KnowBe4 vs. Proofpoint: A 2025 Comparison of Security Awareness Platforms

Deepfakes can mimic your CEO's voice. AI can write phishing emails that bypass filters and deceive even your most experienced employees. And yet, most security awareness programs still rely on annual training slides and recycled simulations.

If you're comparing KnowBe4 and Proofpoint, you're likely past the stage of merely checking the boxes. You're asking harder questions:

• How do we quantify human risk in real time?
• Can our platform adapt to new threat types like AI-generated phishing or deepfakes?
• Are we training behavior or just testing memory?

Both KnowBe4 and Proofpoint have solid reputations and enterprise reach. However, they employ different approaches to managing human risk, and each comes with trade-offs in terms of flexibility, scalability, and relevance to modern threats.

This guide breaks down where each platform excels and where they fall short. It also addresses new-generation security awareness training platforms, like Adaptive Security, built around behavioral intelligence, AI-driven simulations, and real-time risk insights rather than static training content.

At a glance: KnowBe4 vs. Proofpoint feature comparison

Here's a quick, side-by-side comparison of three leading security awareness training platforms—KnowBe4, Proofpoint, and Adaptive Security—to help you determine where each fits.

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Use case fit: Which platform matches your risk priorities?

Choosing KnowBe4, Proofpoint, or Adaptive Security isn't about the biggest library or flashiest dashboard; it's about which platform aligns with your actual risk drivers. As social engineering and credential theft continue to rise, business email compromise (BEC) losses remain substantial. What's more, AI is amplifying lures across email, voice, and SMS channels.

Your decision should hinge on how well the tool protects against the kinds of attacks your employees actually face, how fast it adapts to emerging tactics, and if it offers AI security awareness training.

KnowBe4: If your focus is on content scale and global reach

KnowBe4 remains the go-to for teams that want to roll out training fast across large, distributed workforces—especially when compliance coverage and localization are top priorities. It's suitable if you want every employee in every region to receive consistent training, testing, and tracking.

Here's everything KnowBe4 offers and what that means in practice:

1. Extensive content library:

KnowBe4 offers one of the most extensive security awareness libraries, spanning over 35 languages and covering topics such as phishing, password hygiene, compliance, data privacy, and more.

That's a major logistical win if you're a global enterprise, since you won't have to build or translate content in-house. Instead, you can assign role-based courses (finance, HR, developers) and rely on pre-built campaigns that meet audit requirements out of the box.

2. Localized, compliance-ready training

KnowBe4's language coverage and built-in policy templates make it easy to stay consistent across regions. If you have offices in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, you don't need to create separate content for each area. Everyone can take the same course in their own language, on the same schedule, in one dashboard.

For compliance leads, KnowBe4 offers a straightforward way to verify that everyone in the company has completed mandatory training without having to track down multiple tools or regional vendors.

3. High-volume phishing simulations

KnowBe4 offers large-scale phishing tests with templates drawn from real-world scams. You can target different groups separately to help employees spot the same tricks attackers use. For example, you can send finance teams invoice scams or send IT staff fake credential reset requests.

Afterwards, you can track who clicked or entered information. Over time, you'll see which departments or locations are most often targeted by attacks ("phish-prone" rate). This lets security leaders demonstrate progress to executives and decide where to focus additional training.

4. Automated program management

KnowBe4's Smart Groups enable you to automatically adjust phishing difficulty and training based on each user's behavior, eliminating the need for manual tracking.

If someone fails a phishing test, they're moved into a "beginner" Smart Group that receives easier phishing simulations and a short remedial training module. Once they pass two in a row, they're automatically promoted to an "advanced" group and start receiving more complex, real-world phishing simulations.

You can also group users by metrics like number of reported phishing emails or phish-prone percentage, and send them tailored challenges that match their skill level. For instance, high performers can get advanced lures that mimic vendor invoices or executive messages, while frequent clickers get simpler, educational tests.

Proofpoint: If your focus is on integrating with broader DLP and email security

Proofpoint is a stellar alternative to KnowBe4. It's a strong choice for organizations that already utilize its email protection or data loss prevention (DLP) tools and want their awareness program to integrate directly with those systems. The platform is built around the idea of connecting user behavior with real attack data, not just simulated training.

Here's what Proofpoint offers and what it means in practice:

1. Integration with live threat data

Proofpoint's biggest advantage is that it pulls real phishing and malware samples from its global threat intelligence network, which analyzes billions of emails per day. That means when users get a simulated phishing test, it often mirrors the exact types of messages attackers are currently sending (e.g., invoice scams or MFA reset emails).

This makes simulations more credible and relevant for teams, helping users practice against the threats they're actually facing in the wild, instead of just generic templates.

2. Human risk scoring

For example, someone in finance who frequently receives invoice-themed phishing attempts but rarely reports them will have a higher score (and therefore higher priority for coaching). This lets security teams focus on who poses the greatest risk, and not spread training evenly across everyone.

3. Tight connection to email security and DLP

If an organization already uses Proofpoint for email security or data loss prevention, the awareness module connects directly with those tools.

When an employee reports a suspicious email using Proofpoint's PhishAlarm button, the message will get automatically analyzed in PhishER. If it's confirmed to be malicious, PhishRIP removes similar messages from everyone's inboxes.

This lets users actively help stop real attacks while training. The time from "employee reports" to "threat removed" drops from hours to minutes, which makes a real difference during phishing waves.

4. Targeted training and reporting loops

Proofpoint lets you sort users into groups based on their level of risk—for example, those who click on phishing emails often, those who occasionally fall for them, and those who report them correctly.

Once grouped, each set of users gets training that matches their behavior:

• High-risk users get short, focused lessons right after they click on a phishing simulation.
• Medium-risk users might receive a quick refresher video or a short quiz.
• Low-risk users who report suspicious emails get a thank-you message or recognition, which reinforces the habit.

This keeps training relevant to what each group actually does, rather than sending the same modules to everyone. It also creates a steady cycle: people are tested, they receive immediate feedback, and they improve with every round, without adding more administrative work for the security team.

Adaptive Security: If your focus is on AI-era threat readiness and behavior change

Adaptive Security is built for organizations that have outgrown traditional awareness programs and want to prepare for AI-powered phishing, deepfakes, and hybrid social engineering attacks.

Instead of sending out quarterly videos or standard phishing tests, Adaptive teaches people as they work. The platform shows them how to spot and stop modern scams in real-time, using examples pulled from actual attack patterns.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

1. AI-driven deepfake and phishing simulations

Adaptive's simulations replicate modern attack types, including everything from AI-generated phishing emails to voice deepfakes and fake SMS messages.

For example, a CFO might receive a realistic voicemail that sounds like the CEO requesting a wire transfer, a scenario traditional phishing tests can't mimic. Employees can practice recognizing tone, urgency, and context rather than just spotting bad links.

This process makes training far more relevant for today's threat landscape, where voice and video impersonation attacks are on the rise, resulting in significant BEC losses.

2. Real-time behavioral nudges

Unlike most awareness tools that deliver feedback after a test, Adaptive provides in-the-moment nudges.

For instance, if an employee clicks a suspicious link, opens a risky attachment, or is about to share sensitive data, they get a brief, contextual reminder that explains the risk and illustrates a safer action. This approach replaces one-off training with continuous reinforcement during daily work.

3. Human risk scoring and insights

Adaptive tracks user behavior across phishing simulations, reporting rates, and response patterns to generate a dynamic Human Risk Score for each employee.

Instead of just flagging who failed the last test, the platform highlights why, telling whether someone is too quick to respond to external emails or tends to ignore security reminders.

This helps security leaders prioritize coaching where it'll have the most impact and measure progress in concrete terms, resulting in fewer risky clicks, faster reporting, and improved response times.

4. Protection against new attack variants

Adaptive doesn't just train for email phishing. It also includes vishing (phone scams), smishing (text scams), and executive impersonation (deepfake or spoofed messages).

This approach gives your team practice handling the same cross-channel scams that attackers now use in the real world.

Platform rollout and customization: What to expect in the first 90 days

How fast you launch, how much admin time it takes, and how much you can tailor it to your organization will directly affect employee engagement and measurable results.

If rollout drags on or feels like extra admin work, employees lose interest before the first campaign even starts. And if the content feels generic or irrelevant to their roles, completion rates stay high, but behavior doesn't actually change. The first 90 days are when people decide whether the program feels like a compliance task or a useful skill.

When evaluating implementation, look closely at:

• Time to launch: How quickly can you run your first phishing test or assign training?
• Admin and IT lift: How many teams need to be involved to set it up and maintain it?
• Customization: How easily can you tailor content to roles, regions, and risk levels?
• Early impact: How quickly can you measure engagement, reporting rates, and general improvement?

Each platform approaches rollout differently. Some focus on speed and scale, others on integration depth, and a few like Adaptive on fast, low-friction customization.

Here's what you can expect during your first 90 days with each one.

KnowBe4: Quick global rollout, moderate customization

KnowBe4's setup is fast because it comes with prebuilt templates and an extensive content library. Admins can deploy training materials across regions without having to create them from scratch.

• Integrations:

• User Provisioning & Access: Works with all major SSO and directory providers (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace) and supports SCIM for automated user provisioning
• Email reporting: Utilizes the Phish Alert Button (PAB), an Outlook/Gmail add-in that enables users to report phishing attempts directly to the SOC or abuse inbox
• Optional: Exports metrics via API to SIEM, SOAR, or HRIS systems if needed

• Setup effort: Moderate since it runs smoothly for most environments, but requires extra time if you integrate it with your HR system or want deeper localization
• Customization: Strong for multi-language delivery but limited in adapting to modern threats like deepfakes or hybrid phishing
• By day 90: Training modules assigned, the first phishing simulations completed, and performance benchmarks established

Best for: Large, distributed organizations that prioritize compliance coverage and rapid scaling and are looking for an alternative to Proofpoint

Proofpoint: Integrated, data-rich rollout with higher setup needs

Proofpoint's strength lies in connecting awareness with real threat data from your email and DLP systems. However, that integration takes more planning.

• Integrations:

• Email reporting: PhishAlarm for flagging suspicious messages directly from Outlook or Gmail
• Threat response: PhishER (for triaging reports) and PhishRIP (for automatically removing similar malicious emails from inboxes) integration
• User Provisioning & Access: Standard SSO and directory sync options (Okta, Azure AD, Entra ID)
• Analytics: Nexus People Risk Explorer (NPRE), combining training data, exposure, and privilege to calculate individual and department-level risk scores
• Optional: Feeds data into SIEM/SOAR tools for unified dashboards

• Setup effort: Higher since you'll need your IT or SecOps team to connect Proofpoint's modules with tools like PhishER or PhishRIP
• Customization: Good for linking behaviour (reporting, clicks) to training, and aligning with real threat data; early configuration of risk tiers (high/medium/low) pays off
• By day 90: First user risk scores and reporting loops in place

Best for: Enterprises already using Proofpoint's email or DLP stack, aiming for unified visibility between technical and human risk

Adaptive Security: Fast, low-friction setup built for real-world behavior change

Adaptive is designed for rapid rollout and modern threats, including deepfakes, AI phishing, and social engineering, across voice and SMS.

• Integrations:

• User Provisioning & Access: Supports SSO via SAML and user sync through directory integrations (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace)
• Communication channels: Connects easily with corporate email clients or chat tools (like Outlook or Slack) to deliver real-time "nudge" messages
• Email simulation: A simple allow-listing setup to launch phishing and voice/SMS simulations in days
• Analytics: Generates Human Risk Scores automatically from simulation and reporting data (no SIEM or DLP tie-in required)
• Optional: Integration with SIEM, SOAR, or HR systems to centralize risk insights as needed

• Setup effort: Light, allowing you to run a sandbox environment in days, launch pilot simulations by week 2–3, and begin collecting behavior data before day 45
• Customization: High, as content is automatically tailored by role and risk level (for example, finance teams get invoice fraud simulations, while executives get deepfake training)
• By day 90: Measurable behavior improvement, including fewer risky clicks, higher report rates, and early human risk scores

Best for: Organizations that want to transition from awareness training to behavioral defense and require rapid, meaningful results without a significant investment in IT

Real-world results: What users are saying

When choosing the right security awareness platform, it's helpful to look beyond feature lists and consider what actual users report after implementing these programs.

Feedback from G2, Capterra, Reddit, and customer case studies provides a more practical picture of where each platform excels and where it may fall short.

KnowBe4: Broad usage, but content fatigue noted

KnowBe4 remains the most widely used awareness platform globally, with over 60,000 customers and a 4.7-star overall rating across more than 2,200 G2 reviews.

Most users describe it as reliable, straightforward, and backed by excellent support. Reviewers highlight how quickly it integrates with Google and Microsoft ecosystems, as well as how easy it is for non-technical administrators to manage.

IT Manager Faridi M. writes, "I find the platform intuitive and effective, especially because of its strong integration with Google services and robust reporting capabilities."

Many praise its mix of video-based training and comprehension quizzes, which help employees retain information and stay alert. "The content is engaging," says Office Manager Stacey C., "mixing listening, reading, and questions—it really makes people pay attention."

However, the same reviews also flag content repetition and limited customization, especially after long-term use. For instance, Brian L., an IT Manager, admitted, "Some tests are repetitive and haven't changed much. Our enrolled staff quickly recognizes these and always get the answers right."

All in all, KnowBe4 wins on deployment speed, integration, and customer support. However, to maintain high engagement beyond the first year, admins often need to rotate templates, add fresh content, or incorporate newer simulation types.

Proofpoint: Strong on compliance but UX gaps

Proofpoint earns strong ratings for its enterprise integrations and analytics depth, along with its customer service.

G2 reviewers give Proofpoint an average rating of 4.5 stars, citing its detailed analytics and comprehensive compliance coverage. Security analysts describe the platform as easy to manage once running, with plenty of templates and strong reporting.

"There's a huge collection of phishing email templates for you to choose from," says Jounee K., an IT Security Analyst. "These templates can be customized to meet the needs of your organization."

Associate Director Celina D. writes, "Tons of phishing simulation options, user-friendly modules, and great reporting metrics. Integration is seamless."

Proofpoint also shows measurable results when used consistently: one education-sector CISO cited a 30 % reduction in phishing incidents after rollout (G2, 2024). Still, some users feel the experience and content library need modernization.

"When we used this service, most of the training videos were old and outdated," writes Jagrut P., a Network & InfoSec Manager. "There is even a video featuring a legacy Microsoft OS book on the background shelf. That's how dated these videos are."

The bottom line? Proofpoint delivers excellent visibility and risk scoring, which is ideal if you already use its email or DLP stack. But expect a heavier setup and some UX trade-offs if you prioritize fast customization or newer content styles.

Adaptive: praised for visibility into behavior change and ease of use

Adaptive is newer but consistently praised for its modern interface, fast rollout, and measurable behavior change. It focuses less on course completion and more on how employees behave, including how frequently they report threats, how promptly they respond to real or simulated attacks, and how their risk scores evolve.

Many customers highlight that shift as a game-changer. In an Adaptive Case Study, a healthcare organization CISO says, "Adaptive helped us move from training completion metrics to actually seeing behavior change in our teams."

That focus on measurable improvement is also evident in the data.

Across Adaptive's G2 and AWS Marketplace reviews (average rating: five stars), users repeatedly mention fast rollout, a clean interface, and clear proof of progress. One anonymous manufacturing employee writes, "I really appreciate how advanced Adaptive Security's AI-based training and simulated 'attack' scenarios are."

Unlike traditional systems that rely on long videos or annual courses, Adaptive builds training around small, contextual interactions, like nudges, micro-simulations, and in-the-moment guidance, when end-users actually make decisions.

Where legacy platforms fall short

As threats evolve, many traditional security-awareness platforms still operate on outdated assumptions and approaches. Here are the key gaps that these legacy methods often fail to keep up with.

Static cadence in a dynamic threat landscape

Legacy systems typically run on fixed training cycles (once or twice a year), despite the threat landscape changing monthly. Research from KnowBe4 found that while regular training can reduce phishing click rates by as much as 86% in 12 months, results drop sharply when the cadence slows down or content becomes repetitive.

In short, attackers iterate faster than most training calendars. To remain effective, awareness programs must adapt on a weekly or monthly basis, mirroring the evolution of threats in real time.

Lack of behavioral feedback loops

Traditional platforms often focus on course completion rather than how employees actually behave and rarely adjust based on individual actions. Without embedding behavior-feedback (who clicked, who reported, how fast), training becomes passive and the "check the box" mentality takes over.

To avoid this, companies need a security awareness platform that can track behavior, segment users accordingly, and build remediation workflows.

Missed opportunities with AI-driven threats

Perhaps the biggest blind spot of legacy awareness platforms is their limited scope. Most still center on email-based phishing, even as attackers pivot to voice and video manipulation.

Deepfake-enabled scams and vishing are rising sharply, with the FBI's 2024 IC3 report recording over $2.9 billion in BEC losses, much of it now involving AI-generated audio or spoofed executive voices.

Yet, few platforms simulate these threats. Employees may pass a fake-invoice email test but still fall for a "CEO voice message" asking for an urgent payment. Modern solutions, including AI-based simulation tools, now recreate these new vectors, from SMS lures to deepfake calls. This allows organizations to train for what's actually happening in the wild, not what was trending five years ago.

Why Adaptive Security offers a smarter alternative to KnowBe4 vs. Proofpoint

If KnowBe4 is about scale and Proofpoint is about integration, Adaptive Security is about results. Adaptive's new-gen security awareness features actually help teams change behavior, not just pass training.

While KnowBe4 and Proofpoint both have strong awareness ecosystems, they're designed for an era when phishing looked the same week to week. Today, attackers use AI to personalize messages, clone executive voices, and exploit new channels like SMS and chat. In that cybersecurity landscape, annual video modules, basic gamification features, or static phishing templates can't keep up.

Adaptive's behavior-first design combines realistic simulations, contextual micro-lessons, and in-the-moment reinforcement nudges that meet employees where attacks happen — inside inboxes, chat tools, or calls. Rather than simply recording who completed training, it tracks how quickly users report threats, how often they fall for new lures, and how those patterns improve over time.

Adaptive is AI-native, meaning that simulations evolve in response to emerging threats. Deepfake voicemails, text-based phishing, and impersonation scams are already part of its library, teaching quick incident response and mirroring the tactics real attackers use.

Training is also role-based and risk-scored, so finance teams, developers, and executives each receive scenarios relevant to their daily exposure. The result is a program that feels targeted, engaging, and useful rather than generic.

Adaptive also gives leaders the visibility they need. Its dashboards translate human risk data into clear metrics that boards and compliance teams can track: fewer risky clicks and proof that awareness efforts are reducing real-world exposure.

If you want to move beyond checkbox compliance and build genuine, measurable resilience, book a personalized demo and see how Adaptive works in action.

FAQs about KnowBe4 vs. Proofpoint

Is KnowBe4 or Proofpoint better for phishing simulations?

KnowBe4 focuses on scale, offering thousands of templates and automated Smart Groups. Proofpoint stands out for realism because its simulations use live threat data from its email security network.

Both platforms handle traditional phishing well, but Adaptive Security takes it a step further by incorporating AI-based simulations for voice, SMS, and deepfake attacks. This helps employees practice responding to real-world threats across multiple channels, not just email.

How does Adaptive Security compare to KnowBe4 and Proofpoint?

Adaptive prioritizes behavior change instead of course completion. It delivers real-time feedback, personalized nudges, and AI-driven scenarios that evolve in response to new attack methods.

While KnowBe4 is ideal for global scale, and Proofpoint integrates deeply with enterprise tools, Adaptive combines both advantages. It's lightweight, adaptive, and designed for modern workforces where risks differ by role, behavior, and communication channel.

Can Adaptive Security integrate with existing tools?

Yes. Adaptive integrates seamlessly with single sign-on and directory systems, such as Okta, Azure AD, or Google Workspace, for a quick setup. It also integrates with email clients and chat platforms such as Outlook, Teams, and Slack to deliver real-time training prompts.

Optional integrations with SIEM, SOAR, or HR systems allow organizations to bring human risk metrics into existing security dashboards without adding IT complexity.