Software Alternatives & Startups

Knowbe4 VS Exercism

Compare Knowbe4 VS Exercism and see what are their differences

Knowbe4

KnowBe4 provides Security Awareness Training to help you manage the IT security problems of social engineering, spear-phishing & ransomware.

Knowbe4 Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Exercism

Download and solve practice problems in over 30 different languages.

Exercism Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Exercism seems to be a lot more popular than Knowbe4. While we know about 318 links to Exercism, we've tracked only 6 mentions of Knowbe4.

social mentions
6 vs 318
Corporate LMS And Training popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Knowbe4
Exercism
Website knowbe4.com exercism.org
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Knowbe4 7 features
Exercism 7 features
  • Comprehensive Security Awareness Training
    KnowBe4 offers extensive security awareness training programs that cover a wide range of topics. This helps organizations educate their employees effectively about potential cybersecurity threats.
  • Phishing Simulation
    KnowBe4 provides customizable phishing simulation campaigns that allow organizations to test their employees' susceptibility to phishing attacks and improve their awareness.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform has an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users with varying degrees of technical expertise.
  • Compliance Training
    KnowBe4 includes modules that help organizations meet compliance requirements for standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.
  • Regular Updates
    KnowBe4 frequently updates its training content and phishing templates to reflect the latest cybersecurity threats and trends.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The platform can be integrated with various LMS (Learning Management Systems) and security tools, making it versatile for different IT environments.
  • Detailed Reporting
    KnowBe4 offers robust reporting tools that provide detailed insights into user performance, allowing organizations to identify areas for improvement.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    KnowBe4 can be expensive, especially for smaller organizations or those with tight budgets. The pricing is typically based on the number of users, which can add up quickly.
  • Content Overload
    Some users may find the extensive library of training materials overwhelming. This can make it challenging to choose the most relevant content for their specific needs.
  • Customization Limitations
    While KnowBe4 offers a wide range of training modules, there may be some limitations in terms of customizing the content to tailor it to specific organizational requirements.
  • Dependence on User Engagement
    The effectiveness of the training largely depends on employee participation and engagement. If employees do not take the training seriously, its impact may be limited.
  • Learning Curve
    Some organizations may experience a learning curve when initially implementing the platform, especially if they are not familiar with security awareness training tools.
  • Email Filtering Issues
    In some cases, phishing simulation emails sent through KnowBe4 might get flagged by spam filters, which can affect the accuracy of simulation results.
  • Limited Offline Access
    KnowBe4's training modules generally require an internet connection, which can be a drawback for employees who need offline access.
  • Free Access
    Exercism provides free access to a wide range of coding exercises and learning resources, making it accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation.
  • Mentorship
    Offers personalized mentorship from experienced developers who can provide feedback and guidance on your code submissions.
  • Wide Variety of Languages
    Supports numerous programming languages, which allows users to learn and practice coding in multiple languages.
  • Structured Learning Tracks
    Organizes exercises into structured tracks, guiding learners through progressively challenging problems in a logical order.
  • Community Support
    Has an active community forum where users can discuss problems, share insights, and ask for help.
  • Open Source Contributions
    Encourages contributions to the platform itself, offering an opportunity for users to give back and improve the resources available to others.
  • Focus on Clean Code
    Emphasizes writing clean, well-documented code, which is beneficial for developing best practices.

Possible disadvantages

  • Variable Mentorship Quality
    The quality of mentorship can vary, as it depends on the availability and expertise of volunteer mentors.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a steep learning curve for beginners who may find some exercises too challenging without sufficient initial guidance.
  • Limited Interactivity
    Exercises are primarily text-based without interactive or visual learning aids, which might be less engaging for some users.
  • Dependence on Volunteers
    The platform relies heavily on volunteer mentors, which can lead to delays in getting feedback and may affect the consistency of support.
  • Interface Complexity
    Some users find the interface and workflow somewhat complex and unintuitive, particularly for those new to the platform.
  • No Real-Time Collaboration
    Lacks real-time collaboration features, meaning users cannot code together or get instant feedback.
  • Focus on Individual Learning
    The platform predominantly focuses on individual learning rather than collaborative projects, which can be a downside for those looking to develop team-working skills.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Knowbe4
Exercism

Overall verdict

  • Overall, KnowBe4 is considered highly effective for enhancing cybersecurity awareness and reducing risks related to human error. Its user-friendly interface and extensive resources make it a strong option for businesses looking to improve their security posture.

Why this product is good

  • KnowBe4 is a well-regarded platform in the cybersecurity industry, particularly known for its comprehensive security awareness training and simulated phishing platform. It helps organizations manage the ongoing problem of social engineering by educating their workforce on how to recognize and avoid various cyber threats. The platform offers a wide range of training content, customization options, and analytics to monitor progress and effectiveness.

Recommended for

    KnowBe4 is recommended for organizations of all sizes that are looking to bolster their staff's cybersecurity awareness and resilience against social engineering attacks. It is particularly valuable for businesses operating in sectors with high compliance and regulatory requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Exercism is considered good for learning and improving programming skills.

Why this product is good

  • Exercism offers free access to a wide variety of exercises in over 50 different programming languages, catering to both beginners and experienced programmers.
  • The platform provides a unique mentorship model where volunteers review submitted solutions, offering personalized feedback and guidance.
  • The exercises are well-structured, facilitating both practice and mastery of language-specific concepts and problem-solving skills.
  • Exercism encourages learning through doing, promoting an active learning environment which can be more effective compared to passive learning styles.
  • The platform allows for self-paced learning, enabling users to progress at their own speed and revisit topics as needed.

Recommended for

  • Beginner programmers seeking practical coding exercises to reinforce their learning.
  • Intermediate and advanced developers looking to hone their skills or learn new programming languages.
  • Individuals who appreciate personalized feedback and mentorship to improve their coding practices.
  • Students and educators searching for supplementary resources to support coursework or syllabus requirements.
  • Professionals aiming to practice coding interview problems and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Knowbe4 3 videos + Add
Exercism 3 videos + Add

KnowBe4 Review

More videos

  • Demo - KnowBe4 Demonstration - Email phishing simulator & cyber security awareness
  • Review - KnowBe4 - Cybersecurity Training Portal - An Independent Review

Learn with Exercism.io

More videos

  • Review - JavaScript Exercise | Learn JavaScript with Exercism | #0 Setup
  • Review - exercism.io 01 hello-world

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Knowbe4
Exercism
100% 100%
0% 0%
13% 13%
87% 87%
34% 34%
66% 66%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Knowbe4 and Exercism. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Knowbe4 no reviews yet
Exercism no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Knowbe4 yet. Be the first one to post

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Knowbe4 6 mentions
Exercism 318 mentions
  • How do I tell my security team to tone it down with the phishing e-mails?
    If knowbe4.com is in header. Move to Phishing test folder. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Knowbe4 Salesman just deleted my account
    Our security team uses them. It always strikes me as bad form when we are told "don't open e-mail from people you don't know" and "don't click on links in e-mails" and then we get e-mail from "knowbe4.com" that says "You've been... Source: about 4 years ago
  • Does anyone know of any cybersecurity training products? For example, companies that test to see if employees are susceptible to phishing emails or any other products that are designed to test your employees cybersecurity knowledge and weaknesses?
    We use KnowBe4 with our clients for phishing and training. Source: about 5 years ago

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  • AI made me lazy. I didn’t notice until it was too late.
    Exercism.org structured deliberate practice, no AI required. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Free Python Resources
    Providing free coding exercises and mentorship, Exercism helps developers practice and improve their programming skills step by step. Their Python Track offers a series of exercises that guide learners from beginner to more advanced levels. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Collaboration Circles for Developers (2026)
    Exercism is a code practice + mentoring platform in 74 languages. Why it can work: although it is not exclusively focused on groups of five, its mentoring and peer review model allows forming mini-circles where participants give each... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago

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Alternatives to Knowbe4 and Exercism

When comparing Knowbe4 and Exercism, you can also consider the following products.