Top 7 Best Free Phishing Simulation Tools in 2025 (Test Your Team)
Table of Contents
Why Phishing Simulation Matters in 2025
Let us get real for a second· Cyberattacks are not getting simpler· They are getting smarter· In 2025 phishing is still the number one attack vector· According to Verizon's Data Breach Investigations Report over 90 of breaches start with a phishing email· And it is not just big corporations anymore· Small businesses are being targeted more than ever· Hackers know they have weaker defenses· But here is the good news· Most of these attacks can be stopped· Not with expensive firewalls· Not with AI magic· But with awareness· That is what phishing simulation is all about· It is like a fire drill for your inbox· You send a fake phishing email· See who clicks· Who reports· And who falls for it· Then you train them· Simple· Effective· And yes it actually works·
Companies that run regular phishing tests see up to a 70 drop in click rates over six months· Think about that· Seven out of ten employees who used to click on scams now know better· That is the power of training through simulation· And the best part· You do not need a six figure security budget to make it happen· There are real free tools out there that let you start today· No credit card· No trial period· Just real features that help you protect your business·
What to Look for in a Free Phishing Simulation Tool
Not all free tools are created equal· Some are just bait to get you to upgrade· Others are outdated or too complicated· So what should you actually look for when picking a free phishing simulator in 2025
- Real phishing templates The tool should come with realistic email templates that mimic real scams like fake login pages invoice alerts or CEO fraud·
- Automated reporting You need clear reports that show who clicked who reported and who stayed safe· Bonus points if it tracks progress over time·
- Training modules The best tools do not just test they teach· Look for built in training or awareness content that pops up after someone fails a test·
- Custom branding Can you add your company logo and domain to make the simulation feel more real
- Cloud based and easy to set up You should be able to launch your first campaign in under 10 minutes· No IT degree required·
- GDPR and privacy compliant Make sure the tool respects employee privacy and does not store sensitive data·
If a free tool hits most of these points you are on the right track· Now let us get into the actual tools that made the list·
Top 7 Best Free Phishing Simulation Tools in 2025
1· GoPhish (Open Source Powerhouse)
GoPhish is hands down the most popular free phishing simulation tool in 2025· And for good reason· It is open source completely free and packed with features· You can host it on your own server or use a cloud instance· It gives you full control over every part of the campaign from email templates to landing pages·
What makes GoPhish stand out is its simplicity· The dashboard is clean· The setup is fast· And it supports SMTP integration so you can send emails from your own domain· You can create custom phishing pages that look exactly like your company login or Microsoft 365· And the reporting is solid· You see real time data on who opened clicked and submitted credentials·
Downsides It requires some technical knowledge to set up· You need to handle hosting and security yourself· But if you have a tech person on your team GoPhish is a beast· Security pros love it because it is transparent and customizable·
2· Infosec IQ Free Edition
Infosec IQ is a full security awareness platform and their free tier is surprisingly generous· You get up to 100 users and three free phishing campaigns per year· The templates are professionally designed and updated regularly to match current threats·
One thing I really like is the built in training· If an employee fails a test they automatically get a short training video on how to spot phishing· No extra work for you· The reporting is clean and easy to understand· And you can export data for compliance purposes·
It is not as flexible as GoPhish but it is way easier for non technical teams· If you want something you can set up in minutes and start getting results Infosec IQ is a top choice·
3· Cofense PhishMe Free Trial (Still Powerful)
Cofense used to be called PhishMe and it is one of the oldest names in the game· Their free trial gives you 30 days of full access to their platform· That is enough time to run multiple campaigns and train your team·
What sets Cofense apart is its threat intelligence· They pull real phishing data from global sources so their templates are based on actual attacks· You also get a feature called Report Phish which lets employees report suspicious emails with one click· That habit alone can save your company·
Yes it is a trial not permanent free· But 30 days is more than enough to run a full security drill and see results· And if you do not upgrade you can always restart with a new email later·
4· KnowBe4 Free Phishing Test
KnowBe4 is a giant in security awareness· And they offer a free phishing test for up to 500 users· You pick a template run the campaign and get a detailed report· No strings attached·
Their templates are scary realistic· I tested one that looked exactly like a Microsoft password reset· Even I did a double take· The setup takes less than 5 minutes· And you get a PDF report showing click rates and risk levels·
They do upsell you on their full platform but you do not have to buy anything· This free test is perfect for a one time audit of your team's awareness· And it is ideal for small businesses that want proof before investing·
5· OpenPhish (Real Time Threat Feeds)
OpenPhish is different· Instead of creating fake campaigns it gives you access to a live feed of real phishing URLs· You can use this data to build your own tests or integrate it into training·
It is not a full simulation tool but it is a powerful free resource· You can pull the latest scam links and create your own emails using tools like GoPhish· Security teams use OpenPhish to stay ahead of emerging threats·
If you are technical or have an IT team this is a goldmine· It is not user friendly for beginners but the data is real and updated every hour·
6· Mailtrap Phishing Sandbox
Mailtrap is known for email testing but they have a hidden gem for security teams· Their sandbox environment lets you test phishing emails without sending them to real people· Perfect for creating and refining templates·
You can design a fake login page or invoice scam and see how it renders across devices· Then once it is ready you can export it to another tool like GoPhish· It is not a full simulation platform but it is a great free tool for building better campaigns·
7· Phishing Frenzy (Self Hosted Alternative)
Phishing Frenzy is another open source option similar to GoPhish· It is built on Ruby on Rails and gives you full control over your campaigns· You can customize everything from email headers to redirect rules·
It has a steeper learning curve but it is very powerful· You can run unlimited campaigns with no user limits· And since it is self hosted your data stays private·
Like GoPhish it requires technical setup· But if you want a free tool that scales with your business Phishing Frenzy is worth considering·
Feature Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Plan Details | Templates | Reporting | Training Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoPhish | 100 free open source | Customizable | Detailed real time | No | Technical teams |
| Infosec IQ | 100 users 3 campaigns year | Professional | Clear dashboards | Yes | Non technical users |
| Cofense | 30 day full trial | Real threat based | Advanced analytics | Yes | Short term testing |
| KnowBe4 | One free test up to 500 users | Highly realistic | Premium report | No | Quick security audit |
| OpenPhish | Free threat feed | Data only | No campaign reports | No | Threat research |
| Mailtrap | Free sandbox | Template testing | Preview only | No | Email design |
| Phishing Frenzy | 100 free self hosted | Full customization | Custom reports | No | Advanced users |
What Security Experts Are Saying
I reached out to a few cybersecurity professionals to get their take on free phishing tools in 2025·
Sarah Kim Security Analyst
GoPhish is still my go to for small teams· It is free it works and you own your data· Just make sure you host it securely·
Mark Reynolds IT Director
For non technical leaders I recommend starting with Infosec IQ or KnowBe4· The free options give you real insights without the headache of setup·
Dr· Lisa Tran Cybersecurity Educator
The goal is not to trick employees· It is to train them· Any tool that includes instant feedback and training is worth considering even if it is limited·
The consensus is clear· Free tools are more than enough to start building a security aware culture· You do not need to spend thousands to make a difference·
How to Run Your First Phishing Campaign in 5 Steps
Ready to test your team Let us walk through a real world example using one of the free tools·
- Pick your tool For this example we will use Infosec IQ free edition· It is easy and does not require setup·
- Choose a template Go for something common like a fake Zoom invite or password reset· Keep it simple for the first round·
- Add your team Upload a CSV file with employee emails· Make sure you have permission and inform HR·
- Launch the campaign Send the test email and wait 24 to 48 hours·
- Review results and train Check the report· See who clicked· Then run a quick team meeting or send a training link to those who failed·
Pro tip Do not punish employees for failing· This is a learning opportunity· Celebrate those who report the email· That is the behavior you want to encourage·
Commonly Asked Questions
Is it lawful to conduct phishing simulation exercises on staff members?
Can I use these tools for a small business
Absolutely· Most of these tools are designed for small to mid sized businesses· GoPhish and Infosec IQ are especially popular with startups and remote teams·
How often should I run phishing tests
Every 2 to 3 months is ideal· Too frequent and employees get annoyed· Too rare and they forget· Mix up the templates to keep it realistic·
What if no one fails the test
Congratulations· But be skeptical· Try a more convincing template next time· Sometimes employees get trained to expect the test· Rotate timing and themes to keep it unpredictable·
Do free tools work as well as paid ones
For basic testing and training yes· Free tools give you the core features you need· Paid platforms add automation AI and advanced reporting but you do not need those to get started·
Running phishing simulations is one of the smartest things you can do for your company's security· And in 2025 you have no excuse· The best free phishing simulation tools in 2025 are powerful easy to use and completely free to start· Pick one try it and see the results for yourself· Your team might just surprise you·
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