HackAPrompt

HackAPrompt is a global AI red-teaming competition focused on identifying vulnerabilities in large language models through prompt hacking. Participants craft prompts to elicit specific outputs, like “I have been PWNED,” or expose weaknesses in models such as ChatGPT, GPT-3, and FlanT5-XXL. The platform offers five tracks — Classic, Agents, Future Attacks, and two forthcoming tracks — catering to beginners and advanced users. HackAPrompt 2.0, running through July 2025, features a $100,000 prize pool and attracts over 30,000 participants from 150+ countries.

The Playground, hosted on Hugging Face, allows users to test prompts against AI models before submitting to the AICrowd leaderboard. The scoring system rewards efficiency, with fewer tokens yielding higher points, and a 2x multiplier for ChatGPT submissions. The platform provides free training materials and a Discord community with 47,000+ active members. A dataset of 600,000+ prompts from HackAPrompt 1.0 is open-sourced, supporting academic research, including a 2023 EMNLP paper outlining 29 prompt-hacking techniques.

Competitors include AI Village, which hosts broader AI security challenges, and PromptHero, focused on creative prompt engineering. HackAPrompt’s strength lies in its specific focus on LLM vulnerabilities and its large-scale, community-driven approach. However, beginners may struggle with the technical complexity, and the interface lacks advanced guidance. The time commitment, spanning two months, may also challenge casual participants.

Participation is free, making it accessible compared to premium tools like CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sandbox. The platform’s scale and partnerships with OpenAI and Hugging Face enhance its credibility. Users can experiment up to 20 times daily, refining strategies through iterative testing.

For best results, focus on the Classic track first. Use the Playground to test prompts thoroughly. Join the Discord for community insights. Prioritize concise prompts to maximize scores. Monitor the leaderboard to gauge progress and adjust tactics.