# Nexova Cyber Academy vs Simulator: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Nexova Cyber Academy](https://cybersectools.com/tools/nexova-cyber-academy) is a commercial [cyber range training](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cyber-range) solution by [Nexova](https://cybersectools.com/companies/nexova). [Simulator](https://cybersectools.com/tools/simulator) 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

| | Nexova Cyber Academy | Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Cyber Range Training | Cyber Range Training |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Hybrid | Cloud |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 981 |
| Last commit | – | Jun 2024 |
| Company | Nexova | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Nexova Cyber Academy | Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber Range | Yes | – |
| Tabletop Exercises | Yes | – |
| Red Team | Yes | – |
| Blue Team | Yes | – |
| Ransomware | Yes | – |
| Critical Infrastructure | Yes | – |
| Security Culture | Yes | – |
| Education | Yes | Yes |
| Gamification | Yes | – |
| Kubernetes | – | Yes |
| AWS | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Nexova Cyber Academy**

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

**Simulator**

No features listed.

## Which one fits you

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

- [Nexova Cyber Academy](https://cybersectools.com/tools/nexova-cyber-academy) fits if you need both cloud and on-premises options.
- [Simulator](https://cybersectools.com/tools/simulator) fits if you want a cloud product, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## Nexova Cyber Academy vs Simulator FAQ

Common questions when comparing Nexova Cyber Academy vs Simulator for cyber range training.

### What is the difference between Nexova Cyber Academy and Simulator?

**Nexova Cyber Academy**: Built by Nexova.

**Simulator**: A distributed systems simulator that creates intentionally vulnerable Kubernetes clusters in AWS for security training and attack scenario practice.

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

### Who makes Nexova Cyber Academy and Simulator?

**Nexova Cyber Academy** is made by Nexova. **Simulator** is open-source with 981 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Nexova Cyber Academy a good alternative to Simulator?

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

## Related comparisons

- [Nexova Cyber Academy vs MetaCTF Cloud Labs / Cloud Ranges](https://cybersectools.com/compare/metactf-cloud-labs-cloud-ranges-vs-nexova-cyber-academy)
- [Nexova Cyber Academy vs Sanctum Security Parallax](https://cybersectools.com/compare/nexova-cyber-academy-vs-sanctum-security-parallax)
- [Nexova Cyber Academy vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gemforge-labs-vs-nexova-cyber-academy)
- [Simulator vs MetaCTF Cloud Labs / Cloud Ranges](https://cybersectools.com/compare/metactf-cloud-labs-cloud-ranges-vs-simulator)
- [Simulator vs Sanctum Security Parallax](https://cybersectools.com/compare/sanctum-security-parallax-vs-simulator)
- [Simulator vs GemForge Labs](https://cybersectools.com/compare/gemforge-labs-vs-simulator)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Nexova Cyber Academy alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/nexova-cyber-academy)
- [See all Simulator alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/simulator)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/nexova-cyber-academy-vs-simulator

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More on Nexova Cyber Academy and Simulator: 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