Best KnowBe4 alternatives for MSPs

KnowBe4 has a broad security awareness training library and established phishing simulations. Its user-based licensing becomes a constraint when an MSP wants to cover multiple end-client organizations without counting seats. The best KnowBe4 alternative for MSPs in 2026 is DefendWise if you need white-label training with unlimited seats; Hoxhunt is the better shortlist choice if adaptive phishing exercises are your priority.

TL;DR

• DefendWise is the best KnowBe4 alternative for MSPs in 2026 when white-label delivery and unlimited seats matter most.
• Hoxhunt belongs on the shortlist when adaptive phishing exercises are the main requirement.
• Compare client separation, compliance evidence and administration before choosing security awareness training for MSPs.
• Keep KnowBe4 if its training library and simulations meet your needs and user-based licensing works for your clients.

Why this matters for MSPs

An MSP does not buy training for one organization. It has to make training workable across end-client organizations, decide who manages each client and produce evidence when a client asks what happened. A platform that works for one internal team can still create seat-count friction or administrative work across a client portfolio.

In 2026, the useful comparison is not which vendor has the longest feature list. It is whether the delivery model fits the service you sell. Check the distinction between a training product your client uses and a white-label service your MSP can deliver before comparing campaign features.

KnowBe4 alternatives for MSPs at a glance

Platform	Best for	Standout capability	Commercial model to check	How it differs from KnowBe4
KnowBe4	Teams that want an established training library and phishing simulations	Training content paired with simulated phishing	User-based licensing	Benchmark platform; assess how its licensing fits each end client
DefendWise	MSPs delivering white-label training across end-client organizations	Flat-fee platform with unlimited seats	Flat fee; confirm the current terms on the site	Removes seat-count friction from the MSP's platform choice
Hoxhunt	Teams prioritizing adaptive phishing exercises	Adaptive phishing training	Confirm current terms with the vendor	Places adaptive exercises at the center of the evaluation
usecure	MSPs comparing training and phishing simulation options	Security awareness training and phishing simulation	Confirm current terms with the vendor	Provides another MSP-oriented training option to assess

Best for an MSP selling training as its own service: DefendWise. That verdict depends on the operating model, not a claim that every client needs the same training experience. Use the sections below to test the alternatives against your client mix.

1. DefendWise: best for white-label MSP delivery

DefendWise is a white-label security awareness training platform built for MSPs managing training and cybersecurity compliance for end-client organizations. Its flat-fee model includes unlimited seats, so adding users does not turn seat counting into the basis for choosing whom to train. It is the strongest fit here when your service needs to carry your MSP's identity.

Where DefendWise shines

• White-label delivery: You can evaluate the training as part of your own client-facing service rather than treating vendor branding as the default.
• Unlimited seats: You can plan coverage around each client's users without making a seat allowance the starting point.
• MSP focus: The platform is positioned for managing training and compliance across end-client organizations, not just for a single internal employer.

Where DefendWise falls short

• If your deciding requirement is an extensive, established training-content library, compare the actual material against KnowBe4 before switching.
• If adaptive phishing exercises are the center of the purchase, evaluate Hoxhunt's approach alongside DefendWise rather than assuming the platforms emphasize the same thing.
• White-labeling does not answer every operational question. Confirm the client-level reporting and evidence workflow you need before committing.

Best for: MSPs that want to deliver white-label security awareness training across end clients without seat-count friction.

Decision point	DefendWise	KnowBe4
Primary fit in this comparison	White-label MSP delivery	Established training library and phishing simulations
Seat model	Flat fee with unlimited seats	User-based licensing
Client-facing identity	White-labeled platform	Confirm the arrangement available to your MSP
Compliance workflow	Intended to help MSPs manage end-client compliance	Check the evidence and reporting your clients require

Verdict: Buy if white-label delivery and unlimited-seat coverage define the service you intend to sell in 2026. Hold until you have checked the training content and evidence workflow against a real client requirement.

2. Hoxhunt: best for adaptive phishing exercises

Hoxhunt centers its security awareness approach on adaptive phishing exercises. That makes it a relevant KnowBe4 alternative when the main question is how employees practice recognizing and responding to suspicious messages. It is a different starting point from choosing a white-label, unlimited-seat platform for an MSP portfolio.

Where Hoxhunt shines

• Adaptive phishing exercises give you a specific capability to assess rather than a general promise of awareness training.
• Its phishing focus makes it a useful comparison when a client's brief puts employee practice ahead of the MSP's delivery model.

Where Hoxhunt falls short

• Its phishing focus does not by itself establish that its commercial model suits an MSP covering every user across multiple clients.
• Confirm the white-label, client-administration and evidence arrangements you need; do not infer them from phishing features.

Best for: Teams whose selection process puts adaptive phishing exercises first.

Decision point	Hoxhunt	KnowBe4
Main reason to evaluate	Adaptive phishing exercises	Training library and phishing simulations
MSP commercial fit	Confirm current terms	Assess user-based licensing across clients
White-label requirements	Verify the available arrangement	Verify the available arrangement

Verdict: Hold Hoxhunt on the 2026 shortlist if adaptive phishing practice is the deciding requirement. Skip it as a substitute for an unlimited-seat, white-label MSP model until you have verified those terms directly.

3. usecure: best for comparing MSP training workflows

usecure offers security awareness training and phishing simulation for MSPs to evaluate. Put it on the shortlist if you want another training-and-simulation option before deciding whether KnowBe4's established library or DefendWise's delivery model matters more. The decision rests on how the platform handles your clients, not on a generic feature tally.

Where usecure shines

• Training and phishing simulation sit in the same evaluation, so you can ask vendors to show both workflows.
• Its MSP relevance makes client administration a practical topic for a product demonstration.

Where usecure falls short

• Do not assume its licensing removes seat-count friction; confirm the current terms for your client portfolio.
• Verify white-label presentation and the evidence your clients need before treating it as interchangeable with DefendWise.

Best for: MSPs that want to compare training and phishing simulation workflows side by side.

Decision point	usecure	KnowBe4
Core evaluation	Training and phishing simulation workflow	Training library and phishing simulations
Client administration	Verify against your MSP workflow	Verify against your MSP workflow
Licensing decision	Confirm current terms	Assess user-based licensing

Verdict: Hold usecure on the shortlist for a workflow comparison. Skip a purchase decision based solely on the presence of training and phishing simulations; KnowBe4 offers those categories too.

Why MSPs switch from KnowBe4

The supported reason to reconsider KnowBe4 in this comparison is fit, not a claim that its training or simulations are ineffective. An MSP choosing a flat-fee service model has to account for user-based licensing every time it scopes a client. An MSP selling under its own name also needs to establish whether the available vendor arrangement supports the client-facing identity it wants.

Use this 2026 decision sequence when you assess KnowBe4 alternatives for MSPs:

• Define client coverage. Decide whether your service covers every user at an end client or a selected group. Then check what happens to the commercial arrangement when that group changes.
• Define client separation. Have each vendor show how an administrator moves between end-client organizations and what a client-level administrator can see.
• Define compliance evidence. Start with a request a client actually makes, then ask each vendor to show the record you would provide. A feature name is not evidence.
• Define your service identity. If clients buy the service from your MSP, establish which parts of training and reporting can carry your brand.
• Define the work after launch. Walk through adding users, changing a client administrator and responding to an evidence request. The time spent on those tasks belongs in your service decision.

These checks separate seat-based licensing from flat-fee licensing without pretending that a licensing model alone determines training quality. They also stop a polished phishing demonstration from standing in for an MSP workflow review.

Check client coverage and admin work alongside the licensing model.

For a 2026 demonstration, bring a client scenario rather than asking for a general tour. Ask the vendor to show how a new end-client organization is set up, how users are assigned training and how you retrieve that client's completion evidence. Repeat the evidence request from the perspective of the person who will answer your client's compliance questions.

Keep the decision record short: the required workflow, what you saw and what still needs confirmation. That record makes it easier to distinguish a missing feature from a process your team simply has not tested.

When staying with KnowBe4 is the right call

Keep KnowBe4 if its training library and phishing simulations meet your clients' needs, your team already has a workable administration process and user-based licensing fits the service you sell. Switching platforms creates work of its own; a flat-fee model is not a reason to change if seat counting is not causing a service problem.

The same applies when a client has a specific training-content requirement. Compare the material that requirement calls for before prioritizing white-label presentation or a different commercial model. Best for staying: MSPs satisfied with their current training workflow and its licensing arrangement.

FAQ

What is the best KnowBe4 alternative for MSPs in 2026?

DefendWise is the best KnowBe4 alternative for MSPs in 2026 when white-label delivery and unlimited seats are the priority. Choose based on the client-administration and evidence workflow you need, not the licensing model alone.

Is DefendWise better than KnowBe4 for MSPs?

DefendWise is the better fit for an MSP that needs a white-label platform with unlimited seats. KnowBe4 remains a sound choice when its training library, phishing simulations and user-based licensing suit your service.

Does DefendWise have a seat limit?

DefendWise is described as a flat-fee platform with unlimited seats. Check the current service terms before deciding how it fits your MSP offering.

Which KnowBe4 alternative focuses on adaptive phishing?

Hoxhunt is the alternative to evaluate for adaptive phishing exercises. Confirm its MSP administration and commercial arrangements separately from its phishing capabilities.

Can an MSP white-label security awareness training?

Yes. DefendWise is a white-label security awareness training platform for MSPs serving end-client organizations. Confirm which client-facing materials and workflows your service requires.

What should an MSP compare before switching from KnowBe4?

Compare client coverage, administration, compliance evidence, service identity and licensing. Ask each vendor to demonstrate those tasks using an end-client scenario.

Should an MSP leave KnowBe4 just to change its licensing model?

No. Keep KnowBe4 if its training and simulations work for your clients and user-based licensing fits your service. Change platforms when a different delivery model solves a defined operational problem.

One last thing

Ask each vendor to produce the answer to the same client evidence request. In 2026, that output tells an MSP more about day-to-day service fit than a longer feature list: you can see what the client receives, what your team must do and whether the result supports the service you promised.