KnowBe4 vs Tenable Nessus: Complete Comparison (2026)
In comparing KnowBe4 and Tenable Nessus in 2026, KnowBe4 is the stronger choice for companies training employees to recognize and avoid phishing attacks due to best-in-class phishing simulations. Tenable Nessus excels for security teams running regular vulnerability assessments across all it assets with industry standard vulnerability scanner. KnowBe4 offers Phishing simulations, Security training, Compliance training starting at $18/user/yr. Tenable Nessus provides Vulnerability scanning, Compliance checks, Asset discovery from $2790/yr. For teams prioritizing value, KnowBe4 delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 71/100. KnowBe4 and Tenable Nessus compete in the cybersecurity segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading cybersecurity tools include Okta, 1Password, Cloudflare. KnowBe4 serves 65K+ orgs users globally (founded 2010) while Tenable Nessus reports 43K+ orgs active users (founded 2002).
KnowBe4 vs Tenable Nessus at a Glance
What are the main differences between KnowBe4 and Tenable Nessus?
KnowBe4 and Tenable Nessus differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. KnowBe4 leads in 5 of 7 categories.
What are the pros and cons of KnowBe4 vs Tenable Nessus?
Which is better, KnowBe4 or Tenable Nessus?
After evaluating KnowBe4 and Tenable Nessus across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, KnowBe4 earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 71/100 versus Tenable Nessus at 71/100. KnowBe4 stands out for "best-in-class phishing simulations" and "huge training content library". Tenable Nessus delivers competitive advantages in "industry standard vulnerability scanner", making Tenable Nessus a viable alternative.
Neither KnowBe4 nor Tenable Nessus offers a free plan. KnowBe4 starts at $18/user/yr and Tenable Nessus at $2790/yr.
Bottom line: Choose KnowBe4 for companies training employees to recognize and avoid phishing attacks. Choose Tenable Nessus for security teams running regular vulnerability assessments across all it assets. Both KnowBe4 and Tenable Nessus are established cybersecurity platforms.
Companies training employees to recognize and avoid phishing attacks.
Security teams running regular vulnerability assessments across all IT assets.
KnowBe4 vs Tenable Nessus: Frequently Asked Questions
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Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.
Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.