Learn ethical hacking
7 Free Websites to Learn Ethical Hacking Step-by-Step: 2025 Guide
You don't need a degree, expensive bootcamps, or paid certifications to learn ethical hacking. These 7 free websites — plus a step-by-step roadmap — will take you from total beginner to junior-level offensive security skills.
Why ethical hacking skills matter more than ever
Cyberattacks are rising every year, and businesses, governments and everyday users are under constant threat. Because of this, ethical hackers — professionals who identify and fix vulnerabilities — are some of the highest-demand experts in the world.
The best part: you don't need a degree, expensive bootcamps or costly certifications to get started. The internet provides high-quality, step-by-step ethical hacking training completely free. This guide breaks down the 7 best free websites where you can learn ethical hacking, practice in safe environments, and build real cybersecurity skills from scratch.
1. TryHackMe — beginner-friendly virtual cyber labs
Website: https://tryhackme.com
TryHackMe is one of the most popular learning platforms for beginners because it offers step-by-step "rooms" that walk you through cybersecurity topics in interactive, browser-based virtual machines.
Key benefits
- Very beginner-friendly onboarding
- Hands-on labs you complete right in your browser
- Free learning paths for basics, SOC skills and attack simulation
- Gamified experience with ranks and badges
What you'll learn
- Penetration testing fundamentals
- Linux command-line essentials
- Network security
- Web hacking (XSS, SQLi, IDOR, CSRF)
- Privilege escalation
- Malware basics
Best for: complete beginners and intermediates who want guided, structured practice with real attacks.
2. Hack The Box Academy — structured cybersecurity learning
Website: https://academy.hackthebox.com
Hack The Box is known for advanced hacking machines, but HTB Academy offers fully guided, beginner-friendly modules — many of which are free.
Key benefits
- High-quality cybersecurity curriculum
- Interactive content paired with hands-on labs
- Free foundational modules
- Skill badges and progress tracking
What you'll learn
- Linux fundamentals
- Networking essentials
- Web app vulnerability testing
- Python for cybersecurity
- Reconnaissance techniques
- Enumeration skills every hacker needs
Best for: beginners who want a "cybersecurity school" experience with a clear step-by-step progression.
3. OverTheWire — legendary wargames for hackers
Website: https://overthewire.org
OverTheWire teaches ethical hacking concepts through a series of "wargames" — interactive challenges that gradually increase in complexity. The first wargame, Bandit, is recommended for every new ethical hacker.
Key benefits
- 100% free, forever
- Improves logical thinking and hacker mindset
- No videos — you learn by doing
- Heavy focus on command-line skills
What you'll learn
- Linux navigation
- SSH usage
- Basic scripting
- Password cracking logic
- System exploitation concepts
- Privilege escalation basics
Best for: anyone who wants to build strong foundational command-line and problem-solving skills.
4. PortSwigger Web Security Academy — the best free web hacking training
Website: https://portswigger.net/web-security
Created by the developers of Burp Suite, this is the #1 resource for learning web application security — completely free.
Key benefits
- 200+ high-quality lab exercises
- Covers every OWASP Top 10 vulnerability
- Realistic attack scenarios
- Beginner → expert progression paths
- Labs run directly in the browser
What you'll learn
- SQL Injection (SQLi)
- Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
- Authentication bypass
- Access control vulnerabilities
- Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF)
- File upload exploitation
- API hacking
- Business logic exploitation
Best for: anyone wanting to master web hacking or become a web penetration tester or bug bounty hunter.
5. Cybrary — free cybersecurity courses and video training
Website: https://www.cybrary.it
Cybrary is a popular online learning platform with free cybersecurity and ethical hacking videos created by industry professionals.
Key benefits
- Free beginner courses
- Easy-to-follow video lessons
- Instructor-led content
- Career paths for pentesting, SOC analyst and more
- Includes downloadable notes and assignments
What you'll learn
- Ethical hacking basics
- CompTIA Security+ fundamentals
- Network security
- Incident response
- Cyber defense tools
- Red team vs blue team concepts
Best for: visual learners who prefer structured video lessons instead of hands-on labs.
6. OWASP — industry-standard web application security resources
Website: https://owasp.org
OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) provides free documentation, guides and resources trusted by companies and cybersecurity experts worldwide.
Key benefits
- Completely free and open
- Gold-standard documentation for AppSec
- Beginner through advanced technical resources
- Teaches secure coding and vulnerability prevention
What you'll learn
- OWASP Top 10
- API security guidelines
- Secure coding practices
- Mobile security
- Cloud security
- How vulnerabilities are created and exploited
Best for: aspiring penetration testers, developers and anyone working with web technologies.
7. YouTube — free ethical hacking tutorials by professionals
YouTube is an absolute goldmine of free cybersecurity education. Start with these channels:
- NetworkChuck — youtube.com/c/NetworkChuck
- The Cyber Mentor — youtube.com/c/TheCyberMentor
- John Hammond — youtube.com/c/JohnHammond010
- IppSec — youtube.com/c/IppSec
- HackerSploit — youtube.com/c/HackerSploit
Key benefits
- Free, on-demand video tutorials
- Real hacking demonstrations
- Step-by-step CTF walkthroughs
- Beginner-friendly content with expert depth
What you'll learn
- Ethical hacking basics
- Penetration testing methodologies
- HackTheBox and TryHackMe walkthroughs
- Malware analysis fundamentals
- Web and network exploitation
- OSINT (open-source intelligence)
Best for: anyone who learns best visually or wants supplemental explanations from experts.
Recommended step-by-step learning roadmap (100% free)
Use the platforms above in this order — each step builds on the last.
Step 1: start with the basics
- TryHackMe — complete the "Introduction to Cyber Security" and "Pre Security" paths
- Hack The Box Academy beginner modules
Step 2: build core skills
- OverTheWire — finish Bandit end-to-end
- Cybrary Security+ or Pentesting Fundamentals
Step 3: learn web hacking
- PortSwigger Web Security Academy — work through the labs in order
- OWASP Top 10 documentation
Step 4: advance your practical skills
- Hack The Box beginner machines
- TryHackMe offensive security rooms
Step 5: learn from experts
- Watch tutorials from NetworkChuck, The Cyber Mentor, John Hammond and IppSec
Step 6: start applying skills legally
- Capture-the-flag (CTF) competitions
- Community labs and home labs
- Eventually, beginner bug bounty programs (HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti)
This roadmap can take you from zero experience to junior-level cybersecurity skills without spending any money.
Final thoughts
Ethical hacking is one of the most exciting and in-demand fields in cybersecurity — and you can start learning today completely free. Whether you want to become a penetration tester, SOC analyst or bug bounty hunter, these 7 websites give you everything you need: hands-on labs, step-by-step tutorials, real attack simulations and expert guidance. Start with one platform today and keep building. Every expert hacker once started exactly where you are right now.
Need help getting your business secured while you're learning? Contact Cybrvault — security audits, business network protection, home cybersecurity, remote work security, and incident response. Visit cybrvault.com to schedule your free consultation.
// frequently asked
Questions teams ask us
Can I really learn ethical hacking for free?+
Yes. Every skill on a junior penetration tester job description can be learned with the seven platforms in this guide — browser-based labs, wargames, OWASP documentation and expert YouTube channels — without paying for a course.
What's the best free site to start with as a complete beginner?+
Start with TryHackMe's "Pre Security" and "Introduction to Cyber Security" paths. They assume zero background and teach networking, Linux and basic offensive concepts in browser-based labs.
TryHackMe or Hack The Box — which is better?+
TryHackMe is more guided and beginner-friendly. Hack The Box is harder, less hand-holding, and closer to real-world pentesting. Most people start on TryHackMe, then move to HTB once basics click — using HTB Academy for structured modules along the way.
How long does it take to become job-ready?+
Working consistently 1–2 hours a day, most people reach junior SOC or pentest-adjacent skill levels in 6–12 months following this roadmap. Add CTFs and bug bounty practice to accelerate it.
Is ethical hacking legal?+
Yes — when performed against systems you own or have explicit written permission to test. The platforms in this guide are all legal sandboxes designed for practice. Never test systems you don't have authorization for.
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