Alexis Kestler
Phishing is one of the top cybersecurity threats facing companies today. With 88% of data breaches caused by human error from phishing, it‘s critical that businesses prepare their employees to identify and avoid these socially engineered attacks.
While technical controls like firewalls and antivirus software play an important role, they are not foolproof in stopping today‘s sophisticated phishing threats. That‘s why more and more companies are turning to phishing simulation software as an additional layer of defense.
Phishing simulation tools essentially launch mock phishing attacks against your own employees to test their awareness. These simulated phishing emails mimic real-world phishing campaigns and then track employee susceptibility. Phishing security software enables you to:
✅ Identify your most vulnerable users so you can target awareness training
✅ Continuously test employee reactions to new phishing techniques
✅ Quantify and compare improvements over time
Selecting the right phishing platform for your needs is key so you can maximize effectiveness and value. In this guide, we evaluated over 25+ phishing solutions to highlight the top 8 options:
The 8 best phishing simulation software compared (Geekflare research)
How We Evaluated Phishing Simulation Software
With so many vendors offering phishing simulation products, it can be tricky to determine which solution best fits your needs. We researched over 25+ solutions and narrowed our recommendation to the top 8 platforms based on:
➡️ Ease of Use: Easy for admins to create, launch and analyze simulated phishing campaigns
➡️ Feature Set: Range of phishing templates, ability to customize scenarios, training integration, etc.
➡️ Flexibility & Customization: Tailor tests for your users and industry-specific situations
➡️ Reporting & Analytics: In-depth analysis of user susceptibility and campaign results
➡️ Pricing: Wide range of budget and plan options to fit small businesses through large enterprises
Let‘s dive into the key capabilities of our top 8 recommended phishing simulation software tools:
1. PhishLINE – Best Overall Phishing Simulation
PhishLINE strikes the perfect balance by offering enterprise-grade capabilities while still being intuitive and easy to use. The dashboard simplifies campaign creation and scheduling while providing real-time visibility into employee susceptibility across the organization.
We like PhishLINE for its polished end-to-end user experience – admins can leverage thousands of phishing email and landing page templates or easily customize scenarios tailored to their environment. Automated and on-demand training gives employees byte-sized security awareness content when they fall for a simulated phishing test, driving lasting behavior change.
Comprehensive reporting provides outbreak analysis by department or geography with trend views to quantify awareness program ROI. PhishLINE integrates with Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace for added convenience. For these reasons, PhishLINE earns our vote as the leading phishing simulation software overall.
Key PhishLINE Features:
- ✅ Very intuitive, easy to use phishing simulator
- ✅ 2,000+ phishing email and landing page templates
- ✅ Automated training for security lapses
- ✅ Detailed analytics into employee susceptibility
- ✅ Broad range of pricing plans
PhishLINE dashboard showing a phishing campaign in progress (Image source: PhishLINE)
2. Ironscales – Top AI-powered Phishing Simulation
Ironscales takes phishing simulation a step further by incorporating artificial intelligence into employee awareness training. Powerful machine learning helps Ironscales understand normal user communication patterns to look for anomalies indicative of targeted threats.
What sets Ironscales apart is its automated response capabilities once a user falls for a simulated phishing test. This includes automated analysis, notifications to prompt user self-correction, and launching additional realistic phishing simulations as part of corrective training. Every step focuses on positive behavior change.
We recommend Ironscales for its combination of artificial intelligence, advanced employee awareness capabilities, with integrations into Microsoft Office 365 environments. For organizations that want cutting-edge learning built into phishing simulations, Ironscales is a top choice.
Key Ironscales Features:
- ✅ Incorporates AI & machine learning for security awareness
- ✅ Automates anomaly detection and response actions
- ✅ Helps employees self-correct suspicious emails
- ✅ Integrates with Office 365 and other tools
- ✅ Free trial available
Ironscales dashboard showing detailed awareness analytics (Image source: Ironscales)
3. Proofpoint Attack Simulation Toolkit – Top Anti-Phishing Option
The Proofpoint phishing simulator prioritizes wide-ranging configuration for maximum flexibility. The attack simulation toolkit encompasses email, mobile, USB drive and attachment vectors to cover every phishing entry point.
Where Proofpoint shines is customization – admins can fine-tune tests by location, frequency, complexity, risk level, and content. Campaign scheduling helps automate recurring tests for continual reinforcement while closed-loop training targets users who repeatedly fall victim.
For organizations seeking maximum control over simulated phishing campaigns, no product matches Proofpoint. The granular configuration also enables admins to align awareness programs with key business goals. Proofpoint manages awareness programs at impressive scale, making the solution a fit for large enterprises.
Key Proofpoint Features:
- ✅ Flexible configuration of phishing variables
- ✅ Testing across email, SMS, USB & other vectors
- ✅ Closed-loop automated training workflows
- ✅ Detailed phishing response analytics
- ✅ Broad tool targeted for large companies
Proofpoint phishing simulator dashboard (Image source: Proofpoint)
4. Sophos Phish Threat – Top Phishing Training Integration
Sophos Phish Threat makes employee awareness training a centerpiece of its platform. Phishing response guides help walk employees through proper identification, with additional online education for those needing further coaching.
We liked how cleanly Phish Threat integrates simulated phishing previews into Microsoft Outlook. This enables users to report suspicious emails with one click for review by IT – closing the loop between phishing detection and response.
For Sophos customers, Phish Threat slides right into existing endpoint and email deployments, automatically pulling in users and groups for awareness programs. The unified console allows monitoring phishing resilience alongside other attack status. Overall an excellent integrated option for organizations that prioritize security education.
Key Sophos Phish Threat Features:
- ✅ Emphasis on phishing education content
- ✅ Native integration into MS Outlook
- ✅ Automated campaign creation and scheduling
- ✅ Unified management for Sophos customers
- ✅ Free trial available
Sophos Phish Threat dashboard showing detailed campaign analytics (Image source: Sophos)
5. KnowBe4 – Popular All-in-One Phishing Simulator
It‘s impossible to discuss phishing software without mentioning KnowBe4 – the most widely adopted platform on the market. KnowBe4 pioneered the concept of new school security awareness training anchored around simulated phishing tests.
The vendor‘s continually growing library of test templates provides tons of options to challenge users across departments and locations. KnowBe4 also delivers its own native training content to remediate employees after phishing lapses.
While the breadth of features comes at the cost of slightly more complex configuration, KnowBe4 continues to be the go-to industry choice to meet foundational phishing simulation and training needs. With popularity comes community resources for guidance as well.
Key KnowBe4 Features:
- ✅ Very extensive phishing template library
- ✅ Built-in security awareness training
- ✅ Highly customizable tests and landing pages
- ✅ Leading market share community
- ✅ Free trial available
KnowBe4 management dashboard showing phishing campaign performance (Image source: KnowBe4)
6. Cofense PhishMe – Top Phishing Simulation Training
Cofense PhishMe stands out for its focus on actionable, scenario-based phishing awareness training. PhishMe University offers short learning bursts to quickly improve employee detection of subtle threat indicators in emails.
Cofense also fosters security culture by empowering users to report suspicious emails with easy integrations for Microsoft and G Suite. Employee submitted emails feed into threat analysis to identify emerging phishing tactics.
For organizations that value engagement alongside education, Cofense brings modern phishing simulation and training tailored to human behavior tendencies. The awareness feedback loop aids IT security in staying ahead of new attack trends.
Key Cofense PhishMe Features:
- ✅ Scenario-based interactive phishing training
- ✅ Employee email reporting and analysis
- ✅ Custom phishing template design wizard
- ✅ Emphasis on security culture evolution
- ✅ Free trial available
Cofense dashboard used to manage phishing simulation campaigns (Image source: Cofense)
7. Lucy Security – Best Phishing Training Feedback
Lucy Security excels at detailed deconstructive feedback to employees after phishing security lapses. The interactive training provides the context behind threat indicators users missed so they can improve.
Admins can track simulation metrics both for individual employee security and overall organizational risk. Lucy Security quantifies readiness metrics you can report to leadership and insurance providers.
We recommend Lucy Security for its stellar training capabilities based on phishing simulation performance. For heavily regulated industries needing to prove worker education efficacy, Lucy checks all the boxes.
Key Lucy Security Features:
- ✅ Strong training integration and risk analytics
- ✅ Detailed phishing identification education
- ✅ Custom email templates and landing pages
- ✅ Regulatory compliance readiness reporting
- ✅ Free trial available
Example Lucy Security phishing email feedback training (Image source: Lucy Security)
8. Rapid7 InsightPhish – Easy Phishing Simulation Setup
Rapid7 InsightPhish simplifies the process of getting phishing simulation programs off the ground. Setup takes five minutes or less so admins can launch initial test campaigns with no training.
The wizard-driven workflow and 400+ out of the box templates make ongoing simulation configuration straightforward too. Detailed reporting provides visibility into employee susceptibility while highlighting training needs.
We like Rapid7 InsightPhish for its fast implementation allowing small teams to punch above their weight. The vendor offers both on-premise and cloud-hosted options. For basic phishing simulations without complexity, InsightPhish is a leading choice.
Key Rapid7 InsightPhish Features:
- ✅ Extremely easy 5-minute setup
- ✅ 400+ phishing email templates
- ✅ Wizard-based campaign creation
- ✅ Detailed employee response analytics
- ✅ Free trial available
Rapid7 InsightPhish showing phishing campaign summary stats (Image source: Rapid7)
Implementing Phishing Simulation Software
Selecting a robust phishing simulation platform tailored to your organizational needs is an important first step.
But you‘ll realize the greatest security ROI by thoughtfully planning the execution. Here are best practices to follow:
➡️ Start With Small Pilot Tests
Don‘t go full blast out of the gates with wide-reaching simulated phishing attacks. Begin by testing a select user group to confirm configurations, training integration, and analyze initial reporting.
➡️ Alert Users of Ongoing Simulation
Transparency that phishing simulations will happen fosters engagement versus frustration in employees. User education also focuses on improving resilience versus blaming weaknesses.
➡️ Increase Difficulty Over Time
Progress from obvious phishing lures to subtle signals like slight email modifications, missing digital signatures on documents, etc. This builds impulse control to spot inconsistencies.
➡️ Customize Based on User Risk Profiles
Take a page from red team tactics and tailor simulation scenarios specific to user access, typical workflows and historic susceptibility. Spear phishing mimics precision attacks.
Conclusion
Regular simulated phishing engagements prepare employees to instinctively recognize and resist the barrage of real-world social engineering exploits.
Combined with prompt security training after phishing lapses, business can develop a resilient human defense layer while benefiting from data-driven awareness metrics.
The phishing software solutions above represent top options to securely launch test attacks against your organization on autopilot while driving better decision making. Employing solutions from this guide will transform susceptibility into strength.
Learn more in our complete business guide to anti-phishing software.
