Hack The Box Starting Point free labs
Hack The Box
At a glance
- Cost: Free training
- Format: Online
- Who qualifies: Vets · Service members · Spouses
- Applications: Rolling
Full details
- Cost
- Core Starting Point tiers are free. Free-account Pwnbox is limited to one 120-minute session in total; use your own machine/VPN as supported afterward. Premium labs and professional certifications have separate prices.
- Who qualifies
- Absolute beginners; public online platform. No veteran-only or U.S.-residency requirement listed in the inspected guide.
- Format
- Online
Check current terms: Individual eligibility, seats and coverage must be confirmed with the provider.
- Credential
- Starting Point is guided practice; no specific completion credential is established. HTB explicitly excludes Starting Point machines from CPE credit. Academy professional certifications are a separate product.
- Exam coverage
- Paid separatelyNo free Academy certification exam established for Starting Point. HTB Academy requires a completed role path and exam voucher; annual subscriptions can include a voucher, monthly subscriptions require separate purchase.
Before you decide
- What is free
- All three core Starting Point tiers are free; free Pwnbox allowance is one 120-minute session total, not recurring. Own-machine VPN route available.
- Who qualifies
- Absolute beginners; public online platform. No veteran-only or U.S.-residency requirement listed in the inspected guide.
- What you get
- Build penetration-testing fundamentals through guided practice machines and walkthroughs. You can progress through all three Starting Point tiers using their free machines. Free browser-based Pwnbox access is limited to one 120-minute session per account; continued free practice needs your own VPN-connected setup.
- Credential and key limits
- Starting Point is guided practice; no specific completion credential is established. HTB explicitly excludes Starting Point machines from CPE credit. Academy professional certifications are a separate product.
- Format
- Online
- Duration
- Self-paced, three progressively harder tiers
- Location
- Online; eligibility restrictions still apply.
- Deadline
- Status evidence: Ongoing core access, no intake deadline. Application window: Active official introductory guide and signup route; no cohort deadline Application deadline: Not confirmed Availability limits: Public information or an application link does not guarantee a seat, funding, acceptance or a job.
- Stipend / housing / travel
- A separate stipend, travel or housing allowance is not established unless specified in cost details.
- Notes
- Starting Point practice does not award an HTB professional certification. The free Pwnbox allowance is a one-time 120-minute session, not a daily or weekly renewal.
- Availability
- Rolling
- Details checked
- 2026-10-09
Application and credential details
- How to apply
- Review the official program page, confirm eligibility, costs and current availability, then follow its registration or application instructions.
- Documents to prepare
- Confirm the current document requirements with the provider.
- Application link
- Open official application page
- Credential or outcome
- Starting Point is guided practice; no specific completion credential is established. HTB explicitly excludes Starting Point machines from CPE credit. Academy professional certifications are a separate product.
- Application details checked
- 2026-10-09
- Application review status
- Checked against the official page. Details can change.
- Sources for these details
- https://help.hackthebox.com/en/articles/6007919-introduction-to-starting-point — checked 2026-10-09
- Availability checked
- 2026-10-09
- Current availability
- Rolling
- Status evidence
- Ongoing core access, no intake deadline.
- Application window
- Active official introductory guide and signup route; no cohort deadline
- Availability limits
- Public information or an application link does not guarantee a seat, funding, acceptance or a job.
- Timing sources
Credential and exam evidence — October 11
Starting Point is guided practice; no specific completion credential is established. HTB explicitly excludes Starting Point machines from CPE credit. Academy professional certifications are a separate product.
No free Academy certification exam established for Starting Point. HTB Academy requires a completed role path and exam voucher; annual subscriptions can include a voucher, monthly subscriptions require separate purchase.
Sources
- https://help.hackthebox.com/en/articles/6007919-introduction-to-starting-point — checked 2026-10-11
- https://help.hackthebox.com/en/articles/5188692-cpe-allocation-htb-labs — checked 2026-10-11
- https://help.hackthebox.com/en/articles/12741732-academy-certifications — checked 2026-10-11