fundamentals (Splunk basics, IDS, sigma).
- HTB Academy CDSA path → defensive analyst certification with real value.
“I want to do bug bounty”
- PortSwigger Web Security Academy (free) — irreplaceable for web.
- HTB Academy CBBH path → bug bounty hunter certification.
- Actual bug bounty programs after.
What Neither Platform Does Well
- Mobile security — go to MASTG or HackTricks.
- Hardware / IoT — go to PWN.college and dedicated CTFs.
- Reverse engineering — supplemental content needed (PWN.college, OpenSecurityTraining2, Ghidra docs).
- Real-world reporting — both platforms test the technical work but not the deliverable.
Combine, Don’t Choose
Most successful learners I know used both: TryHackMe to onboard, HTB Academy to specialize, and the free HTB main platform for raw practice. The total subscription cost — under $40/month combined — is the cheapest formal training in tech.