ACI Learning Skill Labs vs Root the Box: 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. Root the Box 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 running internal capture-the-flag programs or red team training will get the most from Root the Box because it handles real-time scoring and leaderboards without vendor lock-in or licensing friction. Free pricing and 1,092 GitHub stars signal active maintenance and a community willing to self-host, which matters when you're iterating on wargame content monthly. Skip this if you need a managed SaaS platform with built-in scenario libraries; Root the Box requires you to author and maintain your own challenges.
