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Cybersecurity · head to head

KnowBe4 vs Polco

KnowBe4 logo

KnowBe4

Cybersecurity

From
$1/month
Free plan
No
Visit KnowBe4Full review
Polco logo

Polco

Government

Civic Engagement and Polling Platform

From
$300/month
Free plan
No
Visit PolcoFull review

The short version

  • KnowBe4 starts at $1/mo, Polco at $300/mo.
  • Only KnowBe4 lists security awareness training; only Polco lists scientific Surveys.
  • Where KnowBe4 falls short: published prices assume a three year term, so the quoted per seat rate depends on a long commitment.
  • Where Polco falls short: interface has a formal, academic tone compared to modern civic engagement platforms.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KnowBe4 and Polco actually diverge.

Attributes where KnowBe4 and Polco differ
AttributeKnowBe4Polco
Starting price$1/month$300/month
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, EmailWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryCybersecurityGovernment
Founded20102015

Identical on both: pricing model (Subscription), free tier (No).

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 Polco

  • Scientific Surveys
  • Live Polling
  • Community Benchmarking
  • Priority-Based Budgeting
  • Demographic Analysis
  • NRC Surveys
  • ArcGIS
  • Social Media

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 Polco
  • Tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over timenot Polco

Polco

  • Citizen Servicesnot KnowBe4
  • Records Managementnot KnowBe4
  • Public Safetynot KnowBe4
  • Civic Engagementnot 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

Polco

  • Interface has a formal, academic tone compared to modern civic engagement platforms
  • Emphasizes surveys and benchmarking over open discussion forums and idea boards
  • Pricing is custom quote-based without transparent pricing on the website

Pricing, plan by plan

KnowBe4

$1/month
  • Basic$1/mo
    • Per user
    • Training modules
    • Phishing templates
  • Advanced$2/mo
    • All Basic features
    • Advanced phishing
    • Risk assessments
  • Pro$3/mo
    • All Advanced features
    • API access
    • Custom content

Polco

$300/month
  • Community Engagement$300/mo
    • Community Surveys
    • Live Polling
    • Benchmarking

Which should you pick?

Choose KnowBe4 if

  • You need security awareness training.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Email.
  • You also want phishing simulation.
KnowBe4 review

Choose Polco if

  • You need scientific surveys.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want live polling.
Polco review

Questions people ask

Is KnowBe4 or Polco better?
Neither clearly leads. KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and Polco at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KnowBe4 or Polco?
KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and Polco at $300/month.
Does KnowBe4 or Polco run on more platforms?
KnowBe4 runs on Web, iOS, Android, Email. Polco runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Polco is typically brought in for.
What can KnowBe4 do that Polco cannot?
KnowBe4 covers Security awareness training, Phishing simulation, Risk assessments, Compliance training. Polco covers Scientific Surveys, Live Polling, Community Benchmarking, Priority-Based Budgeting.

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
Polco: How does Polco ensure survey data quality?

Polco uses scientific survey methodology through the National Research Center, with pre-tested survey questions and verification that participants live in the surveyed area to eliminate outside interference and bad-faith responses.

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
Polco: What's the difference between Polco and open discussion platforms?

Polco emphasizes scientific surveys and benchmarking over open forums or suggestion boards, prioritizing rigorous data collection for policy decisions over broad community brainstorming.

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
KnowBe4: What currencies does KnowBe4 accept?

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

Source
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