Updated 23 October 2026 · An independent comparison, including where LabFabric is not the right pick
No single product covers everything. Our recommended combination: a full course to learn the material, a simulator to practise, and timed practice tests at the end. Here is what each option is good at, including where LabFabric is not the right pick.
Learn with Jeremy's IT Lab (free). Practise troubleshooting with LabFabric as you finish each topic. Check readiness with Boson ExSim-Max in the last few weeks. Total: around $100 plus the $300 exam.
| Resource | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LabFabric | Free tier, then a one-off pass | Browser troubleshooting labs, practice questions, bookable hosted IOS lab sessions | Diagnosing and fixing faults with step-by-step feedback |
| Jeremy's IT Lab | Free | Full CCNA video course on YouTube, Packet Tracer labs, Anki flashcards; practice exams sold separately on Udemy | Learning the whole blueprint from zero |
| Boson ExSim-Max | $99 / year | Timed practice exams with detailed explanations, in the browser; free demo | Final exam readiness |
| Boson NetSim | $179 / year | Browser-based Cisco IOS simulator with graded labs; free demo | Configuration practice on simulated gear |
| Cisco U. CCNA path | About $800 for 180 days | Cisco's official course with hosted labs and videos | Employer-funded, official material |
| Cisco Packet Tracer | Free (Networking Academy account) | Network simulator you build topologies in | Building your own practice networks |
| Feature | LabFabric | Jeremy's IT Lab | Boson ExSim-Max | Boson NetSim | Cisco U. CCNA path | Cisco Packet Tracer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete video course | ||||||
| Timed practice exam | Sold separately | Varies by plan | ||||
| Hands-on CLI practice | Packet Tracer files | |||||
| Pre-broken faults to diagnose | Some labs | Troubleshooting labs | Varies | Activity files | ||
| Works in a browser, no install | Videos only | |||||
| Hosted lab devices | Paid sessions | |||||
| Free to start | Free demo | Free demo | Free previews |
Jeremy's IT Lab is, in our opinion, the best free CCNA full course, and we recommend it. It teaches each topic, then hands you a Packet Tracer file. LabFabric starts where that ends: a network that is already broken, symptoms to read, and feedback on whether your fix is the right one. Use them together. Watch the video, then do the matching guided lab.
Boson ExSim-Max is widely regarded as the benchmark CCNA practice test. If your only question is "am I ready to book?", buy it. LabFabric's mixed assessment and CCNA exam questions find weak topics earlier, while you are still learning. NetSim is a strong browser-based configuration simulator. Both have free demos, so try them.
Cisco U. is Cisco's official CCNA course: thorough, with real labs, at about $800. It suits learners whose employer pays. If you are funding yourself, a free course plus LabFabric and Boson covers the exam blueprint for a fraction of the cost.
Packet Tracer is free and excellent for building topologies yourself. A blank topology gives no feedback, though Networking Academy activity files can check your work. Our free lab files give you ready-made faults for PNETLab and EVE-NG, and the guided labs check your work as you go.
It is a broad associate exam: 120 minutes, multiple choice plus simulation questions. Plan on three to six months of steady study, depending on your background. Subnetting speed and reading show output are what trip people up, so drill subnetting daily and practise troubleshooting, not just configuration.
Cisco publishes the official CCNA 200-301 exam topics PDF free. The standard book is Wendell Odom's CCNA Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press, sold as an ebook. Cisco Press publishes free sample chapters. Other free "book PDF" downloads are usually unauthorised copies, and using "exam dumps" breaks Cisco's exam agreement.
Cisco retired CCNA Routing and Switching and several other CCNA tracks in February 2020 and merged them into the single CCNA 200-301 exam (CyberOps followed in May 2020). DevNet Associate and CyberOps Associate have since been renamed CCNA Automation and CCNA Cybersecurity.
CCNA 200-301 v2.0 replaces v1.1 on 3 February 2027 with an updated blueprint. Same exam code; the current price is US$300. See every v2.0 objective mapped to practice.
LabFabric has 50 free practice questions across the site, organised by topic, for example DHCP, OSPF and STP. Each answer explains why, not just what.
Both cost $300. Pick by the job you want: security analyst pay has grown fastest since 2019, while automation skills are increasingly expected in senior network roles. See the salary trends.
A broken spanning tree, real show output, and feedback on your fix. Free, no signup.
Start the free STP labPrices and features checked 2026-10-23 on each vendor's site. LabFabric is independent and not affiliated with Cisco, Boson or Jeremy's IT Lab. All trademarks belong to their owners. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.