ACI Learning Skill Labs vs bWAPP: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros & cons — compared head-to-head.
ACI Learning Skill Labs is a commercial cyber range training tool by ACI Learning. bWAPP is a free cyber range training tool. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best cyber range training fit for your security stack.
CST VerdictBased on our analysis of NIST CSF 2.0 coverage, core features, company size fit, deployment model, here is our conclusion:
Academic programs and corporate training teams need ACI Learning Skill Labs because it actually lets students break things hands-on instead of watching videos, which is the only way network and security fundamentals stick. The CollegePro sets align with real course calendars across years 1-2, and auto-grading cuts instructor overhead on repetitive validation work. This is built for schools and training departments, not for security operations teams looking to upskill existing staff on incident response or threat hunting; if your goal is certifications and foundational competency, this works; if you need role-specific depth for security engineers already in the field, look elsewhere.
Security training teams and individual developers who need a free, hands-on lab for learning web vulnerability basics should start with bWAPP; its deliberately vulnerable design lets you practice injection, XSS, and authentication flaws without licensing friction or infrastructure complexity. The tool covers OWASP Top 10 vectors and runs locally in minutes, making it ideal for junior developer onboarding and security fundamentals courses. Skip bWAPP if you need realistic business logic vulnerabilities, API security testing, or a managed platform with progress tracking; it's a raw sandbox, not a structured curriculum.
