# Hack The Box Hacking Labs vs OverTheWire: Vortex: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Hack The Box Hacking Labs](https://cybersectools.com/tools/hack-the-box-hacking-labs) is a commercial [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution by [Hack The Box](https://cybersectools.com/companies/hack-the-box). [OverTheWire: Vortex](https://cybersectools.com/tools/overthewire-vortex) is a free [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Hack The Box Hacking Labs | OverTheWire: Vortex |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Cyber Range Training | Cyber Range Training |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB |
| Company | Hack The Box | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Hack The Box Hacking Labs | OverTheWire: Vortex |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber Range | Yes | – |
| CTF | Yes | – |
| Lab | Yes | – |
| Wargames | Yes | Yes |
| Education | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Hack The Box Hacking Labs**

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

**OverTheWire: Vortex**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Hack The Box Hacking Labs](https://cybersectools.com/tools/hack-the-box-hacking-labs) fits if you are a mid-market company or an enterprise.
- [OverTheWire: Vortex](https://cybersectools.com/tools/overthewire-vortex) fits if you need a free product.

## Hack The Box Hacking Labs vs OverTheWire: Vortex FAQ

Common questions when comparing Hack The Box Hacking Labs vs OverTheWire: Vortex for cyber range training.

### What is the difference between Hack The Box Hacking Labs and OverTheWire: Vortex?

**Hack The Box Hacking Labs**: Virtual hacking labs platform with 1,720+ hands-on cybersecurity challenges. Built by Hack The Box.

**OverTheWire: Vortex**: A wargame composed of 27 levels, with files needed in /vortex/ directory.

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

### Is Hack The Box Hacking Labs a good alternative to OverTheWire: Vortex?

Often, yes. Hack The Box Hacking Labs and OverTheWire: Vortex are both Cyber Range Training products, and both cover Wargames. Key differences: Hack The Box Hacking Labs is Commercial while OverTheWire: Vortex is Free. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Hack The Box Hacking Labs vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gemforge-labs-vs-hack-the-box-hacking-labs)
- [Hack The Box Hacking Labs vs CybergymIEC Cyber Arena](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cybergymiec-cyber-arena-vs-hack-the-box-hacking-labs)
- [Hack The Box Hacking Labs vs MetaCTF Cloud Labs / Cloud Ranges](https://cybersectools.com/compare/hack-the-box-hacking-labs-vs-metactf-cloud-labs-cloud-ranges)
- [OverTheWire: Vortex vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gemforge-labs-vs-overthewire-vortex)
- [OverTheWire: Vortex vs CybergymIEC Cyber Arena](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cybergymiec-cyber-arena-vs-overthewire-vortex)
- [OverTheWire: Vortex vs MetaCTF Cloud Labs / Cloud Ranges](https://cybersectools.com/compare/metactf-cloud-labs-cloud-ranges-vs-overthewire-vortex)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Hack The Box Hacking Labs alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/hack-the-box-hacking-labs)
- [See all OverTheWire: Vortex alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/overthewire-vortex)

---

Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/hack-the-box-hacking-labs-vs-overthewire-vortex

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

More on Hack The Box Hacking Labs and OverTheWire: Vortex: 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