TryHackMe Review 2026: Honest Take from a SAL1-Certified User

The 30-second verdict

Rating

8.5/10

Price (Annual)

$10.50/mo

✓ Best for

Anyone with a clear goal (cert, interview, career switch)

✗ Skip if

You want to 'browse around' without a focused study plan

Jump to section

My experience Pricing breakdown What Premium unlocks Pros & cons Who should subscribe Alternatives FAQ

Most TryHackMe reviews online are written by people who currently have Premium active (and want to sell it) or by people who haven't used it seriously enough to have a real opinion. This one is different. I subscribed to TryHackMe Premium, used it intensively for several months, earned the SAL1 certification, then cancelled my subscription. This review captures what TryHackMe actually delivers, the honest case for paying, and — critically — who should skip it entirely.

My TryHackMe journey

I came to TryHackMe with a backend development background (1.5 years professional experience) and a specific goal: earn the SAL1 (Security Analyst Level 1) certification. I'd researched it, knew it was the practical exam I needed for SOC analyst roles, and TryHackMe was the platform that ran it.

I went straight to Premium. I knew I wasn't here to dabble — I wanted to study seriously, and the Attack Box (browser-based Kali Linux) plus the SOC Level 1 learning path were what I'd come for.

For the next 3-6 months, TryHackMe was my main study tool. I worked through the SOC Level 1 path systematically — cyber defense frameworks, threat intelligence, network security, endpoint monitoring, SIEM, digital forensics. The rooms are well-structured: each one introduces a concept, then has you practice it in a hands-on lab within the same browser tab.

Then I took the SAL1 exam. I passed.

And almost immediately, I cancelled Premium.

Not because TryHackMe is bad. The opposite — it did exactly what I needed it to do. But after passing SAL1, I didn't have another concrete goal that justified $10.50/month. The platform is enormous, with hundreds of rooms I could explore, but exploring without a goal felt like burning money. I'd rather pay later when I have another specific objective.

That's the honest framing this review will hold throughout: TryHackMe is excellent at what it does, but only worth paying for when you have a clear goal. Without one, the value evaporates fast.

TryHackMe pricing in 2026

TryHackMe runs a freemium model. The Free tier is genuinely useful (not just a teaser), and the Premium pricing varies significantly depending on how you pay.

Free Tier

Start here

$0 Forever

Best for: Testing the platform, foundational learning

Includes

Access to 350–500 free rooms
Linux & Network fundamentals
Intro to Offensive Security
1 hour/day AttackBox access
OpenVPN (use your own Kali)
Community Discord & leaderboards

Limitations

No premium learning paths
Limited machine uptime
No private King of the Hill
Slower lab machines

Premium Monthly

Short-term

$16.99 per month

Best for: Short-term commitment (1–3 months)

Includes

All 900+ rooms unlocked
Unlimited AttackBox time
All learning paths (SOC L1, etc)
Faster dedicated machines
Private OpenVPN servers
Premium-only certifications eligible

Limitations

Most expensive way to pay
Auto-renews monthly
Hard to justify long-term

Premium Annual

Best value

$10.50 per month ($126/year)

Best for: Committed learners (6+ months)

Includes

Everything in Premium Monthly
Saves ~38% vs monthly billing
~2.5 months free equivalent
Best value for most users
Locks in current pricing for 1 year

Limitations

$126 upfront commitment
Refund window limited

Student Annual

Best for students

$8.33 per month (~$100/year)

Best for: Students with valid .edu email

Includes

Everything in Premium Annual
20% additional discount
Verified via SheerID or similar
Best price available officially
Renewable each year as long as enrolled

Limitations

Requires student verification
Can't combine with promo codes

My pricing recommendation: Start with Free for 1–2 weeks to confirm the teaching style works for you. If you commit to a goal (certification, career switch, interview prep), go straight to Annual Premium — paying monthly for more than 2 months is just wasted money. If you're a student, the student discount makes Annual a no-brainer at ~$100/year.

What Premium actually unlocks

Marketing pages list features. This section ranks them by how much they actually matter when you're studying. Not all Premium features are equally important.

Unlimited AttackBox

Critical impact

The browser-based Kali Linux. Free users get 1 hour/day — for serious study, this is the single biggest reason to upgrade. No need to maintain a local VM, no setup headaches.

Premium learning paths

High impact

SOC Level 1, Jr Penetration Tester, Cyber Security 101 (SEC1 prep), Pre-Security — these are the structured roadmaps that take you from beginner to job-ready. Free users see them but can't complete them.

All 900+ rooms

High impact

Free tier locks roughly 60% of content. Anything intermediate or advanced (Splunk deep-dives, real malware analysis, advanced web exploitation) requires Premium.

Faster machines + unlimited uptime

Medium impact

Free machines have time limits and queue waits during peak hours. Premium machines deploy instantly and stay up as long as you need.

Private OpenVPN servers

Medium impact

Free users share public VPN servers, which can get crowded. Premium has private servers — more reliable, less interference from other users.

Certification exam discount

Medium impact

15% off TryHackMe certifications (SAL1, SEC1, PT1). On a $349 SAL1, that's ~$52 saved — basically pays for 5 months of Premium annual.

The honest pros and cons

What TryHackMe gets right

✓ Beginner-friendly — actually teaches you, doesn't just dump challenges on you
✓ Browser-based AttackBox means zero setup pain — start hacking in 2 minutes
✓ SAL1 certification is legit, hands-on, and respected by SOC hiring managers
✓ SOC Level 1 path is the best blue team beginner content on the internet (paid or free)
✓ Affordable compared to bootcamps ($5000-15000) or college courses
✓ Strong community Discord — questions get answered quickly
✓ Gamified progress (streaks, badges, ranks) genuinely keeps you motivated
✓ Constantly adding new content — not abandoned like some platforms

Where it falls short

✗ Once you hit intermediate level, content depth plateaus compared to HackTheBox
✗ Some older rooms have outdated tools or require community workarounds
✗ AttackBox can be sluggish during peak hours (evenings US/EU)
✗ Recent push toward AI/SOC focus may disappoint pure pentest learners
✗ Streaks gamification can encourage 'completing rooms for streaks' over deep learning
✗ Certifications (SAL1, SEC1, PT1) aren't as widely recognized as CompTIA or OffSec yet
✗ If you don't have a clear goal, you'll waste money — there's too much content to drift through

Who should subscribe (and who shouldn't)

TryHackMe isn't right for everyone. Here's a brutally honest fit analysis by user type.

Aspiring SOC Analyst

Fit: Excellent

The SOC Level 1 path + SAL1 certification combination is arguably the best entry-level cybersecurity preparation available anywhere. If your goal is a SOC role, this is where you go.

Recommended plan

Annual Premium → complete SOC L1 path → take SAL1 exam → cancel after certification

Career Changer (e.g., dev → security)

Fit: Excellent

Pre-Security and Complete Beginner paths build the IT fundamentals security assumes. Then specialized paths (Web Fundamentals, SOC L1, Jr Pentester) help you discover where you fit.

Recommended plan

Start Free → upgrade Annual once you commit to a direction → cancel when ready for job hunt

Certification Prep (Security+, CySA+, etc)

Fit: Good

Hands-on practice is the missing piece for theory-heavy CompTIA certs. TryHackMe gives you labs that match exam objectives, especially for performance-based questions.

Recommended plan

1–3 months Premium during active prep → drop after passing

Hobbyist / Casual Learner

Fit: Mixed

Free tier is more than enough. You'll burn out before exhausting free content. Don't pay unless you have a concrete reason — TryHackMe has too much content to dabble in.

Recommended plan

Stick with Free unless a specific goal emerges

Advanced Pentester (post-OSCP)

Fit: Skip

Once you're past intermediate, TryHackMe's structured learning works against you. HackTheBox, OffSec PG, and Vulnhub provide more realistic, unguided challenges.

Recommended plan

Skip TryHackMe entirely — go straight to HackTheBox or HTB Pro Labs

TryHackMe vs the alternatives

TryHackMe doesn't exist in a vacuum. Here's how it stacks up against the main alternatives in 2026.

HackTheBox

$14-20/month · Best for intermediate to advanced learners

More realistic, harder, less hand-holding. Better for OSCP prep, but brutal for true beginners.

Winner

HackTheBox for intermediate+, TryHackMe for beginners

LetsDefend

$25/month · Best for soc-focused career path specifically

Pure blue team focus with realistic SIEM scenarios. Less breadth than TryHackMe but more depth in defensive analysis.

Winner

LetsDefend if you're 100% SOC-bound; TryHackMe for broader foundation

PortSwigger Academy

Free · Best for web application security specifically

Best web app security training that exists, completely free. But it's only web — no networks, blue team, or general infrastructure.

Winner

PortSwigger for web app pentest; TryHackMe for everything else

Cybrary

$59/month · Best for video-based, traditional course style

More like a Netflix of cyber courses. Less hands-on, more passive watching. Falls behind TryHackMe in 2026.

Winner

TryHackMe wins — Cybrary's pricing doesn't match its value anymore

Final verdict

Overall rating

8.5/10

TryHackMe earned its 8.5/10 from me because it delivered on a specific promise: I bought Premium, I followed the SOC Level 1 path, I passed SAL1, and that certification is helping me in the job market. The Attack Box, structured paths, and SAL1 certification are genuinely excellent tools for someone serious about breaking into cybersecurity.

It lost 1.5 points because the value evaporates fast without a clear goal. The streak-based gamification can encourage shallow completion over deep learning. And if you're past intermediate level, you'll outgrow TryHackMe quickly — HackTheBox or specialized platforms become better choices.

My recommendation in one sentence: Buy TryHackMe Premium when you have a specific certification, interview, or career milestone to work toward. Cancel as soon as you've achieved it. Re-subscribe when the next milestone appears.

Frequently asked questions

The questions people ask before subscribing — answered honestly.

01 Is TryHackMe Premium worth $126/year in 2026?

Yes, if you have a concrete goal like a certification or career switch. The annual plan works out to $10.50/month, which is roughly the cost of one Starbucks visit per month. The Attack Box alone (browser-based Kali) saves hours of VM setup. But if you don't have a specific direction, you'll waste the money — TryHackMe has too much content to wander through without a plan.

02 Can I get a job in cybersecurity just from TryHackMe?

Partially. TryHackMe will give you genuine technical skills and the SAL1 certification carries weight with SOC hiring managers in 2026. But you'll still need to build a portfolio (LinkedIn presence, blog posts, GitHub), network actively, and likely pair TryHackMe with mainstream certifications like Security+ or CySA+. Think of TryHackMe as one important tool in your toolkit, not the entire toolkit.

03 Is TryHackMe better than HackTheBox for beginners?

Yes, unambiguously. TryHackMe holds your hand through concepts with guided rooms. HackTheBox throws you into unguided boxes assuming you already know the basics. For someone starting from zero, TryHackMe wins. Once you're past intermediate level, the comparison flips — HackTheBox becomes the better choice for OSCP-style learning.

04 Does TryHackMe look good on a resume?

On its own, listing TryHackMe rooms or paths in a resume's experience section looks weak. What does look good: the SAL1, SEC1, or PT1 certifications under your certifications section, plus specific skills you've practiced (Splunk, Wireshark, log analysis) in your skills section. Don't list 'completed 50 TryHackMe rooms' — list what you can actually do.

05 What happens if I cancel my TryHackMe subscription?

Your account stays — you don't lose your progress, badges, or completed rooms. But you lose access to premium content (about 60% of the platform). You can still log in, see your profile, and access free rooms. If you re-subscribe later, your old progress is intact, but you may pay current pricing rates if you didn't lock in an annual plan at the previous price.

06 Should I get TryHackMe Premium or buy a Udemy course?

Different tools for different purposes. Udemy gives you focused, instructor-led content on specific topics (e.g., 'Complete Ethical Hacker Course'). TryHackMe gives you broad, hands-on practice. The right answer is often both: a Udemy course to learn theory, then TryHackMe to practice it. Don't make this an either/or — they complement each other.

07 Is TryHackMe Free enough to learn cybersecurity?

For the first 3-6 months of learning, yes. The free tier covers Linux fundamentals, networking basics, intro to offensive security, and many web app vulnerabilities. The limitation hits when you want to follow a complete path (SOC L1, Jr Pentester) — those have premium rooms scattered throughout. If your goal is foundation building or 'is this field for me?', Free is enough.

08 Are TryHackMe certifications (SAL1, SEC1, PT1) worth it?

SAL1 is genuinely valuable for SOC roles — it's hands-on, simulation-based, and SOC managers in 2026 increasingly recognize it. SEC1 is solid for absolute beginners as a 'first cert'. PT1 (Junior Penetration Tester) is newer and less established than eJPT or CEH. Verdict: SAL1 yes, SEC1 yes for beginners, PT1 only if you can't afford eJPT. None of them replace Security+ or CompTIA stack for HR filters.

09 How long should I subscribe to TryHackMe Premium?

Depends on your goal. For SAL1 certification: 4-6 months. For full SOC L1 path completion: 3-4 months. For exploring multiple paths: 6-12 months annual. The mistake people make is paying monthly indefinitely with no end goal — that's how you spend $400 over two years and still don't have a certification or job. Set a goal, work toward it, then cancel.

Take action

Ready to try TryHackMe yourself?

Start with the free tier to see if their teaching style clicks with you. If you commit to a goal like SAL1 or SOC L1 path, upgrade to annual Premium — it's the best value for serious learners.

Get started on TryHackMe

Keep reading