Best OWASP Hackademic Challenges Alternatives & Competitors in 2026
Top picks: Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA), OWASP Damn Vulnerable Web Sockets (DVWS), Xtreme Vulnerable Web Application (XVWA) — plus 45 more compared.
Security OperationsTop picks: Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA), OWASP Damn Vulnerable Web Sockets (DVWS), Xtreme Vulnerable Web Application (XVWA) — plus 45 more compared.
Security OperationsOWASP Hackademic Challenges is a free Cyber Range Training tool. Security professionals most commonly compare it with Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA), OWASP Damn Vulnerable Web Sockets (DVWS), Xtreme Vulnerable Web Application (XVWA), LAMPSecurity Training, and SQL Injection Labs. All 48 alternatives are matched by shared capabilities, tags, and NIST CSF 2.0 coverage.
A closer look at the 8 most relevant alternatives and competitors to OWASP Hackademic Challenges, including their key features and shared capabilities.
A deliberately vulnerable PHP/MySQL web application designed for security training, testing, and educational purposes in controlled environments.
Shares 4 capabilities with OWASP Hackademic Challenges: Mysql, PHP, Education, Vulnerable Applications
A deliberately vulnerable web application that uses WebSocket communication to provide a training environment for learning about WebSocket-related security vulnerabilities.
Shares 4 capabilities with OWASP Hackademic Challenges: Mysql, PHP, Education, Vulnerable Applications
XVWA is an intentionally vulnerable PHP/MySQL web application designed for security education, containing multiple common web vulnerabilities for hands-on learning and practice.
Shares 4 capabilities with OWASP Hackademic Challenges: Mysql, PHP, Education, Vulnerable Applications
A series of vulnerable virtual machine images with documentation to teach Linux, Apache, PHP, MySQL security.
Shares 3 capabilities with OWASP Hackademic Challenges: Mysql, PHP, Vulnerable Applications
A project developed for pentesters to practice SQL Injection concepts in a controlled environment.
An intentionally vulnerable web application containing multiple web service security flaws designed for educational purposes and security testing practice.
AHHHZURE is an automated deployment script that creates vulnerable Azure cloud lab environments for offensive security training and cloud penetration testing practice.
Mellivora Mellivora is a PHP-based CTF engine that provides comprehensive competition hosting capabilities with challenge management, team scoring, and administrative tools for cybersecurity competitions.
A deliberately vulnerable PHP/MySQL web application designed for security training, testing, and educational purposes in controlled environments.
A deliberately vulnerable web application that uses WebSocket communication to provide a training environment for learning about WebSocket-related security vulnerabilities.
XVWA is an intentionally vulnerable PHP/MySQL web application designed for security education, containing multiple common web vulnerabilities for hands-on learning and practice.
A series of vulnerable virtual machine images with documentation to teach Linux, Apache, PHP, MySQL security.
A project developed for pentesters to practice SQL Injection concepts in a controlled environment.
An intentionally vulnerable web application containing multiple web service security flaws designed for educational purposes and security testing practice.
AHHHZURE is an automated deployment script that creates vulnerable Azure cloud lab environments for offensive security training and cloud penetration testing practice.
Mellivora Mellivora is a PHP-based CTF engine that provides comprehensive competition hosting capabilities with challenge management, team scoring, and administrative tools for cybersecurity competitions.
CloudGoat is a vulnerable-by-design AWS deployment tool that creates intentionally insecure cloud environments for hands-on cybersecurity training through capture-the-flag scenarios.
SecGen is an open-source framework that automatically generates vulnerable virtual machines and hacking challenges for cybersecurity education and penetration testing training.
DVXTE is a Docker-based training platform containing multiple vulnerable applications designed for cybersecurity education and skill development.
InsecureBankv2 is an intentionally vulnerable Android application with a Python back-end server designed for educational purposes in mobile security testing and Android vulnerability research.
A deliberately vulnerable GraphQL application designed for security testing and educational purposes, containing multiple intentional flaws for learning GraphQL attack and defense techniques.
A Windows kernel driver intentionally designed with various vulnerabilities to help security researchers practice kernel exploitation techniques.
AzureGoat is a deliberately vulnerable Azure cloud infrastructure that incorporates OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and Azure service misconfigurations for security training and penetration testing practice.
Hackazon is a vulnerable web application storefront designed for security professionals to practice testing modern web technologies and identifying common vulnerabilities.
A deliberately vulnerable web application containing DOM-based XSS, CSRF, and other web vulnerabilities for security testing and educational purposes.
A deliberately vulnerable web application written in under 100 lines of Python code for educational purposes and web security testing.
A collection of 20 cross-site scripting challenges covering various XSS attack vectors and filtering bypass techniques for educational purposes.
A list of vulnerable applications for testing and learning
Hands-on cybersecurity training platform with gamified labs and challenges
Cyber range platform for finance & banking sector security training
OT cybersecurity training platform with hands-on simulations and digital twins
Gamified cybersecurity training platform with hands-on labs and certifications
Mobile app for learning cybersecurity and blue team skills on smartphones
Virtual hands-on IT & cybersecurity lab platform for academic programs.
Hacker wargames site with forums and tutorials, fostering a learning community.
A distributed systems simulator that creates intentionally vulnerable Kubernetes clusters in AWS for security training and attack scenario practice.
MiniCPS is a framework for real-time Cyber-Physical Systems simulation that supports physical process and control device simulation along with network emulation capabilities.
Social learning platform for CTF challenges, labs, and cybersecurity training.
A collection of vulnerable ARM binaries designed for educational exploit development and vulnerability research practice across different architectures and exploitation techniques.
A hands-on cybersecurity laboratory environment for Gray Hat Hacking Chapter 29 that creates virtualized Docker and Kali Linux machines using Terraform for practical security training exercises.
A modular, cross-platform framework for creating repeatable, time-delayed security events and scenarios for Blue Team training and Red Team operations.
NightShade is a Django-based capture the flag framework that enables organizations to create and manage cybersecurity competitions with support for multiple contest formats and multi-tenant architecture.
Haaukins is an automated virtualization platform that provides hands-on cybersecurity education through capture the flag exercises in controlled vulnerable environments.
A lightweight CTF platform with simple setup and difficulty-based scoring that removes timezone advantages from competitions.
A deliberately vulnerable ARM/ARM64 application with 14 different vulnerability levels designed for CTF-style exploitation training and education.
A Node.js CLI tool that automates the setup of CTF events using OWASP Juice Shop challenges across multiple CTF frameworks.
DetectionLab is a pre-configured Windows domain environment with security tooling and logging designed for cybersecurity training and detection capability development.
A collection of vulnerable web applications containing command injection flaws designed to test and evaluate detection and exploitation tools like commix.
GRFICS is a Unity 3D-based framework that provides a virtual industrial control system environment for practicing ICS security attacks and defenses with visual feedback.
echoCTF is a cybersecurity framework for running Capture the Flag competitions and training exercises on real IT infrastructure.
FBCTF is a platform for hosting Jeopardy and King of the Hill style Capture the Flag competitions with support for various scales and participation models.
CTFd is a web-based framework for creating and managing Capture The Flag cybersecurity competitions with customizable challenges, scoring systems, and team management capabilities.
HackTheArch is an open-source Ruby on Rails-based scoring server platform designed for hosting and managing Cyber Capture the Flag competitions with web-based problem management and hint systems.
A comprehensive collection of free online laboratories and platforms for practicing penetration testing, CTF challenges, and cybersecurity skills development.
Root the Box is a real-time CTF scoring engine that provides a configurable platform for cybersecurity training through gamified wargames and competitions.
A Terraform tool that creates intentionally misconfigured AWS infrastructure with 84 vulnerabilities across 22 services for security training and testing purposes.
Common questions security professionals ask when evaluating alternatives and competitors to OWASP Hackademic Challenges.
The most popular alternatives to OWASP Hackademic Challenges include Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA), OWASP Damn Vulnerable Web Sockets (DVWS), Xtreme Vulnerable Web Application (XVWA), LAMPSecurity Training, and SQL Injection Labs. These Cyber Range Training tools offer similar capabilities and are frequently compared by security professionals evaluating their options.
There are 48 alternatives to OWASP Hackademic Challenges listed on CybersecTools, all within the Cyber Range Training category. Each alternative is matched based on shared capabilities, tags, and NIST CSF coverage areas.
OWASP Hackademic Challenges is a free Cyber Range Training tool. You can use it at no cost. Both free and commercial alternatives are available for comparison.
OWASP Hackademic Challenges is a Cyber Range Training tool within the broader Security Operations category. It is used by security professionals for cyber range training capabilities and can be compared against 48 similar tools.
