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Cybersecurity · head to head

KnowBe4 vs OneTrust

KnowBe4 logo

KnowBe4

Cybersecurity

World's largest security awareness training platform

From
$1/month
Rated
-
OneTrust logo

OneTrust

Cybersecurity

Enterprise AI governance and data compliance platform.

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; OneTrust complex usage-based pricing model with multiple meters (admin users, inventory size, daily visitors, data subjects) making total cost unpredictable
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KnowBe4 and OneTrust actually diverge.

Attributes where KnowBe4 and OneTrust differ
AttributeKnowBe4OneTrust
Starting price$1/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, EmailWeb, API, Cloud
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (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 OneTrust

Nothing recorded that KnowBe4 does not also cover.

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 OneTrust
  • Tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over timenot OneTrust

OneTrust

  • Fortune 500 enterprises managing multi-framework compliance (GDPR, SOC 2, EU AI Act, DORA, NIS2)not KnowBe4
  • Organisations implementing responsible AI governance and monitoring AI systemsnot KnowBe4
  • Companies with global data operations requiring consent and privacy automation at scalenot KnowBe4
  • Enterprises managing complex vendor ecosystems with third-party risk assessmentnot KnowBe4
  • Regulated industries (finance, healthcare, insurance) requiring continuous compliancenot 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

OneTrust

  • Complex usage-based pricing model with multiple meters (admin users, inventory size, daily visitors, data subjects) making total cost unpredictable
  • No published pricing examples or per-unit costs; all pricing requires custom quotes
  • Each solution area uses different pricing metrics, requiring complex calculations for multi-solution purchases
  • Enterprise-only positioning (Fortune 500 focus) suggests premium pricing, discouraging mid-market or startup adoption
  • Platform complexity and multiple solution areas may result in significant implementation and ongoing costs not disclosed upfront

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

OneTrust

On request
  • AI Governance$undefined/variable
    • Pricing by admin users and AI inventory size
    • AI compliance lifecycle management
    • Control enforcement and monitoring
  • Consent & Preferences$undefined/variable
    • CMP Base: priced by average daily visitors
    • CMP Suite: expanded privacy experiences
    • Universal Consent: metered by data subject profiles
  • Privacy Automation$undefined/variable
    • Priced by users and privacy asset inventory
    • Internal operations automation
    • Data subject request handling
  • Tech Risk & Compliance$undefined/variable
    • Governance and risk management across 50+ standards
    • Priced by admin users and asset inventory

Which should you pick?

Choose KnowBe4 if

  • You need security awareness training.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Email.
  • You also want phishing simulation.

Choose OneTrust if

  • You work on Web, API, Cloud.

Questions people ask

Is KnowBe4 or OneTrust better?
Neither clearly leads. KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and OneTrust at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KnowBe4 or OneTrust?
KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and OneTrust at On request.
Does KnowBe4 or OneTrust run on more platforms?
KnowBe4 runs on Web, Mobile, Email. OneTrust runs on Web, API, Cloud.
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 OneTrust is typically brought in for.
What can KnowBe4 do that OneTrust cannot?
KnowBe4 covers Security awareness training, Phishing simulation, Risk assessments, Compliance training.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KnowBe4: What does KnowBe4 cost per employee?

KnowBe4 charges per seat per month on a subscription basis. For 51-100 employees, SAT Foundation costs $2.13/month per seat and SAT Advanced costs $3.40/month per seat. Prices decrease with larger employee counts.

Source
OneTrust: How many case studies does OneTrust have?

OneTrust showcases 74+ customer case studies across multiple industries and regions, with examples from banking, insurance, hospitality and technology.

Source
KnowBe4: Does KnowBe4 offer a free trial?

KnowBe4 does not offer a full free version, but free tools are available separately including assessments and simulators.

Source
OneTrust: What compliance standards does OneTrust support?

OneTrust covers tech risk and compliance across 50+ standards including GDPR, SOC 2, EU AI Act, DORA and NIS2.

Source
KnowBe4: Are there add-on costs beyond the base plan?

Yes, optional add-ons include Third-Party Integrations ($1.10-$1.20/seat/month), Compliance Plus ($0.82-$0.93/seat/month), PhishER Plus ($1.15-$1.50/seat/month), and Student Edition ($0.17/seat/month).

Source
OneTrust: Does OneTrust automate data detection?

Yes. OneTrust automatically detects and classifies sensitive data across 200+ connectors, identifying where data lives and what regulatory requirements apply.

Source
KnowBe4: What currencies does KnowBe4 accept?

KnowBe4 accepts pricing in USD, AUD, BRL, CAD, EUR, GBP, SGD, and ZAR.

Source
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