8 Best Security Awareness Training Platforms in 2026

Key takeaways

• KnowBe4 is the best security awareness training platform for most organizations in 2026, with the largest content library, published pricing and a new AI agent that schedules training for each user.

• Hoxhunt is the strongest pick for changing behavior, with adaptive micro-training and phishing simulations across email, SMS, voice and Teams.

• Adaptive Security leads on deepfake and AI-driven social engineering, simulating calls and videos from your own executives.

• Huntress, Hook Security and Keepnet are among the most affordable picks for small businesses, and all three publish their prices.

What changed in security awareness training this year

Breaches keep getting more expensive. IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026 put the global average at $4.99 million, a record, and found AI-driven attacks, led by deepfake impersonation, rose sharply. Phishing has also moved beyond the inbox: Verizon's 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report found that phone-based phishing simulations, by voice and SMS, drew about 40% higher click rates than email ones.

Training platforms have followed the attackers. The leaders now simulate SMS, voice calls, Teams messages and deepfakes as well as email, score each employee's risk, and use AI to decide who gets which lesson and when. Annual compliance videos still have a place, since SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and PCI all expect them, but buyers now judge platforms on whether reporting rates go up and click rates go down.

How we ranked: We looked at the range of phishing simulations (email, SMS, voice, QR, deepfake), the quality and breadth of training content, how each platform measures and targets human risk, compliance coverage, reporting and remediation tools, and whether pricing is published. We did not run a hands-on bake-off for this edition.

The 8 platforms compared

1. KnowBe4

KnowBe4 is the default choice for a reason: the biggest content library, a mature phishing simulator and prices on its website.

What works: The Advanced tier includes more than 1,000 training pieces, and the platform's simulations cover email, QR codes, callback phishing and voice. Employees report suspicious mail with the Phish Alert Button, and the PhishER Plus add-on handles triage. In February 2026 KnowBe4 launched AIDA Orchestration, an AI agent that builds and schedules phishing tests and training around each user's risk.

What doesn't: G2 reviewers say some content feels dated or repetitive and that customization and reporting are limited. Useful extras like PhishER Plus and Compliance Plus are add-ons, so the price climbs.

Best for: Organizations of any size that want a proven, compliance-ready program. Foundation starts at $2.40 per user a month for 25 to 50 seats on a three-year term, as of October 2026.

2. Hoxhunt

Hoxhunt is built around changing how employees behave.

What works: Employees get short adaptive lessons about every 10 days, with streaks and leaderboards, and people who click more often get trained more often. Simulations cover email, SMS, voice and callback phishing, deepfake video calls and Microsoft Teams, in dozens of languages. A report button works across Outlook and Gmail on desktop and mobile, and Hoxhunt also sells email incident response automation.

What doesn't: Pricing is by quote only, and the gamified approach works best when leadership backs it.

Best for: Mid-size and enterprise security teams measured on reporting rates. Pricing isn't public, as of October 2026.

3. Adaptive Security

Adaptive Security is the platform for the attacks that worry security teams most right now: deepfakes and AI-written social engineering.

What works: Adaptive builds personalized phishing from public information about each employee and simulates deepfake voice calls, voicemails and video from your own executives, plus SMS and email. Its library has more than 1,000 modules, AI can generate new training, and Phish Triage resolves reported emails automatically. The company raised an $81 million Series B in December 2025.

What doesn't: Pricing is by quote, and it's a young product with far fewer reviews than KnowBe4 or Hoxhunt.

Best for: Companies whose finance and executive teams are likely deepfake targets. Pricing isn't public, as of October 2026.

4. Proofpoint ZenGuide

Proofpoint ZenGuide, the successor to Proofpoint Security Awareness Training, makes the most sense for companies already using Proofpoint email security.

What works: Human Risk Explorer scores each person on behavior, role, access, the attacks aimed at them and simulation results, so training goes where the risk is. ThreatFlip turns real phishing emails into safe simulations, simulations also cover SMS, QR codes and USB drops, and employees report suspicious mail with a built-in button.

What doesn't: G2 reviewers mention limited customization and pricing that's steep for smaller businesses, and pricing is by quote.

Best for: Proofpoint email customers who want training driven by real threat data. Pricing isn't public, as of October 2026.

5. Huntress Managed SAT

Huntress Managed SAT, formerly Curricula, is the easiest strong program for small businesses and the managed service providers who run security for them.

What works: Training comes as short animated story episodes that employees tend to actually watch, with phishing simulations and compliance content for GDPR, PCI, ISO 27001 and SOC 2. Huntress publishes its pricing, and customers who buy through an MSP face no Huntress seat minimum.

What doesn't: Simulation channels are narrower than the AI-native platforms, and it doesn't offer the detailed human risk scoring of the enterprise tools.

Best for: SMBs and MSP-managed programs. The list price is $2.08 per learner a month, with a 50-seat minimum when bought directly, as of October 2026.

6. Keepnet

Keepnet covers more kinds of attack simulation than almost anything else on this list.

What works: Keepnet simulates email phishing, voice phishing, SMS, QR codes, callback scams and MFA phishing, and pairs them with an email reporting add-in and incident response tools.

What doesn't: It's less well known in North America than the leaders, and its training content gets less attention than its simulations.

Best for: Security teams that want to test employees against many attack types from one console. Per-user prices are published on its site, as of October 2026.

7. NINJIO

NINJIO wins on content people don't skip.

What works: Monthly animated episodes run three to four minutes, with 90-second NANO episodes in between, and each is based on a real attack. NINJIO personalizes training around how each employee is likely to be manipulated, and its July 2026 acquisition of SafeStack added secure-coding training for developers.

What doesn't: It's content-led, so its simulations get less attention than its episodes, and pricing is by quote.

Best for: Companies that struggle to get employees to finish training. Pricing isn't public, as of October 2026.

8. Hook Security

Hook Security is the simplest full program for small teams, with flat annual pricing.

What works: Every plan includes the full microlearning library, managed phishing campaigns run for you, compliance training including HIPAA, automated reporting and user sync with Microsoft, Google and Okta. Its acquisition of Haekka added training delivered inside Slack.

What doesn't: It doesn't publish much detail on simulation channels, and its risk analytics are light for large enterprises.

Best for: Startups and small businesses that need a program running quickly. Micro is $499 a year for up to 10 seats, as of October 2026.

Didn't make the cut

Mimecast Engage runs on the human risk platform Mimecast expanded with its 2024 Elevate Security acquisition, but it's most useful if you already run Mimecast email security.

Living Security is a strong human risk analytics platform, but it's built for large enterprises and is more of a risk program than a training purchase.

Cofense is excellent at turning reported phishing into SOC triage, but its training content is a smaller part of the offer.

Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness works well, but it makes the most sense bundled with Arctic Wolf's managed detection and response.

How to choose a security awareness training platform

Match simulations to your real threats. If attackers call your help desk or text your staff, make sure the platform simulates voice and SMS as well as email. If your executives are public, consider deepfake simulations.

Measure reporting, not completion. Completion rates satisfy auditors. The number that matters is how many employees report a real phish, and how fast.

Check your compliance needs. List the frameworks you answer to, such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA or PCI, and confirm each platform has the content and audit reports for them, and whether it's an add-on.

Price at your real seat count. Per-user prices drop sharply with volume and longer terms, and add-ons can double the bill. Ask for a quote at your headcount with everything you need included.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best security awareness training platform in 2026?

KnowBe4 is the best security awareness training platform for most organizations in 2026, because it pairs the largest content library with a mature phishing simulator, published pricing and AI-driven scheduling. Hoxhunt is the better pick if your main goal is changing behavior, and Adaptive Security leads on deepfake simulations.

How much does security awareness training cost?

Most platforms cost a few dollars per user a month. KnowBe4 starts at $2.40 per user a month for small teams on a three-year term, Huntress lists at $2.08 per learner a month, Hook Security starts at $499 a year for up to 10 seats, and Keepnet publishes per-user prices, as of October 2026.

Is security awareness training required for SOC 2 or ISO 27001?

In practice, yes. ISO 27001 includes a control for security awareness, education and training, and SOC 2 auditors usually ask for training records, so most platforms include compliance content and reporting for both.

Can these platforms simulate deepfakes?

Some can. Adaptive Security simulates deepfake voice and video from your own executives, and Hoxhunt simulates deepfake video calls. Most others focus on email, SMS and voice.

How often should employees get phishing simulations?

Monthly or more often works better than once a year. Platforms like Hoxhunt and KnowBe4 adjust the frequency for each person, sending more to people who click.