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Hack The Box vs TryHackMe for business: which trains your team better?
Hack The Box scores slightly higher (6.7 of 10 to 6.5) on the strength of its tabletop product, Crisis Control, deeper hands-on content and a published business price. TryHackMe is easier to start and scale: a free tier, 8M+ users, a stated 10-minute tabletop launch and unlimited participants.
Editorial assessment · Assessed from vendor sites, product pages and published pricing, September 2026
Editorial verdict
Hack The Box for teams that want depth and a facilitated tabletop; TryHackMe for teams that want breadth, speed and a free way in.
11-1How do they score?
| Criterion | Hack The Box | TryHackMe |
|---|---|---|
| Realism (22%) | 6Tie | 6Tie |
| Cross-team (20%) | 7Higher | 5 |
| Evidence (16%) | 7Tie | 7Tie |
| Effort to run (14%) | 5 | 8Higher |
| Hands-on depth (12%) | 9Higher | 8 |
| Breadth and free access (8%) | 8 | 9Higher |
| Pricing (8%) | 6Higher | 3 |
| Weighted total | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| Question | Hack The Box | TryHackMe |
|---|---|---|
| Community size (vendor-stated) | 4.3m+ learners | 8M+ users |
| Labs | Academy, Professional Labs, machines, CTFs | 800+ labs, SOC Simulator, Threat Hunting Simulator, Live Breach Exercises |
| Tabletop product | Crisis Control: platform-led, facilitator guidance, six documented baseline scenarios, optional hands-on investigation | AI-generated from industry, attack vector and tech stack; editable injects; playbook upload |
| Tabletop audiences | Executives; cross-functional groups incl. SOC, IT, legal, communications | Managers, practitioners and security leaders |
| Tabletop output | "Golden Report", roadmap, technical annexes | Audit-ready reports aligned to NIST and ISO 27035 |
| Free access | HTB Academy "Start for Free"; business Lite 14-day trial | Free individual tier |
| Published business price | Professional: $2,500 per seat per year | Not published |
11-2Which is better for hands-on skills?
Both are strong; HTB edges it (9 to 8). HTB's machines, Professional Labs and CTFs lean offensive and advanced. TryHackMe's simulators give SOC analysts practice on alert triage and hunting, and its learning paths suit people earlier in their careers.
11-3Which has the better tabletop exercise?
They are built for different rooms. HTB Crisis Control is facilitated and includes executives and business functions, and can drop technical players into hands-on investigation mid-exercise. TryHackMe's tabletop is generated in minutes for the security team and can be rerun without limit. HTB wins on who takes part; TryHackMe wins on effort.
11-4Which is cheaper?
Only HTB publishes a business price: $2,500 per seat per year on Professional. TryHackMe's business pricing needs a quote. For individuals, both have a free way in.
Choose Hack The Box if
- Your team is technical and wants depth and certifications.
- Executives should join a facilitated tabletop.
- You want a list price to budget against.
Choose TryHackMe if
- You are training many analysts from junior level.
- You want frequent, quick tabletops for the security team.
- A free tier matters for recruiting and upskilling.
11-5Frequently asked questions
Is Hack The Box harder than TryHackMe?
HTB content generally assumes more experience, and TryHackMe is built with guided paths for beginners. Both offer advanced material.
Do Hack The Box and TryHackMe both do tabletop exercises?
Yes: HTB through Crisis Control, TryHackMe through its AI-driven tabletop exercises for business.
Sources: hackthebox.com/business, hackthebox.com/business/tabletop-exercises, hackthebox.com/business/pricing, academy.hackthebox.com, tryhackme.com/business, tryhackme.com/business/solutions/tabletop-exercises, tryhackme.com/pricing · Reviewed Sep 2026