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KnowBe4’s listed price starts at $2.40 per seat monthly, but that rate assumes a three-year term. If you’re leaving over contract length, dated-feeling UX or support, Phished is the closest listed fit here: it covers phishing simulations and awareness training, though its $175 starting price lacks enough published detail for a clean comparison. The other options below are adjacent tools for policy training, GRC or vendor risk—not like-for-like phishing platforms.
01Why people leave KnowBe4
Long contracts make switching harder
In one Reddit thread, users said they were stuck in long contracts. KnowBe4’s listed $2.40-per-seat monthly rate also assumes a three-year term.
Some users dislike the product experience
A Reddit commenter criticized the UI and said the product lacked deepfake and voice phishing. Treat that as one user’s view, not a verified feature audit.
Support and training fit can disappoint
One commenter said customer success was weak for smaller organizations. Another thread raised concerns about leaders proposing a DIY phishing tool after a BEC incident.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Phishing training
PhishedPhishedPhished is the closest match in this list if you want to replace KnowBe4’s core awareness and simulation work. Its listed coverage includes automated phishing simulations, security awareness training and employee threat guidance. The starting price is $175, but the published pricing detail does not specify the billing unit or cadence, so ask for plan limits and a comparable quote before switching.
Trade-off: The $175 starting price lacks enough detail for a direct cost comparison.
6.2/10from
$175/mo - Policy and training
PowerDMSPowerDMSPowerDMS is worth considering when the reason for leaving is broader than phishing—particularly if your team needs policy management, training and accreditation support. The listed fit is high-compliance organizations and agencies preparing for accreditation. It is not presented as a phishing simulation replacement, so keep a separate plan for that requirement.
Trade-off: No published price or phishing-simulation coverage is provided.
6.3/10from
Custom - Governance and risk
Diligent One PlatformDiligent One PlatformDiligent One Platform fits organizations using KnowBe4 as one part of a wider governance or risk program and wanting to consolidate those workflows. Its listed coverage includes board meeting workflows, vendor risk and cyber risk. That makes it an adjacent option for governance needs, not a direct replacement for security awareness training.
Trade-off: No published price, and it is not a like-for-like training option.
5.5/10from
Custom - Compliance workflows
VantaVantaVanta may suit teams that are leaving KnowBe4 while also reviewing several compliance workflows, recurring security questionnaires or vendor risk management. Those are the listed strengths; the published material does not describe phishing simulations or awareness training. Consider it for the compliance side of the decision, not as a standalone substitute for KnowBe4’s training role.
Trade-off: Pricing is not public; smaller teams may not need its broader tooling.
6.4/10from
Custom - Enterprise GRC
AnecdotesAnecdotesAnecdotes is an adjacent choice for enterprises managing multiple GRC programs, automating vendor risk workflows or needing broad framework coverage. The listing also includes AI. It could be relevant if your KnowBe4 review is part of a wider GRC consolidation, but the published details do not position it as a phishing-training or simulation product.
Trade-off: Pricing is undisclosed, with no relevant user feedback provided.
6.3/10from
Custom - Vendor assessments
WhisticWhisticWhistic fits teams whose main need is third-party risk work: vendor assessments, published security documentation, assessment workflows and monitoring. That is a different job from employee phishing simulations, so it is not a direct KnowBe4 replacement. It may belong on the shortlist if vendor assessments are part of the same security-program review.
Trade-off: Opaque pricing makes the switching cost difficult to assess.
6.2/10from
Freefree plan - Regulated compliance
HadriusHadriusHadrius is a narrower adjacent option for SEC- or FINRA-regulated firms looking to consolidate compliance workflows. Its listed coverage includes surveillance and audit evidence. The published material does not identify phishing simulations or security awareness training, so treat it as a regulated-compliance alternative only if that is the work you need to replace.
Trade-off: Pricing is undisclosed, and the fit is limited to regulated compliance needs.
5.5/10from
Custom
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 KnowBe4 KnowBe4 (current) | 6.8 | $2.40/mo | No | Teams needing phishing simulations |
| Phished Phished | 6.2 | $175/mo | No | Teams automating phishing simulations |
| PowerDMS PowerDMS | 6.3 | Custom | No | High-compliance organizations |
| Diligent One Platform Diligent One Platform | 5.5 | Custom | No | Organizations consolidating governance and GRC tools |
| Vanta Vanta | 6.4 | Custom | No | Teams managing several compliance workflows |
| Anecdotes Anecdotes | 6.3 | Custom | No | Enterprises managing multiple GRC programs |
| Whistic Whistic | 6.2 | Free | Yes | Teams managing vendor assessments |
| Hadrius Hadrius | 5.5 | Custom | No | SEC- and FINRA-regulated firms |
Questions people ask
Which is better, KnowBe4 or NINJIO?
The published information does not include NINJIO pricing, plan limits or features, so we can’t make a grounded comparison. KnowBe4’s listed price is $2.40 per seat monthly with a three-year term. Compare both vendors’ simulation coverage, training library, contract length and total quote before choosing.
What happened to KnowBe4?
The published material does not document a company event or change. Reddit users instead discussed concerns about long contracts, the user interface and customer support, alongside comments that KnowBe4 is affordable and meets cyber-insurance needs. Those are user reports, not a verified account of a company-wide change.
How expensive is KnowBe4?
The listed starting price is $2.40 per seat per month, with a three-year term required. Phished is listed from $175, but the published pricing detail does not specify its billing unit or cadence. That means the two figures are not directly comparable without plan details and quotes.