Proofpoint Security Awareness Alternative
PhishGrid vs Proofpoint
Proofpoint's security awareness product is now called ZenGuide. It delivers automated, risk-based training, uses Proofpoint's email threat data to decide who needs what, and can turn a real phish into a safe simulation. It is sold mainly inside Proofpoint's Collaboration Security bundles, alongside its email protection.
PhishGrid is a standalone AI-based human risk reduction platform. It works with any email provider and any mail filter, has a free plan, and 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 risk over time. If you already run Proofpoint email security, ZenGuide plugs into data you have. If you do not, PhishGrid gives you the human side without buying an email security suite.
Proofpoint facts checked on Proofpoint'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 use Proofpoint for email security, or want awareness training that is independent of your mail filter
- want to start on a free plan, with published prices for the paid plans
- need email, SMS, voice and QR simulation, including an AI voice agent for live vishing calls (Enterprise plan)
- want each employee's next lesson chosen from their own simulation results
- are a small or mid-sized team that cannot wait for a bundle negotiation
Proofpoint fits if you
- already run Proofpoint email protection and want training driven by its threat telemetry, including Very Attacked People
- want real phishing emails turned into safe simulations in one click (AI ThreatFlip)
- need SMS and USB simulation, which Proofpoint's training pages list
- want report-button triage handled by Proofpoint's abuse mailbox automation
- are a large enterprise consolidating on one email security vendor
Feature comparison
Based on Proofpoint's ZenGuide and Collaboration Security pages.
| Feature | PhishGrid | Proofpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, no credit card | No |
| Published pricing | Yes | Quote, per user and term |
| Works without the vendor's email security | Sold mainly in bundles | |
| Email phishing simulation | ||
| SMS (smishing) simulation | ||
| Voice (vishing) simulation | AI voice agent, Enterprise | TOAD scenarios |
| QR code simulation | ||
| USB simulation | ||
| Turn a real phish into a simulation | Import HTML or generate | AI ThreatFlip |
| Training assigned by risk | Daily Lesson per person | Adaptive Pathways |
| AI help building training | AI Training Creator, AI Media Studio | AI-guided content |
| Report button | Gmail | Email and mobile |
| Per-employee risk score | Personal Risk Score |
Approach: email telemetry or a standalone loop
ZenGuide is risk-based. Proofpoint describes AI-powered guidance and content that adapts to each user, automatic enrolment by risk, role and behaviour (Adaptive Pathways), teachable moments after a simulated phish, and a personal risk score. Its biggest advantage is data: when you also run Proofpoint email protection, the platform knows who is attacked most and can enrol those people first. AI ThreatFlip clones a real phish, strips anything harmful, and turns it into a template.
PhishGrid gets its risk signal from the simulations themselves. Each attack is written for the employee, the platform records clicks, submitted data and reports, and the next Daily Lesson targets that person's own mistakes. Admins can import a real phish as HTML or generate a new template from a prompt, and build training with the AI Training Creator and AI Media Studio. Because it does not depend on a mail filter, it works the same on Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or anything else.
In short, Proofpoint is strongest inside the Proofpoint estate. PhishGrid is strongest where you want the human risk programme to stand on its own.
Pricing model
Proofpoint does not publish prices. Its Collaboration Security page lists Core, Tier 2, Tier 3 and Prime packages; threat-guided training and turning threats into simulations appear in Tier 3 and Prime. Its FAQ says budgetary pricing depends on the number of user licences and the contract term.
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 buying Proofpoint email security anyway, ask for the training uplift as a separate line so you can compare it directly.
Moving from Proofpoint to PhishGrid
Moving training away from Proofpoint does not require changing your email security. Run both for one cycle, then switch.
- 1Export your user list as a CSV with name and email and import it into PhishGrid.
- 2Allowlist PhishGrid's sending domains in Proofpoint or whichever mail filter you use, so simulations reach inboxes.
- 3Rebuild the simulations you rely on by pasting their HTML or generating new ones from a prompt.
- 4Tell employees which report button to use; Gmail users can install PhishGrid's Report Phishing button.
- 5Run a baseline campaign and compare report rates with your ZenGuide history after a month.
PhishGrid vs Proofpoint: FAQ
Is PhishGrid a good alternative to Proofpoint security awareness training?▾
Yes, if you want awareness training that is independent of your email security vendor, with a free plan. If you run Proofpoint email protection and want training driven by its threat data, ZenGuide has that advantage.
What is Proofpoint ZenGuide?▾
ZenGuide is the current name of Proofpoint's security awareness training product. Older Proofpoint Security Awareness Training pages now redirect to it.
Do I need Proofpoint email security to use PhishGrid?▾
No. PhishGrid works with any email provider and mail filter. You only need to allowlist its sending domains.
How much does Proofpoint security awareness cost?▾
Proofpoint does not publish prices. As of 7 October 2026 pricing depends on user licences and contract term within its Collaboration Security packages.
Sources
Proofpoint 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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