If you’ve landed on this blog, chances are you are a Managed Service Provider owner, IT director, or the person in the office everyone calls “the cybersecurity person” even though you absolutely did not sign up to become a full-time training coordinator.

You’re here because you need Security Awareness Training that actually fits into an MSP workflow, and you’ve probably heard of KnowBe4. In fact, everyone has heard of KnowBe4. You might even use KnowBe4. They’re the original, the OG, the household name of SAT, with more features than a luxury car and a longer track record than most on the market.

But - and it’s a but big enough to make Sir Mix-a-Lot do a comedic double take - KnowBe4 was built for enterprise clients, whereas Phin was built for MSPs.

So the real question isn’t “Is KnowBe4 good?” It’s “Which platform is the best fit for the way MSPs actually work?”

Let’s compare the two, more objectively than you might expect given our obvious Phin-centric view. We’ll explore other MSP-friendly alternatives, and even draw attention to any aspects where KnowBe4 is currently ahead of us. We’ve gone rogue with this one, haven’t we?

What MSPs Actually Need in a Security Awareness Training Platform

We know that MSPs operate differently from internal IT teams. You aren’t managing one organization with one set of users. You’re probably dealing with dozens of companies, potentially hundreds or thousands of users with different industries, requirements, policies, personalities, and levels of tech literacy.

Here’s what MSPs consistently tell us they need:

1. Multi-tenant management

But, like, actually. One login. One dashboard. Every client visible at a glance.

If a platform makes you jump between portals, you’ll lose hours every month.

2. Flexible billing that matches MSP reality

Month to month. Based on active users. So you’re not getting stuck in lengthy contracts or having to gamble on how many users you may or may not have at any point in the next three years.

3. Integrated, automated workflows

User syncing, content deployment, reporting, and reminders should happen without you opening twenty tabs and muttering obscenities.

4. White label options

MSPs want to provide value under their brand, not promote a vendor directly to their client - and some vendors are more than happy to “cut out the middle man” when renewal comes around.

5. Reporting that proves ROI

Insurers, auditors, and clients all want receipts. MSPs need exportable, audit ready evidence on demand.

6. Short, relevant, people-friendly training

End users are busy. If training feels like homework, they’ll ignore it, and you’ll be chasing completion logs until the inevitable heat death of the universe.

MSP Friendly Alternatives to KnowBe4

KnowBe4 is a strong platform, no question. For enterprise customers, they might even be the best. But their system, structure, and pricing model are tailored for internal IT teams with plenty of hands-on capacity.

If you’re an MSP, you may be exploring other options that better match your workflow. Here are three of the most common alternatives MSPs evaluate.

Breach Secure Now

An MSP-focused platform that offers simple, all in one security awareness training, phishing simulations, dark web monitoring, and risk assessments. MSPs often like its ease of use and broad feature set, but reviews suggest the content library and integrations are less mature than bigger vendors, and Azure user sync can be finicky. 

With a pricepoint on the budget-friendly end of the spectrum, it works well for smaller MSP clients that need the basics covered, but it may feel limited for teams that need deeper compliance alignment, polished content, or advanced automation at scale.

Huntress SAT

Huntress provides story driven, fully managed security awareness training and phishing simulations that require very little admin time from MSPs. It’s easy to deploy, regularly updated, and designed to help smaller organizations build a security culture without heavy lifting.

The trade off is flexibility because the managed model gives MSPs less control than a self managed, multi tenant platform. Some reviewers also note that parts of the training feel a bit basic for more advanced users.

Phin Security

Okay, full disclosure, this one is our favorite. And if you’re an MSP, we think it might well be your favorite too. Because, put simply, Phin is DESIGNED for MSPs.

Automated setup, multi tenancy, usage-based billing, instant reporting, content from multiple providers, phishing simulations that mimic real attacks, and no actively seeking direct partnerships with SMBs.

If your priority is simplicity, time savings, and automation, Phin will sit at the top of the alternatives list every time - something we’ve seen repeated not just to us by clients but on review sites and even in the depths of the subreddit r/msp where we occasionally venture to see what our audience really think and need!

The Simplest Alternative to KnowBe4

Time is the MSP’s most valuable resource. Not computing power or storage. Not even caffeine and sweet treats. Time.

KnowBe4 is powerful, but it is also large, complex, feature rich, and hands on. Perfect for a dedicated internal security team. Not perfect for a technician managing fifteen clients before lunch.

Phin Security is the simplest alternative because:

• onboarding a new client takes about ten minutes
• configuration is automated
• user syncing is automated
• monthly billing matches MSP revenue models
• content comes from six different providers
• reporting requires no spreadsheets

Plus, the platform handles overdue reminders without you becoming the hall monitor of cybersecurity (although if that’s something that you really want, we’ll get someone in marketing to make you a sash.)

If you want a SAT solution you can set up, walk away from, and trust completely, Phin is the simplest path.

Phin Security vs KnowBe4: Which Is Better for MSPs?

Let’s break this down in the most objective and friendly way we can - after all, we want you to read our articles and feel like you’re discussing SAT with a friend over an afternoon coffee, rather than being talked at by a belligerent drunk just as the bartender yells “last call”. For the record, neither of those is actually the ideal time to discuss cybersecurity awareness training, we’re just giving you an idea of the vibe we’re going for.

Phin Pros (MSP specific)

• Month-to-month billing
• Billing based on active users, not contracted seats
• Ten-minute onboarding for new clients with no support tickets or contract adjustments
• Built-in multi tenancy
• Automated ongoing campaign management at both the tenant and MSP level
• Content sourced from six different providers
• No direct sales to your clients
• Automated reporting designed for insurers and auditors
• Designed and built around MSP workflows, not adapted for them

Phin Cons

• A younger company, which some people might take to mean we’re not as credible.
• Fewer enterprise-focused features (because you’re not an enterprise).
• Primarily an English platform - some trainings do come in Spanish and French, but we’re not truly multilingual right now.
• Some people find us intimidating because everyone in our team is so knowledgeable, hilarious, good looking, and humble. We can’t help it, sorry.

KnowBe4 Pros

• Industry pioneer with the deepest feature set on the market
• Mature platform suitable for internal IT teams with lots of admin time
• Huge content library
• Extensive policy and compliance modules

KnowBe4 Cons (from an MSP perspective)

• Long-term contracts, often two to three years
• Billing is not usage-based
• No true multi-tenant MSP management
• Onboarding new clients takes significantly longer
• Requires far more ongoing administrative time
• Designed for enterprise IT workflows, not multi-client MSP workflows

Both platforms are excellent for the audiences they were built for. Phin just happens to be built for you. We’ve made the bold assumption that anyone who’s read this far down is indeed an MSP - if not, then I don’t know, sorry? Thank you for having such a healthy interest in security awareness training.

Why Phin Is the Best Choice for MSPs

KnowBe4 dominates the enterprise market. They earned that position and they do it well. But MSPs live in a different world with different needs.

Phin saves MSPs hours every month. Administration is the silent killer of MSP productivity, and Phin removes the repetitive SAT tasks that eat into your team’s time on a daily basis - you’d better believe those time savings add up.

Phin reduces client risk with less effort from you - there’s automation, shorter training, better engagement. More accurate phishing simulation feedback, lower cyber insurance friction, and fewer “someone clicked something weird” tickets.

Phin fits the MSP business model thanks to usage based pricing and monthly billing.

No long term contracts or competing sales. Real margins for you.

You can tell that Phin was designed for multi-client management from day one.

So if you want a SAT platform that respects your time, reduces your workload, improves client security, and fits the MSP revenue model, Phin is the choice that makes everything easier.

Ready to see how Phin works in real life?

Learn more about Phin Security today.