Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

KnowBe4 vs McAfee Institute Certifications & Training comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

KnowBe4
Ranking in Security Awareness Training
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
McAfee Institute Certificat...
Ranking in Security Awareness Training
6th
Average Rating
10.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Security Awareness Training category, the mindshare of KnowBe4 is 27.3%, down from 34.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of McAfee Institute Certifications & Training is 0.5%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Security Awareness Training
 

Featured Reviews

Amran Hossain - PeerSpot reviewer
Training program enables comprehensive security awareness and cautious email practices
One feature that would be highly beneficial in a future release is the ability to automatically send training articles or security tips to users on a regular, scheduled basis—for example, weekly or monthly. While the current training modules and phishing simulations are highly effective, ongoing awareness is equally important to keep security top of mind in day-to-day operations. These short, digestible articles or micro-learning content could cover recent phishing trends, real-world examples of security breaches, or quick tips on secure online behavior. Periodic delivery would serve as a continuous learning touchpoint, reinforcing key concepts from the main training and adapting to evolving threats. Ideally, this feature would also include personalization, allowing content to be tailored based on a user’s role, previous training performance, or common mistakes observed in phishing simulations. This kind of proactive, lightweight training approach could significantly enhance employee engagement with security practices and help maintain a strong security posture over time.
TF
Helps with cybersecurity readiness, enhances awareness, and provides essential tools for investigations
While the program is comprehensive, there is always room for improvement. Specifically, I would love to see more focus on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and blockchain as they relate to cybersecurity. As these technologies become increasingly integrated into our professional and personal lives, understanding their security implications is critical. Also, a more advanced follow-up course would be beneficial for keeping professionals updated on the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The main advantages are the user-friendly UI and its overall ease of use."
"The benefits I have seen from using KnowBe4 include that many people are now cautious."
"It has helped us tremendously in cybersecurity awareness."
"Their customizable nature allows us to create scenarios that closely resemble real-world phishing attempts, making them highly relatable to our end users."
"I appreciate the training methodology. It is detailed with videos and real examples about handling phishing emails and dealing with social media links received through WhatsApp, email, or other platforms."
"The ability to have business leadership be aware of their users' security posture as well as any kind of security awareness training being pushed by cybersecurity insurance and underwriters is valuable."
"KnowBe4 has a training program that lasts approximately 15 or 30 minutes, and we provide this security training for our employees so they learn which emails they should open, which links they should click, which links they should not click, and which software they should install."
"The solution is very well priced and very affordable."
"The standout features of the CECI program were undoubtedly the hands-on labs and real-world case studies."
 

Cons

"This product has a questions and answers section which is in text form. It could be updated to include a video game format where an employee uses the game to answer these scenarios."
"Enhancing the product's emotional intelligence, particularly by providing training content tailored to specific audiences, is an area for improvement."
"I feel that the marketing of KnowBe4 needs improvement because many people need to know more about the types of cyber securities that exist."
"I would like to see Novo4 expand to other channels outside of emails to things such as text messages."
"KnowBe4 should focus more on these issues and provide guidance on dealing with links received from individuals who attempt to manipulate our emotions, particularly on social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn."
"The training program is very interactive, but sometimes it is hard to follow the process, particularly the steps."
"Some courses have the same type of content, the same type of page. But not too much, I think some repeated content exists in multiple courses in KnowBe4."
"It could be more localized for Ukrainian users. This platform is international, and it has a lot of material in different languages, but not in Ukrainian and Russian languages. There's plenty of different content updated regularly for English, French, and German users. They have a lot more information, and Ukrainian users also want more."
"A more advanced follow-up course would be beneficial for keeping professionals updated on the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I don't know the cost, but I believe we are paying yearly. We did like a three-year or five-year contract. I am not aware of any extra costs in addition to a standard licensing fee."
"Licensing is paid on a yearly basis. You can go to the official site to check their approximate pricing. It's based on the number of users or staff. It can vary from country to country, but for Ukraine, it works as it's stated on the site."
"I rate the product pricing as four out of ten."
"It's about five dollars a seat per month."
Information not available
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Security Awareness Training solutions are best for your needs.
863,429 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Construction Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Healthcare Company
5%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about KnowBe4?
Their customizable nature allows us to create scenarios that closely resemble real-world phishing attempts, making them highly relatable to our end users.
What needs improvement with KnowBe4?
An area for improvement in KnowBe4 is the repetitive content for users completing multiple training sessions. Additionally, some email simulations were blocked by spam filters, requiring IT to whit...
What do you like most about McAfee Institute Certifications & Training?
I heard from other peers that their course and training quality are really good, so I bought a Crimelab a few days ago. Unfortunately, the material is outdated, but I believe their other course mat...
What needs improvement with McAfee Institute Certifications & Training?
While the program is comprehensive, there is always room for improvement. Specifically, I would love to see more focus on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, ...
What is your primary use case for McAfee Institute Certifications & Training?
My primary reason for enrolling in the CECI program was to build on my existing skills in cybersecurity, particularly in the area of cyber investigations. I work in a large financial organization t...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

West Aurora Public School District 129
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about KnowBe4, Proofpoint, Sophos and others in Security Awareness Training. Updated: June 2025.
863,429 professionals have used our research since 2012.