Key takeaways:
Not each phishing simulation platform provides participating and efficient coaching. The correct software helps your staff recognise and report actual threats, not simply keep away from clicking on pretend phishing makes an attempt.
Concentrate on behaviour, not blame. Instruments that supply adaptive studying, micro‑coaching, and danger scoring drive actual behavioural change over time.
Choose a software that matches your tradition. Whether or not it’s gamified engagement or deep analytics, select a simulator that your staff will truly use and study from.
Phishing remains to be the low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals. It’s low cost, simple to automate, and it solely takes one individual to click on a shady hyperlink to place your whole system in danger.
And sadly, it’s exploding now that the facility of AI is out there to everybody. For the reason that rollout of ChatGPT in late 2022, there was a staggering 4,151 per cent improve in malicious phishing messages.
What’s extra, in Q2 2025 alone, over 1.13 million phishing assaults had been recorded worldwide. That’s a 13 per cent leap from simply the earlier quarter, in response to The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG).
The factor is, virtually all knowledge breaches stem from human error. That’s why human danger administration is now entrance and centre in cybersecurity. Firewalls, superior spam filters and different conventional instruments assist, however people are nonetheless your first (and infrequently final) line of defence.
That is the place phishing simulators are available. They enable you to check, prepare, and put together your staff for real-world threats. They construct muscle reminiscence round phishing coaching and cybersecurity consciousness.
On this publish, we’ll break down six prime phishing simulation instruments that do extra than simply ship pretend emails. These platforms mix phishing coaching, cybersecurity consciousness, and analytics to construct actual resilience throughout your organisation.
Learn on for the complete information or go to your most well-liked part
consider a phishing simulator
What are the top-rated phishing simulation distributors this yr?
Abstract
FAQ
consider a phishing simulator
In 2026, phishing simulation instruments should do greater than function a compliance theatre. What you need is a platform that really modifications worker behaviour for good.
Right here’s what enterprises ought to prioritise:
Lifelike situations: Your staff received’t study something by apparent fakes. Search for instruments that simulate real-world threats like pretend invoices, spoofed exec requests, or well-crafted MFA phishes. The extra plausible and personalised, the higher the coaching.
Adaptive concentrating on: The most effective simulators tailor issue based mostly on division, position, and even user-level behaviour. Some can regulate simulation flows based mostly on previous efficiency.
Put up-click coaching: Clicking the incorrect hyperlink isn’t the top of the world if there’s a teachable second proper after. Search for instruments that set off on the spot suggestions, quick explainers, or micro‑classes. That is what turns errors into memorable studying alternatives.
Analytics and reporting: It’s worthwhile to know extra than simply who clicked. Search for instruments that present reporting charges, repeat offenders, and total human danger tendencies. Good analytics allow you to spot weak spots earlier than attackers do.
Straightforward rollout: Safety groups are busy. If a software takes weeks to arrange or solely works with customized scripts, skip it. Select a platform that integrates together with your e mail system and launches campaigns in a number of clicks.
Engagement options: Gamification, badges, and reminders are all engagement parts that assist drive participation. Safety consciousness coaching doesn’t must be boring. Actually, if you would like it to be efficient, it could possibly’t be boring.
Compliance and privateness: Ensure the software respects person privateness and native legal guidelines, particularly in the event you’re simulating assaults on actual inboxes, storing click on knowledge, or working in regulated industries.
With these key capabilities in thoughts, let’s get to the crux of it. Who’re the main phishing simulation service suppliers?
What are the top-rated phishing simulation distributors this yr?
Listed here are the six finest phishing simulation platforms to contemplate to your staff.
1. Sophos Phish Menace
Sophos Phish Menace pairs phishing simulation with consciousness coaching. It’s constructed that will help you cut back danger the place it counts most: your folks. If you would like a software that mixes automation, actual‑world risk mimicry, and clear reporting, this one has lots to supply.
What makes it robust:
Comes with a whole lot of reasonable phishing templates. You’ll be able to run campaigns from simple to skilled degree in just some clicks.
Coaching and simulation in a single workflow. If somebody fails a phishing check, they are often instantly enrolled in a coaching module. No lengthy delays.
Integrates with Sophos Central, so you possibly can handle phishing, endpoint safety, and e mail safety from the identical dashboard. Much less juggling between instruments.
“Recent” content material. A worldwide staff of risk analysts feeds in new phishing ways. Templates are up to date to imitate what attackers are doing now.
Helps 9 languages. Good for worldwide groups.
Dashboards allow you to monitor what number of customers click on, what number of report phishing, danger tendencies, days because the final marketing campaign, protection, and so on.
Add‑in for Outlook/O365 that lets customers report emails simply and helps flip customers into defenders.
What to be careful for:
It’s much less ‘adaptive’ than some excessive‑finish instruments. Whereas it does help segmented concentrating on, it could not regulate issue per person as granularly as a really dynamic behaviour‑monitoring software.
As a result of that is half of a bigger suite (Sophos Central), prices and complexity can ramp up if you would like extra built-in protections and options.
Coaching content material is stable, but when your organisation has niche-specific necessities, you may must complement with customized content material.
Greatest for:
Enterprises after a dependable, properly‑supported, and responsibly polished resolution. Sophos Phish Menace is an efficient match for organisations that already use Sophos or need their safety instruments underneath one umbrella. Additionally robust for mid‑sized to bigger groups that need reporting and consciousness tradition enhancements with out reinventing the wheel.
2. Hoxhunt
Hoxhunt is an AI‑powered, adaptive phishing coaching and safety consciousness platform. It combines personalised phishing simulations with micro‑studying, gamification, and behavioural science to scale back human danger by altering how staff reply to phishing assaults.
Why it stands out:
It adapts to folks utilizing agentic reasoning. Simulations get extra related and contextual over time based mostly on job position, location, and the way every participant has responded prior to now.
Each mistake turns into a micro-learning second. Should you click on on a shady SMS or deepfake video, Hoxhunt offers you a fast, related coaching snippet proper then and there.
Engagement is in-built. With badges, streaks, and leaderboards, staff usually say they sit up for the following phishing e mail, as a result of it looks like a sport.
It’s prepared for scale, with over 30 language choices, e mail consumer integrations, and light-weight plugins that make it work properly for international groups.
You get clear visibility into human danger. Suppose dashboards that spotlight repeat clickers, tendencies over time, and who’s truly enhancing.
Rated 4.8 stars on G2, with excessive marks for ease of use, performance, and help.
What to be careful for:
Like many enterprise software program merchandise, Hoxhunt doesn’t publish its costs on the web site. If you would like deep analytics, adaptive coaching, and gamified studying, count on to pay for it.
Overdoing simulations or reminders can result in fatigue. You’ll need to calibrate frequency.
Whereas the simulation engine does study from folks’s actual work interactions, for area of interest compliance wants, you should still must create or add your individual content material.
Greatest for:
Mid-size to massive organisations that need measurable outcomes. Hoxhunt is ideal in the event you’re critical about human danger administration and need greater than surface-level phishing coaching. It’s additionally ideally suited for distributed groups that want localised content material and a little bit of motivation baked in.
3. PhishCare
PhishCare tries to hit all the suitable notes: simulation, consciousness, and analytics. If you would like a stable all-in-one platform that balances realism, monitoring and studying, this could possibly be a stable selection.
What makes it robust:
Actual-time analytics. You get reside knowledge on how your campaigns are performing: opens, clicks, knowledge submissions, and extra, so you possibly can spot weak hyperlinks shortly.
Customisation. Templates (emails and touchdown pages) are editable. You’ll be able to tailor campaigns to imitate situations your staff will truly see.
Consciousness modules and assessments. After a simulated phishing e mail is considered, there are coaching modules, quizzes and assessments to check retention. Helps flip failing into studying, not simply disgrace.
Danger scoring and person engagement metrics. You’ll be able to see measurements of phishing danger (which customers are extra weak), coaching completion charges, and the way engaged individuals are.
What to be careful for:
Would possibly nonetheless must complement for tremendous area of interest threats. In case your org faces tailor-made phishing threats (industry-specific, language, extraordinarily focused), you’d need to verify how far you possibly can push customisation.
Replication of “actual threats” depends upon how usually templates are up to date. If the seller lags behind present phishing ways, some campaigns could really feel stale.
Coaching fatigue danger remains to be there. Even with customisation, common campaigns and assessments can overwhelm folks if not paced properly.
Greatest for:
Organisations that desire a robust combo of phishing coaching and consciousness coaching with analytics, with out going all the way in which into extremely‐premium value tiers. Groups that need visibility into the staff members who want extra assist, how their scores change, and which departments require extra teaching.
4. CanIPhish
CanIPhish goes for simplicity, affordability, and engagement. If you would like a phishing simulator and consciousness software that’s simple to choose up and doesn’t really feel like a heavy mission, this one exhibits a number of promise.
What makes it robust:
You will get began actually quick. Join, choose a marketing campaign, and ship simulations in minutes. No bank cards, lengthy setup, or gross sales stress.
Robust free/low-cost entry level. They provide free phishing simulations and accessible coaching assets. Good for groups watching the funds.
Micro‑studying modules. If somebody falls for a simulated phishing e mail, there are quick coaching bits underneath 10 minutes. Retains momentum and prevents studying fatigue.
Gamification and engagement within the type of badges, leaderboards, danger‑scoring, and worker profiles. Makes consciousness really feel much less like coursework, extra like progress you possibly can see.
Multi‑channel phishing supporting e mail, voice phishing, and extra. That variation helps mirror what attackers are doing lately.
Actual‑time metrics and reporting so you possibly can monitor marketing campaign outcomes as they occur. See click on charges, who’s enhancing, person danger profiles, and so on.
What to be careful for:
As a result of it’s designed to be easy, some deeper, enterprise‑grade options could also be lacking or much less mature in comparison with premium instruments. Should you want customized phishing templates or integrations, verify whether or not it helps your edge circumstances.
Variation in template realism. Utilizing generic templates or customary phishing sorts could not cowl very superior or area of interest assault vectors your organisation may face.
Greatest for:
Small to medium‑sized groups or firms that need to construct safety consciousness with out an enormous funding. Organisations that need to begin constructing a tradition of human danger administration quick, with instruments folks will truly use. Groups that worth visibility and engagement simply as a lot as uncooked technical sophistication of their simulations.
5. Guardey
Guardey’s phishing simulations combine realism with enjoyable, gamified studying. It’s constructed for groups that need to flip consciousness coaching right into a every day behavior, not a uninteresting compliance process.
What makes it robust:
You’ll be able to arrange a phishing simulation in minutes. Select a template, choose customers, and schedule.
Lifelike and customized content material. Spear‑phishing simulations are supported, plus customized templates. You’ll be able to personalise what your staff sees.
Gamification and engagement are baked in. Weekly challenges, leaderboards, quick quizzes, enjoyable parts. Helps consciousness stick.
Robust reporting and metrics. You’ll see who opened emails, clicked hyperlinks, and even who entered knowledge. It exhibits danger by person or group.
Helps customized content material and compliance. Good match for regulated/worldwide groups. Additionally meets requirements (ISO, HIPAA, and so on.) relying on area.
What to be careful for:
There’s a depth-versus-simplicity trade-off. For some organisations that want extremely‑customised risk simulations, you may discover limitations.
Over‑gamification danger. Challenges and rewards are nice, but when overdone, folks may burn out or begin treating them like video games solely.
Pricing and scale may matter. As you add customers or require extra customized content material or greater frequency, prices can add up.
Greatest for:
Groups that need to construct safety consciousness coaching that feels alive. Organisations the place funds flexibility exists, however worth (engagement and observe‑via) issues greater than lowest price. Corporations with various roles/departments/worldwide presence, the place content material localisation and customized threats matter.
6. Gophish
Gophish will be your go‑to if you would like one thing versatile, open‑supply, and palms‑on. It isn’t fancy, nevertheless it offers you a number of management, and that’s its energy.
What makes it robust:
It’s free and open supply. You’ll be able to obtain, host it your self, and customise all the pieces.
Tremendous fast to arrange. Templates, targets, and campaigns can all be configured quick.
HTML editor in-built. You’ll be able to craft or import reasonable emails and touchdown pages. Makes your simulations really feel extra actual.
Actual‑time monitoring. You get metrics: who opened, who clicked, who submitted credentials. Good visibility on publicity.
REST API entry. Can automate elements of your workflow or combine with different instruments.
What to be careful for:
Because it’s self‑hosted (otherwise you handle your occasion), you’ll want somebody who can deal with setup, server, SMTP config, area/belief points, and so on.
It doesn’t include a number of handholding. Much less “adaptive studying” or behavioural profiling out of the field. You might must construct extra round it for coaching follow-through.
No large constructed‑in gamification or engagement bells and whistles in comparison with premium merchandise. Meaning it’s possible you’ll must complement coaching to maintain folks .
Electronic mail deliverability (avoiding spam filters) will be tough. In case your mail server or area setup isn’t clear, phishing simulation emails could get blocked.
Greatest for:
Should you’re from a small‑to‑medium organisation with some inside tech functionality, or a safety staff that wishes full management, GoPhish could possibly be an excellent possibility. Nice if funds is tight, and also you don’t thoughts rolling up your sleeves. Additionally good for experimenting, operating inside crimson‑staff fashion checks, or conditions the place you need tailor-made simulations.
Wrapping up
Phishing assaults are rising exponentially, so your coaching efforts must sustain.
Whether or not you’re operating a lean safety staff or managing consciousness at scale, the suitable phishing simulator makes an enormous distinction. Some instruments deal with simplicity. Others go deep on analytics, behaviour change, and human danger administration.
Begin together with your priorities: funds, staff dimension, depth of reporting, and the way a lot hand-holding you want. Then choose a platform from the above listing that matches. Both means, don’t watch for the following breach to begin coaching your folks.
FAQ
The place can I discover the very best phishing simulation instruments for my firm?
This web page consists of data on a few of the prime options accessible. You’ll be able to study extra by safety software program marketplaces, software program evaluation websites, and vendor comparability guides.
What are the highest‑rated and industry-leading phishing simulation distributors this yr?
A few of the distributors that see probably the most optimistic suggestions these days embody Sophos, Hoxhunt, PhishCare and PhishingBox. Which of them are “prime” depends upon your wants – funds, scale, localisation, adaptability, and so on. Relying on the area, there might also be native or rising distributors. Every resolution has its personal strengths – some deal with conduct change, others on broad template libraries, or integration with massive safety stacks.
How a lot does phishing simulation coaching for workers often price?
Prices range lots based mostly on the variety of customers, options, internet hosting necessities, help plans, frequency of campaigns, and different components. For month-to-month subscription‑fashion packages, per‑person price tends to fall within the $2‑10 (£1.50-£7.50) per person/month vary. For annual packages, someplace round $20‑50 (£15-£37.50) per person/yr is frequent. For smaller setups or minimal options, you’ll pay smaller quantities. For totally adaptive or gamified platforms, count on premium, enterprise-level pricing.
The place can I learn opinions and comparisons of various phishing simulation platforms?
Primarily, evaluation websites like G2, Capterra, SoftwareReviews, and TrustRadius. Apart from these, you possibly can undergo vendor buyer case research and testimonials and browse Reddit threads or group boards. We advocate evaluating based mostly on standards such because the realism ranges of supported phishing situations, adaptiveness/personalisation, reporting/analytics, engagement options equivalent to gamification and micro‑studying, integrations, price, scalability, help, localisation, and compliance.
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