Top 5 Security Awareness Training Solutions in 2026
For 2026 we rank KnowBe4 (9.1/10), Proofpoint Security Awareness Training (8.5/10), Mimecast Engage (8/10), Infosec IQ (7.6/10), then SANS Security Awareness (7.2/10). KnowBe4 still anchors the widest phishing-simulation pull, Proofpoint Security Awareness Training fits Proofpoint mail estates, Mimecast Engage keeps gateway plus awareness on one renewal, Infosec IQ wins on catalog scale, and SANS Security Awareness swaps flash for SANS-branded rigor. Evidence from November 2024 through May 2026 spans Reddit, r/instructionaldesign, G2, TrustRadius, KnowBe4 on X, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, Wired, Reuters Investigates, and SANS.
How we ranked
Evidence spans November 2024 – May 2026 across Reddit, G2, TrustRadius, Capterra, Proofpoint on X, Facebook, Mimecast on Facebook, Mimecast blog, KnowBe4 blog, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, Wired, Reuters, and SANS.
- Simulation depth and human-risk analytics (0.28) — Realism of lures, safe failure, and remediation analytics. Weighted highest because Ars Technica shows AI-crafted executive phishing outpacing annual slide decks.
- Content library quality and localization (0.22) — Freshness, languages, roles, and tone control; stale libraries erode trust faster than a bad phish score, per Reddit platform comparisons.
- Admin experience, reporting, and automation (0.22) — Delegated admin, HRIS hooks, recurring campaigns, and audit exports.
- Ecosystem fit (email security, IdP, APIs) (0.15) — Simulations that consume gateway telemetry instead of adding another siloed console.
- Practitioner and buyer sentiment (0.13) — Praise or fatigue on G2, TrustRadius, and threads to break ties.
The Top 5
#1KnowBe49.1/10
Verdict — The pragmatic default when leadership wants maximum simulation leverage and partners who already speak the name.
Pros
- Template breadth still anchors bake-offs on G2 and Capterra.
- Admin flows for recurring phishing, remedial nudges, and executive reporting are MSSP-repeatable.
- KnowBe4 Cybersecurity Awareness Month metrics gives boards completion ammunition.
Cons
- Bundle sprawl inflates invoices if SKU boundaries stay vague.
- Humor-forward modules polarize some regions unless designers curate paths.
Best for — Mid-market to global enterprises that need partner gravity and repeatable phishing cadences without an internal studio.
Evidence — The subreddit overview of twenty-plus platforms still opens with KnowBe4 when listing breadth, echoed by G2 reviewer volume. Ars Technica and Reuters Investigates tie faster lure innovation to pressure on simulation libraries.
Links
- Official site: KnowBe4
- Pricing or plans: KnowBe4 pricing
- Reddit: Security awareness training platform overview
- G2: KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training reviews
#2Proofpoint Security Awareness Training8.5/10
Verdict — Coherent when Proofpoint already inspects mail and human-risk budgets sit beside gateway spend.
Pros
- Gateway telemetry plus SAT trims duplicate tuning for Proofpoint TAP customers.
- TrustRadius renewal notes praise clarity once Wombat-era content pairs with identity context.
- Board language already matches email-borne threat narratives.
Cons
- Economics sag without Proofpoint mail SKUs.
- Tone stays more corporate than sitcom-style rivals.
Best for — Enterprises that standardized on Proofpoint for BEC defense and resist a second SAT vendor.
Evidence — G2 Compare keeps Proofpoint Security Awareness Training beside KnowBe4. TrustRadius repeats renewal wins when simulations align with gateway detections, and Reddit stack threads pair Proofpoint mail with its SAT sibling for single-vendor accountability.
Links
- Official site: Proofpoint Security Awareness Training
- Pricing or plans: Proofpoint Security Awareness Training overview
- Reddit: Vendor comparison thread
- TrustRadius: Proofpoint Security Awareness Training reviews
#3Mimecast Engage8/10
Verdict — Integrated when Mimecast routes mail and leaders want one console for phishing tests plus video.
Pros
- Gateway plus Engage analytics avoid a second SAT contract line.
- Mimecast blog ties simulations to operational defense, not detached HR playlists.
- Sitcom pacing differentiates Engage from slide fatigue in instructional-design threads.
Cons
- Value collapses when mail hygiene lives with Microsoft, Google, or another SEG.
- Niche integration depth trails standalone SAT leaders.
Best for — Mimecast-standardized shops that want Engage without another SOC onboarding wave.
Evidence — Mimecast blogging couples simulations with awareness metrics, matching single-pane asks in the vendor roundup. SoftwareReviews still shows renewal-heavy sentiment for integration-first buyers.
Links
- Official site: Mimecast Engage awareness training
- Pricing or plans: Mimecast awareness training contact paths
- Reddit: Awareness vendor discussion
- G2: Mimecast Engage Awareness Training on G2
#4Infosec IQ7.6/10
Verdict — Library-first when you need modular depth, localization, and Infosec Skills upsell in one contract.
Pros
- Infosec IQ pricing documents large template counts and role packaging for regulated offices.
- G2 Compare shows sustained mid-market traction versus KnowBe4.
- Infosec Skills bundles appeal when checkbox video is politically toxic.
Cons
- Depth overwhelms teams without instructional design time.
- Phishing orchestration feels narrower than KnowBe4 for sim-only buyers.
Best for — Academies and GRC leads already standardized on Infosec certifications.
Evidence — G2 Compare positions Infosec IQ as the structured foil to humor-led catalogs, while pricing pages document scale. The Reddit overview cites Infosec IQ when breadth beats personality.
Links
- Official site: Infosec IQ
- Pricing or plans: Infosec IQ pricing
- Reddit: Platform comparison thread
- G2: Infosec IQ product reviews
#5SANS Security Awareness7.2/10
Verdict — Sober curriculum for engineering-heavy cultures that already send responders to SANS technical courses.
Pros
- SANS Security Awareness Report 2025 gives staffing and human-risk stats boards respect.
- Tone sidesteps cartoon backlash in instructional-design threads.
- ICS awareness blogging proves vertical depth beyond generic phishing.
Cons
- Light gamification can drag completion where entertainment drives clicks.
- Packaging skews enterprise versus lighter SaaS onboarding.
Best for — Regulated or industrial programs that prize SANS credibility over viral microlearning.
Evidence — The SANS report announcement frames social engineering as the dominant human risk. TrustRadius captures buyer sentiment outside PDFs, and G2 Compare keeps SANS Security Awareness in the same frame as commercial SaaS leaders.
Links
- Official site: SANS Security Awareness
- Pricing or plans: SANS Security Awareness plans
- Reddit: First phishing campaign lessons thread
- TrustRadius: SANS Security Awareness Training reviews
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | KnowBe4 | Proofpoint Security Awareness Training | Mimecast Engage | Infosec IQ | SANS Security Awareness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation depth and human-risk analytics | 9.5 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 7.6 | 7.1 |
| Content library quality and localization | 9.2 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 8.6 |
| Admin experience, reporting, and automation | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8 | 7.5 | 7.3 |
| Ecosystem fit (email security, IdP, APIs) | 8.2 | 9.1 | 9 | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| Practitioner and buyer sentiment | 9.2 | 8.4 | 7.8 | 8 | 8.1 |
| Score | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.6 | 7.2 |
Methodology
We surveyed November 2024 – May 2026 across Reddit, r/instructionaldesign, G2, TrustRadius, Capterra, X, Facebook, Mimecast on Facebook, Mimecast and KnowBe4 blogs, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, Wired, Reuters, and SANS. Each criterion scored 0–10, then score = Σ(criterion_score × weight). We bias simulation depth because TechCrunch and Ars Technica show generative lures outpacing annual decks. No affiliate ties; no paid trials for this pass.
FAQ
Is KnowBe4 still the default pick if executives hate “funny” training?
Usually yes on volume and admin depth per G2; curate paths or pilot Proofpoint Security Awareness Training for restraint.
When does Proofpoint Security Awareness Training beat KnowBe4 head to head?
When Proofpoint already inspects mail and simulations should mirror gateway telemetry, per TrustRadius renewal notes.
Why rank Mimecast Engage ahead of Infosec IQ?
Mimecast’s blog plus the Reddit overview reward gateway-aligned budgets; Infosec IQ wins when catalog volume outweighs SEG alignment.
How should AI-generated phishing change procurement?
Prioritize refresh cadence: Ars Technica and Reuters show bespoke lures moving faster than annual compliance cycles.
Is SANS Security Awareness only for large enterprises?
Not exclusively, yet tone and packaging skew toward mature SANS consumers, which TrustRadius reflects more than mid-market speed-run anecdotes.
Sources
- Security awareness training platforms overview (r/cybersecurity)
- Security awareness training platforms overview (r/instructionaldesign)
- First phishing campaign lessons (r/sysadmin)
Review sites
- KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training on G2
- KnowBe4 vs Proofpoint on G2 Compare
- Infosec IQ vs KnowBe4 on G2 Compare
- Infosec IQ vs SANS Security Awareness on G2 Compare
- KnowBe4 on Capterra
- Proofpoint Security Awareness Training on TrustRadius
- SANS Security Awareness Training on TrustRadius
- Infosec IQ on G2
- Mimecast Engage Awareness Training on G2
Social
Blogs and vendor research
- Mimecast blog on phishing simulations
- KnowBe4 Cybersecurity Awareness Month metrics
- SANS Security Awareness Report announcement
- SANS ICS awareness expansion
News
- TechCrunch on gamified employee cybersecurity training
- Ars Technica on AI-generated phishing
- Wired on HR impersonation phishing
- Reuters Investigates AI chatbots and cybercrime