KnowBe4 Alternative
PhishGrid vs KnowBe4
KnowBe4 is the largest name in security awareness training. It sells two published tiers, SAT Foundation and SAT Advanced, priced per seat on a three-year term, with a very large content library and a set of AI agents (AIDA) in the Advanced tier.
PhishGrid is an AI-based human risk reduction platform with a free plan. It runs one loop: simulate an attack written for each person, measure who clicks and who reports, train that person on what they missed, and track their risk over time. If you want a deep content catalogue and can commit to a multi-year contract, KnowBe4 is a strong choice. If you want to start without a contract and keep training tied to each employee's own results, PhishGrid is built for that.
KnowBe4 facts checked on KnowBe4'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 real phishing simulations this week on a free plan, with no credit card and no multi-year term
- prefer a smaller set of lessons chosen for each person from their own simulation results, over a large library to curate
- need email, SMS and voice simulation, including an AI voice agent that holds a live vishing conversation (Enterprise plan)
- run Google Workspace and want a one-click Report Phishing button in Gmail feeding a threat inbox
- are a small or mid-sized team without a dedicated awareness programme manager
KnowBe4 fits if you
- want the widest content library: KnowBe4 lists 1,000+ pieces in SAT Advanced, plus games and series
- need physical tests such as USB drive and printed QR code simulations, which are in SAT Advanced
- want published per-seat pricing to budget against, and can sign a three-year term
- need a mature ecosystem: SCIM, SAML, SCORM export for your LMS and APIs, plus PhishER Plus for reported-email triage
- need reporting from Outlook, Microsoft 365, Outlook Mobile and Gmail through the free Phish Alert Button
Feature comparison
What each product offers, with the plan or tier where it applies.
| Feature | PhishGrid | KnowBe4 |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card | No (free tools only) |
| Published pricing | Yes | Yes, per seat, 3-year term |
| Email phishing simulation | ||
| SMS (smishing) simulation | Not listed in tiers | |
| Voice (vishing) simulation | AI voice agent, Enterprise | SAT Advanced |
| QR code simulation | Physical QR, SAT Advanced | |
| USB drive test | SAT Advanced | |
| AI-generated phishing templates | From a prompt; AI attack engine on Enterprise | AIDA, SAT Advanced |
| Training chosen per person from results | Daily Lesson | AI-recommended learning |
| Size of training library | Focused micro-lessons | 200+ (Foundation), 1,000+ (Advanced) |
| Report button | Gmail | Outlook, M365, Gmail, mobile |
| Reported-email triage | Threat inbox | PhishER Plus (add-on) |
| Gamification | Achievements and badges | Games and leaderboards |
| Per-employee risk score | SmartRisk / Risk Score |
Approach: AI loop or content library
KnowBe4 started as a library: thousands of phishing templates and training modules that an administrator picks from and schedules. Over the last few years it has added AI on top. AI-selected phishing templates and AI-recommended optional learning are in both tiers, and the AIDA agents in SAT Advanced can generate phishing and callback templates, assign remedial training and create policy quizzes. The library is still the centre of the product, and its size is the main reason teams choose it.
PhishGrid starts from the person rather than the catalogue. Simulations are written for each employee, a click or a submitted password is recorded with the report rate and repeat clicks, and the next Daily Lesson is chosen from that person's own failures. Admins can generate templates and landing pages from a prompt, import their own HTML, and use the AI Training Creator and AI Media Studio to draft lessons, quizzes and posters. There is less content to browse, by design: the goal is to show a falling risk score per person and per team, not to fill an annual training calendar.
Both products measure clicks and reports. The practical difference is how much administration each needs. A large library rewards a team that has time to curate it; an adaptive loop suits a team that wants the platform to decide the next step for each employee.
Pricing model
KnowBe4 publishes MSRP pricing in US dollars per seat per month on a three-year term (its page says pricing as of May 2026). For 101 to 250 seats, SAT Foundation is $1.97 and SAT Advanced is $3.19 per seat per month; organisations above 1,000 seats get a quote. PhishER Plus, third-party integrations and Compliance Plus are paid add-ons. KnowBe4 offers free tools such as a phishing security test and the Phish Alert Button, but no free plan.
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.
For a team of 100, the published list prices put KnowBe4 SAT Foundation at about $2,556 a year and PhishGrid Starter at about $1,188 a year, before any discounts. The free plan is the bigger difference: you can run real campaigns before buying anything.
Moving from KnowBe4 to PhishGrid
Most teams run both side by side for one campaign cycle, then switch. A typical move takes a few hours of admin time.
- 1Export your user list from KnowBe4 or your directory as a CSV. PhishGrid needs only name and email.
- 2Sign up on the free plan and import the CSV, or add employees individually.
- 3Rebuild your best-performing templates: paste the HTML into PhishGrid's editor or generate new ones from a prompt, then pair each with a landing page.
- 4Allowlist PhishGrid's sending domains in your mail filter, the same way you allowlisted KnowBe4.
- 5Run a baseline campaign, keep your KnowBe4 history for audit, and compare report rates after the first month.
PhishGrid vs KnowBe4: FAQ
Is PhishGrid a good KnowBe4 alternative?▾
It is for teams that want to start free and want training chosen per person from simulation results. If you need a very large content library, physical USB tests or SCORM export to an LMS, KnowBe4 covers more of that today.
Does KnowBe4 have a free plan?▾
No. As of 7 October 2026 KnowBe4 offers free tools, including a phishing security test and the Phish Alert Button, and paid SAT Foundation and SAT Advanced tiers. PhishGrid has a free plan with no credit card.
Can PhishGrid simulate voice phishing like KnowBe4?▾
Yes. KnowBe4 lists simulated vishing in SAT Advanced. PhishGrid's Enterprise plan includes an AI voice agent that places the call, holds a live conversation and records whether the employee disclosed anything.
Can I import my KnowBe4 users into PhishGrid?▾
Yes. Export users as a CSV and import it; name and email are enough. Templates are rebuilt by pasting HTML or generating new ones.
Does PhishGrid replace PhishER?▾
Partly. PhishGrid's Report Phishing button for Gmail sends suspicious mail to a threat inbox where admins triage it. It does not remove messages from every mailbox the way PhishER Plus can.
Sources
KnowBe4 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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