ZenMate VPN review
Our Verdict
ZenMate offers a low-cost three-year subscription, no limits on connections, and a reliable workaround for region controls on Netflix and Disney+. On the other hand, it tin can't unblock Prime Video or BBC iPlayer, and its stated no-logs policy hasn't been verified in an independent audit.
For
- Extremely affordable
- Solid connection speeds in the United states of america
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Against
- Won't unblock iPlayer or Prime Video
- Uneven support
- Short on features
Tom's Guide Verdict
ZenMate offers a low-cost three-year subscription, no limits on connections, and a reliable workaround for region controls on Netflix and Disney+. On the other hand, it tin can't unblock Prime number Video or BBC iPlayer, and its stated no-logs policy hasn't been verified in an contained audit.
Pros
- +
Extremely affordable
- +
Solid connexion speeds in the US
- +
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons
- -
Won't unblock iPlayer or Prime Video
- -
Uneven support
- -
Brusk on features
While some VPNs target users with more than technical experience, ZenMate is designed for novice users who just desire an piece of cake way to keep their internet activity safe. The website itself talks more well-nigh the general benefits of VPNs rather than the specific advantages of ZenMate, and the client itself is straightforward, if limited.
Overall, ZenMate is a simple service that boasts a salubrious 3,800 servers in 78 countries, which, on newspaper, is up there with the best. Still, while information technology's a solid VPN, it falls short in a few key areas, such every bit support, security, and connection times. In our review, we have a closer look at ZenMate's features, performance, and overall value to run across how it stacks upwards to the best VPN services currently bachelor.
- Click to head straight through to the ZenMate website
ZenMate 1-minute review
Starting at $10.99 a month, ZenMate's brusque-term plans aren't all that cheap. All the same, sign up for longer and yous'll save a lot – one yr is just $four.49 a month, and 3 years weighs in at a stone-bottom $1.64. Y'all tin can also get a seven-day trial, and you'll become a 30-24-hour interval coin-dorsum guarantee, plus there's no limit on how many devices you tin can use your plan on.
While ZenMate'due south privacy policy is long, information technology'south fairly light on actual detail, merely a large selling point of the service is its status equally a no-log VPN. While we take no reason to distrust that, nosotros'd like a more concise document backing it upwards and, ideally, an independent audit to prove the claims.
Speeds in the UK were distinctly average, topping out at around 120Mbps, only in the US ZenMate hit the 200Mbps mark. That's impressive, if not class-leading, and should be more than fast enough for nearly users.
Nevertheless, streaming operation is a niggling disappointing – Netflix and YouTube are accessible, but other services similar BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video are blocked. Torrenting performance is proficient, though, with most of the iii,800+ servers being uniform with P2P.
ZenMate'due south apps are based on CyberGhost seven, so you may notice some similarities if you've used information technology before. However, information technology does lack a couple of CyberGhost's bells and whistles, and if we're honest, it'south a pretty basic experience. We do similar beingness able to sort the servers with different filters, however.
The mobile apps are much the same, but only support OpenVPN (not IKEv2 or WireGuard), and while they're functional, there'south non a lot going hither that will interest the more adventurous VPN user.
You lot'll just get e-mail support – no alive chat – alongside a noesis base of articles. While the email support promises a reply within 48 hours, nosotros heard back in less than one, which is pretty good going. The knowledge base isn't quite upwardly to scratch, though, and explanations are sparse and in that location are a lot of broken links. And, equally always, nosotros'd really similar to see a alive conversation selection.
Overall, while it's not hugely in-depth, ZenMate is a cheap selection that's stable and reliable, but for almost there are ameliorate options for not a lot more than cash.
- Sign up now on the ZenMate website
ZenMate on paper
Number of servers: 3,800+
Number of countries: 78
Platforms supported: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, Chrome, Firefox, Border
Simultaneous connections: Unlimited
Divide tunneling: No
Kill switch: Yes
Supported protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP
Country of registration: Germany
Support: Manufactures, email
ZenMate price: how much is it and is at that place a ZenMate costless trial?
ZenMate offers individual months for $10.99 each, roughly in line with the boilerplate toll of a premium VPN. Yous can become a total year for just $53.88, which works out to $4.49 per month, 59% off the monthly fee.
At just $59, a 3-year subscription to ZenMate costs merely $i.64 per calendar month (assuming that you use it for all 36 months). In other words, ZenMate isn't a peculiarly cheap VPN if you stay on a monthly plan, but it'south extremely affordable if you're prepare to commit to three total years.
Alternatively, you lot tin can admission only the browser extensions for $5.99 per month. That drops to $3.19 per month for six months and $1.99 per month for a full twelvemonth, so it makes sense to pay for a longer subscription if y'all remember that you'll employ it. ZenMate also offers a seven-day VPN free trial of the premium plan, and you can get your money back for 30 days after starting a new subscription.
- More: Need something for your employees ? See today's best business organisation VPN
How private is ZenMate and does information technology keep logs?
ZenMate's no-logs policy is a major selling bespeak on its website, but it doesn't offer much clarity on this betoken compared to some other VPNs that nosotros've reviewed.
The privacy policy is incredibly long at more than 4,000 words, but it doesn't provide very informative answers to fundamental questions almost their security practices. For example, information technology doesn't mention anything most how ZenMate handles requests from police enforcement or what its no-logs policy ways in practice.
These are particularly concerning omissions, given that ZenMate hasn't been through an audit – and information technology's worth noting that popular rivals ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and VyprVPN are just a few of the top providers that have had their privacy policies verified by independent security experts. Forth with a articulate argument of ZenMate's logging practices, an external audit would go a long way toward building its credibility.
How fast is ZenMate?
To get an thought of ZenMate's performance, we tested its speeds on both TestMy.internet and SpeedTest from both the UK and the United states. Unfortunately, information technology didn't go along upward very well on the U.k. connection, reaching only 75Mbps during the initial exam and around 115-120Mbps during a 2nd session. That'southward fast enough for almost users, but less than one-half of the 300+Mbps we saw from NordVPN.
ZenMate had more than success on an American connectedness, consistently reaching more than 200Mbps. Again, that'southward non quite class-leading speed compared to some of the fast VPN services that we've tested in the past, but it'south notwithstanding pretty impressive, and more than than enough bandwidth to stream video, download torrents, and more without noticing any slowdowns.
How good is ZenMate for streaming and torrenting?
Getting effectually region controls on streaming services used to exist relatively straightforward, simply platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ have taken a harder line on VPN users in the by few years. With restrictions getting more and more difficult to circumvent, at that place are only a few VPNs left that can reliably unblock the most popular services.
While ZenMate didn't have any trouble with Netflix or YouTube, information technology wasn't able to admission region-locked content on iPlayer or Prime Video. Netflix puts a slap-up deal of effort into blocking Netflix VPN access, so it'southward hard to say whether ZenMate will continue supporting that, but it performed well enough for us across two rounds of testing. Make certain to take a expect at our list of streaming VPN services if you're looking for a provider that tin can unblock Prime Video, iPlayer, or other streaming services.
In terms of P2P traffic, most of ZenMate's servers are optimized for torrenting, and with the good pick on offer, information technology's nifty. Still, you won't have many additional P2P-focused features across server selection.
How proficient are ZenMate's desktop apps?
ZenMate is largely built on CyberGhost seven, so users who have experience with that platform volition know what to expect when they open ZenMate. Information technology's missing the tracker and ad blocking, and CyberGhost'southward branding has been replaced by ZenMate'south, only the features and interface are by and large like.
After starting the Windows client, you lot'll be given a default server location based on your connexion, and you can run the VPN at any time by clicking the conspicuous Connect button. The location list is easy to navigate, with the option to sort by server load or distance, look for servers that support streaming or torrenting, and salve your favorite servers for easy access afterwards.
Unfortunately, it took ZenMate as long as 12 seconds to start a connection, regardless of whether nosotros were using IKEv2 or OpenVPN. We've seen VPNs open connections inside six seconds on OpenVPN and only ii seconds on IKEv2, so ZenMate'southward connection times aren't particularly impressive in the current VPN landscape.
The lack of a articulate kill switch notification is a strange pattern conclusion. While almost VPNs let you know when they cut off the connection to protect your traffic, ZenMate merely switches your connection off without explaining why. While the impale switch performed consistently during our testing, it would be prissy to get an alert if ZenMate is having problem connecting.
How good are ZenMate'southward mobile apps?
ZenMate'south mobile apps are similar to the desktop clients, with a relatively basic design that's missing a few of the more avant-garde features. With a clear on/off switch, a convenient location list with a born favorites system, and a simple menu for adjusting other settings, information technology has everything you demand from a mobile VPN.
That said, more experienced users will chop-chop identify omissions. The mobile apps only support OpenVPN, and there are only two configuration options: you tin can employ TCP instead of UDP or connect with a random port, but that's information technology.
Neither app receives frequent updates, and so nosotros don't expect this to change much in the nearly hereafter. Check out our investigations into the best iPhone VPN and Android VPN if you lot're looking for something portable with a deeper toolkit.
What client support does ZenMate offer?
The ZenMate knowledge base looks like a typical support center at get-go glance, only information technology's surprisingly curt on substance. The "Getting Started" section, for example, offers little more than "download the app and log in." Similarly, many of the links to other support articles simply lead to error messages, making it unnecessarily difficult to find what y'all're looking for.
ZenMate also offers i-on-one aid via email, but at that place'southward no phone or live chat support. While nosotros received a response in less than an hour, the ZenMate website states that you may exist left waiting for up to 48 hours.
This is a significant disadvantage compared to the long list of VPNs that offer immediate support over the phone and/or live chat – but the 48-60 minutes figure may well be ZenMate covering its dorsum, and in the grand scheme, a sub-60 minutes response to an email ticket isn't likewise bad.
ZenMate: Final verdict
ZenMate's uneven performance, poor client back up, and overall lack of features brand it impossible to recommend over ExpressVPN and other top providers. On the other mitt, the 3-year ZenMate subscription is tough to beat out in terms of value if you lot're looking for an affordable way to secure your traffic or unblock Netflix.
All things considered, it's a decent budget option that'south ideal for users who just want a bones VPN at an affordable toll.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/zenmate-vpn-review
Posted by: charlandabligaverins.blogspot.com
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