--- title: "Hack The Box Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra" description: "Is Hack The Box the right Job Board solution for you? Explore 71 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/10004639/Hack-the-Box/reviews/" page_type: "reviews" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-09-30" --- Hack The Box 4.9 (71) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/10004639/Hack-the-Box/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated September 30th, 2026 # Reviews of Hack The Box Ease of use 4.7 Customer Service 4.7 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews SK Sokheng K Offensive Security SupervisorBanking, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The platform offers a diverse range of machines and challenges that simulate real-world scenarios, which helped me strengthen my penetration testing and problem-solving skills.“ June 24, 2025 JB Jeremy B Offensive Security ConsultantComputer & Network Security, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “One VPN session per user combined with no internet access for lab machines and no ACLs allowing traffic between VPN-connected users makes the environment unsuitable for red teams practicing use of C2 frameworks.“ May 5, 2025 Jeremy C HelpdeskInformation Technology and Services, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “It’s interactive, engaging, and addicting in the best way possible. If you’re serious about breaking into cybersecurity — especially red team, penetration testing, or SOC work — Hack The Box is worth every minute.“ October 28, 2025 R® RudiKarus ® HackerInformation Technology and Services, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The CPTS certification lacks something between the path and the exam (like Ippsec's unofficial CPTSPrep and/or a pro lab like Dante).“ July 16, 2025 MH M. Yousuf H Application Security EngineerAutomotive, 5,001 - 10,000 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “They keep adding new content all the time, so there’s always something fresh to try. Plus, it’s completely safe to practice, so you can experiment without worrying about risks or compliance issues. If you want a fun way to level up your cybersecurity skills, HTB is perfect.“ September 27, 2025 SK Sunny K Cyber Security AnalystAccounting, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “Some of the advanced labs can be challenging if you don’t have prior experience, and you won’t get direct walkthroughs of HTB, so you need to figure things out on your own.“ October 8, 2025 SK Sunny K Cyber Security AnalystAccounting, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “The content is very practical, the labs are hands-on, and everything is structured in a way that makes learning cybersecurity engaging and effective.“ October 8, 2025 TC Tomasz C Security EngineerPackage/Freight Delivery, 10,001+ employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “The biggest issue is that sometimes machines stack in deploying mode, and you must wait or try to contact support“ April 12, 2025 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 71 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Udumala N. Student Higher Education Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "A Honest Review form an undergraduate" March 25, 2024 5.0 Overall it is a best place to build.ur experience and get ready for the OSCP exam. Pros I love the content or study material in terms of academy and Normal hack the box. I love the retired rooms feature which help me in starting the HTB. I also love the University CTF which are being conducted. Cons One of the big thing I have is individual domain for each thing like ctf, academy which they r joining now. It is hard for beginners who are starting with cybersecurity. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 We're happy to hear that Hack The Box is vital to your cybersecurity learning journey. We appreciate your feedback on the different accounts and difficulty levels and we already make improvements based on your suggestions. GS Goh S. Penetration Tester Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Try out HackTheBox!" August 1, 2025 5.0 Pros When it comes to anything cybersecurity, HackTheBox is my favorite training platform for learning and improving my skills. Their academy platform has a ton of great modules covering every topic of interest at an affordable and worth-it price. I am currently doing the penetration tester job role path and I can confidently say that I am able to learn new things in each one of them as they go so in depth in the topics. The best thing is that these modules are not purely just text, they are also accompanied by some challenging practices that force you to always think outside of the box, which is very important in this field. Besides academy, their main platform is also the perfect place for practicing cyber. Even for free users like myself, I am still able to play machines and challenges that are very important when it comes to upskilling and putting our knowledge to test. They have challenges that ranges from beginner to advanced level so that everyone with different skill level is able to upskill. I will 100% recommend anyone whether they are just starting or looking to up their cybersecurity skills to try out HackTheBox, it has truly helped me a ton in my career. Cons I don't have any big complains about Hack The Box and I seriously mean this. It is the perfect platform for cybersecurity training and I couldn't thank it enough Review Source JB Jeremy B. Offensive Security Consultant Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Solid labs for pentesting, but not for red teams" May 5, 2025 4.0 Pros VPN network stability is top notch. Pro labs have a larger number of systems and servers which are more realistic than typical boot-to-root labs. Cons Data mining makes the environment hostile to the use of custom tooling. One VPN session per user combined with no internet access for lab machines and no ACLs allowing traffic between VPN-connected users makes the environment unsuitable for red teams practicing use of C2 frameworks. Review Source JG Joseph G. Cybersecurity Engineer Defense & Space Used the software for: 2+ years ### "HTB continues to improve" October 6, 2025 5.0 Overall good, the platform is a lot more mature then it was a few years ago and feels like its going in a positive direction. Pros The variety of content. There is so much different content in different subjects that allow someone to learn a lot of different content. Cons The start up time for boxes and academy modules. Depending on the academy module it feels like im spending more time spinning up than actually doing the module. Review Source JB Joshua B. CEO Construction Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Happy Hacking" November 14, 2025 5.0 Got cyber security certified. Landed a part time position in offensive cyber tactics, with one of the worlds leading cyber security teams. Thanks to Hack The Box. Pros The available list of choices. like real life scenarios, industry certifications, Hands on upskilling. To cybersecurity fundamentals. Cons The tasks are very challenging. This is to be expected. Its just the technique used to train in your chosen field is a bit of a un-human like experience. Its quite confusing at times. Review Source SS Souldream S. IT Offensive Engineer Telecommunications Used the software for: 2+ years ### "HTB, I love it so much." October 28, 2025 5.0 Pros The material is so comperhensive, robust, clear and easy to understand. And I hope the material is always up to date. Cons In the very rare moment the lab have a little glitch. I just follow the instruction but still nothing. Review Source SK Sokheng K. Offensive Security Supervisor Banking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A Challenging and Rewarding Journey into Cybersecurity" June 24, 2025 5.0 My overall experience with Hack The Box has been highly rewarding and educational. The platform offers a diverse range of machines and challenges that simulate real-world scenarios, which helped me strengthen my penetration testing and problem-solving skills. I appreciated the hands-on learning approach and the active community that shares insights and techniques. The gamified environment kept me motivated, and progressing through ranks gave a clear sense of achievement. While some challenges were difficult, they pushed me to learn and research deeper. Overall, Hack The Box has been a valuable tool in my cybersecurity journey and an excellent supplement to formal learning. Pros Their training and course help me gain my knowledge and help me confident on my cyber security jobs. Cons One of the things I liked least about Hack The Box is the inconsistent difficulty curve across some of the machines. Review Source MW Maixmilian W. Senior Cybersecurity Engineer Mechanical or Industrial Engineering Used the software for: 2+ years ### "If you want real skills, go here!" May 31, 2025 5.0 Hack the Box is my daily core task. Wake up in the morning and take some chapters in the accademy to build up my skills in this field. It helped me to grow in my carrer and make the world to a safer place. Pros I depth knowledge which they teach you in a understandable way. If you want to have skills in this field, go to hack the box, go to accademy, grind the paths and take an exam! Cons Sometimes the amount of infomrations is overwhelming. But this is not directly a cons, you have to find you way to take notes and handle informations. Review Source TC Tomasz C. Security Engineer Package/Freight Delivery Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Hack The Box review" April 12, 2025 5.0 Overall, I love Hack The Box. I spend most of my free time there. I use the Academy, Enterprise, and CTF platforms, and all of them are excellent, with only a few minor issues. Pros \- High-quality, in-depth technical content - Well-designed, practical machines for hands-on learning - Clearly defined career and certification paths - Clean user interface Cons \- The biggest issue is that sometimes machines stack in deploying mode, and you must wait or try to contact support - Some of the virtual machines have bugs - Some part need update like crackmapexec with newer nxc - A couple of tasks in subtopics are very difficult compared to other parts of the course in some modules. - For modules and paths, the UI in Academy is better than in Enterprise. - Some tasks need a slight redesign - for example, the brute-forcing task, where most of the time is spent looking for the proper wordlist. Review Source AM Abdullah M. Service coordinator Insurance Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Impressive " September 24, 2025 5.0 Pros Comprehensive and extra detailed knowledge. It is so guided and informative. Focusing on making professional cybersecurity specialists Cons It might not be for all levels , specially the begginers, but they made a specific role path for beginners Review Source MC Molly C. Student Computer Networking Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "I like it :)" May 31, 2025 5.0 Pros I enjoy the hands-on labs! I've heard positive reviews from cybersecurity students of many different skill levels. Cons I enjoy using Hack The Box but it can be difficult to keep up with the material and stick to a schedule. Review Source JL Jaden L. Student Education Management Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "HTB FEEDBACK" May 7, 2025 5.0 Pros I can learn a lot through this platform. Cons Maybe the arrangement of the modules, sometimes it's hidden and can be hard for new users to find past work. Review Source KP KRISHNADAS P. Security researche Computer Networking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Good platform to learn Cybersecurity " December 6, 2024 5.0 Good platform to learn cybersecurity and learn more about practical experience with labs Pros Hackthebox is the platform that give labs in different scenarios of learning Cons There is no issue with that type of things some time I think about prolabs need more stable in AD LABS mainly Review Source MW Matthew W. Solutions Engineer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "The only platform you need" October 13, 2024 5.0 I've come to appreciate the pace at which I study, and I'm proud to achieve the goals set by Hack The Box. The platform's material has helped me explore new areas while strengthening my knowledge. I also love the flexibility of picking up where I left off, even after taking a week or two off, allowing me to review and continue progressing seamlessly. The material has made it so easy to learn even when the subject is extremely complex and difficult to convey. The team really made a great platform Pros Hack The Box is an excellent platform for beginners looking to enhance their cybersecurity skills and for seasoned professionals wanting to stay sharp. Its standout feature is flexibility, allowing you to learn at your own pace. If you get stuck, the platform has a helpful forum that guides you without simply giving away the answers. Not only does Hack The Box provide a comprehensive set of learning resources, but it also allows you to apply what you've learned through practical exercises. The regularly updated environments offer new and exciting challenges, ensuring there's always something fresh to hack. Cons There is nothing that I feel I can put into this section. Review Source AM Alberto M. University Student Higher Education Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "HTB, a helpful tool to start and grow with cybersecurity skills" February 21, 2024 4.0 Pros I really appreciated the gamified approach, maintaining the experience graceful but at the same time useful for learning Cons At times, I've found that even with hints provided in guided mode, they aren't always as helpful as expected, particularly for very easy and easy machines. While I appreciate the necessity for challenges to enhance personal skills, there could be room for improvement in the clarity and usefulness of the hints. Perhaps implementing a rating system for hints could allow users, especially beginners, to highlight which hints they find most crucial for their learning experience Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 Thank you for your positive feedback on our gamified content. We apologize for any inconvenience caused while using guided mode. We are actively working to address this issue and improve your experience on our platform. VD Victor D. Estagiário Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Vitin do HTB" October 8, 2024 5.0 Me sinto satisfeito com os módulos que eu estudei até hoje, ainda tem muitos módulos para serem estudados, mas até agora todos são muito bons, me sinto grato. Pros A forma como são apresentadas as técnicas de pentesting, através dos módulos, e a possibilidade de coloca-lás em prática atráves das máquinas. Cons A lentidão dos servidores, e como alguns módulos são "mentiroso" referente o carga horária estimada. Review Source MO Michal O. Penetration Tester Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Learn or improve your hacking skills" March 11, 2024 5.0 Pros Hack the Box has very quality content. I learned a lot from this platform. It contains a lot gamified content. Also it is not too expensive and it worth the money. Cons Sometimes infrastructure is not 100% working, and the web contains several less severe bugs. I had several issues with the bugs in the web and infrastructure. All my issue was solved with HTB support. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 We're happy to hear that you enjoy Hack The Box! Our team takes pride in creating challenging and engaging content for users like you. If you have any specific topics you'd like to see in the future or any other suggestions, we're all ears. Keep exploring, and we're here to assist you throughout your upskilling journey! VR Verified Reviewer Systems Administrator Financial Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Hack the Box Challenge" February 20, 2024 5.0 Overall, Hack the Box has been meeting my expectations and also of the company. Pros \- Attacking machine already installed and deployed. - Contains tons of vulnerabilities. - Content is continuously updated. - Forums are very helpful. Cons \- Sometimes it's not user friendly. - Some deployed tools might not work as expected. - Even the easy boxes and medium to hard. - Tutorials are sometimes misguided. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 Thank you for your kind words about our platform! We're glad to hear that you are benefiting from the practical real-world experience provided by Hack The Box. Your input on potential improvements is valuable, and we will take it into account for future enhancements. MST Muhammet Said T. Penetration Tester Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Hack The Box, Sleep, Repeat :)" February 19, 2024 5.0 Excellent. I learn a lot. I use almost every technique that i learnt from htb labs, academy modules etc in business. Pros Fast servers Excellent UI that makes working progress easy to understand. Always up to date techniques. Can make you zero to hero at cybersecurity career. Cons Academy, Labs etc should be easly accessible from one account. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 We're glad to hear that you are enjoying the variety of learning options on Hack The Box. Our goal is to make cybersecurity education accessible to all levels of learners. Your feedback about one account access is valuable to us for future improvements. Alexander G. Incident Response Analyst Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Great value for money with lots of options in training." February 20, 2024 5.0 Great, the academy is great and you get lost in there with the options of training. Pros Hack The Box offers a dynamic and engaging platform for cybersecurity enthusiasts to hone their skills. Cons Could do with more DFIR training options. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 Thank you for your positive feedback! We're glad to hear that Hack The Box is meeting your learning needs and providing a comprehensive coverage of topics. LB Luca B. Security Analist Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Good entry point if you are willing to pay" March 8, 2024 5.0 Pros Hack The Box subscription lab provides a good entry level for getting started in security by hosting easy machines with thorough walkthrough which are a great entry point. Cons Unfortunatly, the boxes I would advice to a beginner are all behind a subscription (which I consider worth the cost) and the freely available easy machines have greatly increased the difficulty compared to the old easy that have been retired. I do still consider the freely available boxes as "easy" but they are not as beginner friendly as the older ones. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 We're glad to hear that you find our platform helpful for improving your skills and knowledge in cybersecurity. We appreciate your feedback about the Machines' difficulty and will consider it for future improvements. AP Alvaro P. student Computer Games Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Best cybersecurity learning platform " January 3, 2024 5.0 Pros Tons of courses and labs. It makes It easy to learn dificult concepts. Cons None. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 Thank you for sharing your positive experience with HTB! RA Roberto A. Senior Analyst Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Amazing platform" March 14, 2024 5.0 Pros Ease of use, realistic scenarios, different rates of challenges. The gamified approach keeps the users engaged while fostering collaboration and learning. Cons Some boxes can be quite challenging, especially for beginners. Review Source AR Avyash R. Cybersecurity Associate Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Perfect for learning in Real Labs" March 9, 2024 5.0 Pros The pro labs are the best. Its like the real patched machines which will challenge you about your skills. Cons Everything is hood except that it could get little cheaper for someone like students or beginners who wants to start their cyber journey. Review Source Response from Hack The Box April 8, 2024 We're glad to hear that you're enjoying the learning experience on Hack The Box! We appreciate your feedback about pricing and we will consider it for future offerings. NP Nikola P. Ethical Hacker Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Pentester job Path - prepping for CPTS" September 15, 2025 5.0 I’m currently on the Pen Tester Path at Hack The Box, prepping for the CPTS certification, and I’m beyond thrilled with the experience—I’m absolutely blown away! HTB delivers an outstanding mix of in-depth lessons and hands-on practice that truly sets it apart. Both their Academy and Labs are packed with top-notch, practical content that dives deep into real-world scenarios. Before HTB, I was on TryHackMe, where I reached the top 1% of users, but I found it focused mainly on basic to medium-level challenges with less emphasis on hands-on learning. HTB takes things to a whole new level with its structured, real-world approach. I’m incredibly satisfied with the platform, and the subscription is absolutely worth every penny for anyone serious about advancing their cybersecurity skills. Huge props to the HTB team for building such an exceptional platform! Pros What I love most about Hack The Box is the hands-on approach and the way it dives into essential details. It’s not just a collection of random knowledge—there’s a clear structure that guides you toward your goal. Absolutely perfect. Cons I think Hack The Box can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming for beginners, as it occasionally assumes prior knowledge of certain concepts or terminology, which might be confusing if you’re just starting out. Switched from [HackerOne](https://www.capterra.com/p/165190/HackerOne/) Before HTB, I was on TryHackMe, where I reached the top 1% of users, but I found it focused mainly on basic to medium-level challenges with less emphasis on hands-on learning. While TryHackMe is a great platform, it felt too basic and mid-level for me after a while, and despite reaching a high level there, I started to feel stuck and missed the thrill of more challenging content. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Send me user reviews about this product ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox.