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Cybersecurity · head to head

KnowBe4 vs Vim

KnowBe4 logo

KnowBe4

Cybersecurity

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

Vim

Developer Tools

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit VimFull review

The short version

  • Vim is a highly configurable text editor.
  • Vim is free; KnowBe4 starts at $1/mo.
  • Only KnowBe4 lists security awareness training; only Vim lists modal editing.
  • Where KnowBe4 falls short: published prices assume a three year term, so the quoted per seat rate depends on a long commitment.
  • Where Vim falls short: configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KnowBe4 and Vim actually diverge.

Attributes where KnowBe4 and Vim differ
AttributeKnowBe4Vim
Starting price$1/monthFree
Pricing modelSubscriptionFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, EmailLinux, macOS, Windows
CategoryCybersecurityDeveloper Tools
Founded20101988

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 Vim

  • Modal editing
  • Extensive customization
  • Plugin support
  • Macro recording
  • Split windows
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Search and replace
  • Command history

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 Vim
  • Tracking employee susceptibility to phishing over timenot Vim

Vim

  • Code editingnot KnowBe4
  • Configuration filesnot KnowBe4
  • System administrationnot KnowBe4
  • Remote editingnot KnowBe4
  • Terminal-based developmentnot 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

Vim

  • Configuration system uses keyboard mappings with no graphical interface for settings
  • Requires browsing documentation to modify even basic settings
  • Lacks sensible defaults for many common configurations
  • Plugin ecosystem stability varies widely depending on custom configuration complexity

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

Vim

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Powerful text editing
    • Extensive customization
    • Plugin ecosystem

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 Vim if

  • You need modal editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want extensive customization.
Vim review

Questions people ask

Is KnowBe4 or Vim better?
Neither clearly leads. KnowBe4 starts at $1/month and Vim at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KnowBe4 or Vim?
Vim has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1/month for KnowBe4 and Free for Vim.
Does KnowBe4 or Vim run on more platforms?
KnowBe4 runs on Web, iOS, Android, Email. Vim runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Vim for free?
Yes. Vim 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 Vim is typically brought in for.
What can KnowBe4 do that Vim cannot?
KnowBe4 covers Security awareness training, Phishing simulation, Risk assessments, Compliance training. Vim covers Modal editing, Extensive customization, Plugin support, Macro recording.

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
Vim: Is Vim free and open source?

Yes, Vim is free and open source, distributed under a charityware license. The creator requested donations to ICCF Holland, a non-profit supporting AIDS victims in Uganda. All donations are forwarded to ICCF.

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
Vim: What platforms does Vim support?

Vim runs on Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS, BSD), Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), VMS, and is available through package managers or standalone installation on all major operating systems.

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
Vim: Who maintains Vim now?

Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, who passed away on August 3, 2023. Christian Brabandt is the current lead maintainer, and the project continues with volunteer contributors.

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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