KnowBe4 Pricing Guide 2025: Which Option Best Fits Your Cybersecurity Needs?

KnowBe4 offers four main pricing tiers ranging from $1.50-$3.25 per user monthly, with Diamond being the most popular. Volume discounts apply, 25-user minimum required, and add-on products cost extra. Expect $5,000-$30,000 annually depending on organization size and features needed.

Introduction: Why KnowBe4 Pricing Matters for Your Security Strategy

With 68% of data breaches caused by human error and phishing attacks increasing by 61% in recent years, security awareness training has become a critical investment. KnowBe4, the world's largest security awareness training platform used by over 65,000 organizations globally, offers a comprehensive solution - but understanding their complex pricing structure is essential for making an informed decision.

The platform promises substantial returns, with independent studies showing 200%-400% ROI within 3.5 months and cost savings exceeding $537,000 over three years for typical 2,000-employee organizations. However, their pricing model includes multiple tiers, volume discounts, geographical variations, and additional products that can significantly impact your total investment.

KnowBe4's Four-Tier Pricing Structure

KnowBe4 operates on a per-seat, annually-billed SaaS model with four distinct subscription levels: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Each tier provides access to different training content levels and feature sets.

KnowBe4 pricing tiers comparison for 101-500 users showing monthly per-user costs and key features

Silver Tier: Basic Security Foundation

• Pricing: $1.50-$1.90 per user monthly (based on user count)

• Training Access: Level I only (17 modules, 4 video modules)

• Best For: Small organizations starting their security awareness journey

• Key Features: Unlimited phishing tests, automated security awareness program (ASAP), SSO integration

  
  

Gold Tier: Enhanced Training Library

• Pricing: $1.70-$2.23 per user monthly

• Training Access: Level II (57 modules, 65 video modules)

• Best For: Organizations wanting broader content variety

• Key Features: All Silver features plus vishing tests and monthly email exposure checks

  
  

Platinum Tier: Advanced Management

• Pricing: $2.00-$2.60 per user monthly

• Training Access: Level II (same as Gold)

• Best For: Organizations needing advanced reporting and customization

• Key Features: Gold features plus APIs, Smart Groups, advanced reporting, premium support

  
  

Diamond Tier: Complete AI-Powered Solution

• Pricing: $2.65-$3.25 per user monthly

• Training Access: Level III (222 modules, 587 video modules, 39 games)

• Best For: Large organizations requiring comprehensive training and AI capabilities

• Key Features: All features plus AI-recommended training, callback phishing, advanced AI tools

KnowBe4 pricing tiers comparison for 101-500 users Volume Pricing and User Count Requirements

KnowBe4 requires a minimum of 25 users to get started, which can be prohibitive for smaller organizations. The platform offers significant volume discounts as user counts increase.

KnowBe4 Diamond tier pricing showing volume discounts across different user count brackets

The pricing structure follows clear volume tiers:

• 25-50 users: Highest per-seat cost

• 51-100 users: ~9% discount from smallest tier

• 101-500 users: ~18% discount

• 501-1000 users: ~28% discount

• 1001+ users: Up to 35% discount for largest organizations

  
  

For the popular Diamond tier, a 100-employee organization would pay approximately $31,800 annually, while a 500-employee organization would pay $141,000 annually.

Add-On Products and Additional Costs

Beyond the core security awareness training, KnowBe4 offers several add-on products that require separate subscriptions:

PhishER Plus: Advanced Incident Response

• Pricing: $1.15-$1.50 per user monthly

• Minimum: 101 users required

• Features: Email threat analysis, automated response workflows, SIEM integrations

• ROI: Customers report up to 650% ROI within the first year

  
  

Compliance Plus: Regulatory Training

• Pricing: $4.25-$7.50 per user monthly

• Minimum: 101 users required

• Content: 500+ compliance modules covering privacy, ethics, workplace safety

• Best For: Organizations with specific regulatory requirements

  
  

SecurityCoach: Real-Time Coaching

• Pricing: $1.10-$1.20 per user monthly

• Features: Real-time security coaching based on risky behavior detection

• Availability: Included with Platinum and Diamond tiers

  
  

KnowBe4 Defend: Email Security

• Pricing: $4.00-$5.30 per user monthly

• Features: AI-enabled phishing detection, contextual warning banners, QR code detection

  
  

KnowBe4 Prevent: Data Loss Prevention

• Pricing: $4.58-$9.58 per user monthly (standard), $6.25-$12.92 (Enterprise)

• Features: Misdirected email prevention, data exfiltration protection, impersonation detection

• 
  

Geographical and Contract Considerations

Regional Pricing Variations

KnowBe4's published pricing applies to North America only, with the disclaimer that "pricing may be different in different countries". European and other international customers must request custom quotes.

Contract Terms and Discounts

• Standard Term: 3-year contracts for listed pricing

• Multi-Year Discounts: Available for 3-year commitments (discount amount not publicly disclosed)

• Non-Profit Discounts: Special pricing available for qualifying organizations

• No Trial Period: Unlike many competitors, KnowBe4 doesn't offer free trials, requiring annual commitments upfront

  
  

Implementation and Setup Costs

While KnowBe4 doesn't charge separate implementation fees, organizations should budget for:

• Onboarding Time: Comprehensive onboarding included, with Customer Success Manager assignment

• Technical Setup: Minimal configuration required—mainly server whitelisting and user upload

• Training Resources: Administrator training and monthly customer service calls included

• Integration Costs: API integrations with existing security tools may require internal resources

  
  

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Is KnowBe4 Worth the Investment?

Demonstrated ROI

Independent studies consistently show strong returns on KnowBe4 investments:

• 276% three-year ROI with payback in less than 3 months

• $432,300 reduction in risk exposure over three years

• $411,300 cost avoidance from reduced security incidents

• Nearly 40% reduction in data breach risk

  
  

Total Cost of Ownership Examples

Small Organization (50 users, Diamond tier):

• Annual cost: ~$1,950

• Three-year investment: ~$5,850

• Potential ROI: $16,100+ based on 276% return

  
  

Medium Organization (500 users, Diamond + PhishER):

• Annual cost: ~$70,500 ($141,000 + $69,000)

• Three-year investment: ~$211,500

• Potential ROI: $583,000+ based on documented savings

  
  

Large Organization (2,000 users, Full Platform):

• Annual cost: ~$150,000-$200,000

• Documented savings: $537,000+ over three years

  
  

Alternatives and Competitive Landscape

For organizations finding KnowBe4's pricing or minimum user requirements prohibitive, several alternatives exist:

Budget-Friendly Alternatives

• Guardey: No minimum users, transparent pricing, gamification-based

• SafeTitan: Behavior-based training, competitive pricing

• Sophos Phish Threat: Lower cost alternative

  
  

Enterprise Alternatives

• Proofpoint Security Awareness: Higher cost but enhanced integration capabilities

• Cofense (formerly PhishMe): Enterprise-focused with advanced threat intelligence

• SANS Security Awareness: Premium training with industry recognition

  
  

Free/Open Source Options

• GoPhish: Free, self-hosted phishing simulation (no training component)

  
  

Negotiation Tips and Cost Optimization

Based on user experiences and industry insights:

Negotiation Strategies

• Press for discounts: Users report achieving up to 50% discounts when threatening cancellation

• Multi-year commitments: Negotiate better rates for longer contracts

• Volume commitments: Consider bundling multiple products for better pricing

• Renewal timing: Leverage competitive quotes during renewal periods

  
  

Cost Optimization Approaches

• Start with lower tiers: Begin with Gold or Platinum and upgrade as needed

• Phased add-on adoption: Add supplementary products gradually rather than all at once

• Regional considerations: Explore pricing through local partners or resellers

• Educational discounts: Leverage non-profit or educational pricing where applicable

  
  

Key Takeaways: Choosing Your KnowBe4 Path

• Diamond tier offers best value for organizations seeking comprehensive training and AI capabilities

• Volume discounts are significant - pricing drops dramatically above 100 users

• Add-on products can double costs but provide specialized capabilities with demonstrated ROI

• 25-user minimum excludes small businesses - consider alternatives like Guardey for smaller teams

• Geographic pricing varies - international organizations should request custom quotes

• Strong ROI potential exists with documented returns of 200-400% within 3.5 months

• Negotiation is possible - don't accept initial pricing without discussion

  
  

Conclusion: Making the Right Investment Decision

KnowBe4's pricing reflects its position as the market leader in security awareness training, with costs ranging from approximately $5,000 annually for small teams to $30,000+ for comprehensive enterprise deployments. While the initial investment may seem substantial, the documented ROI of 200-400% and potential savings exceeding $500,000 make it a financially sound choice for organizations serious about cybersecurity.

The key is matching your organization's specific needs with the appropriate tier and add-on combination. Small organizations under 25 users should explore alternatives, while mid-to-large enterprises will find significant value in KnowBe4's comprehensive platform, especially when leveraging volume discounts and negotiating multi-year agreements.

Remember that cybersecurity training isn't just an expense - it's an investment in protecting your organization's most valuable assets. With cyber attacks becoming increasingly sophisticated and costly, KnowBe4's pricing often represents a fraction of what a single successful breach could cost your organization.