Best Security Awareness Training Software in 2026

Why Your Security Awareness Training Choice Matters

Most attacks on a small or mid-sized company still start with a person: someone clicks a link, types a password into a fake login page, or pays a fake invoice. Security awareness training tries to make those moments less likely and to get suspicious emails reported quickly.

The tools in this category look alike from the outside. Almost all of them send simulated phishing emails, assign short training videos, and give you a dashboard. The differences show up once the program is running:

• Who runs it. Some tools give you a big library and expect you to build campaigns. Others run the program for you or automate most of it.
• How training adapts. Some send everyone the same monthly module. Others change difficulty and content for each person based on how they behave.
• What it costs. A few vendors publish per-seat prices. Most ask you to talk to sales. The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive option here is large.
• Compliance. If you need proof of training for HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2 or GDPR, you need the right modules and reports that an auditor will accept.
• MSP fit. Managed service providers need one console for many clients, not seven separate logins.

This guide compares seven tools:

• Large library you control: KnowBe4, Infosec IQ
• Adaptive, gamified training: Hoxhunt, SoSafe
• Fully managed for small businesses and MSPs: Huntress Managed SAT
• Tied to an email security platform: Proofpoint ZenGuide, Mimecast Engage

A note on names: Curricula, a popular story-based training tool, was bought by Huntress in 2022 and is now sold as Huntress Managed SAT, so we cover it under that name. Proofpoint's product, formerly Proofpoint Security Awareness, is now called ZenGuide. We did not test these tools ourselves. This is a researched comparison based on each vendor's own pricing pages, product pages and documentation, checked in October 2026.

Comparison Table

Pricing checked October 2026 on each vendor's site. Prices can change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.

KnowBe4 Review

KnowBe4 is one of the most widely known platforms in this category. It combines a large training library, phishing simulations, and a growing set of AI features. What sets it apart from most rivals here is that it publishes its prices.

Key features

• Phishing simulations with a Phish-prone Percentage and risk scores from its SmartRisk Engine
• Foundation library of 200+ pieces of content; Advanced adds KnowBe4 Studios premium content
• Training content in 47+ languages, with AI translation for 51+ languages, according to its product page (its language page lists about 20 languages with full support, so check the ones you need)
• AIDA, AI agents that personalize and automate training by role, risk level and behavior
• Real-Time Coaching, with third-party integrations available as an add-on
• Free Phish Alert Button for Outlook (desktop, Microsoft 365 and Outlook mobile) and Gmail (including the Gmail app on Android and iOS)
• Compliance Plus add-on for HIPAA, PCI, GDPR and other regulations. KnowBe4 added a PCI DSS 4.0.1 module and a HIPAA refresher in July 2026
• Account Management console for MSPs, with managed training campaigns across several client accounts

Pricing

KnowBe4 lists two levels. Prices are USD list prices per seat per month on a 3-year term, as of May 2026:

• SAT Foundation: $2.40 (25 to 50 seats), $2.13 (51 to 100), $1.97 (101 to 250), $1.80 (251 to 500), $1.63 (501 to 1,000)
• SAT Advanced: $3.75 (25 to 50 seats), $3.40 (51 to 100), $3.19 (101 to 250), $2.96 (251 to 500), $2.79 (501 to 1,000)
• 1,001+ seats: quote
• Add-ons (101 to 500 seats): Compliance Plus $0.93, PhishER Plus $1.50, Third-Party Integrations for Real-Time Coaching $1.20, per seat per month
• Also sold through AWS Marketplace, which KnowBe4 says is ideal for up to 500 users
• Free tools include the Phish Alert Button, a training preview, a compliance training library and an Attack Simulation Test

Pros

• Published per-seat prices, rare in this category
• Large library with a premium tier for more polished content
• Free, widely supported Phish Alert Button
• Mature MSP console for running many client accounts

Cons

• Listed prices assume a 3-year term
• 25-seat minimum, so very small teams pay for unused seats
• Compliance training is a paid add-on
• Language counts differ across KnowBe4's own pages

Who it's for

Most organizations from about 25 seats up that want a proven platform and a library big enough to keep training fresh for years. It also suits MSPs that run campaigns for many clients.

Who should skip it

Teams that want someone else to run the program, and tiny offices that do not want to pay for 25 seats.

Hoxhunt Review

Hoxhunt focuses on behavior change through practice rather than long courses. Each employee gets their own stream of phishing simulations, and the difficulty goes up as they get better at spotting them. Stars, badges and optional leaderboards keep people engaged.

Key features

• Personalized phishing simulations for each employee, with difficulty that adapts as skills improve
• An AI agent that writes new spear-phishing simulations tailored to each recipient
• Adaptive training built from your own policies and guidelines
• Stars, badges and optional leaderboards
• Localization in 40+ languages for modules, quizzes and notifications
• Hoxhunt reporting button for Outlook or Gmail
• Regulatory tracks for PCI DSS, HIPAA, DORA and GDPR
• Separate products for human risk management and email incident response automation

Pricing

• Hoxhunt says pricing is per employee, based on headcount and the capabilities you need
• No prices are published. You book a 30-minute scoping call to get a quote
• No free trial is mentioned; you get a live demo of the employee experience and admin dashboard

Pros

• Training adapts to each person instead of one module for everyone
• Gamification gives people a reason to report
• 40+ languages for global teams
• Compliance tracks for HIPAA, PCI DSS, DORA and GDPR

Cons

• No public pricing
• No self-serve trial
• No MSP-specific features described, only a partner program

Who it's for

Mid-sized and larger companies that care most about reporting rates and want training that changes behavior, not just a completion report.

Who should skip it

Small teams that want a published price, and MSPs looking for a multi-client console.

Huntress Managed SAT Review

Huntress Managed SAT is the former Curricula platform, which Huntress bought in 2022. Its training is a series of short, story-driven animated episodes, and Huntress's team builds, schedules and runs the program for you. For a small business without a security person, that is the main appeal.

Key features

• Story-driven episodes, most 7 to 10 minutes long
• Phishing simulations included in the base price
• Program built, implemented and overseen by Huntress's security team
• Compliance training for GDPR, PCI, ISO 27001, SOC 2 and HIPAA
• Outlook and Gmail add-ins for reporting phishing, or the native Microsoft reporting button
• Smart directory sync and multi-tenancy included
• Sold alongside Huntress's other managed security products

Pricing

• List price: $2.08 per learner per month (MSRP), billed annually
• Volume: stepped tiers that start at 50 learners. Huntress gives an example of $1.75 per learner per month for 100 learners
• Billed in arrears, with no separate onboarding or implementation fees
• Free trial with the full product; billing starts after the trial ends
• If you buy through an MSP partner, the partner may add its own fees

Pros

• Run for you, so there is little admin work
• Low, published list price with phishing included
• Multi-tenancy built in, which suits MSPs
• Short, engaging episodes

Cons

• Volume tiers start at 50 learners, so check how a smaller team is billed
• Huntress does not list supported languages on its product page
• Less control than a do-it-yourself library

Who it's for

Small and mid-sized businesses without in-house security staff, and MSPs that already use Huntress or want a managed program for clients.

Who should skip it

Large enterprises that want to design their own campaigns, and global teams that need confirmed support for many languages.

Proofpoint ZenGuide Review

ZenGuide is Proofpoint's security awareness product, formerly Proofpoint Security Awareness. Its edge is Proofpoint's email security data: simulations can be based on real attacks targeting your organization, and training can be triggered by what people actually do.

Key features

• Simulations built from current attacks, with the Satori Phishing Simulation Agent and AI ThreatFlip
• AI-driven training that adjusts to each user's behavior, performance and risk
• Content in different difficulty levels, formats and languages; Proofpoint says its foundational curriculum is available in 40+ languages and other content in at least 10
• Report Suspicious button for email and mobile (PhishAlarm)
• Compliance training, with modules such as HIPAA, GDPR, FERPA and CCPA
• Accessibility settings based on WCAG
• Available to MSPs through Proofpoint Essentials, a multi-tenant console for email security and awareness

Pricing

• No prices are published. Proofpoint directs you to request a demo or see "How to buy"
• No free trial is mentioned

Pros

• Uses real threat data from Proofpoint's email security
• Adaptive, AI-driven learning paths
• Wide language coverage for core content
• MSP route through Proofpoint Essentials

Cons

• No public pricing
• Most valuable if you already use Proofpoint email security
• Product names have changed, which makes older documentation confusing

Who it's for

Organizations that already use Proofpoint for email and want training tied to the attacks they actually receive.

Who should skip it

Small teams on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace without Proofpoint, who will get more value from a standalone tool.

Mimecast Engage Review

Mimecast Engage, also called Mimecast Engage Awareness Training, pairs training and phishing with human risk scoring. Its Human Risk Command Center pulls signals from Mimecast and third-party tools into a risk score per person, then assigns training and nudges to the people who need them most.

Key features

• Phishing simulations with customizable templates and an AI template generator
• 200+ training modules on AI threats, phishing, malware and more
• Training in 27 languages
• Risk scores built from Mimecast and third-party signals (17 integrations), with training assigned by individual risk
• Nudges by email, Slack and Teams, and personal user scorecards (Engage Pro)
• Email reporting plug-in for Microsoft 365 and support for reporting through Outlook
• SCORM files for use in your own LMS
• Content aligned with ISO, NIST, PCI DSS, GDPR and HIPAA topics

Pricing

• Two packages: Engage Core (training, phishing simulations, risk scoring) and Engage Pro (adds nudges and user scorecards)
• No prices are published. Mimecast says plans are tailored to your program's maturity, with a "Get a Quote" button
• No free trial is mentioned; Mimecast offers a free risk assessment

Pros

• Strong risk scoring that targets training at the riskiest people
• Slack and Teams nudges on Engage Pro
• SCORM export
• Natural fit for existing Mimecast email customers

Cons

• No public pricing
• Fewer languages (27) than KnowBe4, Hoxhunt or Proofpoint
• MSP management is not described on the product page

Who it's for

Mimecast email customers who want a risk-based program that uses the data they already collect.

Who should skip it

Teams that do not use Mimecast and want a simple, standalone training tool.

SoSafe Review

SoSafe is a platform built around short, psychology-based lessons and smart phishing simulations. It is one of the few vendors here that publishes a starting price, and it is clearly aimed at European regulations.

Key features

• Smart, multi-channel phishing simulations, including smishing and vishing on Advanced
• Microlearning lessons, with 40+ lessons on Core and 75+ on Advanced
• Content in 34+ languages
• One-click reporting for employees
• Simulation difficulty adapts to each user's behavior, risk profile and role
• Compliance-ready reporting, with a focus on NIS2, DORA, ISO 27001 and GDPR
• AI tools that turn policies into lessons and real attacks into simulations, plus Sofie Copilot guidance (Advanced)
• SCORM and LMS delivery (Advanced)

Pricing

• Core: price on request. One tenant and limited admin access
• Advanced: from €625 per month billed annually, including 50 seats. Adds role-based learning, multi-vector simulations, AI tools, custom lessons, unlimited admins and three tenants
• Per-user cost falls as you add users; very small accounts start with fixed pricing
• Enterprise support and implementation is a paid add-on
• No free trial is mentioned

Pros

• Published starting price for Advanced
• Strong fit for NIS2, DORA and GDPR
• 34+ languages
• Adaptive simulations by role and risk

Cons

• €625 per month for 50 seats works out to €12.50 per seat, well above KnowBe4 or Huntress list prices
• HIPAA is not mentioned on its main page
• Core pricing is not published

Who it's for

European companies, especially those covered by NIS2 or DORA, that want modern microlearning in many languages.

Who should skip it

US healthcare teams focused on HIPAA, and price-sensitive small businesses.

Infosec IQ Review

Infosec IQ comes from Infosec (InfoSec Institute), part of Cengage Group since 2022. It offers a large library of role-based training and a phishing simulator, PhishSim, where each training topic comes with matching phishing templates.

Key features

• 3,000+ role-based awareness resources
• PhishSim phishing simulator; each training session comes with a matching set of phishing templates, a poster and an infographic
• PhishNotify button to report suspicious emails in Outlook, Office 365 and Gmail
• Role-based compliance modules, such as HIPAA/HITECH
• SCORM packages in multiple languages, with translations added monthly and custom translation requests considered
• Free account with access to the PhishSim template library

Pricing

• No prices are published on Infosec's site
• A free account gives access to the PhishSim template library; you need to talk to a sales rep to launch a free phishing campaign

Pros

• One of the largest libraries here
• Phishing templates matched to each training topic
• PhishNotify works in Outlook and Gmail
• Role-based compliance content

Cons

• No public pricing
• Language coverage varies by course
• No MSP features described

Who it's for

Security teams that want a large, role-based library and are happy to build and run their own campaigns.

Who should skip it

Teams that want the program run for them, and MSPs that need a multi-client console.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Phishing simulation

• Most personalized: Hoxhunt, with simulations per person that get harder as skills improve, plus AI-written spear-phishing.
• Built from real attacks: Proofpoint ZenGuide (from Proofpoint's threat data) and Mimecast Engage (templates based on threats Mimecast blocks).
• Widest templates and controls: KnowBe4 and Infosec IQ, where you design campaigns yourself.
• Done for you: Huntress Managed SAT includes simulations in the base price and runs them for you.
• Multi-channel: SoSafe Advanced adds smishing and vishing.

Content library and languages

• Biggest libraries: Infosec IQ (3,000+ resources) and KnowBe4 (200+ on Foundation, more on Advanced, plus Compliance Plus).
• Most languages claimed: KnowBe4 (47+), then Hoxhunt and Proofpoint (40+), SoSafe (34+) and Mimecast (27).
• Story-driven: Huntress Managed SAT's 7 to 10 minute episodes.

Report button

All seven tools offer a way for employees to report suspicious emails. KnowBe4's Phish Alert Button is free even without a paid account. Hoxhunt and Huntress support Outlook and Gmail. Infosec IQ's PhishNotify covers Outlook, Office 365 and Gmail. Mimecast uses its own report button and an Outlook plug-in.

Adaptive training

Hoxhunt, SoSafe, Proofpoint ZenGuide and Mimecast Engage all change training or difficulty per person. KnowBe4 does this through AIDA and its SmartRisk Engine. Huntress and Infosec IQ lean more on scheduled programs.

Compliance

• HIPAA: KnowBe4 (Compliance Plus), Hoxhunt, Huntress, Proofpoint, Infosec IQ, and Mimecast (topic alignment).
• PCI DSS: KnowBe4, Hoxhunt, Huntress, Mimecast.
• EU rules (NIS2, DORA, GDPR): SoSafe and Hoxhunt are the strongest fits.

MSP fit

• Built for it: Huntress Managed SAT (multi-tenancy included) and KnowBe4 (Account Management console with managed campaigns).
• Through a separate offering: Proofpoint, via Proofpoint Essentials.
• Partial: SoSafe Advanced includes three tenants and has an MSP partner program.
• Not described: Hoxhunt, Mimecast Engage and Infosec IQ.

Pricing at 10 and 50 Seats

Only three vendors publish prices. These are list prices before tax.

KnowBe4's prices assume a 3-year term. Huntress bills annually in arrears. SoSafe's price is billed annually. Hoxhunt, Proofpoint ZenGuide, Mimecast Engage and Infosec IQ do not publish prices.

How to Choose

1. Who will run the program?

   • Nobody has time: Huntress Managed SAT.
   • An IT or security person who wants control: KnowBe4 or Infosec IQ.
   • Someone who wants automation with little setup: Hoxhunt or SoSafe.

2. What email security do you already use? If you use Proofpoint, look at ZenGuide first. If you use Mimecast, look at Engage. Both use data you already have.

3. Which rules do you need to prove training for? For HIPAA and PCI DSS in the US, KnowBe4 (with Compliance Plus), Hoxhunt and Huntress are clear fits. For NIS2, DORA and GDPR, SoSafe and Hoxhunt.

4. How many languages do you need? Check your exact languages against each vendor's list. Counts differ, and some content is only translated for core courses.

5. Are you an MSP? Shortlist Huntress and KnowBe4, which both document multi-client management.

6. What is your budget? If you need a price without a sales call, KnowBe4, Huntress and SoSafe Advanced are the only options here.

Red flags

• Buying a large library nobody has time to schedule
• Ignoring term length: KnowBe4's list prices are for 3 years
• Paying for 25 or 50 seats when you have 10 people, without asking about smaller options
• Running phishing tests without a report button, so people learn to delete instead of report
• Measuring only completion rates instead of reporting rates

Final Recommendations

1) KnowBe4: best overall

KnowBe4 has the broadest mix of what most teams need: a big library, flexible phishing simulations, a free report button, compliance add-ons, an MSP console and published prices. Start with Foundation at $2.40 per seat per month (25 to 50 seats, 3-year term) and move to Advanced if you want premium content.

2) Hoxhunt: best for adaptive, gamified training

If your goal is more people reporting phishing, Hoxhunt's personal, ever-harder simulations and rewards are built for that. Expect a sales call for pricing.

3) Huntress Managed SAT: best done-for-you option

For small businesses and MSPs without time to run a program, Huntress builds and runs it for you at a list price of $2.08 per learner per month, phishing included.

4) Proofpoint ZenGuide: best for Proofpoint customers

ZenGuide uses real attack data from Proofpoint to shape simulations and training. It makes most sense if Proofpoint already protects your email.

5) Mimecast Engage: best for Mimecast customers

Engage turns risk signals into targeted training and nudges. Pick it if you already use Mimecast.

6) SoSafe: best for European compliance

SoSafe is a strong fit for companies under NIS2 or DORA that want modern microlearning in 34+ languages. It costs more per seat than KnowBe4 or Huntress at list price.

7) Infosec IQ: best for a large role-based library

Infosec IQ suits security teams that want 3,000+ resources and phishing templates matched to each topic, and that will run campaigns themselves.

Conclusion

The right security awareness tool depends on who runs the program and what you need to prove. KnowBe4 is the safest all-round choice and one of the few with public prices. Hoxhunt is the pick for behavior change through practice. Huntress Managed SAT takes the work off your plate. Proofpoint ZenGuide and Mimecast Engage make most sense next to their own email security. SoSafe fits European rules, and Infosec IQ offers a deep library for hands-on teams.

A practical next step: write down who will own the program, which regulations you report on, and how many languages you need. Then ask two or three vendors for a demo or trial, and run one phishing simulation before you sign.