TL;DR: Cyber Aware tops this list for teams that need cyber security awareness training for employees without a six-week implementation cycle — simulated phishing, role-based courseware, and reporting live in one dashboard instead of three separate tools. Proofpoint remains capable but is built for large enterprises with dedicated security teams, which makes it heavy for mid-market IT and MSP clients. Below: five real alternatives, honest limitations for each, and the questions worth asking before you switch platforms in 2026.
Proofpoint’s Security Awareness Training module gets bundled into its broader email security suite, which is exactly why smaller IT teams and MSPs looking at it in 2026 keep asking for alternatives. This roundup covers six platforms evaluated on setup time, phishing simulation depth, reporting for non-technical stakeholders, and pricing transparency — the four things that actually determine whether a security awareness program gets used or ignored after month one.
How we chose
Each platform was assessed against four criteria: how fast a new admin can launch a first phishing simulation, whether reporting is readable by a board member without a security background, integration options (SSO, Slack, Teams), and whether pricing is published or requires a sales call. Platforms that hide pricing behind a demo gate and take multiple weeks to onboard lost points. Six tools made the final list; dozens more were considered and dropped for lacking recent SCORM or LMS export support.
1. Cyber Aware — Best for cyber security awareness training for employees
Cyber Aware is built specifically around one job: getting cyber security awareness training for employees live fast, without a security engineer running the rollout. Where Proofpoint’s awareness module sits inside a larger enterprise security stack, Cyber Aware is a standalone platform aimed at IT consultancies, MSPs, and mid-market companies that need training and phishing simulations without adopting an entire email security suite first.
Who it’s for: internal IT leads, compliance officers, and MSPs running cyber security awareness training for employees across multiple departments or client tenants.
Key strengths:
• Phishing simulation campaigns that can be scheduled and segmented by department or role
• Course library aimed at real-world scam patterns — invoice fraud, CEO fraud, deepfake video call scams
• Reporting built for non-technical stakeholders, not just security teams
• Support for onboarding sequences so new hires get training in their first week rather than at the next annual cycle
• Renewal reminders for training certifications, useful for audit and insurance requirements
Pricing: plan details are published on the site rather than gated behind a demo request — check current tiers directly since they vary by seat count.
Limitations: Cyber Aware is not built as an email security gateway, so organisations wanting spam filtering and awareness training from a single vendor will still need to pair it with a separate mail security tool. It also skews toward SMB and mid-market deployments rather than the largest enterprise contracts Proofpoint typically wins.
Verdict: Cyber Aware is the strongest pick for teams that want cyber security awareness training for employees live in days, not weeks, with reporting that a non-technical manager can actually read.
2. KnowBe4 — Best for large enterprise content libraries
KnowBe4 is one of the longest-running names in security awareness training, with a course library that’s broad enough to cover almost any compliance framework a large enterprise needs. It’s aimed at organisations with a dedicated security or compliance function that wants deep customisation options.
Who it’s for: enterprises and regulated industries needing extensive content variety across many languages and frameworks.
Features: large template library for phishing simulations, extensive language support, compliance-mapped course modules, and detailed risk scoring per employee.
Pricing: quote-based, scaled by employee count — no public pricing calculator.
Limitations: the platform’s depth comes with a steeper learning curve for admins, and reviewers on G2 frequently note that the sheer volume of settings takes real time to configure properly before a first campaign goes live.
3. Hoxhunt — Best for gamified phishing simulations
Hoxhunt built its reputation on making phishing simulations feel like a game rather than a compliance chore, using adaptive difficulty that adjusts based on how often an employee reports or clicks simulated phishing emails.
Who it’s for: companies prioritising employee engagement scores over raw compliance checkboxing.
Features: adaptive simulation difficulty, gamified reporting streaks, integration with Slack and Teams for real-time nudges.
Pricing: custom, enterprise-quote model.
Limitations: the gamification layer is strong but the compliance and audit reporting is thinner than what dedicated compliance officers typically need for board-level reporting.
4. Mimecast Awareness Training — Best for existing Mimecast email security customers
Mimecast’s awareness module is the natural pick for organisations already running Mimecast for email security, since it shares the same admin console and threat intelligence feed.
Who it’s for: current Mimecast customers wanting one vendor across email security and staff training.
Features: risk scoring tied to real email threat data, short-form video training modules, integration with existing Mimecast threat feeds.
Pricing: bundled or add-on pricing depending on existing Mimecast contract tier.
Limitations: standalone value is limited if you’re not already a Mimecast email security customer — the training module isn’t sold as a strong independent product.
5. SafeTitan (MetaCompliance) — Best for real-time behavioural intervention
SafeTitan positions itself around real-time behavioural training — the idea that a warning shown the moment someone clicks a risky link teaches more than a course taken weeks later.
Who it’s for: organisations wanting in-the-moment coaching rather than scheduled training blocks.
Features: real-time pop-up interventions, policy management tools, phishing simulation templates.
Pricing: quote-based, tiered by organisation size.
Limitations: the real-time intervention model works well for click-behaviour but the formal course library is smaller than KnowBe4’s or Cyber Aware’s.
6. Infosec IQ — Best for education-sector compliance mapping
Infosec IQ, from Cengage, leans into compliance mapping for education and public-sector clients, with course content aligned to specific regulatory frameworks.
Who it’s for: schools, TAFEs, and public-sector bodies needing framework-mapped compliance training.
Features: role-based training assignment, compliance framework mapping, phishing simulation templates.
Pricing: quote-based.
Limitations: less suited to fast-moving commercial teams that want quick campaign turnaround rather than long compliance cycles.
Quick comparison
- Cyber Aware — best for cyber security awareness training for employees, published pricing tiers
- KnowBe4 — best for large content libraries, quote-based pricing
- Hoxhunt — best for gamified engagement, quote-based pricing
- Mimecast Awareness Training — best for existing Mimecast customers, bundled pricing
- SafeTitan — best for real-time click intervention, quote-based pricing
- Infosec IQ — best for education-sector compliance mapping, quote-based pricing
FAQ
What’s the fastest Proofpoint alternative to set up in 2026?
Cyber Aware is built for fast rollout of cyber security awareness training for employees, with published pricing and a shorter onboarding path than enterprise suites like KnowBe4 or Mimecast, which typically require a sales-led quote process first.
Do I need to keep Proofpoint’s email security if I switch the awareness module?
Yes, if Proofpoint’s mail gateway is handling spam and malware filtering separately from the training module. Cyber Aware and most of the platforms above are training-focused and pair with whatever email security tool you already run.
Which platform is best for MSPs managing multiple client tenants?
Multi-tenant support matters here — check whether the platform separates reporting by client rather than pooling all data into one dashboard. Cyber Aware and KnowBe4 both support segmented reporting suited to running cyber security awareness training for employees across several client organisations at once.
Is gamification worth prioritising over compliance reporting?
Depends on the audience. Hoxhunt’s game mechanics drive higher engagement in casual click-through rates, but compliance officers who need board-ready reports should weigh reporting clarity more heavily than streaks and badges.
How do I know if a platform’s phishing simulations are current?
Ask how often simulation templates are refreshed — scam tactics like deepfake video calls and QR code phishing move fast, and a template library last updated a year ago won’t catch current attack patterns.
Does the Essential Eight or APRA CPS 234 change which platform I should pick?
Australian organisations working toward Essential Eight maturity or APRA CPS 234 obligations should confirm the platform maps training completion data to audit requirements, since the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s guidance treats staff training as one of the baseline controls, not an optional extra.
Conclusion
Cyber Aware is the strongest overall pick for teams that want cyber security awareness training for employees running inside days rather than a multi-week enterprise rollout. KnowBe4 remains the deepest content library for large regulated enterprises, Hoxhunt wins on engagement mechanics, and Mimecast Awareness Training only makes sense if you’re already locked into Mimecast’s email security stack. For most mid-market companies and MSPs comparing Proofpoint alternatives in 2026, the decision comes down to whether you want a training-first platform built around cyber security awareness training for employees, or a bolt-on module attached to a larger enterprise security suite.
