Ethical hacking is one of the most exciting areas of cybersecurity. Whether you’re curious about penetration testing, bug bounty hunting, or learning how attackers think, there are plenty of free resources online to get started.
In 2025, you don’t need expensive certifications to sharpen your skills. Here’s a curated list of the 10 best free ethical hacking and penetration testing courses available right now.
1. TryHackMe – Free Rooms & Learning Paths
A gamified platform with hands-on hacking labs, covering everything from web exploitation to privilege escalation.
Pros:
- Interactive, real-world labs
- Beginner to advanced content
Cons:
- Some advanced rooms require subscription
2. Hack The Box – Free Tier Labs
One of the most popular hacking platforms with vulnerable machines to practice penetration testing.
Pros:
- Realistic hacking environments
- Huge active community
Cons:
- Free tier is limited compared to premium
3. Offensive Security – Metasploit Unleashed
A legendary free resource to master Metasploit Framework for penetration testing.
Pros:
- Direct from Offensive Security
- Deep dive into Metasploit
Cons:
- Outdated in parts, assumes prior knowledge
4. PortSwigger Web Security Academy
The creators of Burp Suite offer a fantastic set of free labs on web app hacking and the OWASP Top 10.
Pros:
- High-quality, interactive labs
- Focused on real-world web attacks
Cons:
- Web app focus only
5. Cybrary – Free Ethical Hacking Courses
Covers penetration testing basics, reconnaissance, scanning, and exploit techniques.
Pros:
- Structured learning paths
- Community discussions available
Cons:
- Premium features locked behind paywall
6. EC-Council – Essentials Series: Ethical Hacking
Part of EC-Council’s free “Essentials” program, this module covers the foundations of ethical hacking.
Pros:
- From EC-Council (creators of CEH)
- Free official training
Cons:
- Surface-level content, pushes toward CEH
7. OWASP Security Shepherd
A gamified platform for learning web and application security with hands-on vulnerable apps.
Pros:
- Great for secure coding + hacking skills
- Free and open source
Cons:
- Requires local setup for some labs
8. Udemy Free Ethical Hacking Courses
Udemy frequently offers free courses on penetration testing, Kali Linux, and ethical hacking fundamentals.
Pros:
- Variety of beginner courses
- Easy to follow
Cons:
- Quality varies by instructor
9. Open Security Training – Exploits & Reverse Engineering
Deep technical classes on x86 assembly, memory corruption, and exploit development.
Pros:
- Advanced exploitation knowledge
- Free and community-driven
Cons:
- Not for beginners, requires programming skills
10. Bugcrowd University – Bug Bounty Training
A free training program for aspiring bug bounty hunters, covering recon, vulnerability discovery, and reporting.
Pros:
- Practical bug bounty skills
- Resources from a real bounty platform
Cons:
- Focused only on bug hunting, not full pentesting
Key Takeaways
- TryHackMe and Hack The Box are the best platforms for hands-on hacking labs.
- PortSwigger Web Security Academy is essential for web app penetration testers.
- Metasploit Unleashed and Open Security Training go deeper into exploitation techniques.
- Bugcrowd University is perfect if you’re interested in bug bounty hunting.
- EC-Council Essentials and Cybrary are structured introductions for beginners.
- OWASP Security Shepherd is excellent for secure coding and application security practice.
FAQ: Free Ethical Hacking Courses
Q1: Are free ethical hacking courses enough to get a job?
Free courses can build strong foundations, but employers often expect certifications or hands-on project experience. Combine free learning with labs, CTFs, and personal projects.
Q2: Do I need to know programming before starting ethical hacking?
Not strictly, but basic knowledge of Linux commands, Python, or scripting is very helpful as you progress to advanced exploitation.
Q3: Are these courses legal to practice hacking?
Yes — all listed platforms (TryHackMe, Hack The Box, etc.) provide safe, legal environments to learn. Never test systems you don’t own or have permission to test.
Q4: Which free course is best for beginners?
TryHackMe’s beginner paths and Cybrary’s ethical hacking modules are the easiest entry points.
Q5: How long does it take to become job-ready with ethical hacking?
It depends on your commitment. With consistent practice, beginners can reach junior pentester level in 6–12 months.
💡 Tip: When installing or using these tools, don’t hesitate to ask your favorite AI chatbot for help with:
- Syntax examples (e.g., nmap -sV explain or give me commands for such and such tasks)
- Short definitions (e.g., “What’s a buffer overflow?”)
- Simplified breakdowns of complex topics
- If you get stuck, break tasks into smaller steps and look up one command at a time.
- Pair your hacking skills with programming knowledge explore our Free Programming Courses Hub.
In a Nutshell
Ethical hacking in 2025 has never been more accessible. From hands-on labs like TryHackMe and Hack The Box, to structured free courses from EC-Council and Cybrary, you can start learning penetration testing without spending a cent.
- Beginners: Start with TryHackMe or Cybrary.
- Web hackers: Focus on PortSwigger Academy and OWASP Shepherd.
- Advanced learners: Explore Metasploit Unleashed and Open Security Training.
- Bug bounty hunters: Dive into Bugcrowd University.
With these free resources, you can learn safely, practice legally, and build the skills needed to move into cybersecurity or bug bounty hunting.