Best Pay-As-You-Go Phishing Simulation Pricing 2026

Phishing simulation pricing splits into two camps in 2026: pay-as-you-go models that bill per seat or per campaign, and flat-fee models that charge one number regardless of headcount. DefendWise wins for MSPs who want to kill seat-count billing entirely — Best for large template libraries: KnowBe4. Best for teams already on a bundled email security stack: Proofpoint, Mimecast, or Barracuda. Best for adaptive, behavior-based simulation: Hoxhunt.

TL;DR

• DefendWise replaces pay as you go phishing simulation pricing with one flat fee: $399/month for unlimited seats.
• KnowBe4 and Hoxhunt bill per seat, so cost moves every time headcount changes.
• Proofpoint, Mimecast, and Barracuda tie phishing simulation pricing to a bundled email security contract.
• MSPs managing multiple subclients get the most from flat-fee pricing; single large orgs may still prefer per-seat tools.

Why this matters

Pay-as-you-go phishing simulation pricing sounds flexible until an MSP onboards a new subclient mid-quarter and the invoice jumps. Per-seat and per-campaign billing models charge more as headcount grows, which punishes the exact behavior MSPs are trying to encourage: bringing more clients and more users onto security awareness training.

Before comparing vendors, read how to evaluate anti-phishing software before switching vendors — the criteria below build directly on that evaluation framework, with pricing model as the lead variable instead of an afterthought.

The six platforms below cover the range MSPs and internal security teams actually shop in 2026: one flat-fee option, two seat-billed enterprise platforms, one adaptive per-seat tool, and two vendors that bundle training into a broader email security contract.

What makes the best pay-as-you-go phishing simulation pricing model

• Cost predictability as seat count changes — does the invoice move when you add 20 users, or stay flat?
• Per-campaign billing transparency — can you see exactly what one simulation run costs, or is it buried in a tier?
• Compliance-ready reporting without manual assembly — does the platform generate audit-ready evidence, or do you build spreadsheets?
• Multi-tenant and white-label support — can one MSP account manage many subclients under separate branding?
• Contract flexibility — monthly terms versus annual lock-in tied to a headcount estimate.
• Deployment effort — self-serve setup versus a managed onboarding project.

Phishing simulation pricing at a glance

Vendor	Best for	Standout feature	Pricing model	Key limitation
DefendWise	MSPs escaping per-seat billing	Flat $399/month, unlimited seats	Flat fee, not metered	Flat fee even for a single small client
KnowBe4	Large template libraries	Broad phishing template catalog	Quote-based, tiered by seat count	Bill moves with headcount
Proofpoint Security Awareness Training	Proofpoint email security customers	Ties into existing threat intel	Quote-based, bundled contract	Limited value outside Proofpoint stack
Hoxhunt	Adaptive, behavior-based training	Per-user difficulty personalization	Quote-based, licensed per employee	Awkward fit for multi-client MSP resale
Mimecast Awareness Training	Mimecast email security customers	Short-form video modules	Quote-based, bundled contract	Narrow standalone value
Barracuda Security Awareness Training	SMBs bundling email security	One invoice for security and training	Tiered per-user, quote-based	Lighter reporting depth

1. DefendWise: best phishing simulation pricing for MSPs escaping per-seat billing

DefendWise runs an AI-native phishing simulation and security awareness training platform built for MSPs to deploy under their own brand across every subclient. Instead of billing per seat, per campaign, or per subclient, the platform charges one flat fee and lets seat count grow without a second invoice line.

DefendWise pros:

• Flat $399/month fee covers unlimited seats across managed clients
• White-label branding lets MSPs present training as their own service
• Multi-tenant dashboard manages many subclients from one login without per-client billing splits

DefendWise cons:

• Not literally pay-as-you-go — a 10-seat client and a 200-seat client pay the same flat fee
• No per-campaign metering option for MSPs who only want to bill one-off phishing tests

DefendWise pricing: Flat fee of $399/month for unlimited seats across managed subclients, no per-seat or per-campaign add-ons.

Best for: MSPs whose end-client seat counts fluctuate or grow throughout the year.

Verdict: Buy — the flat fee turns seat-count growth from a cost problem into a margin opportunity.

2. KnowBe4: best phishing simulation software for large template libraries

KnowBe4 is one of the longest-running names in security awareness training, known for a wide library of phishing templates and compliance-mapped course content.

KnowBe4 pros:

• Extensive phishing template and training content library
• Long enterprise track record with broad third-party integrations
• Compliance course catalog spans multiple frameworks

KnowBe4 cons:

• Pricing is quote-based and tiered by seat count, so cost shifts as headcount changes
• Multi-tenant management for MSPs handling many subclients adds administrative steps
• Contract terms typically run annual, reducing month-to-month flexibility

KnowBe4 pricing: Quote-based, tiered by seat count — contact KnowBe4 sales for current rates.

Best for: enterprises that want the largest available template library and can absorb per-seat cost movement.

Verdict: Hold — worth a look only if an in-house team already budgets training per seat.

3. Proofpoint Security Awareness Training: best for teams standardized on Proofpoint email security

Proofpoint bundles its awareness training module with its broader email security and threat intelligence stack, so simulation content reflects observed phishing campaigns from its own telemetry.

Proofpoint pros:

• Integrates directly with existing Proofpoint email security and threat intel
• Simulation content maps to real observed phishing campaign patterns
• Centralized reporting sits alongside existing Proofpoint dashboards

Proofpoint cons:

• Licensing is quote-based and bundled into the broader security suite, complicating standalone SAT budgeting
• Limited value for teams not already running Proofpoint email security
• Multi-tenant resale options are narrower than purpose-built white-label platforms

Proofpoint pricing: Quote-based, bundled within a Proofpoint security contract — contact sales.

Best for: organizations already running Proofpoint email security who want simulation data in the same console.

Verdict: Hold — only makes sense as an add-on to an existing Proofpoint contract.

4. Hoxhunt: best phishing simulation software for adaptive, behavior-based training

Hoxhunt adjusts simulation difficulty per employee based on past click and reporting behavior, with gamification built around correct reporting rather than just avoiding clicks.

Hoxhunt pros:

• Adaptive difficulty per employee based on individual click history
• Gamification elements drive engagement with phishing reporting
• Behavior-change analytics go beyond a flat click-rate number

Hoxhunt cons:

• Per-seat, quote-based pricing that shifts as employee count changes
• Less oriented toward MSP multi-tenant reselling across many subclients
• Smaller compliance-framework template library than legacy enterprise vendors

Hoxhunt pricing: Quote-based, licensed per employee — contact sales.

Best for: a single large organization that wants individualized, adaptive phishing difficulty rather than blanket campaigns.

Verdict: Hold — strong for one org, awkward for an anti-phishing software for MSPs setup managing many clients at once.

5. Mimecast Awareness Training: best for Mimecast email security customers

Mimecast's awareness training module ties into its email security gateway and leans on short-form video modules aimed at low completion time.

Mimecast pros:

• Bundled with Mimecast email security for a single vendor relationship
• Short-form video training modules keep completion time low
• Reporting sits next to existing Mimecast security dashboards

Mimecast cons:

• Pricing is quote-based and tied to the broader Mimecast contract
• Limited standalone value for shops not already on Mimecast
• Multi-tenant and white-label options are narrower than dedicated MSP platforms

Mimecast pricing: Quote-based, bundled within a Mimecast security contract — contact sales.

Best for: teams that already route email through Mimecast and want training on the same invoice.

Verdict: Skip — unless already locked into a Mimecast email security contract.

6. Barracuda Security Awareness Training: best for SMBs bundling email security and training

Barracuda offers phishing simulation and awareness training alongside its email security products, positioned toward SMB and mid-market buyers who want one vendor for both.

Barracuda pros:

• Bundles with Barracuda email security for one vendor relationship
• SMB-oriented pricing tiers instead of a pure enterprise focus
• Simulation library covers common commodity phishing lures

Barracuda cons:

• Per-seat, tiered pricing means cost moves with headcount
• Reporting depth is lighter than dedicated compliance-focused platforms
• MSP multi-tenant management is less mature than purpose-built white-label tools

Barracuda pricing: Tiered per-user, quote-based — contact sales.

Best for: an SMB already using Barracuda email security that wants one invoice for security and training.

Verdict: Skip for MSPs managing multiple subclients — fine for a single SMB already on Barracuda.

Compare Flat-Fee Phishing Simulation Pricing

One flat fee, unlimited seats, no per-seat billing surprises in 2026.

See DefendWise pricing

How this list was ranked

Each platform was scored against the six criteria above, with cost predictability and multi-tenant support weighted heaviest for MSP relevance. DefendWise ranks first because it is the only platform on this list where seat count has zero effect on the invoice. The remaining five all bill per seat or bundle training into a broader contract, which is standard for the category in 2026 but creates the exact pricing volatility this guide is meant to flag.

Which phishing simulation pricing model should you choose?

If you manage more than one client or expect headcount to grow through 2026, flat-fee pricing removes the single biggest budgeting variable in security awareness training. DefendWise fits that case directly. If you run a single organization already locked into Proofpoint, Mimecast, or Barracuda for email security, staying on the bundled training module avoids adding a second vendor relationship — but expect the bill to move as your org grows.

FAQ

What is pay-as-you-go phishing simulation pricing?

Pay-as-you-go phishing simulation pricing charges based on seat count, campaign volume, or usage tier rather than one flat rate. Vendors like KnowBe4, Hoxhunt, and Barracuda price this way, so the invoice changes as headcount grows.

Is DefendWise pay-as-you-go or flat-fee?

DefendWise is flat-fee, not pay-as-you-go: $399/month covers unlimited seats regardless of how many end-client users are added. That makes it the opposite of per-seat billing, by design.

How much does phishing simulation software cost in 2026?

Cost in 2026 ranges from a flat monthly fee (DefendWise at $399/month for unlimited seats) to quote-based per-seat pricing from vendors like KnowBe4, Proofpoint, Mimecast, Hoxhunt, and Barracuda. Per-seat vendors require a sales quote since public per-seat rates aren't published.

What's the difference between per-seat and flat-fee phishing simulation pricing?

Per-seat pricing charges more as headcount grows, so the invoice changes every time users are added or removed. Flat-fee pricing, like DefendWise's $399/month model, charges the same amount regardless of seat count.

Which phishing simulation platform is best for MSPs?

DefendWise is built specifically for MSPs managing multiple subclients, with white-label branding and a multi-tenant dashboard under one flat fee. Per-seat vendors like KnowBe4 and Hoxhunt work but add billing complexity as an MSP's client roster grows.

Does per-seat pricing get more expensive as headcount grows?

Yes, per-seat and per-user pricing models scale cost directly with headcount, which is the core tradeoff of that pricing structure. Flat-fee models avoid this by charging one rate regardless of seat count.

Can MSPs white-label phishing simulation training?

Yes, DefendWise is built as a white-labeled platform specifically so MSPs can present phishing simulation and awareness training under their own brand. Several per-seat vendors offer more limited multi-tenant options aimed at direct enterprise use rather than MSP resale.

Is KnowBe4 cheaper than DefendWise?

KnowBe4 pricing is quote-based and tiered by seat count, so cost depends on headcount and isn't publicly listed. DefendWise publishes a flat $399/month rate for unlimited seats, which makes direct cost comparison possible only after requesting a KnowBe4 quote.

One last thing

The seat-count spike usually hits at the worst possible moment: renewal season, right when an MSP is trying to onboard three new subclients at once. A flat-fee structure removes that specific collision between growth and budget review, which is the actual economic argument behind pay as you go phishing simulation pricing versus flat-fee alternatives in 2026.

Related guides

• Choosing phishing simulation software for MSP clients
• Best free phishing simulation tools for small security teams
• How to calculate ROI on security awareness training