Microsoft Attack Simulation Training Alternative
PhishGrid vs Microsoft Attack Simulation Training
Attack simulation training is a feature of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, also included in Microsoft 365 E5. It runs email phishing simulations from the Defender portal, using a library of payloads based on real attacks, and assigns Microsoft training modules to people who fall for them.
PhishGrid is a dedicated AI-based human risk reduction platform. It simulates email, SMS, voice and QR code attacks written for each person, measures who clicks and who reports, trains each person on what they missed, and tracks risk over time. It has a free plan and does not depend on your Microsoft licence. If you already pay for Plan 2 or E5 and email is enough, Microsoft's built-in tool is a sensible start. If you need more channels, or do not have those licences, PhishGrid fills the gap.
Microsoft facts checked on Microsoft'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
- do not have Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 or Microsoft 365 E5, or use Google Workspace
- need SMS and voice simulation as well as email, including an AI voice agent for live vishing calls (Enterprise plan)
- want daily micro-lessons chosen from each employee's own results, not only a module after a failed simulation
- want AI tools to draft your own lessons, quizzes, posters and short animations
- want to start free and keep your human risk programme independent of your email licence
Microsoft fits if you
- already license Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 or Microsoft 365 E5, so there is no extra cost
- only need email simulation, including credential harvest, malware attachment, OAuth consent grant and QR code links
- want everything inside the Defender portal with Microsoft's built-in Report button and Graph API
- want payload suggestions based on campaigns Microsoft has seen in your own tenant
- are standardised on Microsoft 365 and prefer fewer vendors
Feature comparison
Based on Microsoft Learn documentation and microsoft.com pricing.
| Feature | PhishGrid | Microsoft |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card | No (trial available) |
| Licence needed | None | Defender for Office 365 P2 or M365 E5 |
| Works with Google Workspace | ||
| Email phishing simulation | ||
| QR code phishing | ||
| SMS (smishing) simulation | ||
| Voice (vishing) simulation | AI voice agent, Enterprise | |
| Microsoft Teams simulation | Private preview | |
| Macro phishing simulation | Malware attachment technique | |
| Payload library | Templates plus AI from a prompt | Global payloads, 30 to 40 new a month |
| Training after a simulation | Daily Lesson per person | Microsoft training modules |
| AI help building training | AI Training Creator, AI Media Studio | |
| Report button | Gmail | Outlook built-in Report |
| Achievements and badges |
Approach: built into Defender, or a dedicated loop
Microsoft's tool is library-based. Administrators choose a social engineering technique (credential harvest, malware attachment, link in attachment, link to malware, drive-by URL, OAuth consent grant or how-to guide), pick a payload from Microsoft's global library or write their own, and choose who receives it. Microsoft says it typically adds 30 to 40 new payloads a month, and it can recommend payloads based on campaigns seen in your tenant. Training is assigned from Microsoft's module catalogue, either automatically from previous results or chosen by the admin. Simulations are email only; Teams simulation is in a closed private preview.
PhishGrid is a separate product built around one loop: simulate, measure, train, track. Simulations are written for each employee and can arrive by email, SMS, voice call or QR code. The platform records clicks, submitted data and reports, and each person's next Daily Lesson targets what they missed. Achievements reward reporting. Admins can generate templates from a prompt and create training material with AI.
The trade-off is integration against reach. Microsoft's tool lives where your security team already works. PhishGrid covers the channels attackers use outside email, and works whether your mail runs on Microsoft 365 or not.
Pricing model
Attack simulation training needs Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2. On microsoft.com, Plan 2 is listed at $5.00 per user per month, paid yearly; Plan 1, at $2.00, does not include attack simulation training. Microsoft offers a trial, and Microsoft 365 E3 tenants get a limited trial subset with credential harvest only.
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 already own E5, Microsoft's tool has no extra cost, and PhishGrid's free plan can sit alongside it for channels Microsoft does not cover. If you would be buying Plan 2 only for simulation, compare $5.00 per user per month with PhishGrid's plans.
Moving from Microsoft to PhishGrid
You do not have to stop using Microsoft's tool. Many teams keep it for email and add PhishGrid for SMS and voice, or move everything once they see the results.
- 1Export your users from Microsoft Entra ID as a CSV with name and email and import it into PhishGrid.
- 2Add PhishGrid's sending domains to your Microsoft 365 advanced delivery or allow rules, so simulations are not filtered.
- 3Rebuild any custom payloads you rely on by pasting their HTML or generating new templates from a prompt.
- 4Run a baseline email campaign, then add SMS or voice simulations for the teams most exposed to them.
- 5Keep your Defender reports for audit history and track report rate and repeat clickers in PhishGrid.
PhishGrid vs Microsoft: FAQ
Is Microsoft attack simulation training free?▾
No. It requires Microsoft 365 E5 or Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, listed at $5.00 per user per month paid yearly on microsoft.com as of 7 October 2026. PhishGrid has a free plan.
Can Microsoft attack simulation training send SMS or voice phishing?▾
Microsoft's documentation covers email simulations only, with QR codes as a link option. Teams simulation is in private preview. PhishGrid simulates email, SMS, voice and QR code attacks.
Can I use PhishGrid with Microsoft 365?▾
Yes. Import your users, allow PhishGrid's sending domains, and run simulations to Outlook inboxes as you would with any other provider.
Is PhishGrid better than Microsoft attack simulation training?▾
It depends on what you need. If you own E5 and email simulation is enough, Microsoft's tool is good value. If you need more channels, per-person daily lessons or do not have the licence, PhishGrid covers more.
Sources
Microsoft 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.
Free. Forever.
Start on the free plan with no credit card, run a real campaign, and compare the results yourself.