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Why Tartan

Tartan vs KnowBe4

A K-12-first alternative for districts that want fully automated phishing training, clear pricing, and measurable results without enterprise complexity.

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Free onboarding. Same-day support via email, phone, or Zoom.

Average savings

Tartan is often 44% lower cost than KnowBe4, even after state contract or co-op pricing, and other discounts.

Transparent pricing and no expensive onboarding fees.

Built for schools

Automated phishing simulations tailored to district services.
Adaptive difficulty and instant micro-training on every click.
A growing library of school-friendly training content for staff and students. New videos are added regularly based on customer requests.
Trusted by
Millington Community SchoolsMillington Community Schools
Rockport Public SchoolsRockport Public Schools
Evant Independent School DistrictEvant Independent School District

Why Tartan wins

Why K-12 teams choose Tartan

We built Tartan to solve the real challenges school districts face: tight budgets, limited IT resources, and the need for ongoing, effective training.

  • Benefit

    Fully automated, school-relevant simulations

    Campaigns run on autopilot and tailor phishing content to the services your district uses, plus real-world tactics like impersonation and quishing.

  • Benefit

    Adaptive difficulty and unique emails

    Every email is unique and difficulty adjusts based on each recipient's performance to keep training relevant.

  • Benefit

    Instant micro-training

    A click triggers a short training moment in under 30 seconds, reinforcing the lesson immediately.

  • Benefit

    Simple setup with real support

    Sync from Google Workspace OUs, groups, and departments or import via CSV. Free onboarding and same-day support keep you moving.

Comparison

Side-by-side comparison

A clear view of where Tartan fits K-12 needs compared with KnowBe4.

Category
Tartan
KnowBe4
K-12 Focus
Built exclusively for K-12 schools and districts
Broad, multi-industry platform
Pricing
Flat, transparent pricing
Varies by package and add-ons
Average Savings
Often 44% lower cost than KnowBe4, even after state contract or co-op pricing, and other discounts
N/A
Onboarding
Free 1:1 onboarding, implementation, and training
Varies by plan or partner
Technical Support
Same-day support via email, phone, or Zoom and dedicated customer success manager
Support options vary by plan
Phishing Simulations
Fully automated campaigns tailored to the services your school uses. The templates are generated via AI to be hyper relevant to your school and the recipient.
Configurable templates and programs that require setup
Adaptive Difficulty
Campaigns automatically adjust the difficulty based on the recipients previous performance.
Rules and segmentation-based; configuration required
Micro-Training
When a recipient clicks on a phishing simulation email they receive <30 second micro training that shows them how to avoid clicking in the future.
Remediation and training length varies by module
Training Content Fit
A growing library of school-friendly training content for staff and students. New videos are added regularly based on customer requests.
Large corporate-focused library with many longer modules
Student Training
Phishing simulations designed specifically for students, plus video training created for students with new content added regularly.
Varies by package and configuration
Delivery Methods
Domain whitelist, Google DMI, Microsoft ADP
Delivery options vary by environment
Campaign Cadence
Automatically send phishing simulation emails every 15, 30, 60, or 90 days without any manual intervention.
Flexible scheduling with admin setup
Recipient Sync
Google Workspace OUs, groups, departments, or CSV
Identity-provider sync and SCIM/ADI options
Reporting
See your overall phish risk score, click logs, sent-email log, scheduled email logs, export reports, view completion rates of video training by recipient and in aggregate, and receive weekly or monthly email summaries.
Large report library that often needs customization for K-12 views
Threat Manager / Reported Threats
Coming soon
Reported-threat triage workflows available
Phish Report Button
Coming soon
Reporting button available
Gamification & Leaderboards
Coming soon
Gamification and leaderboards available

Comparison details can vary based on plan and configuration. Contact us for a tailored assessment.

K-12 proof

Real outcomes from districts like yours

Measured result

SAU 45 reduced simulated phishing click rates by ~39% in 3 months with Tartan.

From SAU 45

"More of my happy clickers now ask if something is phishing. That shift is exactly what we needed."

Ready to see Tartan in action?

Get a personalized walkthrough and see how Tartan fits your district's security awareness goals.

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FAQs

Common questions

Can we switch from KnowBe4 mid-year?

Yes. Tartan can launch quickly and run alongside your calendar without disrupting staff.

How long does setup take?

Most schools and districts are live in minutes because campaigns are fully automated and onboarding is free.

Do you support students as well as staff?

Yes. Tartan includes student-appropriate simulations and training by default.

How is pricing structured?

Pricing is transparent and designed for school budgets, without expensive onboarding fees.