Cloud Range vs Pentest Lab: 2026 Comparison
Cloud Range is a commercial cyber range training tool by Cloud Range. Pentest Lab 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, integrations, company size fit, here is our conclusion:
SOC and IR teams that need hands-on attack simulation without building physical infrastructure should run Cloud Range; the cloud-hosted private network environment eliminates months of lab setup while the flexible subscription tiers let you scale from individual contributor drills to enterprise-wide exercises. Coverage of PR.AT (awareness and training) and ID.IM (improvement) under NIST CSF 2.0 reflects strong capability in skill-building and process refinement, backed by instructor-led, self-service, and Train the Trainer delivery options. Skip this if your priority is integrating live-fire training into an existing purple team workflow; Cloud Range is built for standalone SOC and IR skill development rather than cross-functional threat simulation.
Security engineers and junior penetration testers who need a cheap, fast way to build disposable attack-defense scenarios will find Pentest Lab valuable for hands-on practice without cloud costs or lab infrastructure sprawl. Docker Compose orchestration means you spin up a full pentest environment in minutes on any laptop, and the 209 GitHub stars indicate active community use and maintenance. Skip this if you need enterprise-scale labs with role-based access controls or compliance reporting; Pentest Lab is a solo practitioner's tool, not a team platform.
