Hackademy vs Killercoda vs a local cluster: where to practise Kubernetes
As of October 2026. Facts about other products come from their own sites, linked below; we make Hackademy.
The short answer
There are three common free ways to practise kubectl. A browser simulator such as Hackademy gives you a pretend cluster with guided incidents and no setup or time limit, but only the commands it simulates. An online environment such as Killercoda gives you a temporary environment in the browser, free for up to an hour a session. A local cluster with kind or minikube gives you a full, real cluster that you install and run yourself, with no exercises built in. Many people use more than one: a simulator to learn what to look for when something breaks, and a real cluster to build things that last. Play with Kubernetes, once a popular option, has been unavailable since 1 March 2026.
| Hackademy Kubernetes Simulator | Killercoda | kind or minikube on your machine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A simulated cluster in your browser. kubectl output is copied from a real kind cluster at v1.35.0; commands it doesn't simulate say so. | Interactive scenarios and empty playground environments that run in temporary environments, deleted when the browser tab is closed. | A real Kubernetes cluster that runs locally: kind runs its nodes as Docker containers; minikube runs a local cluster. |
| Cost | Free, no paid plans. 2 missions without an account; a free account for the rest. | A free membership covers all scenarios except courses; paid PLUS and COURSE memberships exist. | Free and open source. |
| Time limit | No time limit. A sitting in progress is saved on your device. | Free sessions run for up to one hour; up to four hours with a paid membership. | No limit: it runs as long as your machine does. |
| Guided practice | 54 incident missions across 9 apps, with hints, stars and a sandbox. | Community and trainer scenarios, including CKA and CKAD pages; some courses need the COURSE membership. | None built in; pair it with the Kubernetes tutorials or your own exercises. |
| Setup | Nothing to install. | Nothing to install. | Install the tool (and a container runtime such as Docker for kind). |
Questions
- Is Hackademy a real Kubernetes cluster?
No. It simulates one in your browser, with kubectl output copied from a real kind cluster at v1.35.0. That is what makes it instant, free and impossible to break for real; the trade-off is that only the commands it simulates work, and it says so when one doesn't.
- What happened to Play with Kubernetes?
Its site says Play with Kubernetes is unavailable from 1 March 2026 and points to Docker's documentation for labs. It used to give you a free Alpine Linux virtual machine in the browser for up to four hours.
- Which should I use?
Use a simulator such as Hackademy to practise diagnosing and fixing incidents step by step with nothing to set up. Use Killercoda when you want a ready-made environment in the browser for a set time, and kind or minikube when you want a full cluster of your own to keep.
Sources
- killercoda.com/faq and killercoda.com/pricing: free and paid memberships, session lengths.
- kubernetes.io learning environment: kind, minikube and online playgrounds.
- labs.play-with-k8s.com: the March 2026 shutdown notice.
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