KnowBe4 vs Phished

A side-by-side comparison across pricing, deployment, integrations, compliance, and security awareness training-specific features. Descriptive comparison only — no recommendations.

4 min read Data verified: July 2026 Security Awareness Training

KnowBe4

Security Awareness Training

Per-user annual pricing in four tiers Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond. List pricing approximately $20-$30/user/year for smaller deployments; Diamond tier ranges from ~$2.65/user/month down to ~$1.70/user/month with volume and three-year commitments. Negotiated discounts typically 22-55% below list per CheckThat.ai community data (25-35% mid-market, 40-50% enterprise 1,000+ users)

Paid

Visit official site →

Phished

Security Awareness Training

Custom enterprise pricing Phished does not publicly list per-user rates; quoted by sales based on user count, languages, and contract term; Phished reports $16M+ ARR with 6,000+ customers and 2M+ users as of Q1 2026

Paid

Visit official site →

$ Pricing & plans

5 dimensions

Pricing model

Per-user annual pricing in four tiers

Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond. List pricing approximately $20-$30/user/year for smaller deployments; Diamond tier ranges from ~$2.65/user/month down to ~$1.70/user/month with volume and three-year commitments. Negotiated discounts typically 22-55% below list per CheckThat.ai community data (25-35% mid-market, 40-50% enterprise 1,000+ users)

Custom enterprise pricing

Phished does not publicly list per-user rates; quoted by sales based on user count, languages, and contract term; Phished reports $16M+ ARR with 6,000+ customers and 2M+ users as of Q1 2026

Pricing tier

Paid

Free tier / trial

Trial only

No permanent free tier; free trial available for evaluation; demo and proof-of-value campaigns via KnowBe4 sales

Trial only

No permanent free tier; demo and trial via Phished sales; no public self-service signup

Volume discounts

Per-user pricing decreases with volume

multi-year commitments (especially three-year) unlock significant additional savings; CheckThat.ai community data suggests enterprise (1,000+ users) commonly achieves 40-50% below list; non-profit and competitive upgrade discounts available

Per-user pricing scales with volume

multi-year terms unlock additional savings; MSP partner program with multi-tenant management for partners serving multiple SMB clients

Hidden costs

Add-on products (PhishER Plus for inbox threat triage, Compliance Plus for…

compliance training, SecurityCoach for real-time coaching, KCM GRC platform) priced separately; advanced features feature-gated to higher tiers may force upgrades over time; change management and dedicated program leadership often determine ROI more than the platform itself

Custom pricing means contract structure varies

buyers should clarify what's included (languages, advanced content, ZIM, BRS reporting, integrations); MSP partners may have specific markup structures; offline / USB-drop phishing not in the standard scope

↗ Deployment & integrations

3 dimensions

Deployment

SaaS multi-tenant cloud

web-based admin console; KnowBe4 Learner mobile app for end-user training delivery; data residency options for EU, US, and other regions; SOC 2 Type II audited platform

SaaS multi-tenant cloud

Belgium-headquartered (Leuven) with EU data residency available; admin console is web-based; runs largely on autopilot after initial configuration; minimal IT involvement after setup

Typical deployment time

Hours to days for basic phishing simulation and training deployment

weeks for full program rollout with policy design, executive sponsorship, baseline metrics, and integration setup; ongoing program management is the long-term commitment

Hours to days for initial configuration (user sync, simulation whitelisting,…

IdP integration); platform then runs automatically — Phished's positioning is 'set and forget' security awareness, with admin checking progress rather than managing campaigns

Key integrations

Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, Active Directory for SSO/user sync

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for phishing simulation whitelisting and PAB reporting button; SIEM forwarding (Splunk, Sentinel, QRadar) via API; ServiceNow, Jira; Slack, Teams; SecurityCoach integrates with EDR/XDR vendors for behavioral coaching triggers

Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, Active Directory for SSO/user provisioning

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for phishing simulation whitelisting and inbox reporting button; HRIS sync for automated user lifecycle; webhook and API integrations for reporting

🎓 Security Awareness Training-specific evaluation

7 dimensions

Phishing simulation channels

Email phishing (year-round unlimited simulations with thousands of templates),…

Callback Phishing (simulated phone-based attacks), reply-tracking for BEC simulation, USB drop tests (PhishER); voice/SMS/QR multi-channel capabilities maturing; AIDA AI-driven template selection in Diamond tier

AI-driven email phishing simulations personalized per user

SMS (smishing) simulations; QR code phishing simulations; content localized to company context and individual skill level; adaptive difficulty engine adjusts simulation frequency and complexity per user

Training content library

World's largest security awareness library in 35+ languages

covers security awareness, compliance, cybersecurity fundamentals; modular courses, interactive videos, gamified content; updated continuously; Compliance Plus add-on covers 100+ regulatory frameworks; content depth varies by tier (newest modules often Diamond-only)

Phished Academy covers 360 cybersecurity topics via gamified science-based curriculum

native content in 18+ languages (Catalan, Czech, Danish, German, English, Finnish, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Chinese Simplified/Traditional); short digestible sessions with certificates; updated regularly

AI / personalization

AIDA (Artificial Intelligence-Driven Agent) automatically chooses the best…

phishing template for each user based on individual training and phishing history; AI-recommended training modules based on previous completions; SmartRisk Engine analyzes user behavior for human risk insights; AI-native defense agents personalize content and create realistic phishing templates — all Diamond tier

AI-driven core

personalized phishing simulations adjust difficulty based on user performance; AI selects appropriate templates and timing per user; Zero Incident Mail (ZIM) AI sandbox provides safe environment when users click test links; targeted training delivered automatically to first-time clickers, repeat offenders, and users entering sensitive data

Risk scoring & analytics

Virtual Risk Officer (all tiers) analyzes risk at user, group, organization levels

SmartRisk Score (Platinum+) provides 0-100 quantified human risk score; Phish-prone Percentage as headline metric; Security Awareness Proficiency Assessment (SAPA); Security Culture Survey (SCS); Industry Benchmarking comparing against peer organizations; 60+ built-in reports with API access (Platinum+) for board-level metrics

Phished Behavioral Risk Score (BRS) provides company, department, and…

employee-level cyber resilience scoring; continuous monitoring of evolving security posture; automated reporting via email; dashboard for admin overview; integration with reporting workflows via API/webhooks

Compliance training

Compliance Plus add-on (separate licensing, 100+ employee minimum) covers 100+…

regulatory frameworks including HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, SOX, FERPA, GLBA, OSHA, state privacy laws; industry-specific modules for healthcare, financial services, education, government; built-in audit reporting

Compliance fundamentals integrated within the 360-topic curriculum

NIS2, GDPR, ISO 27001 alignment built in; less explicit framework-by-framework module structure than KnowBe4's Compliance Plus add-on but covers core requirements

Integrations

Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, Active Directory SSO/SCIM

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace whitelisting and PAB reporting button; SIEM forwarding via API (Splunk, Sentinel, QRadar); ServiceNow, Jira for ticket integration; Slack, Teams; SecurityCoach integrates with EDR/XDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender) to trigger coaching on risky behavior

Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace, Active Directory SSO/SCIM

HRIS integrations for user lifecycle automation; Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace whitelisting and inbox report button; SIEM and SOAR integration via API and webhooks; partner program integrations for MSPs

Deployment model

Multi-tenant SaaS only

data residency options for EU, US, APAC; no self-hosted option; MSP partner program exists but architecturally requires separate accounts per client (no consolidated multi-tenant portal per MSP-focused reviews)

Multi-tenant SaaS only

EU data residency (Belgium-headquartered); MSP partner program with multi-tenant management for partners; no self-hosted option

✓ Compliance & certifications

1 dimension

Compliance certifications

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR

Compliance Plus add-on delivers training modules mapped to 100+ regulatory frameworks (HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, GDPR, FERPA, GLBA, state privacy laws, industry-specific frameworks); FedRAMP Moderate for KnowBe4 Government Edition

ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, GDPR-aligned

built specifically for European compliance landscape including NIS2 directive requirements; content covers 360 cybersecurity topics including compliance fundamentals

◧ Positioning

3 dimensions

Target deployment

Mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting the broadest security awareness…

content library, mature phishing simulation, and AI-driven personalization (AIDA) — particularly strong fit when regulated industries need built-in compliance modules

Mid-market organizations and MSPs wanting fully-automated, AI-driven phishing…

simulation and training with minimal admin workload — particularly strong fit for European deployments and NIS2-driven training mandates

Strengths cited

World's largest security awareness content library (training modules in 35+…

languages, frequently updated), thousands of phishing simulation templates, AIDA (AI-Driven Agent) for personalized phishing and training in Diamond tier, SmartRisk Engine for quantified human risk scoring (0-100 scale), Industry Benchmarking for comparing Phish-prone percentage against peers, 60+ built-in reports, Compliance Plus add-on for 100+ regulatory frameworks, PhishER Plus for inbox threat reporting and remediation, SecurityCoach for real-time behavioral coaching, broad integrations with IdPs and email security

Fully-automated platform requiring minimal IT involvement after initial…

configuration, AI-driven personalization adjusts difficulty based on individual user skill level and behavior, content available in 18+ languages with native localization, Phished Behavioral Risk Score (BRS) for organization-wide cyber resilience measurement, Zero Incident Mail (ZIM) creates a secure sandbox training environment when employees click test links, Phished Academy with 360 cybersecurity topics via gamified science-based curriculum, real-time threat alerts from in-house cyber defense team, EU-headquartered (Belgian) with strong GDPR and NIS2 alignment, 4.6/5 G2 rating from 108+ reviews

Where it fits less well

Tiered pricing with feature gating

many advanced capabilities (AIDA, SmartRisk Engine, API access, Smart Groups, callback phishing) only in higher tiers (Platinum/Diamond); content quality varies by tier (newest training and video content often Diamond-only); some buyers report Microsoft Defender integration friction with the PAB reporting button; per-user pricing can creep up with organizational growth; KnowBe4 acquired by Vista Equity Partners in 2023 (privatized) — long-term roadmap visibility shifted

Custom pricing means no public price benchmark

buyers should reference enterprise comparisons; some users report training email frequency feels heavy if not tuned; reporting depth and dashboard interactivity have room to grow per reviews; less name recognition than KnowBe4 in North American markets; product evolved through acquisition by Pleo's parent company and growth phase ($16M+ ARR, 6,000 customers as of Q1 2026); offline / non-digital phishing simulation (USB drops, in-person social engineering) not the primary focus

◧ Bottom line

Last updated 6 July 2026

Who should pick which KnowBe4 — Mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting the broadest content library and most mature phishing simulation platform, regulated industries needing built-in compliance training (HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, etc.), organizations with dedicated security awareness program leadership, deployments where Industry Benchmarking against peers adds value to executive reporting.

Phished — European mid-market organizations subject to NIS2 directive requirements, MSPs serving SMB clients wanting hands-off security awareness training (Phished partner program), organizations valuing minimal admin workload (the 'autopilot' design philosophy), multinational teams needing native-language training content across 18+ languages, deployments where behavioral change matters more than checkbox compliance.

Both are Security Awareness Training tools; the practical differences are licensing (Paid vs Paid) and deployment (SaaS (multi-tenant cloud); web-based admin console; KnowBe4 Learner mobile app for users; integrates with major IdPs (Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace) vs SaaS multi-tenant cloud (Belgium-headquartered, EU data residency available); web-based admin console; runs largely on autopilot after configuration). Match the profile above to your environment.

◧ Choose KnowBe4 or Phished?

decision guide

Choose if

Choose KnowBe4 if…

You can deploy SaaS (multi-tenant cloud); web-based admin console; KnowBe4 Learner mobile app for users; integrates with major IdPs (Microsoft Entra ID, Okta, Google Workspace).

Paid licensing fits your budget — Per-user annual pricing across four tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) — list pricing typically $20-$30/user/year for smaller deployments; published rates decrease with volume; reportedly negotiated 22-55% below list at scale (25-35% mid-market, 40-50% enterprise 1,000+).

You prioritise World's largest security awareness content library (training modules in 35+ languages, frequently updated), thousands of phishing simulation templates, AIDA (AI-Driven Agent) for personalized phishing and training in Diamond tier, SmartRisk Engine for quantified human risk scoring (0-100 scale), Industry Benchmarking for comparing Phish-prone percentage against peers, 60+ built-in reports, Compliance Plus add-on for 100+ regulatory frameworks, PhishER Plus for inbox threat reporting and remediation, SecurityCoach for real-time behavioral coaching, broad integrations with IdPs and email security.

Choose Phished if…

You can deploy SaaS multi-tenant cloud (Belgium-headquartered, EU data residency available); web-based admin console; runs largely on autopilot after configuration.

Paid licensing fits your budget — Custom enterprise pricing (per-user annual subscription); pricing not publicly listed; quoted by Phished sales based on user count, content scope, and contract length.

You prioritise Fully-automated platform requiring minimal IT involvement after initial configuration, AI-driven personalization adjusts difficulty based on individual user skill level and behavior, content available in 18+ languages with native localization, Phished Behavioral Risk Score (BRS) for organization-wide cyber resilience measurement, Zero Incident Mail (ZIM) creates a secure sandbox training environment when employees click test links, Phished Academy with 360 cybersecurity topics via gamified science-based curriculum, real-time threat alerts from in-house cyber defense team, EU-headquartered (Belgian) with strong GDPR and NIS2 alignment, 4.6/5 G2 rating from 108+ reviews.

Frequently asked questions

5 questions

How much do KnowBe4 and Phished cost?

KnowBe4: Per-user annual pricing in four tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond. List pricing approximately $20-$30/user/year for smaller deployments; Diamond tier ranges from ~$2.65/user/month down to ~$1.70/user/month with volume and three-year commitments. Negotiated discounts typically 22-55% below list per CheckThat.ai community data (25-35% mid-market, 40-50% enterprise 1,000+ users) Phished: Custom enterprise pricing — Phished does not publicly list per-user rates; quoted by sales based on user count, languages, and contract term; Phished reports $16M+ ARR with 6,000+ customers and 2M+ users as of Q1 2026

Does KnowBe4 or Phished offer a free tier or trial?

KnowBe4: No permanent free tier; free trial available for evaluation; demo and proof-of-value campaigns via KnowBe4 sales Phished: No permanent free tier; demo and trial via Phished sales; no public self-service signup

How are KnowBe4 and Phished deployed?

KnowBe4: SaaS multi-tenant cloud; web-based admin console; KnowBe4 Learner mobile app for end-user training delivery; data residency options for EU, US, and other regions; SOC 2 Type II audited platform Phished: SaaS multi-tenant cloud; Belgium-headquartered (Leuven) with EU data residency available; admin console is web-based; runs largely on autopilot after initial configuration; minimal IT involvement after setup

Who is KnowBe4 best for, and who is Phished best for?

KnowBe4 is aimed at Mid-market to enterprise organizations wanting the broadest security awareness content library, mature phishing simulation, and AI-driven personalization (AIDA) — particularly strong fit when regulated industries need built-in compliance modules. Phished is aimed at Mid-market organizations and MSPs wanting fully-automated, AI-driven phishing simulation and training with minimal admin workload — particularly strong fit for European deployments and NIS2-driven training mandates.

What compliance certifications do KnowBe4 and Phished hold?

KnowBe4: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR; Compliance Plus add-on delivers training modules mapped to 100+ regulatory frameworks (HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX, GDPR, FERPA, GLBA, state privacy laws, industry-specific frameworks); FedRAMP Moderate for KnowBe4 Government Edition Phished: ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, GDPR-aligned; built specifically for European compliance landscape including NIS2 directive requirements; content covers 360 cybersecurity topics including compliance fundamentals

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Methodology Comparison data synthesized from publicly available vendor documentation, MITRE Engenuity ATT&CK Evaluations, AV-TEST results, Gartner Peer Insights, G2/Capterra/TrustRadius reviews, anonymized transaction data (Vendr, CostBench, CheckThat.ai), and publicly reported pricing as of May 2026. defend.network is independent and has no commercial relationship with the vendors compared.