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Phishing is still the way most breaches start. Not zero days, not supply chain attacks, not some novel exploit. Phishing. An employee clicks a link, enters credentials on a fake page, and an attacker is inside.
Technical controls catch a lot of it, but not all of it. The emails that get through are the ones that look real, land at the right time, and target the right person. The only way to test whether your people can spot those emails is to send them yourself, safely, before an attacker does.
That's what phishing simulation tools do. They send realistic fake phishing emails to your users, measure who clicks, who reports, and who enters credentials, then turn those results into training. The better platforms do this continuously, adapt difficulty based on how each user performs, and give you reporting you can actually hand to leadership or auditors.
This guide covers the 10 phishing simulation platforms worth considering in 2026. We looked at what each one does well, where it fits, and who it's built for.
What to look for in a phishing simulation platform
Before jumping into the list, it's worth knowing what separates a good phishing simulation tool from one that just checks a compliance box.
Realism matters. Templates should look like the emails your users actually receive. Brand impersonations, internal spoofing, attachment based attacks, credential harvesting pages. If the simulations don't feel real, they don't teach anything useful.
Automation saves you. Running manual campaigns every quarter is a time sink. Platforms that automate scheduling, template rotation, and follow up training let you run a program without it becoming a second job.
Behaviour tracking over click rates. Click rate alone doesn't tell you much. You want to see who reported the email, who ignored it, who improved over time, and who keeps falling for the same tricks. That's the data that actually reduces risk.
Fit for your operating model. An MSP managing 40 clients needs multi-tenant controls and white labelling. An internal IT team at a mid-market company needs clean reporting and low admin effort. Enterprise security teams may want deep integrations with their existing stack. The right platform depends on how you operate.
Platform comparison overview
Top 10 phishing simulation tools for 2026
1) usecure
What it is
usecure is a Human Risk Management platform that includes automated phishing simulations as part of a broader system for reducing human cyber risk. The phishing component, called uPhish, lets you run simulated attacks across your user base using brand impersonation templates, custom campaigns, spear phishing scenarios, and domain spoofing.
What makes usecure different from most of the list is how little manual work it takes to run. AutoPhish handles scheduling automatically, sending each user a simulated phishing email at random intervals within a window you set (say, every four to eight weeks). You pick the productivity tools your users rely on, and AutoPhish selects templates that match. Simulations land during working hours, in the user's preferred language, with realistic timing.
When someone clicks, they're immediately enrolled in a short training module explaining what they missed. That loop runs continuously without you having to set up new campaigns each month.
Beyond phishing, usecure includes risk adapted security awareness training, policy management, dark web monitoring, and Human Risk Scores that track improvement over time. For MSPs, there's multi-tenant management, white labelling, automated reporting, and per-user licensing. You can deliver phishing simulation and training as a managed service across dozens of clients from a single portal.
Where it helps
- Ongoing phishing testing without campaign management overhead
- Reducing click rates and proving improvement to clients or leadership
- Supporting ISO 27001, GDPR, and cyber insurance requirements
- MSPs delivering human risk management as a repeatable service
Key features
- AutoPhish with configurable frequency, template filtering, and working hours controls
- Brand impersonation, spear phishing, attachment based, and credential harvesting simulations
- Message injection for reliable inbox delivery in M365 and Google Workspace
- Instant inline training for compromised users
- Human Risk Scores with trend reporting across users, departments, or clients
- Multi-tenant MSP portal with white labelling
- Dark web credential monitoring
- Policy distribution and acceptance tracking
- 15+ spoof domains and multilingual template library
Best fit
MSPs and SMBs that want phishing simulation baked into a wider human risk reduction program with minimal admin.
2) KnowBe4
What it is
KnowBe4 is one of the biggest names in security awareness training and has been in the market longer than most. Its phishing simulation console gives you access to thousands of templates, covering everything from credential harvesting to CEO fraud. You can run automated campaigns, use the PhishAlert reporting button, and get risk scoring across your user base.
The training library is massive. If you need volume and variety, KnowBe4 probably has a template or training module for it. That breadth comes with a tradeoff though. Admins often report a steeper learning curve with advanced features, and managing campaigns at scale can require more hands on effort than some alternatives.
Some users have also flagged that content can feel repetitive over time, and there are limits on customisation options depending on your plan tier.
Key features
- One of the largest phishing template libraries in the market
- PhishAlert reporting button
- AI recommended training and automated campaigns
- Risk scoring and analytics
- Integrations with M365 and Active Directory
Best fit
Organisations that prioritise content breadth and have the internal resources to run and tune campaigns.
3) Hoxhunt
What it is
Hoxhunt is built around adaptive phishing training with a strong gamification angle. The platform uses AI to adjust simulation difficulty for each user based on their performance, sending more challenging phishing emails to people who report consistently and easier ones to those still learning.
Simulations run across email, Slack, and Microsoft Teams. Users who report simulated phishing earn points and climb leaderboards, which drives significantly higher engagement than traditional platforms. When someone clicks instead of reporting, they get immediate micro-training.
Hoxhunt also offers deepfake phishing simulations, using AI generated video and voice to replicate executive impersonation scenarios. That's a differentiator for organisations preparing their teams against more sophisticated social engineering.
The flip side: Hoxhunt is enterprise priced and enterprise oriented. Initial setup can be more involved than some alternatives, and the admin dashboard has a reputation for being less intuitive than the end user experience.
Key features
- AI driven adaptive difficulty across four tiers
- Gamification with points, leaderboards, and rewards
- Simulations across email, Slack, and Teams
- Deepfake phishing simulations
- Real time feedback and micro-training
- 30+ languages
Best fit
Mid-market and enterprise organisations willing to invest in a behaviour change platform with high user engagement.
4) Cofense
What it is
Cofense focuses on the other end of the phishing problem: what happens after someone spots a suspicious email. The platform is built around phish reporting and triage, helping security teams identify real threats faster by analysing what employees report.
There's a simulation component (Cofense PhishMe) that lets you run customised phishing campaigns with role based scenarios, attachment simulations, and credential harvesting. Reporting is strong on identifying repeat clickers and feeding data to SOC workflows.
But Cofense leans more toward detection and response than training. The end user experience isn't as gamified or engaging as some competitors, and a few users note that admin overhead is higher than expected.
Key features
- PhishMe simulation campaigns with role based targeting
- One click phish reporting button
- Incident analysis and triage tools
- User reporting metrics and repeat clicker identification
- Responsive delivery controls
Best fit
Security operations teams that prioritise phishing detection and response over training-led programs.
5) Proofpoint Security Awareness
What it is
Proofpoint's phishing simulation offering sits inside its broader email security ecosystem. The Assess platform combines phishing, smishing, and USB simulations with threat intelligence drawn from Proofpoint's detection capabilities. Their People Risk Explorer identifies users who are most targeted or most likely to click, based on actual threat data.
Employees who fail simulations can be auto-enrolled into adaptive learning paths. Reporting is geared toward enterprise security teams that want visibility into user risk alongside email threat data.
The catch is that Proofpoint works best if you're already a Proofpoint shop. As a standalone phishing simulation tool, it's less flexible than dedicated platforms. Engagement levels also tend to lag behind more gamified options.
Key features
- Phishing, smishing, and USB simulations
- People Risk Explorer based on threat data
- Auto-enrolment into adaptive learning paths
- Integration with Proofpoint email security stack
- Enterprise reporting
Best fit
Mid-market and enterprise organisations already invested in Proofpoint's ecosystem.
6) SoSafe
What it is
SoSafe is a European platform that combines gamified security awareness training with AI driven phishing simulations. Their Simulation Studio lets admins create custom phishing templates in minutes using AI, and the platform's Adaptive Difficulty Engine adjusts simulation frequency and complexity for each user.
Simulations cover email, SMS (smishing), QR codes, and SoSafe recently introduced vishing (voice phishing) simulations in early access. The Phishing Report Button gives employees a way to flag suspicious emails with immediate feedback.
SoSafe puts heavy emphasis on GDPR compliance and privacy by design, storing all data within the EU. They launched an MSP platform in mid-2025 with multi-tenant management, no minimum licence requirements, and direct message injection that bypasses complex whitelisting.
Templates are available in up to 30 languages, and the platform integrates with M365, Google Workspace, SAP SuccessFactors, and others.
Key features
- AI powered Simulation Studio for custom templates
- Adaptive Difficulty Engine
- Multi-channel simulations (email, SMS, QR, vishing in early access)
- Phishing Report Button with immediate feedback
- GDPR compliant, EU data storage
- MSP platform with multi-tenant management
- 30+ language support
Best fit
Mid-market organisations and MSPs in Europe that need strong data privacy controls alongside effective phishing simulations.
7) MetaCompliance
https://www.metacompliance.com
What it is
MetaCompliance's phishing simulation tool, MetaPhish, is part of a broader compliance and security awareness suite. The platform provides a library of pre-built phishing templates, custom campaign creation, audience segmentation by role or department, and point of click learning experiences when users interact with simulated emails.
Templates are available in 43 languages, which is one of the wider multilingual offerings on this list. Campaigns can be configured with staggered scheduling, random targeting percentages, and custom delivery windows.
Reporting covers open rates, click rates, and compromise rates across departments and user groups. The platform is often chosen by organisations in regulated industries where compliance documentation and policy management are the primary drivers.
Some users have reported challenges with initial setup, particularly around spam filter configuration and suppression list management.
Key features
- MetaPhish simulation platform with pre-built and custom templates
- 43 language support
- Audience segmentation by department, role, and skill level
- Point of click learning with nano training videos
- Staggered and scheduled delivery
- Compliance and policy reporting
Best fit
Organisations in regulated industries that need phishing simulations tied to broader governance and compliance programs.
8) Infosec IQ
https://www.infosecinstitute.com
What it is
Infosec IQ (from Infosec Institute) is a security awareness training platform that includes phishing simulations as part of a structured training program. The platform focuses on role based training paths, covering phishing, password security, data protection, and regulatory topics.
Phishing simulations are typically run as campaigns alongside scheduled training modules, with reporting geared toward compliance and audit requirements. The approach is more structured and less adaptive than behaviour led platforms.
Infosec IQ tends to be chosen by organisations that need to demonstrate training coverage and completion rates for audits, rather than those focused on continuous behavioural risk reduction.
Key features
- Phishing simulation campaigns
- Role based training paths
- Compliance and audit reporting
- Training library covering phishing, passwords, data protection
Best fit
Organisations that need documented training programs tied to compliance frameworks.
9) Barracuda Security Awareness Training
What it is
Barracuda's security awareness offering includes basic phishing simulations and training content as part of its wider security portfolio. The platform is designed to be accessible and easy to adopt, particularly for SMBs and MSPs already using Barracuda for email or network security.
Phishing simulations act as an extension of the broader Barracuda stack rather than a standalone human risk management program. If you're already invested in Barracuda for email protection, firewall, or backup, adding awareness training is straightforward.
The tradeoff is depth. Barracuda's phishing simulation capabilities are more basic than dedicated platforms. Template libraries are smaller, adaptive features are limited, and the reporting doesn't go as deep as purpose built phishing tools.
Key features
- Phishing simulation campaigns
- Awareness training content
- Reporting dashboards
- Integration with Barracuda email security
Best fit
SMBs and MSPs that want basic phishing simulation bundled into an existing Barracuda security stack.
10) Phished
What it is
Phished is a Belgian platform that uses AI to automate and personalise phishing simulations. The platform adjusts difficulty based on each user's skill level, sending increasingly challenging simulations to users who consistently report threats and easier ones to those who need more practice.
A standout feature is how little setup the platform requires. Phished advertises a one to two hour deployment window, with the AI handling template selection, scheduling, and difficulty progression from there. When a user clicks a simulated phish, they receive a nanolearning module explaining what went wrong.
The platform also includes an AI prompt feature for creating custom simulations quickly, a Phished Report Button for reporting, and a Zero Incident Mail training environment. Gamified training sessions sit alongside the simulations.
Phished is strongest in the EU market and among SMBs that want a low-admin automated platform. It's less established in enterprise and North American markets compared to some of the larger vendors.
Key features
- AI driven, levelised phishing simulations
- One to two hour deployment
- Nanolearning for compromised users
- Phished Report Button
- Gamified training sessions
- AI prompt based custom simulation creation
Best fit
SMBs, particularly in the EU, looking for a lightweight automated phishing simulation platform.
How to choose the right phishing simulation platform
Start with what you're actually trying to achieve. If the goal is compliance, platforms with structured reporting and role based paths will get you there. If the goal is measurable risk reduction, you need something that adapts to user behaviour and validates improvement over time with phishing data, not just course completion.
Consider how much time you can put in. Manual campaign platforms work if you have dedicated staff to manage them. If you don't, and most MSPs and lean IT teams don't, automated platforms like usecure or Phished will save you significant time while keeping programs running consistently.
Match the platform to your operating model. MSPs need multi-tenant management, white labelling, and flexible licensing. Internal teams may care more about reporting depth or integrations with existing tools. Enterprise security teams might prioritise threat intelligence or SOC integration.
Think about what good looks like for reporting. Phishing click rate is the obvious metric, but it's a blunt one. Reporting rate tells you more about whether behaviour is actually changing. Trend data over time, per user risk scores, and department level breakdowns are what you need to show progress to leadership, clients, or auditors.
Don't overlook realism. Your users won't learn from phishing simulations they can spot instantly. Templates that mirror actual attack patterns, brand impersonations of tools your users know, and multi-vector simulations all make the program more effective.
FAQ
What is a phishing simulation?
A phishing simulation is a controlled test where fake phishing emails are sent to employees to measure how they respond. Users who click, open attachments, or enter credentials are flagged and typically receive follow up training. The purpose is to identify vulnerability and build better habits before a real attack lands.
How often should you run phishing simulations?
Most platforms recommend at least monthly. Some run simulations every four to eight weeks per user. The evidence consistently shows that training effects fade after a few months without reinforcement, so quarterly campaigns on their own aren't frequent enough to drive lasting behaviour change.
What's the difference between phishing simulation and security awareness training?
Phishing simulation tests how users respond to realistic attack scenarios. Security awareness training educates users on threats more broadly, covering topics like password hygiene, social engineering, data protection, and compliance. The most effective programs combine both, using simulations to validate whether training is actually working.
Can MSPs deliver phishing simulation as a managed service?
Yes. Several platforms on this list are built for it. usecure, SoSafe, and Barracuda all offer multi-tenant MSP portals. The key is finding a platform where you can manage multiple clients, automate campaigns, and produce reporting without having to touch each account constantly.
Do phishing simulations actually reduce breaches?
When run continuously and paired with targeted training, yes. Organisations that run sustained phishing programs report click rates dropping from 20-30% baselines down to low single digits over 12 to 18 months. The more important metric is whether employees start reporting suspicious emails, which turns your user base from a vulnerability into an early warning system.
What about AI generated phishing? Should simulations reflect that?
They should. AI phishing emails don't have the spelling errors and clumsy formatting that users were trained to look for five years ago. Modern simulations should include well-crafted, contextually relevant emails that mimic what AI tools produce. Some platforms (Hoxhunt, SoSafe, Phished) are starting to use AI to generate simulation content that reflects current attack sophistication.
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