Ethical hacking is one of the fastest-growing skills in 2025, and the best part is, you don’t need to spend money to start learning it. From beginner-friendly platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box, to powerful operating systems like Kali Linux and BackBox, and structured courses from Great Learning and Cisco Networking Academy, there are plenty of free tools and resources available. In this guide, we’ll explore the best free ethical hacking tools and platforms, explain them in simple words, and share their official links so you can start your hacking journey today.
Related: Best Free Ethical Hacking Courses Online with Certificate
Here are the Best Free Tools to Learn Ethical Hacking
1. TryHackMe
TryHackMe is a user-friendly platform perfect for hands-on learners. It offers interactive labs and guided learning paths—starting from a complete beginner level with no setup needed. You can access many free modules that cover cybersecurity fundamentals, Linux, networking, and web security.
Learn more / start here: TryHackMe Official Website
2. PortSwigger Web Security Academy
Created by the makers of Burp Suite, this academy offers superb, free, interactive lessons on web application security. It’s especially great if you’re interested in bug bounty hunting.
Let’s dive in: PortSwigger Web Security Academy
3. Hack The Box (Starting Point Labs)
Hack The Box offers real-world hacking challenges. Its “Starting Point” labs are free and beginner-friendly, giving plenty of practice in a safe, gamified environment.
Get started: Hack The Box Website
4. Kali Linux
Kali Linux is the standard operating system for ethical hackers. It’s a Linux distribution packed with around 600 pentesting tools—like Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, and more. You can install it on a virtual machine, as a live USB, or via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
Related: Best Linux Free Courses For Learn Ethical Hacking
5. BackBox Linux
BackBox is another free Linux distro focused on penetration testing. Based on Ubuntu, it’s lightweight and includes essential tools for web, network, forensics, and vulnerability assessments.
Try BackBox: BackBox Official Site
6. Great Learning – Introduction to Ethical Hacking (Free Course)
This beginner-friendly online course offers approximately 4.5 hours of free learning, complemented by quizzes, practical demonstrations, and a certificate option. It covers web app attacks like SQL injection and XSS, uses bWAPP and Kali Linux, and explains the ethical hacking process step by step.
Enroll here: Great Learning Academy
7. Cisco Networking Academy – Ethical Hacker
Cisco’s Networking Academy provides a free course to develop your offensive security skills. It’s a structured, reliable training channel from a leading network technology company. Cisco Networking Academy
Check it out: Cisco Networking Academy – Ethical Hacker
8. Core Open-Source Tools
Related: Best Termux Tools For Ethical Hacking
If you’re ready to dive deeper, here’s a list of widely used, free tools beneficial for learning and practising ethical hacking:
Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, sqlmap, John the Ripper, Aircrack-ng, Burp Suite Community Edition, Hashcat, Hydra, Ghidra, Netcat, Nikto, etc.Wikipedia
Each tool serves a unique purpose, scanning networks, analysing packets, cracking passwords, testing web vulnerabilities, or reverse engineering. Many are included in Kali Linux or BackBox, but you can also install them individually.
Summary Table
| Tool / Platform | Ideal For | What You’ll Learn |
|---|---|---|
| TryHackMe | Beginners (hands-on) | Cybersecurity basics, Linux, web security |
| PortSwigger Web Security Academy | Web app security, bug bounties | Web attacks via interactive labs |
| Hack The Box (Starting Point) | Gamified real-world hacking | Practical penetration testing challenges |
| Kali Linux | All-around pentesting | Built-in security tools, VMs, WSL, full toolkit |
| BackBox Linux | Lightweight pentesting distro | Similar to Kali, but Ubuntu-based and performance-focused |
| Great Learning Course | Structured beginner learning | Ethical hacking fundamentals, with quizzes and a certificate |
| Cisco Ethical Hacker Course | Formal offensive security skills | Certified-style training from Cisco |
| Open-Source Tools List | Tool-specific deep dive | Networking, password cracking, web scanning, forensics, etc. |
Final Thoughts,
For a well-rounded start in ethical hacking:
Start with TryHackMe and PortSwigger Academy for foundational, guided learning.
Use Hack The Box once you’re confident to face real challenges.
Install Kali Linux (or BackBox) to explore tools and simulate real-world scenarios.
Follow structured courses like Great Learning or Cisco Academy for clear learning paths and credibility.
Learn individual tools from the open-source list to build precise technical skills.
These options together offer a complete, no-cost path to becoming a skilled ethical hacker in 2025.
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