ACI Learning Skill Labs vs Haaukins: 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. Haaukins 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 teams building internal training programs or running capture-the-flag competitions will get the most from Haaukins because it automates environment provisioning at zero cost, letting you focus on exercise design instead of infrastructure management. The platform runs on GitHub and has been deployed by security educators who need repeatable, vulnerable labs without licensing friction. Skip this if you need managed services, instructor dashboards, or certification-aligned curricula; Haaukins is a self-hosted builder's tool, not a turnkey training platform.
