KnowBe4
Cybersecurity Verified May 2026
Phishing simulations and security awareness training platform
- Largest library of phishing simulation templates in the market
- Automated training assignments based on who clicks phishing links
- Measurable risk score improvement over time
- Integrates with AD/Azure AD for easy user management
How KnowBe4 scored 58/100
6 weighted criteria, each scored out of 10 and published with its reasoning. Featured placements never move a score.
Deal Strength
5.0 /10What is verified is the pricing, not a saving: KnowBe4 quotes standard volume-discounted annual rates with no coupon and no exclusive rate attached. Buying through this listing does not change what you pay.
Value for Money
5.0 /10Pricing runs $25-$80/user/year depending on tier and seat count, which buys the largest content library in security awareness training. That is about market rate for a compliance-driven platform of this scope.
Capability
8.0 /10It is the largest security awareness and simulated phishing platform, with a deep training library, SCORM and LMS support, phishing simulations, the Phish Alert Button and detailed reporting, used by 70,000+ customers. Few gaps for compliance programmes.
Time to Value
5.0 /10Getting value means uploading your user list, assigning training campaigns and launching a first simulated phishing test. The steps are straightforward but take days of setup and coordination rather than an afternoon.
Trust & Reliability
8.0 /10KnowBe4 draws on 15+ years of phishing data, serves 70,000 customers globally and is a Gartner Magic Quadrant leader, with SOC 2 and HIPAA coverage for compliance teams. Uptime commitments are not published.
Flexibility & Exit
3.0 /10KnowBe4 is sold annually, so you are committed for a full year with no monthly option. Nothing is published about cancelling early or exporting your training records, which is a real question for a compliance tool.
About KnowBe4
Quick answer
Phishing simulations and security awareness training platform
KnowBe4, in 30 seconds
KnowBe4 is the largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform on the market, anchored by a content library that includes The Inside Man series and a database of real-world phishing templates. We picked it because for compliance-driven training (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR), the breadth and SCORM/LMS depth are still the safest bet for a mid-sized security programme.
How it works
You upload or sync users (AD, Entra ID, Google, SCIM), assign them to training campaigns and phishing simulation programmes, and run randomised tests against your domain throughout the year. Failures route to remediation training automatically. The Phish Alert Button add-in for Outlook and Gmail lets users report suspicious mail with one click; PhishER (separate tier) then triages those reports and integrates with SOAR tools for response.
Reports break down click rate, report rate and Phish-prone Percentage by department, manager and time, which is what you bring to audit conversations and board updates.
Pricing reality
KnowBe4 is sold annually with volume discounts. Public guidance is that Silver lands around $25-$30/user/year for mid-sized buyers; Gold adds advanced features and lands around $40-$50; Platinum and Diamond add Smart Groups, Compliance Plus content and AIDA-based personalised training, typically $50-$80/user/year depending on volume. Below 100 seats, expect to pay near the top of the range; above a few thousand, the per-seat numbers fall sharply. PhishER, KCM GRC and SecurityCoach are sold separately.
Versus alternatives
| Tool | Strength | Weakness vs KnowBe4 |
|---|---|---|
| KnowBe4 | Largest content library, mature programme management | — |
| Proofpoint Security Awareness | Tight integration with Proofpoint email security | Smaller content catalogue, narrower phishing template library |
| Hoxhunt | Personalised training, modern UX | Smaller content depth for compliance-heavy programmes |
| Living Security | Strong human risk management analytics | Less mature SCORM/LMS export and template breadth |
Who should buy, who should skip
Buy if
- You need annual compliance training (HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR) plus phishing simulations under one platform
- You have 200+ employees and a security or IT lead running awareness
- You want SCORM export to your existing LMS
Skip if
- You are a 10-50 person startup; the price and breadth are overkill
- You want lighter, more modern UX and adaptive learning at the engagement-first end (consider Hoxhunt)
- Your email security is on Proofpoint and you want one-vendor consolidation
What's included
- Phishing simulations expose real employee vulnerability
- Pre-built training modules cover compliance frameworks
- Integrates with major identity and SIEM platforms
- Dashboard surfaces risk trends and department-level metrics
- SaaSTweaks-verified affiliate deal
- Vendor-direct activation flow
- Editorial pros + cons review
- Tracked savings claim with refresh date
KnowBe4 pricing
Verified May 2026. Vendor's published rates at the time we checked — always confirm at checkout.
| Plan | Price | Term | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | From ~$20/user/yr | annual, volume discounts | 700+ training modules · Phishing simulations · Automated campaigns · Basic reporting |
| Gold | From ~$30/user/yr | annual | Everything in Silver · Advanced phishing templates · SCORM content upload · USB test drives |
| Platinum | From ~$40/user/yr | annual | Everything in Gold · Physical security tests · ML-powered phishing · Advanced reporting |
| Diamond | Custom | enterprise | Everything in Platinum · AI-driven training · Premium support · Custom integrations |
Getting started
4 steps. The last one is the part most people skip.
- 1
Open KnowBe4 through the link on this page
It carries our referral tag. The price you pay is identical either way, and it never changes the score on this page.
- 2
Compare the tiers against what you actually use
The pricing table on this page lists what each plan includes. Match it to real usage rather than the tier the vendor highlights.
- 3
Start on the smallest plan that fits
Most vendors let you move up mid-cycle and bill the difference, so starting low costs you nothing but starting high does.
- 4
Check the renewal terms before you commit
Note the renewal date and the rate it reverts to, so the second invoice is not a surprise. Annual plans are usually cheaper per month but harder to exit.
Where KnowBe4 wins and loses
What works
- Largest library of phishing simulation templates in the market
- Automated training assignments based on who clicks phishing links
- Measurable risk score improvement over time
- Integrates with AD/Azure AD for easy user management
What doesn't
- Pricing not publicly listed — requires sales contact
- Content can feel dated or US-centric for international teams
- Dashboard is functional but not beautiful
- Phishing simulations can create false alarm fatigue
The bottom line
A mature, enterprise-focused platform with strong capabilities and trust signals, but constrained by annual contracts and no verifiable exclusive discount.
KnowBe4 baselines an organisation by sending an unannounced phishing simulation; the percentage of users who click is the Phish-prone Percentage. Industry benchmarks suggest the figure typically drops materially after 12 months of training and ongoing simulation.
Yes. SAML SSO with Okta, Microsoft Entra, Google and Ping; SCIM provisioning; AD/Entra group sync; HRIS integrations for joiner-mover-leaver workflows.
Yes, you can author custom templates and landing pages or modify any of the thousands in the library. Templates can mimic real-world brands or internal systems.
KnowBe4 has a larger content and template library and stronger programme-management depth. Proofpoint Security Awareness is tighter for organisations already on Proofpoint email security and want a single vendor.
Yes. KnowBe4 ships HIPAA-specific modules with completion tracking and SCORM export, which most healthcare auditors accept as evidence of annual training.
PhishER is the separate triage and orchestration product that handles user-reported emails. It is most useful for organisations with a SOC or MSSP that wants to automate response to suspicious-mail reports.
