Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
KnowBe4 vs IBM QRadar
KnowBe4
Security & Cybersecurity
World's largest security awareness training platform
- From
- $1/month
- Rated
- -
IBM QRadar
Security & Cybersecurity
Intelligent security analytics for real-time visibility
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: KnowBe4 published prices assume a three year term, so the quoted per seat rate depends on a long commitment; IBM QRadar listed on UK G-Cloud at £639 per unit, submitted directly by IBM United Kingdom Limited for IBM Security QRadar on Cloud SIEM (unit basis not further defined in the listing)
- They diverge on capability: KnowBe4 covers Security awareness training, IBM QRadar covers AI-powered detection.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which KnowBe4 and IBM QRadar actually diverge.
| Attribute | KnowBe4 | IBM QRadar |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1/month | On request |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile, Email | Web, Api |
| Founded | 2010 | 1911 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in KnowBe4
- Security awareness training
- Phishing simulation
- Risk assessments
- Compliance training
- Incident reporting
- API access
- Custom policies
- Behavior analytics
Only in IBM QRadar
- AI-powered detection
- User behavior analytics
- Network insights
- Offense management
- IBM X-Force threat intelligence
- Federated search
- Case management
- Compliance templates
Both cover
- Splunk
- ISO 27001
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
KnowBe4
- Security awareness training and simulated phishing for staffnot IBM QRadar
- Tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over timenot IBM QRadar
IBM QRadar
- Siemnot KnowBe4
- Security Analyticsnot KnowBe4
- Threat Intelligencenot KnowBe4
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
KnowBe4
- Published prices assume a three year term, so the quoted per seat rate depends on a long commitment
- Pricing is banded by seat count, and the lowest band of 25 to 50 seats pays the highest rate
- Accounts above 1,000 seats have no published price and require a custom quote
- Third party integrations, Compliance Plus and PhishER Plus are all separately priced per seat add ons
- The Foundation tier carries 200 training modules against more than 1,000 on Advanced, so content volume is the main gate
IBM QRadar
- Listed on UK G-Cloud at £639 per unit, submitted directly by IBM United Kingdom Limited for IBM Security QRadar on Cloud SIEM (unit basis not further defined in the listing)
Pricing, plan by plan
KnowBe4
$1/month- Basic$1/month
- Per user
- Training modules
- Phishing templates
- Advanced$2/month
- All Basic features
- Advanced phishing
- Risk assessments
- Pro$3/month
- All Advanced features
- API access
- Custom content
IBM QRadar
On request- QRadar SIEMFree
- Event and flow processing
- Offense management
- Threat intelligence
- QRadar CloudFree
- Cloud-native deployment
- Elastic scaling
- Managed infrastructure
- QRadar SuiteFree
- SIEM + SOAR + XDR
- Unified analyst experience
- Federated search
Which should you pick?
Choose KnowBe4 if
- You need security awareness training.
- You work on Web, Mobile, Email.
- You also want phishing simulation.
Choose IBM QRadar if
- You need ai-powered detection.
- You work on Web, Api.
- You also want user behavior analytics.
Questions people ask
- Is KnowBe4 or IBM QRadar better?
- Neither clearly leads. KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and IBM QRadar at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, KnowBe4 or IBM QRadar?
- KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and IBM QRadar at On request.
- Does KnowBe4 or IBM QRadar run on more platforms?
- KnowBe4 runs on Web, Mobile, Email. IBM QRadar runs on Web, Api.
- What is KnowBe4 best used for?
- KnowBe4 is most often used for security awareness training and simulated phishing for staff, tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over time. Of those, security awareness training and simulated phishing for staff and tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over time are not what IBM QRadar is typically brought in for.
- What can KnowBe4 do that IBM QRadar cannot?
- KnowBe4 covers Security awareness training, Phishing simulation, Risk assessments, Compliance training. IBM QRadar covers AI-powered detection, User behavior analytics, Network insights, Offense management. Both handle Splunk, ISO 27001.