Security Awareness Training Tools Compared

Security awareness training platforms deliver phishing simulation, educational content, and behavioral change programs to reduce human risk. Side-by-side comparison across 3 tools — descriptive only, no recommendations.

6 min read Data verified: July 2026 3 tools compared

KnowBe4

Security Awareness Training

Paid

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+)

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GoPhish

Security Awareness (OSS)

Free / OSS

Free under MIT License single-binary download from GitHub; no commercial tier from the upstream project

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Phished

Security Awareness Training

Paid

Custom enterprise pricing (per-user annual subscription) pricing not publicly listed; quoted by Phished sales based on user count, content scope, and contract length

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Comparing →

KnowBe4

Security Awareness Training

GoPhish

Security Awareness (OSS)

Phished

Security Awareness Training

$ 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)

Free under MIT License

no commercial tier from the upstream project (GitHub: gophish/gophish); community-maintained; commercial services available from third parties (red team consultancies, MSPs using GoPhish as their engine)

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 / OSS

Paid

Free tier / trial

Trial only

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

Free tier

Software permanently free; no commercial version

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

Not applicable

software is free

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

Sending infrastructure (SMTP server or commercial relay), domain registration…

for sending domains (often a fresh look-alike domain per campaign), engineering time for template design, target list management, result analysis, legal review and authorization, training content creation (none included), monitoring and alerting infrastructure, optional commercial support from third-party consultancies

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

Single static binary on Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD

official Docker container available; runs on localhost:3333 by default; supports any SMTP relay for sending (your own mail server, SendGrid, AWS SES, etc.); HTTPS for the admin UI strongly recommended in production

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

Minutes for initial install (download binary, run, log in via web UI)

hours to days for first production campaign with proper sending domain, SPF/DKIM/DMARC alignment, template design, and target list curation; weeks for mature program with API automation, custom reporting, and integration with internal tooling

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

REST API with Python client library (gophish/api-client-python) for full…

programmatic control; integrates with any SMTP server; outputs results in JSON for ingestion into SIEMs, BI tools, custom dashboards; no native IdP, MDM, SIEM, or LMS integrations (build via API)

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

Email phishing only in the upstream project (the most common channel)

SMS/voice/QR channels would require building custom integrations; community forks and wrapper projects extend functionality

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)

None included

GoPhish is a phishing simulation framework, not a training platform; organizations either source training content separately (open educational resources, custom-developed modules, commercial content libraries) or run GoPhish purely as a phishing assessment tool

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

No native AI personalization

targeting and template selection are manual or scripted via the REST API; advanced personalization requires custom development

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

Per-campaign metrics (sent, opened, clicked, submitted data, reported)

per-user click and submission tracking; results exported as JSON for custom analysis; no built-in cross-campaign risk scoring or behavioral analytics (build via API + external BI tools)

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

None — GoPhish does not provide compliance training modules

organizations layering compliance training pair GoPhish with separate LMS or content libraries

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

REST API enables integration with any system

Python client library available; SMTP integration with any mail relay; no native IdP/MDM/SIEM/LMS integrations in the upstream project (build via API)

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)

Self-hosted only

fully on customer infrastructure; supports air-gapped and sovereign deployments; no SaaS vendor option from upstream (third-party MSPs may offer managed GoPhish hosting)

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

Software has no certifications (open-source project)

users responsible for their own compliance posture and legal authorization for simulations

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

Penetration testers, red teams, small security teams, and security researchers…

wanting full control over phishing simulation infrastructure and data — willing to build their own training content layer

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

Free under MIT License with active community, single static binary makes…

deployment trivial (download and run), built-in REST API enables automation, full HTML template editor in web UI for crafting pixel-perfect phishing emails and landing pages, real-time campaign tracking (email opens, clicks, credential submissions), Python client library, scheduled campaigns, Docker container available, full data sovereignty (your infrastructure, your data, your sending domains)

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

Phishing simulation framework only

no built-in training content (you create or source training separately), no SSO/multi-tenancy in the upstream project, no automated user provisioning, limited reporting compared to commercial platforms, no built-in compliance modules, community-maintained (no commercial SLA; last upstream release was v0.12.1 in September 2022, with low release cadence since, though community forks remain active), running phishing simulations requires careful legal authorization (unauthorized testing may violate computer fraud statutes), spam-list management and deliverability are operational responsibilities you take on

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

Head-to-head comparisons

2 pairs

◧ Bottom line

Last updated 6 July 2026

How this category breaks down This page compares 3 Security Awareness Training tools. Open-source / free-tier options: GoPhish. Commercial platforms: KnowBe4, Phished. Use the comparison table above to match each tool’s stated best-fit to your environment.

Frequently asked questions

3 questions

Which Security Awareness Training tools does this comparison cover?

This comparison covers 3 Security Awareness Training tools: KnowBe4, GoPhish, Phished.

Which Security Awareness Training tools are open-source or offer a free tier?

Open-source or free-tier options: GoPhish.

Which Security Awareness Training tools are commercial (paid)?

Commercial / paid options: KnowBe4, Phished.

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.