Free Ethical Hacking Courses with Certification: Top Options for 2025 | Best Free Courses to Learn Ethical Hacking and Get Certified in 2025

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Why Choose Free Ethical Hacking Courses?
• Top Free Courses with Certification
  • Simplilearn – Free Beginner Ethical Hacking
  • EC-Council – Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE)
  • Cybrary – Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking
  • Alison – Ethical Hacking & Countermeasures
  • Great Learning – Intro to Ethical Hacking
  • Other Free Platforms
• Platform Comparison
• Tools & Lab Access
• Career & Certification Value
• Tips to Maximize Free Courses
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Introduction

In 2025, it's easier than ever to start ethical hacking without paying a dime—multiple platforms offer free courses complete with certificates. This guide explores top options that grant official credentials and teach real-world hacking skills.

Why Choose Free Ethical Hacking Courses?

• Cost-effective skill-building with certification :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Hands-on labs without financial barriers
• Entry point into cybersecurity without commitment

Top Free Courses with Certification

1. Simplilearn – Free Beginner Ethical Hacking

2-hour beginners video course with certificate on completion :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.

2. EC-Council – Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE)

15+ hour self-paced official curriculum, 11 labs, proctored exam certificate :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

3. Cybrary – Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking

30-hour intermediate course, official EC-Council certificate :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

4. Alison – Ethical Hacking & Countermeasures

6–15 hour CPD-accredited diploma/certification modules for free :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

5. Great Learning – Intro to Ethical Hacking

3.5-hour entry-level course with free certification :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

6. Other Free Platforms

• Coursera, edX (audit for free, certificate optional) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Free Udemy courses via promo links :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
• SANS Cyber Aces, Fortinet NSE-1/2, Palo Alto Cyber Academy :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Platform Comparison

Tools & Lab Access

Access to the right tools and practical environments is essential in ethical hacking education. Even when you enroll in free courses, many platforms offer tools or simulated labs to help you gain real-world skills without needing expensive infrastructure.

Key Tools You’ll Commonly Use:

Platforms Offering Free Lab Access

Even with free ethical hacking courses, some providers include browser-based labs or downloadable setups. Here are a few:

Additional Free Tools for Practice:

• VirtualBox or VMware – Run virtual machines locally for safe hacking practice

• OWASP WebGoat & DVWA – Deliberately vulnerable web apps to test on

• Security Onion – Security Onion offers a comprehensive suite of tools for real-time network traffic monitoring and threat detection.

• Kali NetHunter – NetHunter brings Kali’s powerful ethical hacking toolkit to Android, supporting USB attacks, Wi-Fi injection, and more.

Why Lab Access Matters

• Reinforces theoretical knowledge with practice

• Helps you build a portfolio or GitHub repo for job applications

• Prepares you for real-world scenarios, interviews, and certifications like CEH, PenTest+, or OSCP

• Allows you to practice safely without breaking any laws or exposing live systems

Career & Certification Value

While these certificates are not full CEH or OSCP, they show initiative, validate skills, and enhance resumes—ideal for entry-level roles.

Tips to Maximize Free Courses

• Pair courses with hands-on practice
• Build portfolio projects and report findings
• Use GitHub to showcase labs
• Combine with volunteer or CTF experience

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Are these certificates recognized?

They’re entry-level but show initiative and foundational knowledge in cybersecurity.

2. Do I need prior experience?

Not necessarily—most are beginner-friendly, though some suggest basic IT familiarity.

3. Do these cost anything?

Course access is free; labs may be limited, and some certificates require a small fee.

4. Are labs included?

EC-Council EHE and Cybrary include labs; others are theoretical but can be supplemented with free tools.

5. Which is best for beginners?

Simplilearn and Great Learning are great starting points for absolute beginners.

6. Can I use this for CEH prep?

Yes—they cover fundamental skills useful for advanced CEH training later.

7. What tools will I learn?

Kali Linux, Nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, Burp Suite, etc., depending on the course.

8. Can I audit Coursera/edX courses?

Yes—auditing is free, though certification typically requires payment.

9. How long are certificates valid?

They don’t expire, but platforms may update programs annually.

10. Will I get labs practice?

Yes—with EC-Council's EHE and Cybrary’s lab platforms included.

11. Is the EC-Council EHE worth it?

Yes—it’s official from the same body as CEH and includes labs and proctored exam certificate.

12. Are these legal hacking courses?

All are legal and ethical—they teach authorized penetration testing principles.

13. Can freshers join?

Definitely—these courses are designed for beginners.

14. Do I need a computer to practice?

Yes—preferably a PC capable of running VMs or accessing cloud labs.

15. How do I share certificates?

Most platforms offer PDF certificates and LinkedIn sharing options.

16. Free means unlimited?

Access is free for content; certificates or labs may incur nominal fees.

17. Which course is most hands-on?

EC-Council EHE offers the most structured labs among true free options.

18. Do certifications help in job interviews?

Yes—especially to show initiative and self-driven learning.

19. Can these lead to paid certs?

Absolutely—these courses build a foundation for CEH, PenTest+, or OSCP later.

20. How to continue learning?

After these, consider joining platforms like TryHackMe, HackTheBox, or starting official cert prep.

Conclusion

Free ethical hacking courses in 2025 offer a strong foundation, certification, and practical know-how. They’re the perfect launch pad—especially if you supplement them with active labs and self-study.