Resources

Best Free Cybersecurity Courses in 2026 (Ranked by a CS Student)

I'm a CS student at Michigan Tech with a cybersecurity minor. Here's what actually works and what's a waste of time.

The Short List

Platform	Best For	Cost
TryHackMe	Total beginners	Free tier available
HackTheBox Academy	Intermediate learners	Free modules
Professor Messer (YouTube)	Cert prep (Security+)	Free
Cybrary	Broad course library	Free tier
OverTheWire	Linux/wargame practice	Free
SANS Cyber Aces	Foundations	Free
Google Cybersecurity Certificate	Career starters	Free on audit

1. TryHackMe — Best for Absolute Beginners

TryHackMe is where I send everyone who asks me how to get started. The guided learning paths make it impossible to get lost, and the browser-based attack box means you can practice without setting up a local VM.

Best Free Paths on TryHackMe

Pre-Security — covers networking, Linux, and web fundamentals
Introduction to Cybersecurity — broad overview of the field
Jr Penetration Tester — hands-on intro to pentesting

Verdict: Start here. Spend your first 2-3 months on TryHackMe before moving anywhere else. Start TryHackMe Free →

2. HackTheBox Academy — Best for Intermediate Learners

Once TryHackMe has given you the basics, HackTheBox Academy is where you level up. The free modules are genuinely high quality.

Best Free Modules

Introduction to Networking
Linux Fundamentals
Web Requests
Introduction to Web Applications

Verdict: Move here after 2-3 months on TryHackMe. Start HackTheBox Academy Free →

3. Professor Messer — Best Free Cert Prep

If you're studying for CompTIA Security+, Professor Messer's free YouTube course is all you need. I used it alongside my university coursework and it filled in every gap.

Verdict: If you're targeting Security+, watch this entire playlist before buying any paid course. Professor Messer on YouTube →

4. OverTheWire — Best for Linux Practice

OverTheWire is a series of wargames that teach Linux and security concepts through puzzles. Bandit is perfect for Linux beginners.

Verdict: Do Bandit alongside TryHackMe's Pre-Security path. Start OverTheWire Free →

5. Google Cybersecurity Certificate — Best for Career Starters

Google's Cybersecurity Certificate on Coursera is normally paid but you can audit it for free. It's designed for complete beginners targeting SOC Analyst roles.

Verdict: Great if you're targeting a SOC Analyst role. Audit it for free — don't pay.

Setting Up Your Practice Lab

All of these courses are better with a hands-on lab:

Free local setup: VirtualBox + Kali Linux + Metasploitable
Cloud lab: DigitalOcean — $4/mo with $200 free credits for new users

My Recommended Learning Order

Month 1: TryHackMe Pre-Security + OverTheWire Bandit
Month 2-3: TryHackMe Jr Penetration Tester path
Month 3-4: HackTheBox Academy free modules
Month 4-6: Professor Messer Security+ + practice exams
Month 6+: HackTheBox machines + CTF competitions

Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely think are worth it.