Budget is always tight. It's tempting to patch together a program using YouTube videos and open-source phishing tools. But is "free" actually cheaper in the long run?
The Hidden Cost of FREE
Free tools often cost more in man-hours than the price of a license. If you spend 10 hours a month managing a spreadsheet, you are paying for that tool with your salary.
Free Tools
- Zero upfront cost
- Static, outdated templates
- Manual tracking (Spreadsheets)
- No compliance logs for auditors
Paid Platform (PhishFirewall)
- Predictable annual license
- Fresh content updated daily
- Automated tracking & reporting
- Full audit trails & certification
The Verdict
When to pay?
If you have fewer than 5 employees, free tools are often sufficient. If you have 50+ employees, the risk exposure and administrative overhead make free tools a liability, not an asset.
