# CTFd vs PentesterLab PRO: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[CTFd](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ctfd) is a free [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution. [PentesterLab PRO](https://cybersectools.com/tools/pentesterlab-pro) is a commercial [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution by [PentesterLab](https://cybersectools.com/companies/pentesterlab). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | CTFd | PentesterLab PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | Cyber Range Training | Cyber Range Training |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 6,569 | – |
| Last commit | Mar 2026 | – |
| Company | – | PentesterLab |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | CTFd | PentesterLab PRO |
|---|---|---|
| CTF | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Yes | – |
| Web Security | – | Yes |
| Vulnerability Exploitation | – | Yes |
| Bug Bounty | – | Yes |

### Core features

**CTFd**

No features listed.

**PentesterLab PRO**

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

### Integrations

**CTFd**

No integrations listed.

**PentesterLab PRO**

1 integration listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Which one fits you

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

- [CTFd](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ctfd) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.
- [PentesterLab PRO](https://cybersectools.com/tools/pentesterlab-pro) fits if you want a cloud product.

## CTFd vs PentesterLab PRO FAQ

Common questions when comparing CTFd vs PentesterLab PRO for cyber range training.

### What is the difference between CTFd and PentesterLab PRO?

**CTFd**: CTFd is a web-based framework for creating and managing Capture The Flag cybersecurity competitions with customizable challenges, scoring systems, and team management capabilities.

**PentesterLab PRO**: Online platform offering 700+ hands-on web security exercises and training, built by PentesterLab.

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

### Who makes CTFd and PentesterLab PRO?

**CTFd** is open-source with 6,569 GitHub stars. **PentesterLab PRO** is made by PentesterLab. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is CTFd a good alternative to PentesterLab PRO?

Often, yes. CTFd and PentesterLab PRO are both Cyber Range Training products, and both cover CTF. Key differences: CTFd is Free while PentesterLab PRO is Commercial, CTFd is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [CTFd vs SudoCyber](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ctfd-vs-sudocyber)
- [CTFd vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ctfd-vs-gemforge-labs)
- [CTFd vs MetaCTF Cloud Labs / Cloud Ranges](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ctfd-vs-metactf-cloud-labs-cloud-ranges)
- [PentesterLab PRO vs SudoCyber](https://cybersectools.com/compare/pentesterlab-pro-vs-sudocyber)
- [PentesterLab PRO vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gemforge-labs-vs-pentesterlab-pro)
- [PentesterLab PRO vs MetaCTF Cloud Labs / Cloud Ranges](https://cybersectools.com/compare/metactf-cloud-labs-cloud-ranges-vs-pentesterlab-pro)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all CTFd alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/ctfd)
- [See all PentesterLab PRO alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/pentesterlab-pro)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/ctfd-vs-pentesterlab-pro

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

More on CTFd and PentesterLab PRO: 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