Adaptive Security Alternative
PhishGrid vs Adaptive Security
Adaptive Security and PhishGrid both start from the same worry: attackers now use AI to write the lure, clone the voice and pick the target. Both train people against that with simulations that change for each person instead of the same quarterly email for everyone.
The difference is scope and buying model. Adaptive bundles security awareness training, phishing and deepfake simulation, email security and AI governance, and quotes enterprise deals on request. PhishGrid is an AI-based human risk reduction platform focused on simulate, measure, train and track, with published plans and a free plan you can start on today.
Adaptive Security facts checked on Adaptive Security's own website on 7 October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Which one fits your team?
PhishGrid fits if you
- want to run a real campaign this week without a sales call: sign up free and launch the same day
- need published prices for budgeting, including a $0.99 per user Starter plan for teams of up to 100
- want email, SMS, voice and QR simulation, with an AI voice agent that holds a live conversation on the Enterprise plan
- want each person's next Daily Lesson picked from what that person missed in their last simulation
- already have an email security product and want human risk training that sits beside it
Adaptive Security fits if you
- want custom deepfakes of your own executives and deepfake scenarios inside Teams and Zoom
- want training, email security and AI governance from one vendor in one contract
- need a large library: 50+ compliance modules, role-based tracks, secure coding tracks and 40 languages with dubbed narration
- want inbound and outbound scripted calls, help desk attacks and multi-channel attack chains
- are an enterprise that prefers a custom package built with the vendor
Feature comparison
Based on each vendor's own product and pricing pages, checked 19 October 2026.
| Feature | PhishGrid | Adaptive Security |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card | Not listed |
| Published pricing | Yes | No; SMB plans on request, enterprise custom |
| Adaptive simulations per employee | ||
| Email phishing simulation | GenAI email phishing, lures from company OSINT | |
| SMS (smishing) simulation | ||
| Voice (vishing) simulation | AI voice agent, Enterprise | Voice phishing, custom deepfake voice |
| QR code simulation | ||
| Deepfake video simulation | Teams and Zoom scenarios, executive deepfakes | |
| Micro-lessons tied to results | Daily Lesson | Automated campaigns, quizzes |
| AI content creation | AI Training Creator, AI Media Studio | Module editor, custom AI personas |
| Gamification | Achievements and badges | Leaderboards, points and rewards |
| Email security product | Agentic email security | |
| AI governance product |
Approach: a focused loop against a broad suite
Adaptive frames the problem as AI-powered attacks: reconnaissance from LinkedIn and press releases, voice clones and deepfakes generated in minutes, and delivery across email, SMS, voice and video at once. Its answer is a suite. Simulations use lures built from company OSINT and rotate scenarios so nobody sees the same one twice, training covers deepfake and AI voice phishing modules, and the same vendor sells email security and AI governance.
PhishGrid works on one loop. Each simulation is written for the person, the platform records clicks, data submitted and reports, and the next Daily Lesson targets what that person missed. Admins generate templates from a prompt, edit them in a drag-and-drop editor, and use the AI Training Creator and AI Media Studio for their own material.
If deepfakes of your executives are the threat you need to rehearse today, Adaptive covers that directly. If you want a measurable drop in clicks and a rise in reports without buying a suite, PhishGrid is the narrower, faster start.
Pricing model
Adaptive's pricing page offers SMB plans behind a "find your plan" step and custom pricing for enterprise packages built around security, deployment and compliance needs. No prices and no free plan are listed as of 19 October 2026.
PhishGrid publishes three plans. Free costs nothing, with no credit card, and covers email and macro phishing simulation, customised reports, awareness content and email support; its limits depend on organisation size. Starter is $0.99 per user per month for organisations of up to 100 employees and adds custom templates on demand. Enterprise is priced on request and adds custom awareness content, 24×7 support, automated vishing, ransomware and malware simulation and the AI attack engine.
If you are evaluating both, run a baseline campaign on PhishGrid's free plan while you wait for Adaptive's quote, so you compare real report rates rather than demos.
Moving from Adaptive Security to PhishGrid
Moving from Adaptive is mostly people data and habits. Keep the reporting habit employees already have and change where the reports go.
- 1Export your employee list as a CSV with name and email and import it into PhishGrid, or add people individually.
- 2Allowlist PhishGrid's sending domains in your mail filter.
- 3Install the PhishGrid Report Phishing button in Gmail and tell employees which button to use from now on.
- 4Run a baseline campaign at a difficulty close to what your employees saw on Adaptive, so the first results are comparable.
- 5Keep your Adaptive completion records for audit history, and track report rate and repeat clickers in PhishGrid from month one.
PhishGrid vs Adaptive Security: FAQ
Is PhishGrid a good Adaptive Security alternative?▾
Yes, if you want adaptive phishing simulation and training with published pricing and a free plan. If you need deepfake video of your own executives, Teams and Zoom deepfake scenarios, or email security and AI governance from the same vendor, Adaptive covers those today.
How much does Adaptive Security cost?▾
Adaptive does not publish prices. As of 19 October 2026 its pricing page offers SMB plans on request and custom pricing for enterprise. PhishGrid publishes its plans, including a free plan and a $0.99 per user Starter plan.
Does PhishGrid do deepfake simulations?▾
PhishGrid simulates voice phishing with an AI voice agent on the Enterprise plan, plus email, SMS and QR attacks. It does not simulate deepfake video today.
Adaptive Security vs KnowBe4: where does PhishGrid fit?▾
KnowBe4 is the large-library incumbent and Adaptive is built around AI-era threats such as deepfakes. PhishGrid is the option to start free and train each person on what they missed. See our KnowBe4 comparison for the detail.
Can I run PhishGrid alongside another awareness tool?▾
Yes. PhishGrid sits beside any mail filter and any training library, so you can run a PhishGrid baseline before renewing another vendor and compare report rates on your own people.
Sources
Adaptive Security pages read on 7 October 2026. PhishGrid facts come from our pricing, platform and company facts pages. Vendors change plans often; tell us at [email protected] if something here is out of date.
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Start on the free plan with no credit card, run a real campaign, and compare the results yourself.