What is TryHackMe?
TryHackMe (THM) is the most beginner-friendly hands-on cybersecurity learning platform available. It gamifies security education — XP points, streaks, badges, leaderboards — while delivering genuine technical content through guided ‘rooms’ that run entirely in your browser. No VPN setup, no virtual machine configuration, no prerequisite knowledge required to start. When someone asks ‘where do I start?’ in any security forum, TryHackMe is almost always the first answer.
Is This Right for You?
This is for you if...
- You’re completely new to cybersecurity and don’t know where to start
- You’ve tried other platforms and found them too difficult or unstructured
- You want in-browser machines with no local setup required
- You want both offensive and defensive security learning paths in one place
- You’re working toward Security+, CySA+, or a SOC analyst role
This is NOT for you if...
- You already have 1+ years of security experience — most rooms will feel too guided
- You want competitive, unguided practice — move to Hack The Box instead
- You want the most advanced enterprise-level content — HTB Pro Labs go deeper
Platform Overview
| Feature | What You Get | Free / Premium |
|---|---|---|
|
Guided Rooms |
Step-by-step tutorials with in-browser machines |
20+ free, 600+ premium |
|
Learning Paths |
Structured role-based curricula |
Some free, most premium |
|
In-browser Machines |
No setup — runs in your browser window |
Both tiers |
|
King of the Hill |
Competitive attack/defend games on shared machines |
Premium |
|
Streaks and XP |
Gamification — daily challenges, leaderboards |
Both tiers |
Pricing
| Tier | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
|
Free |
$0 |
20+ rooms, community access, in-browser machines, limited paths |
|
Premium |
$10/month (annual) / $14/month (monthly) |
All 600+ rooms, all learning paths, unlimited machine time, certificates |
|
Teams / Enterprise |
Custom pricing |
Multiple seats, admin dashboard, progress tracking, custom paths |
Learning Paths on TryHackMe
| Path | Rooms | Duration | Target Role |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pre Security |
10+ rooms |
2–3 weeks |
Zero-knowledge beginners — networking, web, Linux basics |
|
Complete Beginner |
25+ rooms |
1–2 months |
Junior penetration testing foundation |
|
Jr Penetration Tester |
30+ rooms |
2–3 months |
Entry-level pentest — OSCP prep foundation |
|
SOC Level 1 |
25+ rooms |
2–3 months |
SOC analyst — SIEM, phishing, log analysis, IR |
|
Offensive Pentesting |
20+ rooms |
1–2 months |
Advanced offensive techniques |
|
Cyber Defense |
20+ rooms |
1–2 months |
Blue team — network security, threat hunting, forensics |
Certification Prep — What TryHackMe Helps With
| Certification | Relevant TryHackMe Path | How It Helps |
|---|---|---|
|
CompTIA Security+ |
Pre Security + Complete Beginner |
Builds practical understanding behind Security+ concepts |
|
CompTIA CySA+ |
SOC Level 1 + Cyber Defense |
Hands-on threat detection and incident response practice |
|
OSCP |
Jr Penetration Tester + Offensive Pentesting |
Foundational skills before moving to HTB and PG Practice |
|
CEH |
Jr Penetration Tester |
Practical reinforcement of ethical hacking concepts |
|
BTL1 (Blue Team) |
SOC Level 1 + Cyber Defense |
Direct preparation for Blue Team Level 1 certification |
Recommended Resources
Official Study Guides
- TryHackMe — account creation and platform access
- John Hammond (YouTube) — TryHackMe room walkthroughs with excellent methodology
- NetworkChuck (YouTube) — beginner-friendly security content that pairs well with THM
── SecVerse Marketplace — Resources ──
Which Platform is Right for You?
TryHackMe is the right choice when you are starting from zero or want structured learning paths. Here is how it compares:
| If you want... | Best Choice |
|---|---|
|
You are completely new and want zero-setup Linux training |
OverTheWire Bandit — SSH in and start immediately |
|
You want CTF-style challenges, 100% free |
picoCTF — 400+ challenges, no account required |
|
You are ready for unguided, competitive machines |
Hack The Box — the natural next step after TryHackMe |
|
You want defensive SOC-focused paths |
Blue Team Labs Online or LetsDefend |
|
You want guided paths with in-browser machines |
TryHackMe — this is the right choice |
How to Get Started
- Start with ‘Pre Security’ — even if you think you don’t need it. The Pre Security path covers networking, web fundamentals, and Linux basics. If you already know this, you’ll finish it in days. If you don’t, it changes everything.
- Maintain a daily streak. 30 minutes a day consistently beats 5 hours once a week. The streak counter is your accountability tool — use it.
- When you can solve rooms without hints, move to Hack The Box. The moment you can read a room description, understand what to do, and execute without the guided questions — you’re ready for HTB’s unguided environment.
📌 Note: The information on this page — including certification details, exam codes, pricing, and salary ranges — is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the latest data from official sources. Always verify current details directly with the relevant certification body or platform before making any decisions.
Community & Support
── TryHackMe Communities ──
Related Articles
The 6 Learning Paths Every Cybersecurity Beginner Should Know
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, SecVerse may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we genuinely believe in and that we consider useful for your cybersecurity learning journey. Our editorial opinions are never influenced by affiliate relationships. Introduction: **In our first guide**, we covered how to start learning cybersecurity without feeling overwhelmed. If you haven’t read it yet, start there. Now, let’s talk about which path to take once you’re ready. When I decided to get into cybersecurity 20 years ago after I graduated from school of engineering as computer engineer, I had no idea which path to take. I bought a CEH course first. Then I bought a Security+ book. Then I tried to learn networking. I was all over the place. Don’t be me.
How to Start Learning Cybersecurity Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, SecVerse may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we genuinely believe in and that we consider useful for your cybersecurity learning journey. Our editorial opinions are never influenced by affiliate relationships. Introduction: The Overwhelm is Real (But Avoidable) Let’s be honest with ourselves to avoid the shock and be realistic. Cyber security is huge, branching, and massive field. When I decided to get and start in this field 20 years ago. I made every mistake imaginable: Bought expensive courses I never finished. Tried to learn everything at once – pentesting, malware analysis, cloud security, forensics. All in short time. Got trapped in “tutorial”- watching videos for hours but never actually doing anything because of not practicing them and being confused.
