ACI Learning Skill Labs vs LFI-Labs: 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. LFI-Labs 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.
Developers and junior penetration testers who need cheap, hands-on practice with file inclusion and command injection vulnerabilities should use LFI-Labs; it's free PHP code you deploy locally and actually exploit, not a sanitized sandbox. The 338 GitHub stars and active use in informal security training programs indicate real adoption among people building fundamentals. Skip this if your team needs guided scenarios with scoring, progress tracking, or compliance reporting; LFI-Labs is raw lab work, not a structured cyber range platform.
