Visibility in this ranking can be paid for. Payment gives a vendor more visibility, higher up on the review pages; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review. The largest vendors in security awareness training software
cannot hold places 1 to 3. Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category,
wherever the category has them; the established names follow from place 4 in their ranked order. How it works: placement disclosure ·
editorial process.
The 12 tools, reviewed
#1 Phished
Automated phishing simulations and training from Leuven · Belgium · phished.io
Automated Belgium Multilingual
Phished earns first place because it removes the most administrative work. Difficulty adapts per user, so nobody builds a campaign calendar, and the Academy covers 360 topics with certificates from Bronze to Platinum. The company says setup takes one to two hours and gives each customer a named success manager, which matters when the whole security function is one person.
- Pricing: Quote only. Three plans (Core, Advanced, All-in-One) with prices shown only after contact. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Small IT teams wanting automation
- Strengths: Adaptive phishing simulations; Phished Academy (360 topics); Report button.
Where it falls short
The pricing page shows three plan names and an ask-for-advice button, with no figure we could read, so the cost cannot be compared before a call.
Wrong for
A buyer who needs a published price list before talking to sales, or a very large enterprise wanting deep SOC workflows, should compare Keepnet or Hoxhunt.
Visit Phished →
#2 Hoxhunt
Gamified, personalized phishing training with incident automation · Finland · hoxhunt.com
Gamified Finland Multichannel
Hoxhunt is the strongest option here for a security team that wants to measure behavior, not completions. Simulations are tailored to each employee's department and location, delivered across email, SMS, phone calls or Teams, and followed by short instant lessons.
- Pricing: Quote only. Per employee, quoted after a 30-minute scoping call. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Security teams measuring behavior change
- Strengths: Adaptive phishing training; Email, SMS, phone and Teams simulations; AI-generated training.
Where it falls short
Pricing is per employee but only revealed after a scoping call, and no trial is offered on the page.
Wrong for
A 30-person company needing a basic annual course and a certificate for an auditor will pay for capability it does not use. usecure or Sophos Phish Threat is a lighter fit.
Visit Hoxhunt →
#3 usecure
One-plan awareness platform built for MSPs and IT teams · United Kingdom · usecure.io
MSP-ready One plan UK
usecure is the easy answer for a small IT team or an MSP that wants everything in one subscription. Its pricing page lists a single plan with training, phishing, dark web email monitoring and policy acknowledgement, plus 200 or more courses in more than 30 languages and a builder for custom lessons. AutoEnrol and AutoPhish take the scheduling off the admin.
- Pricing: Quote only. A single plan with every module included; price on request, free trial offered. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: MSPs and small IT teams
- Strengths: uLearn automated training; uPhish simulations; QR code and attachment phishing.
Where it falls short
The pricing page asks you to request pricing, so the per-seat figure is not public. Phishing coverage on the pricing page is email, QR code and attachment simulation, with no voice or SMS simulator listed.
Wrong for
A security team that wants simulated voice calls, deepfake scenarios or SOC ticket automation should look at Keepnet, Hoxhunt or Adaptive Security.
Visit usecure →
#4 Keepnet Labs
Human risk platform with five simulation channels · United Kingdom · keepnetlabs.com
Published prices Multichannel UK
Keepnet stands out for showing its price table. Four tiers (Essentials, Plus, 360 and Enterprise) are laid out against user bands from 25 to 1,000, and the top tier covers email, SMS, voice, QR code and callback simulations. Add-ons include an incident responder, compliance automation and agentic AI that builds simulations by role and language.
- Pricing: Per user / month. Four tiers priced per user; €1.04 to €2.72 in the bands up to 1,000 users, above that on quote. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Buyers who want published per-user prices
- Strengths: Phishing simulator; Smishing simulator; Vishing simulator.
Where it falls short
The channel simulators sit in higher tiers, so the lowest price buys email phishing only. The published table starts at 25 users and stops at 1,000, with larger counts quoted.
Wrong for
A team under 25 employees falls outside the price table.
Visit Keepnet Labs →
#5 Adaptive Security
Training and simulations for deepfakes and AI-era attacks · United States · adaptivesecurity.com
Deepfake AI governance US
Adaptive Security is the choice for buyers whose worry is the newer threats. It simulates deepfake Teams and Zoom scenarios, voice calls and SMS, builds lures from company information and offers phishing in 40 languages. Beyond training it sells an API-based email scanner that needs no MX change and a module that finds shadow AI use in browsers.
- Pricing: Per seat / month. Per seat, quoted by employee count and products; voice phishing priced as an add-on. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Teams worried about deepfakes and shadow AI
- Strengths: Deepfake simulations; Voice and SMS phishing; Phishing in 40 languages.
Where it falls short
A company this young has a short track record, and its scope keeps widening into email security and AI governance, which dilutes the training focus.
Wrong for
A buyer wanting a mature compliance course library or a proven multi-year reference list should look at KnowBe4 or SANS before a vendor founded in 2024.
Visit Adaptive Security →
#6 KnowBe4
Large content library with unlimited phishing tests · United States · knowbe4.com
Largest library Published prices US
KnowBe4 is the best-known product here, and it sits sixth because the challengers above it automate more of the work. Its euro price list is public: Foundation and Advanced tiers priced by seat band on a three-year term, with a note that pricing is as of May 2026.
- Pricing: Per seat / month. Per seat on a three-year term; €1.55 to €3.56 per seat per month in the May 2026 euro list. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Companies wanting a known reference name
- Strengths: Unlimited phishing security tests; Phish Alert Button; 47+ languages.
Where it falls short
The published rates are tied to a three-year term, so shorter contracts cost more.
Wrong for
A 20-person office wanting set-and-forget training will find the module count heavy.
Visit KnowBe4 →
#7 Huntress Security Awareness Training
Episode-style training curated by the Huntress team · United States · huntress.com
Story episodes Managed US
Huntress takes the opposite approach to configurable platforms: its staff create, curate and schedule the content, so the customer does very little. Training comes as story-based episodes of about 7 to 10 minutes, with reminders sent automatically to learners and notifications to managers, and monthly reports covering compromise rates. After a simulated compromise, personalized recovery training follows.
- Pricing: Quote only. Described as scalable pricing; figures are on a separate pricing page. Free plan: none.
- Best for: MSPs and SMBs already using Huntress
- Strengths: Story-driven episodes; Simulated phishing; Phishing defense coaching.
Where it falls short
The pages we could read state no seat limits, languages or contract terms, and the price sits on another page. Because Huntress chooses and schedules content, administrators have less control over topic order.
Wrong for
A company that wants fine control over simulation difficulty, voice or SMS channels, or a large multilingual library should look at Keepnet or KnowBe4.
Visit Huntress Security Awareness Training →
#8 Living Security
Human risk management with games, simulations and an open framework · United States · livingsecurity.com
Human risk Games US
Living Security fits an organization that wants a structured human risk program, not just courses. Its Simulate, Train and Govern products cover phishing, vishing and multi-channel attacks, awareness content, an online escape-room format and a virtual tabletop exercise.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote after a demo; no figures published. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Large teams building a risk program
- Strengths: Phishing and vishing simulations; Multi-channel attacks; Security awareness training.
Where it falls short
The site lists no prices, no trial and no seat bands, so the cost is unknown until a demo. The platform is wide and may demand a dedicated program owner to use well.
Wrong for
A small business with one IT person wants a lighter product. usecure or Phished will take less administration than a full human risk platform.
Visit Living Security →
#9 Sophos Phish Threat
Simulations and modules for Sophos email and endpoint customers · United Kingdom · sophos.com
Sophos stack Trial UK
Sophos Phish Threat makes sense when you already run Sophos for email or endpoint security, because simulations and reports sit in the same console. The product page promises hundreds of realistic attack simulations in a few clicks, more than 30 modules in nine languages, an Outlook add-in so users can report phish in one click, and an Awareness Factor dashboard.
- Pricing: Quote only. Not stated on the product page; a free trial is offered and pricing is by quote. Free plan: free trial.
- Best for: Existing Sophos customers
- Strengths: Phishing simulations; 30+ training modules; Nine languages.
Where it falls short
The module library is smaller than the specialist vendors, the language count is nine, and the page names no voice, SMS or QR simulation. Price is not shown.
Wrong for
A company on Microsoft Defender, Proofpoint or Google's tools without Sophos gains little from the integration.
Visit Sophos Phish Threat →
#10 SANS Security Awareness
Expert-written awareness content with maturity-model guidance · United States · sans.org
Expert content Maturity model US
SANS is the choice when content quality and program design matter more than automation. The product page lists more than 50 modules curated by SANS experts across six tracks, translated into over 34 languages, plus a phishing platform with just-in-time and automated remedial courses.
- Pricing: Quote only. Sold through training advisors and group purchases; no prices on the page. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Programs led by a security awareness officer
- Strengths: 50+ training modules; Six content tracks; 34+ languages.
Where it falls short
The page names no prices, trial or integration list, so it is a sales conversation for every purchase.
Wrong for
An IT generalist with no time to run a program wants automation first. Phished or usecure removes more admin work than a content-led SANS setup.
Visit SANS Security Awareness →
#11 Cofense
Phishing defense that also trains employees on real attacks · United States · cofense.com
Phishing defense Real attacks US
Cofense belongs on this list for teams that treat employee reports as a security signal. Its home page describes AI trained on real phishing, removal of entire campaigns after one confirmed threat, and training built from the same attacks that reached users. The products listed are Phishing Remediation, Phishing Training, Threat Intelligence and Managed Phishing Defense, tied together in a Command Center.
- Pricing: Quote only. Quote after a demo; no prices on the site. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Teams with a SOC handling reported phish
- Strengths: Phishing training; Phishing remediation; Threat intelligence.
Where it falls short
Awareness training is one part of a larger defense platform, and the home page spends more words on detection and remediation than on course content. No pricing, trial or language list appears on the pages we read.
Wrong for
A company wanting only a yearly course and a compliance certificate would pay for post-delivery defense it does not need. usecure or Sophos Phish Threat is simpler.
Visit Cofense →
#12 Mimecast Engage
Behavior nudges and training tied to Mimecast signals · United Kingdom · mimecast.com
Mimecast stack Nudges UK
Mimecast Engage works best for companies whose email security already runs on Mimecast. It adds a Human Risk Command Center that combines signals from email, endpoint and identity tools into risk scores, groups people into dynamic watchlists, and sends nudges in email, Slack or Teams.
- Pricing: Quote only. Multiple plans by program maturity, quoted on request; a free risk assessment is offered. Free plan: none.
- Best for: Mimecast email security customers
- Strengths: 200+ training modules; 27 languages; Human Risk Command Center.
Where it falls short
Plans and prices are by quote, and the best features depend on other Mimecast products and integrations.
Wrong for
A company that uses another email security product and wants a standalone, low-touch training tool should compare Phished, Hoxhunt or usecure.
Visit Mimecast Engage →
Questions and answers
What is the best security awareness training software in 2026?
Phished ranks first of 12, best for small IT teams wanting automation. Hoxhunt is second (security teams measuring behavior change) and usecure third (mSPs and small IT teams). Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands, wherever the category has them.
How much does security awareness training cost per employee?
Published rates are low: KnowBe4 lists €1.55 to €3.56 per seat per month on a three-year term, and Keepnet lists €1.04 to €2.72 per user depending on tier and band. Most others quote after a call.
Do phishing simulations actually reduce clicks?
Vendors publish before-and-after click figures for their own customers, such as KnowBe4's claim of 33.1% falling to 4.1% in 12 months. Those numbers come from the vendor and depend on how hard the early simulations were.
Is training enough for NIS2, DORA or ISO 27001?
Training provides evidence for the awareness requirements, but it does not satisfy a framework by itself. Phished and usecure both map content to NIS2, DORA and ISO 27001 on their sites, which saves effort.
Can small businesses use these platforms?
Yes, but fit varies. usecure sells one plan to IT teams and to MSPs, Huntress describes its training as designed for companies of all sizes, and Keepnet and KnowBe4 publish price bands starting at 25 users.
What is the difference between awareness training and human risk management?
Awareness training delivers courses and simulations and records completion. Human risk management adds a score per person built from signals such as clicks, reports, credential exposure and tool alerts, then triggers a response.
Which tools simulate voice and SMS attacks?
Keepnet names smishing, vishing, quishing and callback simulators, Hoxhunt lists SMS, phone calls and Teams, Adaptive Security includes voice and SMS phishing with deepfake scenarios, and Living Security lists vishing and multi-channel attacks. KnowBe4 mentions vishing simulations.
Does the platform need to be allowlisted in our email system?
Most simulations need sending domains and IPs allowlisted in the mail filter, otherwise they never reach the inbox.
Can I switch vendors without losing history?
You can usually export completion and campaign reports, but rarely the risk-score history in a form another vendor can import, and custom courses rarely move at all.
Is a free trial available?
Only usecure and Sophos Phish Threat advertise a free trial on their pages. KnowBe4 offers free tools such as a phishing attack simulation test, which is not a trial of the full platform, and Mimecast offers a free risk assessment.
How often should employees be trained?
Short sessions throughout the year hold up better than one annual course. Huntress episodes run about 7 to 10 minutes, and most vendors schedule monthly simulations.
