Attending a free cyber security bootcamp can be a great way to break into a lucrative field without a huge monetary investment. The cybersecurity industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors today, with the number of jobs expected to grow at a rate of 33% through 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.1 This growth can be attributed in part to the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks and the growing reliance on the internet for both personal and business activities. If you’re looking to start a rewarding and well-paid career in a field with great job potential, you’ll find a wide range of career options available in the cybersecurity industry, from entry-level roles to advanced positions.
In this article, we’ll cover the best online bootcamps to learn cyber security for free and the best free cyber security courses. With these resources, you can learn the fundamental concepts and skills needed to become a cyber security professional. Let’s dive into the best places to learn cyber security without breaking the bank—all school information has been gathered from institution websites as of July 2025.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Cyber Security Bootcamp?
- Top Free Online Coding Bootcamps
- Pros and Cons of Free Cyber Security Bootcamps
- How to Choose a Free Cyber Security Bootcamp
- Best Free Cyber Security Courses
- Free Cyber Security Resources
- Paid Affordable Cyber Security Bootcamps
Key Takeaways
- Free online cyber security bootcamps can provide a cost-effective way to enter a lucrative industry with high job growth potential.
- These bootcamps offer intensive training programs, catering to beginners and career changers that want to learn cyber security without spending any money.
- Free bootcamps allow you to acquire job-ready cyber security skills without the burden of student loans.
- Several reputable bootcamps offer free cyber security programs.
- Consider factors such as duration, curriculum, format, instructors, and available resources when choosing a free bootcamp.
- Alternative options for free cyber security education include online courses and resources from platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and MIT, as well as online communities like r/cybersecurity on Reddit and news outlets like CSO Online and The Hacker News.
What Is a Cyber Security Bootcamp?
A cyber security bootcamp is a short, intensive training program that helps students gain the skills they need to work as cyber security professionals. These programs teach in-demand skills and also offer students a variety of professional development services to help them launch their career paths. Many bootcamps begin with foundational courses to build core knowledge and prepare students for more advanced topics. In Career Karma’s 2024 Bootcamp Market Report, cyber security was ranked as the third most popular subject for a tech bootcamp program, trailing only software engineering/web development and data.2
Even if you don’t have coding skills, you can still enroll in a cyber security bootcamp, as many of these programs are designed for beginners and career changers. You can expect to learn skills like penetration testing and networking, as well as a variety of cyber security protocols. Some may even specialize in subjects like ethical hacking. Bootcamps often include practical exercises, hands-on labs, and opportunities to practice technical skills, helping students gain real-world experience as they learn cyber security.
Why Consider a Free Cyber Security Bootcamp?
Learning cyber security online for free is an exceptional opportunity to gain job-ready cyber security skills. Though traditional bootcamps and college degree programs often come with a hefty price tag, free cyber security bootcamps erase the financial barriers that often hold students back from developing new skills. However, you’ll want to do thorough research on any program you’re considering, to make sure it will effectively prepare you and be worth your time.
If you want to break into the tech industry, and want to avoid student loans and burdensome payment plans, then choosing to learn cyber security online for free is the perfect opportunity. These free programs offer all of the essential skills you need to become a cyber security professional, allowing you to start your career without student loans or an income share agreement hanging over your head.
Free Online Cyber Security Bootcamps
| Coding Bootcamp | Free Cyber Security Program |
|---|---|
| Cybrary | Information Security Fundamentals |
| Evolve Academy | Cybersecurity Fundamentals |
| Fullstack Academy | Cyber OnRamp |
| Heimdal Security | Cyber Security for Beginners |
| Level Effect | Cybersecurity Foundations |
Best Free Online Coding Bootcamps to Learn Cyber Security
The best coding bootcamps to access free cyber security training come in a wide variety of teaching formats and cover different topics. In the next section, we’ll provide a summary of each cyber security bootcamp, so you can decide which free online course best fits your goals and schedule.
Information Security Fundamentals | Cybrary
This career path bootcamp pre-course discusses technical topics such as malware, risk management, security protocols, and cyber security architecture, and also covers best practices for managing cyber security risks. By the end of the course, you’ll understand the importance of data protection and be prepared for a cyber security bootcamp. Most of the content is available for free, but you’ll need to pay a monthly membership to access some courses and assessments on the site.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals | Evolve Academy
Cybersecurity Fundamentals by Evolve Academy is a great pre-course that prepares you for the rigorous Evolve Security Academy 20-week bootcamp. It starts with a discussion of cyber security industry trends and then dives into working with command-line coding in Linux, network security, hacking tools, and home lab setup for hobbyists. Foundational courses may also cover digital forensics and essentials series, providing practical skills and foundational knowledge to prepare students for industry roles. If you want to learn cyber security for free, this course will introduce you to all of the basic concepts.
Cyber OnRamp | Fullstack Academy
Fullstack Academy is one of the best places to learn cyber security for free. In fact, Cyber OnRamp from Fullstack Academy covers the first 25 hours of their paid cyber security bootcamp curriculum for free, giving individuals the opportunity to experience the learning environment before committing to the full program.
This material focuses on command-line coding in Linux, one of the key technical skills for cyber security professionals. Developing your coding capabilities can significantly enhance your technical proficiency in cyber security, enabling you to design, maintain, and secure complex systems more effectively. This program will give you a strong foundation to take the full 13 or 22-week Cybersecurity Analytics bootcamp with Fullstack Academy.
Cyber Security for Beginners | Heimdal Security
Heimdal Security is a cyber security solutions provider with a five-week online cyber security course designed for the average computer user, emphasizing the importance of understanding computers as a foundation for cyber security education. The course covers fundamental topics such as security vulnerabilities, industry jargon, and security management tools. This course doesn’t prepare you for a cyber security job, but it’s a great course to take to prepare for a job-oriented bootcamp.
Cybersecurity Foundations/SOC100 | Level Effect
This self-paced, pay-what-you-can crash course from Level Effect helps students develop a solid foundation in cyber security topics. You’ll learn about managing and evaluating risk, as well as how to conduct your own risk assessment of an organization’s security system. At the end of the course, you can test your knowledge with a 50-question assessment. By completing the assessment, students gain insights into risk management and organizational security.
Pros and Cons of Free Online Cyber Security Bootcamps
On average, bootcamps in 2025 cost around $14,000—but that price tag can range from less than a couple thousand dollars to more than $20,000, and many people who are just starting their careers cannot afford such high tuition fees.3 Thankfully, free online cyber security bootcamps are a great option for saving money and avoiding debt. With one of these programs, you can learn the fundamentals of cyber security for free and, oftentimes, at your own pace.
| Pros of Free Cyber Security Bootcamps | Cons of Free Cyber Security Bootcamps |
|---|---|
Though avoiding the high cost of cyber security bootcamps is a large perk of free programs, there are also some downsides. One drawback is that free cyber security bootcamps do not offer the same robust curricula that paid bootcamps do. In addition, students who attend a free bootcamp program won’t receive the career services and mentorship that often lead to bootcamp students’ success.
How to Choose a Free Cyber Security Bootcamp
Now that you know how to learn cyber security for free, you’ll need to select a program to follow. However, as you have likely researched how to learn cyber security online, you know that the number of courses can be overwhelming. That is why, in this section, we will break down the main factors you should consider when choosing a free cyber security bootcamp.
Duration
Before you begin a program, you should look into its duration. Whether you want to follow a program for a couple of hours or a couple of weeks, you need to make sure that you choose a free cyber security bootcamp that aligns with your availability and commitment level.
Curriculum
It is important to check each program’s curriculum in order to make sure you will learn what you want to know. You don’t want to get to the end of your program only to realize that you still know nothing about firewalls, especially if that is what you are interested in. Take a look at what the bootcamp will cover, from common tools used on the job to the latest trends in dealing with cyber threats, and whether or not it matches your educational goals.
Format
Do you enjoy watching lectures, or would you prefer to have hands-on exercises? Looking into the format of the bootcamp you want to attend is important, as you want to make sure that it matches your preferred learning style. Before you join it, check whether the course is online, in-person, self-paced, or instructed live.
Instructors
As part of the tech industry, cyber security changes fast, and some topics become outdated just as quickly as students can learn them. With this, you should make sure that you are learning from experts that stay current in the field.
Someone who hasn’t had real cyber security experience within the last 15 years will not be able to teach you the principles relevant to today’s security climate. Even if you’re learning cyber security for free, it should still be updated information.
Resources
Though free cyber security bootcamps typically won’t offer the comprehensive career resources paid programs offer, some still provide helpful resources. Check and see if the program you are interested in includes tech support or the opportunity to connect with a community of learners.
Other Ways to Learn Cyber Security for Free
Even if you don’t want to attend a bootcamp, you can still earn a free cyber security certificate online. In fact, there are many different providers that offer free cyber security classes at beginner and intermediate levels, ensuring a larger number of learners is able to access this education. So, if you want to get a cyber security certificate for free, check out the top options below.
Best Free Cyber Security Courses
- Cyber security Specialization | Coursera. This is one of the best free cyber security courses for intermediate learners. It covers software and hardware security, the human-computer interface, and applications of cryptography. You can complete the course in 2 months if you spend 10 hours per week on coursework. Once you’re done, you can pay for a verified certificate of completion.
- Cyber Security Course for Beginners | FourthWall Technologies on Udemy. If you need cyber security education to help you stay safe online, this free course created by FourthWall Technologies will equip you with the necessary skills. If you want to learn the basics of cyber security and how to protect your own computer, this is one of the best free cyber security courses you can take.
- Cyber Security: Safety at Home, Online, in Life | Newcastle University on Future Learn. Newcastle University’s School of Computing Science offers this three-week, free course on topics in home security, online privacy, and online payment safety. The course is self-guided, and learners can join forums for class discussions and share their ideas.
- Computer Systems Security | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, MIT offers one of the best free cyber security courses. This college-level course covers threat models, language security, network protocols, and much more. Though the course is now offered in a self-paced format, it was initially instructed over the course of a semester.
Learn Cyber Security Free: Other Resources
- CSO Online. CSO delivers content on a wide range of security and risk control issues. It is geared toward high-level cyber security professionals like chief security officers and cyber security officers.
- Dark Reading. The Dark Reading blog is one of the most popular online resources in cyber security, dealing with topics like application, cloud, and mobile security. This is where cyber security professionals go to learn about new trends and vulnerabilities in the threat landscape. For beginners, it is one of the best places to learn about cyber security for free.
- r/cybersecurity on Reddit. Reddit is an open platform where cyber security beginners and experienced professionals can interact. You can browse a vast archive of cyber security discussions and pose new questions to the online forum.
- The Hacker News. This news outlet focuses on the latest cyber security news, with deep coverage of current trends in the information security industry. Some of the main topics it covers include data breaches, cyber attacks, malware, and vulnerabilities. Many cyber security professionals depend on this trusted source for the latest news in cyber security.
- WIRED. One of the best technology news outlets in the country, WIRED, has a section dedicated to cyber security content. It covers all things cyber, including stories about national security, international cyber crime, security networking events, and white papers on innovative products.
Next Steps: What Are Some of the Cheapest Cyber Security Bootcamps?
Once you complete your free cyber security bootcamp, you may be interested in furthering your education with a paid program. If money is still a concern, you may be looking into affordable bootcamps to learn cyber security. Below, we have compiled a list of the best cyber security bootcamps that, while not free, are cheaper than similar options on the market.
- Ops 101 by Code Fellows ($99): Code Fellows offers a series of affordable courses within its cyber security career track. Students can test the waters with Ops 101 for just $99 and continue with the more advanced classes if they choose to. 101 courses cost $99, while 102 classes will set you back $1,000. The most advanced courses, 401, cost $12,000, which is still cheaper than the average bootcamp.
- SEC275: Foundations – Computers, Technology, & Security by SANS Institute ($3,100 USD): With a price tag well below the average coding bootcamp, this self-paced course by the prestigious SANS Institute will help you develop a foundation in the basics of cyber security, such as Linux, networking fundamentals, programming, servers, and more.
- Cybersecurity Program by Kable Academy ($9,500). Kable Academy’s Cybersecurity Program is designed to help participants launch a career in cyber security by focusing on practical skills in areas like network security, cloud security, and beyond. The cost is $9,500 which is still considered affordable for a cyber security bootcamp.
Is a Free Online Cyber Security Bootcamp Worth It?
For many, a free cyber security bootcamp can be worth it because it provides the opportunity to gain real cyber security knowledge at no cost. Unlike a traditional degree or paid bootcamp program, anyone can enroll in a free cyber security bootcamp without the worry of making large payments. So you can build your foundational knowledge and explore basic concepts of cyber security, with the opportunity to ultimately decide if you want to further your education in the field.
However, oftentimes these courses may not be accredited, nor do they provide the certifications or other resources you would need to pursue a career in cyber security. Look closely at each to learn more about what’s being offered and what additional services—if any—are provided, and weigh that alongside the cost, as well as your own learning style, schedule, and goals.
Free Cyber Security Bootcamps FAQ
No, there aren’t any free cyber security certifications. There are free courses that provide certificates, but professional certifications are different. A certificate shows you completed an educational program, while industry certifications show that you passed an exam testing your professional skills.
The most efficient way to learn cyber security at zero cost is to attend a free cyber security bootcamp, such as the ones offered by Fullstack Academy or SANS Institute. There are also some platforms, like Coursera and Udemy, that have free cyber security courses, although you usually have to pay for the certificate.
The cost of a bootcamp can vary depending on format, location, school, and topics covered—from a couple thousand dollars to more than $20,000. In 2025, the average coding bootcamp costs roughly $14,000. Cyber security bootcamps tend to be a little more expensive than bootcamps on other subjects, though this is not always the case.
The median annual pay for information security analysts is $124,910, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.3 Each specific role in cyber security has a different salary depending on your level of experience, expertise, employer, and location of the business. The high demand for cyber security experts also signals a promising job market for aspiring professionals.
Sources
1https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-6
2https://careerkarma.com/blog/state-of-the-bootcamp-market-report-2024-statistics-and-share-analysis/
3https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-5
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
