By Kaci, founder of NovaShield, Master's degree in Cybersecurity & Cloud from IPSSI. NovaShield is a registered provider on the Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr platform.
Reading time: 7 min · Published September 5, 2026 · Updated September 5, 2026
Transparency note: NovaShield is one of the alternatives compared in this article. We explicitly indicate cases where other solutions are better suited to your profile.
Key takeaways
- KnowBe4 is the global leader, but its French content remains limited (~2% of the catalogue) and its enterprise pricing puts it out of reach for most French SMEs
- The three main French alternatives are NovaShield (specialised simulation), Mailinblack (email filtering + simulation) and Mantra (real-time protection)
- For fast deployment with a controlled budget: NovaShield Freemium (free up to 50 users) or Mailinblack (if you also need an email filter)
- The key question is not "KnowBe4 or not" but "do I need a catalogue of 25,000 templates or 20 scenarios truly adapted to my context?"
Why compare KnowBe4 to French solutions?
KnowBe4 is the undisputed global leader in phishing simulation. 70,000 customer organisations, 25,000 templates, unanimous analyst recognition (Gartner Magic Quadrant 2025). On paper, it is the reference.
In practice, three friction points consistently appear in feedback from French SMEs evaluating KnowBe4:
The content is not truly French. Templates available in French are translations — not scenarios adapted to the French context. No fake Ameli, no fake URSSAF reminders, no bank transfer fraud designed around French habits. For training employees to recognise the real phishing attacks circulating in France, this is a genuine blind spot.
Pricing is calibrated for enterprise accounts. The public grid starts at around $1,140/year for 50 users at the Silver level — without integrated micro-learning, without AI, without the features that justify KnowBe4's reputation. And several sources document 20 to 40% increases at renewal. For an 80-person SME with a limited security budget, the cost-to-benefit ratio is debatable.
The Trustpilot rating from users is 1.8/5. Analysts love KnowBe4. The employees it is supposed to train overwhelmingly reject it. This paradox drives many French SMEs to look for an alternative that will be more accepted over time.
This is not to say KnowBe4 is a poor solution — for a large international company with a significant budget and a dedicated security team, it is often the right choice. But for a French SME with 50 to 300 employees, the alternatives below deserve serious evaluation.
The 3 main French alternatives to KnowBe4
NovaShield — specialised SME simulation
NovaShield is a French SaaS solution entirely dedicated to phishing simulation and security awareness for French SMEs of 50 to 500 employees.
What sets it apart from KnowBe4. Scenarios are built for the French context, not translated from English: fake Chronopost, fake Ameli, bank transfer fraud, fake URSSAF reminders, fake DGFiP letters. When an employee clicks, a 3-to-5-minute micro-learning module triggers automatically. Deployment takes 15 minutes with no vendor involvement required.
Pricing. Free Freemium up to 50 users, with no time limit. Pro plan from €79/month for 1 to 50 users, up to €599/month for 501 to 1,000 users. Monthly billing with no commitment.
Limitations. Smaller catalogue than KnowBe4. Less suited to organisations with more than 500 employees or multi-country deployments.
→ Detailed KnowBe4 vs NovaShield comparison · Create a free Freemium account
Mailinblack Cyber Coach — the all-in-one filtering + simulation
Mailinblack (Marseille) is the historical email filtering player in France with more than 20,000 customers. Its Cyber Coach solution adds phishing simulation to its email protection suite.
What sets it apart from KnowBe4. Hosting on OVHcloud in France, unified vendor relationship (filtering + training in a single contract), strong presence in the public sector and healthcare. Ideal if you don't yet have an email filter and want an all-in-one solution.
Pricing. Quote-based via a partner network.
Limitations. Cyber Coach is an add-on module to Protect, not a standalone product. If you already have an email filter, buying Protect to access Cyber Coach creates overlap.
→ NovaShield vs Mailinblack comparison
Mantra (Cyber Guru group) — real-time protection
Mantra was founded in Paris in 2020 and acquired by Cyber Guru (Italy) in March 2025. It offers a different approach: a browser extension that analyses emails in real time and displays an alert before the employee clicks on a suspicious link.
What sets it apart from KnowBe4. Intervention happens before the click, not after failure. This is a complementary approach to classic simulation rather than a direct replacement.
Pricing. Quote-based after a demonstration.
Limitations. Requires deploying an extension on every workstation. Hosting status to be verified since integration into the Cyber Guru group (Italy).
→ NovaShield vs Mantra comparison
Summary comparison table
| Criterion | KnowBe4 | NovaShield | Mailinblack | Mantra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | USA | France | France | France / Italy |
| Entry price | ~$1,140/year (50 users) | Free Freemium | Quote-based | Quote-based |
| French content | Translated (~2%) | Native | Native | Native |
| Hosting | AWS Ireland/Frankfurt | France (targeted) | France (OVHcloud) | To be verified |
| Deployment | Several weeks | 15 minutes | Via partner | Browser extension |
| Post-click micro-learning | Yes (Gold+) | Yes (automatic) | Yes | Pre-click alert |
| Primary target | Large enterprises | SMEs 50-500 + MSP | SMEs, local authorities | SMEs / mid-market |
How to choose?
You have fewer than 50 employees and want to test without a budget: NovaShield Freemium is the logical starting point — free, with no time limit, with real French-context scenarios.
You don't have an email filter: Mailinblack offers a complete filtering + simulation suite in a single contract, hosted in France.
You want a real-time protection layer in addition to simulation: Mantra complements a classic simulation programme with a pre-click alert.
You have more than 500 employees, a SOC, and a five-figure budget: KnowBe4 remains relevant at this level. Its catalogue of 25,000 templates and SIEM/SOAR integration justify the price for large organisations.
Further reading
This comparison covers the three main French alternatives. For a comprehensive overview of the 10 most relevant solutions on the French market in 2026 (including Cofense, Proofpoint, Hoxhunt, SoSafe, GoPhish and Barracuda), see our full ranking:
→ Top 10 phishing simulation solutions in France (2026)
Sources
- KnowBe4 official pricing pages (Silver/Gold/Platinum/Diamond grid).
- User reviews on G2, Gartner Peer Insights and Trustpilot (KnowBe4: 1.8/5 on Trustpilot).
- Mantra × Cyber Guru press release (March 2025).
- Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr for the list of registered providers.
- Data collected and verified in September 2026.
About the author
Kaci is the founder of NovaShield, with a Master's degree in Cybersecurity & Cloud from IPSSI. NovaShield is a registered provider on the Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr platform.