30 Free Labs to Learn Penetration Testing in 2026 [No Money Needed]
Want to break into cybersecurity but broke?
In 2026, there are 30 completely free labs where you can legally hack, break things, and build real skills.
I tested all of these on Kali Linux on WSL, and they work. No permission needed. No legal risk.
Let me dive in.
Watching YouTube won’t get you hired. Companies hire people who can prove they can hack.
Labs give you:
- Safe practice Break stuff without going to jail
- Real skills Enumeration, exploitation, privesc
30 best free labs grouped by level.
A. Beginner Labs - 0 Experience Needed
Start here if you just installed Kali.
- TryHackMe Free Rooms
Best beginner platform. Gamified learning.
Try: Nmap, Linux Fundamentals, Intro to Pentesting
Link: http://tryhackme.com
- OverTheWire: Bandit
34 levels to master Linux CLI via SSH.
Skill: File permissions, pipes, grep
Link: http://overthewire.org
- OverTheWire: Natas
Web security via 34 levels. Covers SQLi, XSS.
Skill: Web app basics
Link: http://overthewire.org
- PicoCTF
Carnegie Mellon’s CTF. Hints for every problem.
Skill: Crypto, web, forensics, reversing
Link: http://picoctf.org
- HackThisSite
Classic site with "Basic", "Realistic", Programming" missions.
Skill: Web vulnerabilities
Link: http://hackthissite.org
- DVWA - Damn Vulnerable Web App
Run locally on Kali. 10 vulnerabilities.
Install: sudo apt install dvwa -y
Skill: SQLi, XSS, CSRF, Brute Force
- Mutillidae II
40+ web vulnerabilities. Runs on XAMPP.
Skill: OWASP Top 10
Download: http://sourceforge.net
- Google Gruyere
Google’s vulnerable app. Teaches cookies, XSS.
Skill: Browser security
Link: http://google-gruyere.appspot.com
- OWASP Juice Shop
Modern http://Node.js app with 100+ challenges.
Run: docker run -p 3000:3000 bkimminich/juice-shop
Skill: API, auth, business logic bugs
- WebGoat
Java-based app by OWASP. Lesson-based learning.
Skill: Web security concepts
Download: http://owasp.org
B. Intermediate Labs - Full Machines
Time to hack real VMs.
- HackTheBox Free Machines
10+ free machines always online. No VIP needed.
Skill: Full pentest methodology
Link: http://hackthebox.com
- VulnHub
200+ downloadable vulnerable VMs.
Start with: Kioptrix Level 1, PwnLab Init.
, FristiLeaks`
Skill: Network pentesting
Link: http://vulnhub.com
- PortSwigger Web Security Academy
Best free web lab. Made by Burp Suite team.
Skill: XSS, SQLi, SSRF, IDOR
Link: http://portswigger.net/web-security
- PentestLab
50+ web exercises. Free access.
Skill: File upload, LFI, command injection
Link: http://pentestlab.ws
- Root-Me
700 challenges with ranking system.
Skill: Web, crypto, steganography, network
Link: http://root-me.org
- http://pwnable.kr
Binary exploitation challenges.
Skill: Buffer overflow, ROP
Link: http://pwnable.kr
- http://pwnable.tw
Harder binary challenges.
Skill: Advanced exploit dev
Link: http://pwnable.tw
- Metasploitable 2 & 3
Vulnerable Linux VMs by Rapid7.
Skill: Metasploit, network attacks
Download: Rapid7 site
- bWAPP - Buggy Web App
100+ vulnerabilities. Like DVWA on steroids.
Skill: Everything OWASP
Download: http://itsecgames.com
- Altoro Mutual
IBM’s vulnerable banking app.
Skill: Business logic, auth flaws
Link: http://altoro.bk.mufg.jp
C. Advanced Specialized Labs
For job-ready skills.
- PentesterLab
Free tier with badges. Teaches methodology.
Skill: Web + Linux privesc
Link: http://pentesterlab.com
- CyberDefenders
Blue ,Red team labs with real disk images.
Skill: DFIR, log analysis
Link: http://cyberdefenders.org
- SecLabs
Vulnerable WordPress, Jenkins, Drupal labs.
Skill: CMS + DevOps hacking
Link: http://seclabs.co.uk
- AttackDefense by INE
Free community labs rotate monthly.
Skill: AD attacks, network
Link: http://attackdefense.com
- RangeForce
Free "Cyber Skirmish" team events.
Skill: SOC, incident response
Link: http://rangeforce.com
- Blue Team Labs Online
Free SOC simulator.
Skill: SIEM, threat hunting
Link: http://bluelabslabs.online
- Try2Hack
Old-school text-based hacking game.
Skill: Basic logic, enumeration
Link: http://try2hack.org
- EnigmaGroup
CTF-style challenges.
Skill: Web, crypto, forensics
Link: http://enigmagroup.org
- Security Shepherd
OWASP training platform.
Skill: Secure coding + attacking
Download: GitHub
- Build Your Own Lab
Install: Kali + Windows 10 + Metasploitable + DVWA in VirtualBox.
Skill: Networking + everything
Cost: $0, only internet is needed
3 Mistakes to Avoid
- Jumping to hard labs You’ll get frustrated. Start with Bandit.
- Not documenting Write blog posts: How I hacked X. This builds your brand.
- Skipping defense Do 2 blue team labs. It makes you a better attacker.
Tools You’ll Need
All free:
- Kali Linux
- Burp Suite Community
- Wireshark
- VirtualBox
You don’t need money to become a pentester. You need 1 hour/day and these 30 labs.
In 90 days you’ll have skills to apply for junior pentester roles.
Which lab are you starting with? Drop it in the comments
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