TryHackMe Review 2026: Is It Worth It for a Cybersecurity Beginner?
If you want to learn cybersecurity but do not know where to start, you have probably heard of TryHackMe. It is one of the most popular hands-on training platforms for beginners, and for good reason: instead of watching hours of video, you learn by attacking real (and deliberately vulnerable) machines in your browser.
In this review I will explain how the platform works, what you actually get for free, and walk through a real room step by step, so you can decide if it is worth your time — and your money.
What is TryHackMe?
TryHackMe is a web-based training platform where you connect to small virtual machines (called rooms) and complete guided security challenges. Rooms range from “what is a network?” for complete newcomers to realistic penetration testing scenarios. Everything runs in the browser, so you do not need your own lab or a powerful computer.
The platform works through a VPN connection or their in-browser AttackBox. You click a deploy button, wait a few seconds, and you are inside a Linux machine ready to hack.
How rooms and learning paths work
Each room is a short course with a goal: read the material, run the commands, and answer questions or capture “flags” to prove you understood it. Rooms are grouped into paths (for example, the Complete Beginner path or Offensive Pentesting), which give you a guided curriculum instead of a random list.
This structure is what makes TryHackMe beginner-friendly: you are never stuck wondering what to learn next, because the path tells you.
Free vs Premium
- Free: access to a good selection of beginner rooms, limited daily machine time on some rooms, and the first parts of several paths.
- Premium: full access to every room and path, unlimited machine time, and the hands-on projects needed for the biggest paths. It costs about the price of two coffees a month on an annual plan.
My honest take: the free tier is enough to decide if you like the style. The premium tier is worth it only if you commit to the path — pay for a month, finish a path, and decide again.
A real walkthrough
Here is what an actual session looks like. I deployed an entry-level room, ran a port scan with nmap, and used hydra to test weak credentials on the services found:
Within ten minutes I had identified an open SSH service, found valid credentials, and captured the room’s flag. That is the whole point: you learn by doing, and the feedback is instant.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No setup — everything runs in the browser | Some rooms feel short if you are already experienced |
| Clear beginner paths and instant feedback | Premium needed for the most valuable content |
| Active community and great for the Cybersecurity | Spending on a subscription without finishing a path is wasted |
Verdict
If you are starting from zero and want to know whether a career in cybersecurity is for you, TryHackMe is the cheapest and most realistic way to find out. Create a free account, finish the Complete Beginner path’s free rooms, and only then decide whether premium is worth it. For the price of a couple of coffees a month, the hands-on experience is hard to beat.
This is an independent review. We will add links and further walkthroughs as the platform evolves. More guides on the blog.
