Free phishing simulation tools: hosted vs open source

"Free" comes in two flavours — open source software you run yourself, and hosted platforms with a free plan. Both let you simulate phishing attacks; they differ in what happens after the click.

Gophish

The best-known open-source phishing framework. A single Go binary with template editing and campaign analytics. You self-host it, manage deliverability yourself, and there's no training layer — clicks are measured, not taught.

King Phisher & SET

Open source phishing toolkits built for red teams and penetration testers. Powerful and scriptable, but designed for authorised offensive engagements — not for running an ongoing employee awareness programme.

PhishGrid (free plan)

Hosted free phishing simulation with 700+ templates, an AI template generator, automatic training for employees who click, and report-rate analytics. No server to run, no deliverability battles — free forever, not a trial.

Free phishing tools — FAQs

Can I run phishing simulations without paying for software?

Yes — two ways. Self-host an open source tool like Gophish (free, but you manage servers, deliverability and follow-up training yourself), or use PhishGrid's free plan, which is hosted and includes the full simulation workflow: templates, campaigns, click tracking, and automatic security awareness training. For most teams the hosted route costs less in practice, because the engineering hours are the real price of DIY.

Do free phishing simulation tools actually work?

Yes — a free phishing test measures click rates just as well as a paid one. The difference shows after the click: behaviour only changes when a click triggers an immediate teachable moment and follow-up training. That closed loop is what PhishGrid's free plan includes and what bare open-source tools leave you to build.

Are free and open source phishing tools worth it?

For technical security teams that want total control, absolutely — Gophish in particular is excellent for testing technical defences. For changing employee behaviour at an organisation, a managed platform wins: templates stay current with real attack trends (including AI-generated and QR-code phishing), and training happens automatically.

Is it legal to run a free phishing test on my employees?

Yes, when you test your own employees on your own systems — it's standard practice under frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Disclose simulated phishing testing in your security policy, keep lures professional, and never store submitted credentials.

What's the catch with PhishGrid's free plan?

There isn't one — no credit card, no trial clock, no user cap on the core platform. Paid plans add enterprise features like advanced integrations and the fully managed service, but simulation, templates, training and reporting are free forever.

Why are PhishGrid tools free?

We believe cybersecurity is a basic right. Our mission is to make enterprise-grade phishing simulation accessible to every organisation, regardless of budget. Our paid plans exist for organisations that need advanced features — but the core platform is genuinely free, forever.