GITNUXSOFTWARE ADVICE
Cybersecurity Information SecurityTop 10 Best Phishing Test Software of 2026
Ranking roundup of phishing test software that simulates attacks and trains staff, with comparisons across Phished, Mimecast Awareness Training, and Sophos.
How we ranked these tools
Core product claims cross-referenced against official documentation, changelogs, and independent technical reviews.
Analyzed video reviews and hundreds of written evaluations to capture real-world user experiences with each tool.
AI persona simulations modeled how different user types would experience each tool across common use cases and workflows.
Final rankings reviewed and approved by our editorial team with authority to override AI-generated scores based on domain expertise.
Score: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
Gitnux may earn a commission through links on this page — this does not influence rankings. Editorial policy
Phished (phished-1) is the best pick if security teams want repeatable phishing simulations with actionable click and report analytics, whereas Mimecast Awareness Training (mimecast-awareness-training-2) fits teams that need governance-led targeting and measurable risk reporting across repeated campaigns.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
Phished
Phished’s campaign reporting metrics center on report behavior so teams can track mean time to report and remediation triggers.
Built for fits when security teams need repeatable phishing simulation with actionable click and report analytics..
Mimecast Awareness Training
Editor pickFeedback-driven remediation that uses campaign behavior metrics to trigger targeted follow-up training steps for higher-risk users.
Built for fits when security teams run repeated phishing simulations and need governance-led targeting with measurable reporting outcomes..
Sophos Phish Threat
Editor pickSegmentation-driven campaign analytics tie user engagement and reporting outcomes back to targeted cohorts, improving iteration decisions.
Built for fits when security teams want measurable phishing simulations with cohort control and measurable report and click outcomes..
Related reading
Comparison Table
Phished
SMBPhished automates phishing simulations and personalized security awareness training.
Phished’s campaign reporting metrics center on report behavior so teams can track mean time to report and remediation triggers.
Phished provides campaign configuration for target-group segmentation, message delivery settings, and measurement of key phishing metrics like click and report rates. The system supports iterative campaign execution so teams can compare results across template variants and message themes. Administration stays centered on campaign control rather than broad training content management, which reduces governance scope but limits multi-program awareness workflows.
A practical tradeoff is that advanced automation and external workflow hookups depend on Phished’s integration surface rather than offering a fully extensible automation framework in every deployment. Phished fits situations where a security team needs consistent simulated phishing outcomes and fast iteration on templates after failures or after major policy changes. It is less aligned to organizations that require deep directory synchronization, complex approvals, and custom content orchestration across many teams.
- +Campaign analytics separate click rate from report rate for clearer risk signals
- +Template-driven campaign creation speeds repeat testing across message variants
- +Landing page and credential-harvest simulation options support assessment of submission risk
- +Scheduling and reruns support measurement of change after training actions
- –Integration and automation depth can be limited for custom multi-system workflows
- –Large-scale governance needs may require additional process beyond built-in controls
- –Report-to-remediation workflows are not fully centralized inside complex training journeys
- –Advanced mail-flow simulation coverage depends on how campaigns are delivered in practice
Security awareness owners
Measure report rate after policy updates
Higher reporting and faster response
IT security engineering
Test credential-harvest landing page risk
Reduced credential-submission rate
Show 2 more scenarios
GRC and risk teams
Run scheduled social engineering assessments
Repeatable control effectiveness
Campaign scheduling and segmentation support recurring measurement for audit evidence needs.
Manager of security operations
Target group segmentation by department
Lower repeat-click rate
Segmentation enables department-level reporting outcomes to drive failure remediation follow-ups.
Best for: Fits when security teams need repeatable phishing simulation with actionable click and report analytics.
More related reading
Mimecast Awareness Training
enterpriseMimecast Awareness Training provides phishing simulations, training content, and user risk reporting.
Feedback-driven remediation that uses campaign behavior metrics to trigger targeted follow-up training steps for higher-risk users.
Mimecast Awareness Training is geared toward security and IT teams that need controlled phishing simulation runs with reporting and follow-up education. It supports scheduling of simulated phishing campaigns, uses campaign analytics to track user outcomes, and records an audit trail of campaign activity and user engagement. The training loop uses click and report behaviors to steer just-in-time training actions and remediation steps for higher-risk users.
A tradeoff is that campaign design depends on Mimecast-supported templates and delivery wiring, so complex custom landing pages require more effort than pure email-only simulations. It is a strong fit when incident response teams must show ongoing phishing-readiness improvement after a business email compromise event or after phased security rollouts.
- +Tight feedback loop from simulated phishing results into remediation training
- +Campaign analytics track report and click behavior for progress measurement
- +Administrative targeting supports controlled rollouts across user groups
- +Audit trail covers simulation runs and user participation events
- –Custom landing experiences take extra build and governance coordination
- –Workflow depth is strongest when Mimecast mail delivery integrations exist
- –More governance effort is needed for reliable group targeting accuracy
- –Complex multi-variant experiments can feel slower to operationalize
Security operations teams
Post-incident phishing readiness improvement
Lower repeat-click and faster reporting
IT governance and risk teams
Controlled rollout across departments
Repeatable, auditable training coverage
Show 2 more scenarios
Security awareness coordinators
Ongoing behavioral training program
Improved user risk posture
Use campaign analytics to spot failure patterns and schedule repeat simulations with follow-on education.
Helpdesk and internal communications
Normalize the report workflow
Higher mean time to report
Increase report rate by tying training to user actions and measuring changes over multiple runs.
Best for: Fits when security teams run repeated phishing simulations and need governance-led targeting with measurable reporting outcomes.
Sophos Phish Threat
SMBSophos Phish Threat provides phishing simulations, automated training, and campaign analytics.
Segmentation-driven campaign analytics tie user engagement and reporting outcomes back to targeted cohorts, improving iteration decisions.
Sophos Phish Threat provides an end-to-end phishing simulation workflow that spans campaign setup, user targeting, delivery timing, and post-send analytics. Campaign configuration supports segmentation, which helps isolate high-risk cohorts and measure change over time. Admin reporting surfaces engagement and reporting signals so security teams can track repeat-click rate and mean time to report for specific groups. Governance coverage is centered on controlled campaign management and visibility for the administrators who operate simulations.
A key tradeoff is that advanced custom phishing formats and highly bespoke delivery logic can require more manual template work than tools with deep API-based campaign delivery. Sophos Phish Threat fits best for security awareness programs that need consistent measurement loops and repeatable campaigns rather than highly custom automation for every phishing variant.
- +Campaign scheduling supports repeatable training cycles and consistent measurement
- +Segmentation enables controlled rollouts to specific cohorts and targeted reporting
- +Analytics track report rate and credential-submission rate
- +Governance centers on administrator-controlled campaign management and visibility
- –Advanced customization may rely on manual template and workflow adjustments
- –API automation surface is not the primary strength for bespoke delivery logic
- –Complex exception handling can add operational overhead for large orgs
Security awareness team
Run monthly phishing simulation cycles
Clear training effectiveness signals
Security operations
Measure reporting speed after incidents
Faster user-to-SOC escalation
Show 2 more scenarios
IT governance admins
Control who can manage simulations
Reduced operational risk
Limit access to campaign creation and review results using role-based admin operations.
Helpdesk and training leads
Create credential-harvest remediation workflows
Targeted failure remediation
Use credential-submission outcomes to trigger follow-up guidance for impacted users.
Best for: Fits when security teams want measurable phishing simulations with cohort control and measurable report and click outcomes.
KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test
enterpriseKnowBe4 combines phishing simulations with security awareness training and reporting.
Automated failure remediation that triggers just-in-time training based on user campaign outcomes and engagement signals.
KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test is a phishing simulation and awareness-training workflow centered on repeatable phishing campaigns and user accountability. The product supports multiple simulation formats such as landing-page credential prompts, attachment-based lures, and BEC-style messaging, then tracks outcomes like report rate and click behavior.
Campaign settings include scheduling, target-group segmentation, and escalation rules that trigger failure remediation and just-in-time learning when users do not respond as expected. Reporting emphasizes user-risk signals such as repeat-click rate and credential-submission rate across campaign cycles.
- +Template library covers email, attachments, and credential-harvest lures
- +Campaign reporting includes report rate, click behavior, and credential submissions
- +Target-group segmentation supports staged rollouts by risk or department
- +Failure remediation and just-in-time training tie directly to outcomes
- –Admin governance relies on consistent group hygiene in directory sync
- –Attachment and landing-page simulations require careful template and copy review
- –High-volume testing can create operational noise from frequent re-simulations
- –Advanced delivery controls depend on integrating email delivery or mail-flow capabilities
Best for: Fits when security teams need scheduled phishing simulations with outcome-based remediation and clear metrics.
Cofense PhishMe
enterpriseCofense PhishMe delivers phishing simulations and connects testing with threat reporting workflows.
Managed landing-page clone scenarios that closely map credential-harvest behavior to campaign analytics.
Cofense PhishMe runs phishing simulation campaigns that generate controlled user experiences and capture click, submission, and report behavior. It also supports managed landing page clone scenarios for credential-harvest and attachment-based simulations that mirror common delivery workflows.
Campaign analytics connect engagement metrics to remediation actions, including failure workflows for retraining and user follow-up. Central admin configuration and governance controls support scaled rollouts across user groups.
- +Strong landing-page clone flow for credential-harvest simulations
- +Detailed campaign analytics for clicks, submissions, and reporting
- +Segment-based campaign targeting for realistic rollouts
- +Operational governance controls for managing large user populations
- –Template and scenario setup can be time-consuming for new programs
- –Some simulation formats depend on configuration of supporting integrations
- –Automation depth for response playbooks feels limited versus leading tools
- –Admin reporting needs extra work to match custom metrics workflows
Best for: Fits when security teams need controlled phishing simulation with credential-harvest landing pages and group targeting.
Proofpoint Security Awareness Training
enterpriseProofpoint provides phishing simulations, targeted training, and risk-based user analytics.
Remediation tracks can present different follow-up training based on each simulated user outcome, not just a single completion state.
Proofpoint Security Awareness Training is a phishing test and user-training system tied to Proofpoint’s email security ecosystem, which supports workflows that connect simulated attacks with post-click education. The product covers simulated phishing campaign delivery with template-based content, campaign scheduling, and analytics for report and click outcomes.
It also includes remediation tracks that change what users see after a simulated result. Administrative controls support multi-user oversight and audit-friendly reporting for security leadership.
- +Simulation results feed directly into role-based learning and remediation flows
- +Campaign analytics include report, click, and outcome breakdown for targeted follow-ups
- +Templates support common phishing formats without custom authoring for every test
- +Built to align with Proofpoint email controls for consistent reporting
- –Cross-domain integrations are heavier than vendors that only require email API delivery
- –Advanced campaign logic needs more configuration work than simpler simulators
- –Landing-page clone workflows are limited compared with tools focused on custom page realism
- –User-risk and metrics require careful calibration to avoid misleading comparisons
Best for: Fits when security teams want simulated phishing plus remediation tied to Proofpoint mail workflows and detailed campaign analytics.
Hoxhunt
enterpriseHoxhunt uses automated phishing simulations, adaptive training, and employee reporting feedback.
Behavior-driven just-in-time training triggers from individual report and click outcomes within each simulated campaign.
Hoxhunt focuses on phishing simulation with tightly guided employee engagement loops rather than only campaign delivery. It supports scheduled phishing simulations, response tracking, and targeted follow-up training based on who reports or clicks.
Campaign analytics capture actionable user-risk signals that administrators can use to reduce repeat behavior. The product also provides an organized library of templates to speed creation of simulated phishing scenarios.
- +Targeted follow-up training uses real user response behavior
- +Campaign analytics include report and click outcomes per user group
- +Template library reduces time to produce new phishing scenarios
- +Built-in reporting workflows support measuring mean time to report
- –Automation options can feel limited for complex multi-system delivery chains
- –Fine-grained governance controls require careful role and campaign configuration
- –Advanced scenario formats may demand more manual setup than expected
- –Integration depth beyond email delivery can be narrower than email-first tools
Best for: Fits when organizations want scheduled simulated phishing campaigns plus behavior-based retraining.
Terranova Security
enterpriseTerranova Security provides multilingual phishing simulations and security awareness content.
Landing-page clone support for credential-harvest style simulations using campaign-specific templates.
Terranova Security is a phishing test software solution built around campaign creation, delivery, and reporting workflows. It focuses on realistic phishing simulations such as landing-page cloning and credential-harvest style flows, with template-driven campaign assembly.
Management tooling centers on overseeing active and completed campaigns and reviewing user outcomes like report and click behavior. Automation depth appears geared toward repeat campaigns through configurable templates and integration-oriented delivery options.
- +Template-based campaign setup for repeatable phishing simulation workflows
- +Landing-page clone and credential-harvest style flows for realistic targeting
- +Campaign analytics that track user actions like report and click rates
- +Administrative views for managing multiple concurrent simulated campaigns
- –Limited visibility into delivery internals compared with SMTP relay-first tools
- –Automation and API surface are not positioned as first-class provisioning controls
- –Requires discipline to keep templates and landing content consistent
- –Less granular governance features than enterprise-focused training suites
Best for: Fits when teams need realistic landing-page phishing simulations and clear campaign outcome reporting for routine awareness runs.
NINJIO
SMBNINJIO combines simulated phishing with short security awareness videos and training campaigns.
In-campaign reporting capture and follow-up training flow connect user action to measurable remediation outcomes.
NINJIO runs phishing simulation campaigns that send controlled malicious content to targeted user groups and record campaign outcomes. It supports configuration of templates and delivery parameters so admins can repeat scenarios and measure changes in report and click behavior.
The product focuses on social-engineering training workflows that include reporting paths and remediation steps after each simulated event. Integration options and automation depend on admin settings and published interfaces rather than requiring custom code for core campaign operations.
- +Group targeting supports controlled rollouts to specific user cohorts
- +Campaign analytics track report and click behavior per simulated event
- +Built-in training flow connects user interaction to follow-up education
- +Reusable templates help standardize phishing scenarios across departments
- –Limited visibility into message generation details versus email security tooling
- –Automation beyond core scheduling depends on the available integration surface
- –Governance controls for delegating campaign ownership may require extra process
- –Setup for directory sync or identity mapping can be non-trivial in complex environments
Best for: Fits when security teams want repeatable phishing simulations with measurable user behavior shifts.
Infosec IQ
enterpriseInfosec IQ provides phishing simulations, awareness courses, assessments, and compliance reporting.
Built-in campaign workflow for repeated phishing runs with action-based user outcome tracking across cycles.
Infosec IQ from Infosec Institute is geared toward phishing simulation and phishing awareness training built around security program workflows. It supports simulated phishing campaign creation with multiple delivery patterns and template-based content so teams can run repeatable social engineering exercises.
Reporting focuses on campaign outcomes such as report behavior and click behavior, which helps measure user-risk trends over cycles. Administration and oversight center on controlling who can run campaigns and auditing campaign activity for governance needs.
- +Template-driven campaign setup for recurring phishing simulations
- +Campaign reporting ties user actions to measurable outcomes
- +Role-based administration supports separating duties
- +Workflow oriented runbooks for repeated training cycles
- –Limited visibility into email delivery mechanics compared to email-integrated tools
- –Less granular automation controls than API-first phishing simulators
- –Attachment and QR formats depend on campaign configuration choices
- –Remediation and just-in-time training integrations appear narrower than broader awareness suites
Best for: Fits when security teams need repeatable phishing tests with governance and outcome reporting.
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 cybersecurity information security, Phished stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
How to Choose the Right phishing test software
This buyer's guide covers phishing test software used for simulated phishing campaigns and phishing awareness training. Tools covered include Phished, Mimecast Awareness Training, Sophos Phish Threat, KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test, Cofense PhishMe, Proofpoint Security Awareness Training, Hoxhunt, Terranova Security, NINJIO, and Infosec IQ.
The guide connects each tool to concrete evaluation criteria like reporting signals, remediation workflow behavior, and segmentation-driven targeting. It also maps common setup and governance pitfalls to the specific cons documented across the ten tools.
Phishing test software for measuring report and click outcomes in controlled simulations
Phishing test software runs simulated phishing campaigns that deliver crafted email or lure experiences to selected users and then records what users do afterward. The same platform typically tracks report behavior, click behavior, and often credential-submission events so security teams can measure user risk and compare changes across campaign cycles.
Teams use these tools to validate training effectiveness and decide who needs follow-up remediation. Mimecast Awareness Training fits teams already running Mimecast email controls because its feedback-driven remediation and admin targeting fit inside that ecosystem, while KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test fits teams that want multiple simulation formats plus outcome-based just-in-time training.
Evaluation criteria for phishing simulation plus remediation workflows
The right phishing test tool depends less on template counts and more on how campaigns produce decision-ready outcomes. The strongest platforms separate the signals needed for remediation and then convert those signals into targeted training steps.
Evaluation also hinges on segmentation and operational control. Phished and Sophos Phish Threat both emphasize campaign iteration with measurable report and cohort behavior, while Cofense PhishMe emphasizes credential-harvest landing page clone scenarios mapped to campaign analytics.
Report-centric metrics with timing and remediation triggers
Phished centers campaign reporting metrics on report behavior and tracks mean time to report alongside remediation triggers. This makes reporting signals easier to convert into action for users who report quickly or fail to report.
Cohort segmentation linked to iteration decisions
Sophos Phish Threat uses segmentation-driven campaign analytics that tie user engagement and reporting outcomes back to targeted cohorts. Mimecast Awareness Training also uses administrative targeting rules to support controlled rollouts and progress tracking over time.
Outcome-driven remediation that changes what users receive afterward
Proofpoint Security Awareness Training supports remediation tracks that present different follow-up training based on each simulated user outcome. Mimecast Awareness Training also uses campaign behavior metrics to trigger targeted follow-up training steps for higher-risk users.
Managed landing page clone flows for credential-harvest simulations
Cofense PhishMe provides managed landing-page clone scenarios that map credential-harvest behavior to campaign analytics. Terranova Security also focuses on landing-page clone support for credential-harvest style simulations using campaign-specific templates.
Just-in-time training triggered by individual report and click behavior
Hoxhunt triggers behavior-driven just-in-time training from individual report and click outcomes within each simulated campaign. KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test also ties failure remediation to just-in-time learning based on user outcomes and engagement signals.
Governance and admin controls for campaign ownership and participation
Phished includes audit-oriented tracking of simulation runs and user participation events as part of its measurement and feedback loop. Infosec IQ emphasizes role-based administration that separates duties while controlling who can run campaigns and auditing campaign activity for governance needs.
A workflow-first decision path for phishing simulation and training
Selection should start with how campaign outcomes must become remediation. Tools like Proofpoint Security Awareness Training and Mimecast Awareness Training convert report and click outcomes into targeted follow-up education, which reduces the need to build custom remediation logic.
The next decision is how the simulation must be delivered and measured. Cofense PhishMe and Terranova Security focus on landing-page clone realism for credential-harvest style flows, while Phished and Hoxhunt focus on report behavior and behavior-driven just-in-time training.
Pick the primary decision signal: report, click, submission, or cohort behavior
If the main remediation decision depends on report behavior and response speed, Phished provides report-centered metrics that include mean time to report and remediation triggers. If cohort comparisons drive iteration, Sophos Phish Threat ties engagement and reporting outcomes back to target groups for repeat decisions.
Match remediation automation to the follow-up workflow requirement
If follow-up training must change per user outcome, Proofpoint Security Awareness Training uses remediation tracks to vary what users see after a simulation result. If higher-risk users require targeted follow-up steps based on campaign behavior, Mimecast Awareness Training builds that feedback loop into its training outcomes.
Choose the simulation realism model: landing-page clone versus guided behavioral loops
For credential-harvest simulations that must mirror user landing behavior, Cofense PhishMe provides managed landing-page clone scenarios with campaign analytics connected to submissions and clicks. For behavior-driven retraining that reacts to individual report and click actions, Hoxhunt triggers just-in-time training directly from those individual outcomes.
Select for operational fit with the environment and delivery mechanics
If email security ecosystem alignment matters, Mimecast Awareness Training and Sophos Phish Threat strengthen delivery and reporting workflows when the environment already uses their mail and security controls. If delivery internals visibility is a concern, Terranova Security highlights that its visibility into delivery mechanics is more limited than SMTP relay-first tools.
Plan governance around targeting accuracy and role separation
If directory sync and group hygiene affect targeting accuracy, KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test requires consistent group setup for reliable segmentation. If separation of duties and auditing are central, Infosec IQ emphasizes role-based administration and audit of campaign activity.
Test the automation and integration depth needed for repeat cycles
When custom multi-system workflows require deeper automation and integration depth, Phished and other tools may need process beyond built-in controls for complex journeys. For teams that want predictable repeat campaigns using templates and scheduled cycles, NINJIO and Infosec IQ focus on core scheduling, reusable templates, and action-based outcome tracking without prioritizing bespoke delivery logic.
Which teams should buy which phishing test approach
Different phishing test tools fit different maturity levels and remediation workflows. Several tools in this set pair simulation with training actions, but they differ in how they drive follow-up and how they handle landing-page realism.
The best fit depends on whether the program emphasizes report speed, cohort iteration, credential-harvest realism, or behavior-driven just-in-time retraining. The segments below map those needs to concrete tool strengths.
Security teams that run repeat phishing tests and need report behavior metrics
Phished fits teams that need decision-ready reporting signals and actionable remediation triggers anchored on mean time to report and report behavior. NINJIO also fits teams that want measurable user behavior shifts with in-campaign reporting capture tied to follow-up education.
Organizations that already rely on Mimecast email controls for measurable training outcomes
Mimecast Awareness Training fits teams that want simulated phishing inside their existing Mimecast email risk workflow. The tool adds administrative targeting and feedback-driven remediation that uses campaign behavior metrics for follow-up training steps.
Enterprise security teams that need cohort segmentation and outcome rates for iteration
Sophos Phish Threat fits teams that want segmentation-driven analytics to connect engagement and reporting outcomes back to targeted cohorts. It also tracks report rate and credential-submission rate so remediation can be triggered quickly for risky patterns.
Teams focused on credential-harvest style landing page realism and controlled user experiences
Cofense PhishMe fits teams that require managed landing-page clone scenarios mapped to campaign analytics for credential-harvest behaviors. Terranova Security fits teams that want realistic landing-page phishing simulations and template-driven campaign assembly for routine awareness runs.
Organizations that want just-in-time retraining triggered by individual user actions
Hoxhunt fits organizations that want behavior-driven just-in-time training triggers from individual report and click outcomes. KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test fits teams that want automated failure remediation with just-in-time learning based on campaign outcomes and engagement signals.
Common buying and rollout pitfalls seen across phishing simulation platforms
Many failed phishing test programs come from mismatched goals and tool behavior, not from bad templates. Several cons documented across tools show where implementation discipline or platform fit becomes the deciding factor.
These pitfalls recur around governance, landing page realism, and delivery mechanics visibility. The fixes below name specific tools that handle the concern better.
Over-optimizing for click metrics and losing remediation signal quality
Teams that optimize only for click behavior can end up training the wrong users. Phished helps by centering campaign reporting metrics on report behavior and mean time to report, and Proofpoint Security Awareness Training helps by tying remediation tracks to specific simulated user outcomes rather than a single completion state.
Buying a strong simulator but underestimating remediation workflow complexity
Tools that provide simulation templates still require operational work to turn outcomes into follow-up steps. Mimecast Awareness Training and Proofpoint Security Awareness Training handle outcome-to-remediation behavior inside the platform, which reduces reliance on manual triage.
Ignoring directory sync and group hygiene when targeting cohorts
Segmentation accuracy depends on clean user groups and reliable mapping between identity sources and campaign targeting. KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test highlights that admin governance relies on consistent group hygiene in directory sync, and Infosec IQ emphasizes role-based administration and auditable campaign activity to support governance.
Expecting advanced delivery internals visibility without matching the delivery model
Some tools provide limited visibility into delivery internals compared with SMTP relay-first tooling. Terranova Security calls out limited visibility into delivery internals, so teams that need mail-flow simulation depth should validate delivery mechanics during evaluation.
Under-scoping automation needs for multi-system delivery chains
Complex training journeys with multiple systems often need deeper automation and integration depth than template-driven repeat runs. Phished notes integration and automation depth can be limited for custom multi-system workflows, and Sophos Phish Threat notes the API automation surface is not its primary strength for bespoke delivery logic.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated Phished, Mimecast Awareness Training, Sophos Phish Threat, KnowBe4 Phishing Security Test, Cofense PhishMe, Proofpoint Security Awareness Training, Hoxhunt, Terranova Security, NINJIO, and Infosec IQ using features, ease of use, and value with features carrying the most weight. Ease of use and value each shaped the final score more than secondary factors such as template variety.
Each tool received a single overall rating derived from those criteria, with features weighted highest because campaign outcomes, reporting signals, and remediation behavior directly determine how actionable phishing test results become. The same scoring approach also applied when a platform leaned more toward landing-page clone scenarios like Cofense PhishMe or behavior-driven retraining like Hoxhunt.
Phished set itself apart by centering campaign reporting metrics on report behavior and tracking mean time to report plus remediation triggers, which lifted it on the features and value factors at the top of the ranking. That emphasis on report-centered metrics is the mechanism that most directly improves how teams act on results rather than only measuring clicks.
Frequently Asked Questions About phishing test software
How do Phished and KnowBe4 separate click metrics from reporting outcomes?
Which tool provides segmentation and campaign scheduling for repeatable phishing simulation cohorts?
When does a landing page clone workflow matter for credential-harvest phishing simulations?
What breaks if an organization needs API-based campaign delivery and automation rather than manual scheduling?
How do Proofpoint Security Awareness Training and Hoxhunt handle remediation steps after each simulated user outcome?
Which platform fits directory synchronization and SSO requirements more directly for user provisioning and authentication education?
Where does user-risk scoring differ between Hoxhunt and Sophos Phish Threat?
Which tool is strongest for admin controls across multi-user oversight and audit-ready reporting?
When teams have mixed simulation formats like attachment-based lures and BEC-style messaging, how do the tools differ?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
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