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Most buyers should pick KnowBe4.
Choose KnowBe4 if you want a broad training library and published per-seat tiers: SAT Foundation starts at $2.40 per user monthly for 25–50 seats on a three-year term. Choose Phished if its automated simulations, employee guidance and incident-response features fit your needs. Its listed starting price is $175 per month, but the pricing page does not state billing terms or seat basis. That makes total-cost comparison difficult without a quote.
01Side by side
| KnowBe4 | Phished | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2.40/user/month on a three-year term (25–50 seats). | $175/month starting price; billing term and seat basis unstated. |
| Free plan | No free plan listed. | No free plan listed. |
| Best for | Teams needing core awareness training or an expanded library. | Companies building a human firewall and user resilience. |
| Core strength | Broad training library and unlimited phishing tests. | Automated simulations, training, alerts and employee guidance. |
| Learning curve | Not stated on the vendor's site. | Not stated on the vendor's site. |
| Integrations/data | Third-party integrations add-on listed; scope not specified. | Admin reporting; custom Power BI reporting on All-in-One. |
| Team/seat costs | Tiered seat prices; 1,001+ seats require a quote. | Per-seat and volume pricing are not stated. |
| Support | Support details not stated on the vendor's site. | Support details not stated on the vendor's site. |
KnowBe4 Choose KnowBe4 if
- Choose KnowBe4 if you want published per-seat pricing tiers.
- Choose KnowBe4 if a three-year term suits your team.
- Choose KnowBe4 if you need a large training library.
Phished Choose Phished if
- Choose Phished if automated simulations are your priority.
- Choose Phished if you want employee guidance across channels.
- Choose Phished if you need custom Power BI reporting.
02Pricing compared
KnowBe4 lists SAT Foundation at $2.40 per user per month for 25–50 seats on a three-year term. Its price falls at larger seat counts: $1.63 per user monthly for 501–1,000 seats, while 1,001+ requires a quote. SAT Advanced starts at $3.75 per user monthly for 25–50 seats and also requires a quote above 1,000. The pricing page lists add-ons separately, including Compliance Plus and PhishER Plus, so confirm the full package cost.
Phished lists a starting price of $175 per month, but does not state the billing term or seat basis. Its Core, Advanced and All-in-One plan prices are not published on the vendor's site. KnowBe4 is easier to compare from public prices; Phished needs a quote to establish cost per employee.
03Features and depth
Both products center on reducing employee-driven security risk through training and phishing simulations. KnowBe4’s product material also describes cloud email defenses, vishing simulations, policy workflows, and tools for detecting and responding to risky AI-agent behavior. Its SAT Foundation plan lists 200+ training pieces and unlimited phishing tests; SAT Advanced lists 1,000+ pieces and unlimited tests. The homepage says the ModStore has more than 1,000 modules, videos and games, though that does not mean every item is included in every plan.
Phished emphasizes automated, localized simulations, gamified Phished Academy training across 360 topics, and employee guidance across email, browsers and other channels. Advanced adds Zero Incident Mail, repeat-offender training and certificates; All-in-One adds custom topics, custom-built training, a Behavioral Risk Score and custom Power BI reporting. KnowBe4’s listed capabilities span more security areas, including AI-agent risk, while Phished’s plan details focus on awareness, guidance and response. Confirm which capabilities are included in the quoted package before comparing them.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Neither published pricing detail explains setup time, required technical skills or how much administration each product takes. Phished lists automated simulations, an administrator dashboard and reporting, plus employee guidance and response tools. KnowBe4 lists automated policy workflows and unlimited phishing tests in its SAT plans. Those features may shape ongoing work, but they do not establish which platform is simpler to deploy or manage.
Our review scores rate ease of use at 7 for Phished and 6 for KnowBe4. Treat that one-point difference as a directional signal, not proof that Phished will be easier for your team. Ask both vendors to show the admin workflow and clarify migration, integrations and support in a quote.
Questions people ask
Which is cheaper, KnowBe4 or Phished?
KnowBe4 publishes per-seat prices: SAT Foundation starts at $2.40 per user monthly for 25–50 seats on a three-year term. Phished lists a $175 monthly starting price but does not state the seat basis or billing terms. You need a Phished quote to compare total cost on equal terms.
Does either product offer a free plan or free trial?
The published pricing details list no free plan for either product. They do not publish a free-trial offer either. Ask each vendor whether a trial or demonstration is available, and whether the quoted price includes onboarding or other charges.
Which product has more training content?
KnowBe4 lists 200+ training pieces in SAT Foundation and 1,000+ in SAT Advanced; its homepage describes a ModStore with more than 1,000 items. Phished Academy covers 360 topics. These counts describe different things, so check the content and plan inclusions that matter to your team.
Do both products include phishing simulations?
Yes. KnowBe4 lists unlimited phishing tests in both published SAT plans, alongside phishing and vishing simulations in its product material. Phished lists automated, localized phishing simulations tailored to employee skill levels. Confirm the simulation features and any limits in the package you are quoted.