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Cybersecurity · head to head

KnowBe4 vs Terraform

KnowBe4 logo

KnowBe4

Cybersecurity

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

Terraform

Developer Tools

Automate infrastructure on any cloud

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit TerraformFull review

The short version

  • Terraform is an infrastructure as code tool.
  • Terraform has a free plan, then $0.1/mo; KnowBe4 starts at $1/mo.
  • Only KnowBe4 lists security awareness training; only Terraform lists infrastructure as code.
  • Where KnowBe4 falls short: published prices assume a three year term, so the quoted per seat rate depends on a long commitment.
  • Where Terraform falls short: HCL syntax requires learning a domain-specific language with limited GUI alternatives.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KnowBe4 and Terraform actually diverge.

Attributes where KnowBe4 and Terraform differ
AttributeKnowBe4Terraform
Starting price$1/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, EmailLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools
Founded20102012

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Terraform.

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 Terraform

  • Infrastructure as code
  • Resource graph
  • Plan & apply
  • State management
  • Provider ecosystem
  • Modules
  • Workspaces
  • Remote backends

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 Terraform
  • Tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over timenot Terraform

Terraform

  • Multi-cloud provisioningnot KnowBe4
  • Infrastructure automationnot KnowBe4
  • Environment replicationnot KnowBe4
  • Disaster recoverynot KnowBe4
  • Compliance automationnot 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

Terraform

  • HCL syntax requires learning a domain-specific language with limited GUI alternatives
  • State file management is complex, especially at scale with multiple workspaces
  • terraform import workflow is fiddly and must be done one resource at a time
  • No native error handling or try-catch capabilities like traditional programming languages
  • No automatic rollback capability - must manually delete and re-run if needed

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

Terraform

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Terraform review.

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 Terraform if

  • You need infrastructure as code.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want resource graph.
Terraform review

Questions people ask

Is KnowBe4 or Terraform better?
Neither clearly leads. KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and Terraform at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KnowBe4 or Terraform?
Terraform has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1/month for KnowBe4 and Free for Terraform.
Does KnowBe4 or Terraform run on more platforms?
KnowBe4 runs on Web, iOS, Android, Email. Terraform runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Terraform for free?
Yes. Terraform has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. KnowBe4 starts at $1/month.
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 Terraform is typically brought in for.
What can KnowBe4 do that Terraform cannot?
KnowBe4 covers Security awareness training, Phishing simulation, Risk assessments, Compliance training. Terraform covers Infrastructure as code, Resource graph, Plan & apply, State management.

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
Terraform: Is there a free tier?

Yes. The free tier supports up to 500 managed resources and 1 concurrent run. The legacy free tier ends March 31, 2026; remaining organizations auto-convert to the enhanced free tier.

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
Terraform: What clouds does Terraform support?

Terraform supports AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud, Docker, and HashiCorp's own HCP Terraform managed service, with over 2000 providers available.

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
Terraform: Do I need HCP Terraform Cloud or can I run locally?

Terraform runs locally by default, storing state on your machine. For team collaboration and production use, remote backends like S3, Azure Storage, or HCP Terraform are recommended for locking and security.

Source
KnowBe4: What currencies does KnowBe4 accept?

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

Source
Terraform: Is HCL hard to learn?

HCL is designed to be human-readable and sits between JSON and YAML. It supports comments, variables, functions, and conditional logic. While beginners can get started quickly, mastering advanced features takes practice.

Source
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