# ACI Learning Skill Labs vs Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA): side-by-side comparison (2026)

[ACI Learning Skill Labs](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aci-learning-skill-labs) is a commercial [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution by [ACI Learning](https://cybersectools.com/companies/aci-learning). [Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa) is a free [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | ACI Learning Skill Labs | Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Cyber Range Training | Cyber Range Training |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market |
| GitHub stars | – | 12,763 |
| Last commit | – | Feb 2026 |
| Company | ACI Learning | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | ACI Learning Skill Labs | Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) |
|---|---|---|
| Lab | Yes | – |
| Online Learning | Yes | – |
| Cyber Range | Yes | – |
| Education | Yes | Yes |
| MySQL | – | Yes |
| PHP | – | Yes |
| Vulnerable Applications | – | Yes |

### Core features

**ACI Learning Skill Labs**

8 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [ACI Learning Skill Labs](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aci-learning-skill-labs) fits if you want a cloud product and you are an enterprise.
- [Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## ACI Learning Skill Labs vs Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) FAQ

Common questions when comparing ACI Learning Skill Labs vs Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) for cyber range training.

### What is the difference between ACI Learning Skill Labs and Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)?

**ACI Learning Skill Labs**: Virtual hands-on IT & cybersecurity lab platform for academic programs. Built by ACI Learning.

**Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)**: A deliberately vulnerable PHP/MySQL web application designed for security training, testing, and educational purposes in controlled environments.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes ACI Learning Skill Labs and Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)?

**ACI Learning Skill Labs** is made by ACI Learning. **Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)** is open-source with 12,763 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is ACI Learning Skill Labs a good alternative to Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA)?

Often, yes. ACI Learning Skill Labs and Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) are both Cyber Range Training products, and both cover Education. Key differences: ACI Learning Skill Labs is Commercial while Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) is Free, Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [ACI Learning Skill Labs vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aci-learning-skill-labs-vs-gemforge-labs)
- [ACI Learning Skill Labs vs OffSec Proving Grounds](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aci-learning-skill-labs-vs-offsec-proving-grounds)
- [ACI Learning Skill Labs vs CybergymIEC Cyber Arena](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aci-learning-skill-labs-vs-cybergymiec-cyber-arena)
- [Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa-vs-gemforge-labs)
- [Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) vs OffSec Proving Grounds](https://cybersectools.com/compare/damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa-vs-offsec-proving-grounds)
- [Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) vs CybergymIEC Cyber Arena](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cybergymiec-cyber-arena-vs-damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all ACI Learning Skill Labs alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aci-learning-skill-labs)
- [See all Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA) alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/aci-learning-skill-labs-vs-damn-vulnerable-web-application-dvwa

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/aci-learning-skill-labs.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on ACI Learning Skill Labs and Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA): funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md