Overview

Brightside links simulated attacks with training and employee-action reporting. Rather than stopping at a course assignment, it can automatically provide relevant micro-learning after a failed simulation, making it a better fit for teams building an ongoing practice-and-follow-up program than for organizations seeking training content alone. Its coverage spans email, phone and hybrid attacks; video deepfake exercises are delivered as a managed service.

Key features

Simulations tailored to employees

Phishing, vishing, hybrid voice-and-email, and audio deepfake simulations let teams address more than inbox threats. Brightside’s AI matches attacks to employees’ roles and context and can generate spear-phishing scenarios, which helps teams move beyond generic templates. Vishing campaigns support live AI conversations, custom caller personas, multilingual voices and voice cloning. That breadth suits organizations concerned about phone-based impersonation, while the managed-service model for video deepfakes is less suited to teams that want to run every exercise themselves.

Training and reporting

The course library combines chat-based, gamified training with interactive content. Automatically assigning relevant micro-learning after a failed simulation ties lessons to employee actions; reporting also tracks opens, clicks, credential submissions and reports, with custom reporting available. Risk scoring and automated campaigns round out the program. These tools make Brightside relevant to teams looking to connect campaign outcomes with training follow-up, though the free plan does not include simulations.

Deployment and privacy

Pre-built Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integrations support deployment and automated user provisioning. Custom HR connectors are available on demand, and 36+ integrations are on the roadmap. Brightside Report Phishing lets employees report suspicious messages from Gmail; the add-on accesses an email only when the employee chooses to report it. Brightside describes its operations as GDPR-compliant and treats individual employee results as sensitive data. Organizations with other systems should account for the on-demand nature of custom HR connectors.

Pricing

Brightside uses a freemium model, with paid plans starting at €0.50/user/mo. Organizations can request a free trial; the contact page also invites them to ask about pricing, product details or a personalized demo.

Plan	Price	Includes
Start	0.00 EUR per free	Courses
Vishing (standalone)	1.00 EUR per month, from €1/ m. per seat	Voice-only and hybrid attack simulations, multilingual voices and custom voice cloning, scenario builder, AI-assisted scenario creation, analytics and CSV export
Basic	Custom pricing; from €0.5/ m. per seat	Courses and template simulations
Pro	Custom pricing; from €1.3/ m. per seat	Courses, template simulations, AI OSINT spear-phishing simulations and AI-powered vishing simulations

Start is a no-cost way to access courses, but it leaves out simulations—the central reason to choose the platform for attack practice. Basic adds template simulations and is the lower-cost paid tier for teams that do not need AI-generated spear-phishing or AI-powered vishing. Pro adds both, at a higher per-seat starting rate. The standalone Vishing plan is for teams focused on voice and hybrid exercises rather than the broader course-and-simulation bundle. No seat quota or trial duration is stated.

Platforms

Brightside runs on the web. Its Gmail reporting add-on is available for employees using Gmail, and the pre-built Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integrations support deployment and user provisioning.

Who it's for

Security teams and CISOs looking to train employees against targeted phishing and voice attacks are the clearest fit, particularly in finance, healthcare, hospitality and technology. Organizations that want role-aware exercises, measurable employee actions and training triggered by failed simulations can use Brightside to connect those parts of an awareness program. It is less suitable for buyers who need self-service video deepfake exercises or a free plan that includes simulations.

Pros and cons

Pros: Role- and context-matched scenarios and AI-generated spear-phishing extend beyond generic templates.
Pros: Vishing supports live conversations, multilingual voices, custom personas and voice cloning, alongside hybrid exercises.
Pros: Failed simulations can trigger relevant micro-learning, while reporting captures several employee actions.
Pros: Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integrations support deployment and automated provisioning.
Cons: The free Start plan includes courses only, so teams need a paid plan for simulations.
Cons: Video deepfake simulations are a managed service, not a self-serve exercise.
Cons: Custom HR connectors are available on demand, a consideration for organizations relying on other systems.

Alternatives

Cybersecurity Training Platforms is a broader category directory for comparing options. Consider ScamDrill if a small team wants a free email-drill allowance of one drill per month for one learner, with a progress dashboard and real-time alerts. Wizer is another freemium option, with a free plan for basic annual awareness training, user management, limited reporting and learner reminders. PhishSkill may suit teams seeking email and WhatsApp simulations; its Starter plan is free for 30 days and includes five campaigns per month, with later monthly per-user pricing.

Proofpoint Email DLP and Encryption is a paid alternative. Hoxhunt uses custom quotes based on employee count and required capabilities, so it may suit organizations evaluating a quote-based option. Boxphish offers a Lite plan at 5.00 GBP per year per user, including one admin, 12 phishing simulations, 12 training topics and AWS hosting. Breach Secure Now is a paid web-based alternative with a free trial. Infosec IQ is a paid alternative available on web, mobile and API platforms; its listed options include an Enterprise plan and an Infosec IQ + Skills plan, both with custom pricing.

Verdict

Choose Brightside AI if your security team wants to pair role-aware email and voice simulations with targeted training follow-up and employee-action reporting. Its strongest case is the connection between tailored attacks, measurable behavior and subsequent learning. Look elsewhere if simulations must be included at no cost or if video deepfake exercises need to be self-service.

	Brightside AI	Hoxhunt
Free plan	Yes
Free trial	Yes
Paid from	€1/mo
Platforms	Web	Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes
Phishing simulations	Yes	Yes
Awareness content	Yes
Automated campaigns	Yes
Risk scoring	Yes
Training formats	interactive
Phish reporting button		Yes
Automated training		Yes
SSO support		Yes

Brightside AI vs Hoxhunt

Brightside AI

Hoxhunt