What Free Tools Does Boson Offer for IT Learners?

Updated

Boson offers three free tools for IT learners: a Subnet Calculator, a Networking Tool, and the Verbose Tech Vocabulary Game. They sit alongside Boson's paid training products (NetSim, Practice Labs, ExSim-Max practice exams, video training, and bundles) on the same site, so you can use them as low-commitment practice aids while deciding whether to buy anything. They suit anyone studying networking or working toward IT certifications who wants quick, no-cost reinforcement of concepts.

The three free tools

Tool What it is for Best used when
Subnet Calculator Working out subnetting math (network ranges, masks, host counts) You're learning or drilling IP addressing and subnetting for a networking exam
Networking Tool General networking reference/utility work You need a quick networking lookup or calculation while studying or on the job
Verbose Tech Vocabulary Game Building and testing IT terminology You want a lighter, game-style way to reinforce tech vocabulary

Boson groups these under "Free Tools" in its product navigation, which also lists the Subnet Calculator, Networking Tool, and Verbose Tech Vocabulary Game by name.

How they fit into a study routine

These tools are positioned as stand-alone learning aids rather than full courses. A practical way to use them:

  1. Start with the Subnet Calculator while you're learning subnetting. Enter an address and mask, and use the output to check your own hand calculations — the value is in verifying your work, not skipping the math.
  2. Use the Networking Tool as a reference during hands-on practice, so you're not leaving your study session to hunt for basic networking answers.
  3. Play the Verbose Tech Vocabulary Game in short sessions to keep terminology fresh, especially for acronym-heavy certifications.

Because the free tools appear in the same catalog as Boson's paid offerings, they double as a preview of the site's teaching style before you commit to a paid product.

What the free tools are not

The free tools are not substitutes for Boson's paid training. The paid side covers:

  • NetSim — simulates Cisco hardware and software for certification training
  • Practice Labs / Virtual IT Labs — cloud-hosted, pre-configured hardware with step-by-step guides
  • ExSim-Max — practice exams written by subject-matter experts and designed to simulate the full exam experience
  • Video Training and Bundles — tutorial video training and combined product packages

If your goal is full exam simulation or hands-on lab environments, the free tools won't get you there; they're for targeted practice and concept reinforcement.

Who should use them

  • Certification candidates in networking and IT who want extra reps on subnetting and vocabulary without paying.
  • Self-taught learners who need a quick reference tool during study sessions.
  • Anyone evaluating Boson who wants to try something before buying a course, lab, or practice exam.

If you already know subnetting cold and want exam-condition practice, skip straight to the paid practice exams and labs instead.