With the scale and complexity of today's cyber threats, investing in the right security solution is crucial. When two out of three data breaches start with human error, the right training can be the difference between staying secure and becoming the next big headline.
But with so many options on the market, which solution should you choose? Should you go with the market leader, KnowBe4, with its huge content library? Or should you go with a platform built to deliver unforgettable learning and a stronger shared security posture: Riot?
If you're comparing KnowBe4 vs. Riot to find the right fit for your team, we're here to help. In this article, we break down the key differences across the four areas that matter most: awareness training, phishing simulations, proactive defense, and ease of use. When you're done, you'll have everything you need to make the right call.
Let's start with the basics.
KnowBe4 vs. Riot: The basics at a glance
Founded back in 2010, KnowBe4 is regarded as the pioneer of security awareness training as a discipline. With 70,000 client organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 is the leading platform in the market, and is targeted towards large enterprises with complex compliance requirements and dedicated IT or security teams to operate and manage the platform.
Riot was founded in 2020, and was built around a fundamentally different philosophy. Rather than offering learners a vast library of content, Riot delivers impactful training via its security coach, Albert, directly inside Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Chat. Today, Riot supports 2,000,000+ learners in over 2,000 organizations to develop a stronger shared security posture.
The key difference? KnowBe4 offers classic eLearning at scale, whereas Riot focuses on simplicity, ease of use, and learner engagement.
KnowBe4 vs. Riot feature comparison table
Awareness training – how each platform engages people
It's an uncomfortable truth, but we need to face it: most classic cybersecurity training simply doesn't work.
It's not because the content is wrong, or because people don't realize the importance of cybersecurity. It's because it fails to actually engage people: nearly two out of three employees say they tune out during security awareness training – and that doesn't include the employees who don't even bother to show up for it.
Given the scale of this challenge, security and IT teams need something that meets learners where they are and helps them develop a stronger security posture by making better decisions.
KnowBe4 offers an enormous content library of 1,000+ modules, videos, games, posters, and newsletters delivered to learners via traditional eLearning techniques. It's a huge range of content, and for large organizations looking for sheer variety of compliance topics, KnowBe4 can be a good fit. However, the learning format leans towards classic LMS-style eLearning, with slide-heavy modules that some employees – and even some admins – say can start to feel repetitive and forgettable over time, according to G2 reviews. Some users also say the content looks outdated, and others say the library of material can be overwhelming for small teams to manage.
In contrast, Riot is built to solve the employee engagement problem, using active learning techniques and impactful storytelling that takes no more than a few minutes per module. With Riot, learners – and admins – don't have to navigate a giant library of content; instead, they get a hand-picked selection of essential topics covering the cybersecurity basics, like AI deepfakes, vishing, and social engineering. Multi-year chapters also keep best practices fresh over time, and Riot's Studio feature empowers users to craft custom courses that match their content.
With Riot, admins achieve training completion rates of 91%+ thanks to unforgettable, punchy modules built around the latest news headlines and threat intelligence.
And speaking of unforgettable learning…
Phishing simulations – testing your team the right way
Phishing simulations are a crucial tool in the cybersecurity awareness toolkit – but not all simulations are created equal. A simulation that feels like a punishment, generates a flood of false positives, or fails to reinforce best practices can do more harm than good.
On the simulation front, KnowBe4 has one of the most comprehensive template libraries on the market, covering a wide range of scenarios, hooks, and spoofed partners. For large security teams looking for specialized hooks to target defined user groups, this template library is useful. The downside is that KnowBe4 simulations can occasionally err towards a “gotcha” approach, focusing more on catching employees out rather than supporting them to improve. Some users also note in G2 reviews that the volume of simulation data can be tough to turn into an actionable plan.
With Riot, phishing simulations are built around a simpler and more human philosophy: the goal is not just to trap, but to teach. Admins can choose from an intuitive range of hand-picked templates, and if an employee falls for a simulated attack, they immediately receive targeted follow-up training to help them understand what just happened and why. Users praise Riot's fast and simple setup, and its clear and actionable reporting that empowers non-technical users to turn a campaign into a clear roadmap. And as a bonus, Riot also offers smishing simulations.
The bottom line? KnowBe4 has more phishing templates to choose from; Riot supports simulations that drive lasting behavioral change and strengthen employee security posture.
Learn more: How to Run a World-Class Phishing Simulation in 6 Steps – and 5 Big Mistakes to Avoid
Proactive defense – limiting what attackers have to work with
Employee awareness training and phishing simulations are one side of the security coin – but what about proactively limiting what hackers and other bad actors can find out about us?
KnowBe4 offers some coverage on this, with its Artificial Intelligence Defense Agents (AIDA) feature automating many human risk management functions, including:
- Customizing phishing simulations to suit a user's past performance.
- Adapting training modules to suit a user's expertise level.
- Proactively analyzing some risky user behaviors to minimize exposure and prevent attacks.
Riot has built a suite of features in line with its Employee Security Posture Management (ESPM) philosophy, supporting employees to develop a stronger shared security posture through continuous improvement and proactive defense. These features scan and remedy employee habits and behaviors that can lead to a heightened risk of attack, including:
- Slash: AI-powered attack detection stopping threats before they land.
- Inbox: A 24/7 AI-powered cyber hotline offering real-time threat intelligence.
- Sonar: Proactive insights to remedy insecure document and sharing practices.
- Breaches: Real-time breach detection helping users stay one step ahead.
Whereas AIDA focuses on automating training delivery, Riot's ESPM suite goes a step further by actively reducing the attack surface bad actors have to work with. For busy teams, this is critical.
Learn more: 3 Ways to Take Control of Your Digital Footprint and Stop Giving Scammers a Head Start
Deployment, admin, and day-to-day usability
So far we've looked at the strengths of the two platforms when it comes to awareness training, phishing simulations, and proactive defense. But what about the ease of deployment and day-to-day use? And how heavy is the admin workload? These might seem like secondary questions, but they can make a huge difference in the long run – especially for smaller companies.
KnowBe4 is a comprehensive cybersecurity platform offering a substantial choice of both awareness content and phishing templates. Getting the most out of it requires significant onboarding time, with G2 reviews commenting on the complexity of KnowBe4's admin console. For companies without a dedicated team member to manage campaigns, review reporting, and oversee the training program, this may prove challenging.
Riot is designed to help lean teams get up and running quickly, with fast deployment and minimal ongoing maintenance. Because training is delivered through existing collaboration tools, there's no new interface for employees to learn. Teams can get up and running within a day, using Riot's clean and intuitive dashboard to give security leads and IT managers a clear overview of security posture and vulnerabilities without having to become experts.
In short, if you don't have a full-time security team, Riot is the natural choice. Even for larger and more established customers, the difference in day-to-day admin involvement between the two platforms is significant. With 53% of security leaders see time constraints as the biggest barrier to better cyber awareness, a solution needs to drive real impact without pulling employees away from their day-to-day work.
Which solution is right for you?
Riot and KnowBe4 are both serious cybersecurity awareness platforms with proven track records, thousands of customers, and millions of learners. Making the right choice depends on what your team looks like, what your needs are, and how much time you have to spare.
Choose KnowBe4 if:
- You need a vast content library with a mix of formats, including LMS-style video tutorial and click-through slide training.
- You have the admin bandwidth to configure, manage, and get the most from a platform requiring a higher degree of customization and setup.
- You have the time to monitor and oversee a set of autonomous AI agents dedicated to employee security.
- You have a dedicated security or IT team managing a complex set of compliance requirements.
Choose Riot if:
- You prioritize employee engagement, completion rates, and retention over having an inexhaustible library of training content.
- You want hand-picked, impactful training that finds your teams where they already work, including Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Chat.
- You want to proactively improve the security posture of your teams by limiting what people are sharing and how easily attackers can find it.
- You need to get up and running quickly, with simple pricing, seamless integration, and responsive customer support ready to help you succeed.
The best training solution? The one people actually remember
You can have the most comprehensive awareness platform in the world – but it won't do a thing to protect your team if nobody's paying attention. That's why the best training solution isn't the one with the biggest library of content to choose from – it's the one your employees actually remember when a real threat comes knocking.
We couldn't find this solution on the market – so we built it. With the help of Albert, your AI-powered cyber coach, bite-sized training delivered where people already are, realistic phishing simulations, and real-time threat monitoring, Riot gives your teams everything they need to build a stronger security posture together. Best of all? It never feels like homework.
Ready to deliver unforgettable learning experiences for your whole team? Get in touch with one of our experts today.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the single biggest difference between Riot and KnowBe4? In short: scale and ease of use. KnowBe4 has the most comprehensive library of training content and phishing simulation templates on the market, but the platform is heavy and time-consuming to optimize. In contrast, Riot is leaner, more focused, and easier for admins to start driving better results through meaningful employee engagement.
- What is Employee Security Posture Management (ESPM)? Employee Security Posture Management, or ESPM, is Riot's philosophy of supporting employees to develop a stronger shared security posture through continuous improvement and proactive defense. With ESPM, Riot takes cybersecurity beyond awareness training or phishing simulation to address the full scope of today's threats.
- How does Riot compare to KnowBe4 on price? Riot offers a standard price of $6.89 per user / month, with custom pricing for 201+ employees. In contrast, KnowBe4 offers a four-tier Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond pricing structure, with some features available only at certain tiers.
- Which platform is easier to set up? User reviews for KnowBe4 suggest the platform can be time-consuming and cumbersome to set up and operate. On the other hand, users praise Riot for being quick and simple to get up and running, with admins deploying training and simulations in just a few hours.
- Is Riot or KnowBe4 better for a small business? For smaller teams with less time to spend on organizing and running a cybersecurity platform, KnowBe4 may be less of a natural fit, as its powerful dashboard can present a learning curve even for experienced operators. In contrast, Riot is leaner and simpler to launch and oversee, resulting in a lighter process for smaller teams.
- How can I get started with Riot? You can get started for free or book a demo with one of our experts – most teams get their training and simulations up and running within a day.
