# The 11 Best Security Awareness Training Platforms (2026)

> The best security awareness training platform is KnowBe4, followed by Hoxhunt and Proofpoint for phishing simulation, employee training, and measurable reduction in human-error risk.

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- Last verified: 2026-07-12
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## Ranking

### #1 KnowBe4 · 9.1/9.4
- Best for: Teams that want the largest phishing template and training library with automation that scales from a 50-person company to a global enterprise.
- Clearwater, USA · founded 2010 · $$ (per user / year, volume-tiered)
- KnowBe4 is the strongest all-around pick because its template library, module breadth, and Smart Groups automation cover compliance and phishing simulation for teams from 50 to 50,000 users without heavy admin work.
- Pro: The library spans thousands of phishing templates and hundreds of modules, and Smart Groups auto-enrolls repeat clickers and new hires so campaigns run themselves.
- Con: Content can feel formulaic next to story-driven rivals, and pricing rises quickly once you move to the higher Platinum and Diamond tiers.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #2 Hoxhunt · 8.9/9.4
- Best for: Large enterprises that care most about measurable behavior change, using adaptive, per-user simulations and a one-click report button built into the inbox.
- Helsinki, Finland · founded 2016 · $$$ (per user / year, enterprise)
- Hoxhunt is the pick when behavior change is the goal, because its per-user adaptive difficulty and gamified reporting drive report rates up and repeat-click rates down more aggressively than static annual training.
- Pro: Each employee gets simulations tuned to their own risk level, and the gamified reward loop pushes threat-report rates well above traditional programs.
- Con: The behavior-first model assumes a mature program, and compliance-course breadth trails KnowBe4 for teams that mainly need audit checkboxes.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #3 Proofpoint Security Awareness · 8.6/9.4
- Best for: Enterprises that want training driven by real threat intelligence, targeting the users Proofpoint's email security already flags as most attacked.
- Sunnyvale, USA · founded 2008 · $$$ (per user / year, enterprise)
- Proofpoint is the pick for enterprises on its email security stack, because it targets training at the Very Attacked People its threat intelligence identifies rather than blasting the same course to everyone.
- Pro: Its Very Attacked People data focuses effort on the highest-risk users, and the content library from the Wombat heritage is broad and role-aware.
- Con: The platform delivers most value bundled with Proofpoint email security, and standalone admins find the console heavier than lighter rivals.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #4 SANS Security Awareness · 8.4/9.4
- Best for: Organizations that want the deepest, most credible expert-built content and role-based training for technical and high-risk staff such as developers and engineers.
- Rockville, USA · founded 1989 · $$$ (per user / year)
- SANS is the pick when content credibility matters most, because its material is built by working practitioners and its role-based tracks reach developers and engineers that generic modules miss.
- Pro: Content depth and instructor credibility are unmatched, and specialized tracks cover secure development and technical roles beyond generic awareness.
- Con: The phishing simulator and automation are less polished than dedicated simulation vendors, so some teams pair SANS content with another tool.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #5 Infosec IQ · 8.2/9.4
- Best for: Mid-market IT teams that want a large module and template library with flexible, role-based programs at a friendlier price than the enterprise leaders.
- Madison, USA · founded 2004 · $$ (per user / year, volume-tiered)
- Infosec IQ is the value pick for mid-market teams, because its large content and template library and configurable programs deliver most of what the leaders offer at a lower per-user cost.
- Pro: A deep module library, thousands of phishing templates, and flexible campaign builders cover the essentials without enterprise pricing.
- Con: Behavior-change tooling is less adaptive than Hoxhunt, and the interface feels dated in places compared with newer platforms.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #6 Cofense · 8/9.4
- Best for: Security teams that want phishing simulation tightly coupled to real-time employee reporting and a triage system that turns reported emails into threat response.
- Leesburg, USA · founded 2008 · $$$ (per user / year)
- Cofense is the pick when reporting and response matter most, because its Reporter button and Triage system convert employee-reported emails into a real threat-hunting pipeline, not just a training metric.
- Pro: The Reporter button plus Triage turns human reports into analyst-ready intelligence, and phishing simulations track current attack techniques closely.
- Con: The training content library is thinner than KnowBe4 or SANS, so the platform is stronger on detection than on breadth of coursework.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #7 Mimecast Awareness Training · 7.9/9.4
- Best for: Mimecast email security customers who want short, comedic video training and risk scoring bundled with the email protection they already run.
- London, United Kingdom · founded 2003 · $$ (per user / year, bundled)
- Mimecast is the pick for its own email security customers, because its short comedic video modules and built-in risk scoring add awareness training to a stack they already manage.
- Pro: The 3-minute comedic video format keeps completion rates high, and risk scoring plugs directly into existing Mimecast email protection.
- Con: Value drops sharply for teams not on Mimecast email security, and the simulation engine is less deep than dedicated phishing vendors.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #8 CybeReady · 7.8/9.4
- Best for: Lean security teams that want a fully automated, adaptive program that runs continuous simulations across many languages with almost no admin time.
- Tel Aviv, Israel · founded 2015 · $$ (per user / year)
- CybeReady is the pick when admin time is scarce, because its autonomous engine runs continuous, adaptive simulations across 40-plus languages without a security team building campaigns by hand.
- Pro: Near-zero admin effort, adaptive difficulty per employee, and broad language coverage make it well suited to global, thinly staffed programs.
- Con: The content library and reporting depth trail the leaders, and the automation-first design offers less manual control for teams that want it.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #9 Ninjio · 7.6/9.4
- Best for: Culture-first teams that want Hollywood-style episodic video training people actually look forward to, built around real recent breaches.
- Westlake Village, USA · founded 2015 · $$ (per user / year)
- Ninjio is the pick when engagement is the blocker, because its 3-to-4-minute animated episodes dramatize real breaches and keep completion high where dry modules lose people.
- Pro: Hollywood-writer-produced episodes based on recent attacks drive genuinely high completion and better recall than slide-based courses.
- Con: It is content-led, so phishing simulation, reporting, and automation are lighter and often paired with a stronger platform.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #10 Curricula (Huntress Managed SAT) · 7.4/9.4
- Best for: SMBs and MSP-managed clients that want simple, story-based training with a managed, low-effort setup as part of the Huntress platform.
- Atlanta, USA · founded 2015 · $ (per user / year)
- Curricula, now Huntress Managed SAT, is the pick for SMBs, because its character-driven stories and simple setup make training approachable for non-technical staff without a big program to run.
- Pro: Friendly, story-based lessons and an easy setup lower the barrier for small teams, and Huntress bundles it with wider managed security.
- Con: Depth, simulation breadth, and enterprise reporting trail the leaders, so it fits smaller or MSP-managed environments best.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

### #11 [WILDCARD] Riot · 7.3/9.4
- Best for: Fast-growing, Slack-native startups that want engaging chat-delivered training and phishing tests employees complete inside tools they already use.
- Paris, France · founded 2020 · $$ (per user / year)
- Riot is the contrarian pick because instead of an LMS employees avoid, it delivers training and phishing tests through Slack and email, meeting people in the tools where they already work.
- Pro: Its mascot-led, conversational lessons and Slack delivery drive high engagement with modern teams that ignore traditional course portals.
- Con: As a younger vendor its reporting depth, compliance breadth, and enterprise controls trail the incumbents, so it fits smaller, modern orgs best.
- Risk signals (none, checked 2026-07-12): No material public risk signals as of 2026-07-12.

## FAQ

**What is the best security awareness training platform in 2026?**

KnowBe4 is the best all-around security awareness training platform, because its template library, module breadth, and automated campaigns cover compliance and phishing simulation for teams from 50 to 50,000 users. Hoxhunt leads for measurable behavior change and Proofpoint for enterprises that want training tied to real threat intelligence.

**What are the best alternatives to KnowBe4?**

The strongest KnowBe4 alternatives are Hoxhunt for adaptive, gamified behavior change, Proofpoint for threat-intelligence-driven training, and SANS Security Awareness for the deepest expert-built content. For smaller teams that want low admin effort, CybeReady and Riot automate most of the program.

**How much does security awareness training cost per user?**

Most platforms price per user per year and drop sharply with volume, typically landing between roughly 10 and 40 dollars per user annually depending on tier and seat count. Enterprise and threat-intelligence-heavy tiers cost more, and several vendors quote custom pricing rather than publishing rates, so run a seat-count quote before comparing.

**How often should employees do security awareness training?**

Continuously, not once a year. The programs that lower risk run a phishing simulation roughly monthly and deliver short micro-lessons throughout the year, because a single annual course fades within weeks. Frequent, bite-sized reinforcement is what turns awareness into a durable habit.

**Is phishing simulation enough on its own?**

No. Simulation measures risk but training changes it. The platforms that reduce click rates pair each failed simulation with an immediate lesson and adapt future difficulty to the user, so simulation and training work as one loop rather than a test with no follow-up.