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ZenMate Review

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ZenMate VPN app for Apple MacOS
Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more.

Fact-checked by Callum TennentAdditional Testing by Alyx Morley

Our Verdict

7.587.6/10
How is this calculated?

Our overall rating is reached by combining several subcategories. The subcategories are weighted as follows:

  • Logging & Jurisdiction: 30%
  • Speed & Reliability: 25%
  • Security & Extra Features: 20%
  • Streaming: 10%
  • Torrenting: 5%
  • Ease of Use: 5%
  • Support: 5%

See our full methodology in how we review VPNs.

ZenMate is a simple, low-cost VPN aimed at beginners. It has good security settings, streams US Netflix and allows P2P file-sharing. However, the VPN's mediocre speeds, vague privacy policy, and inadequate customer support are disappointing. In short, ZenMate is an acceptable beginner's VPN for streaming, torrenting, and protecting data transfers on free public WiFi.

Ranked #23 out of 55 VPNs

ZenMate Category Ratings

  • 8.18.1/10
  • 6.86.8/10
  • 8.78.7/10
  • 7.77.7/10
  • 9.19.1/10
  • 44.0/10
  • 5.55.5/10
  • 9.59.5/10
  • 6.46.4/10
  • 77.0/10

ZenMate Pros & Cons

  • Good levels of security and privacy
  • Very affordable subscription plans
  • Streams US Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video
  • No WebRTC, IP and DNS address leaks
  • Free proxy browser extension and 7-day free trial
  • 4,800 servers in 81 countries

  • Vague privacy policy
  • Slow speeds across the board
  • Unreliable streaming servers
  • No Firestick app and no Smart DNS
  • Few advanced customization options
  • Mac and iOS apps use IKEv2 protocol only

Why Trust Our Review?

We’ve spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing 55 VPN services using our impartial review process to recommend you the best VPN software.

Here are some of our key VPN testing statistics:

Total Hours of Testing30,000+
Weekly Speed Tests3,000+
VPN Services Reviewed55
Streaming Platforms Tested Daily12
IP & DNS Leak Tests Performed9,500+
How Much We've Spent On Testing$25,000+

MARCH 2023 UPDATE: ZenMate has announced it will be merging with CyberGhost VPN, a VPN service owned by Kape Technologies.

If you are already a ZenMate user, we recommend downloading the CyberGhost app as soon as possible with your existing ZenMate account credentials. You can no longer purchase a ZenMate subscription or access the VPN service.

ZenMate is a cheap VPN service that offers three products: a free VPN browser extension, a paid add-on (Pro), and full VPN software for all devices (Ultimate).

All three products are safe to use, and the VPN software provides a good level of security and privacy. However, ZenMate doesn’t provide anything exceptional for its users.

For this ZenMate review, we tested all the VPN’s applications and extensions for speed, security, privacy, streaming and torrenting capabilities.

In our tests, we verified the VPN uses high-standard AES-256 encryption, and doesn’t leak IP and DNS credentials. The VPN won’t record your internet activity, but its privacy policy is vague.

Despite having a large server network, ZenMate’s average speeds were mediocre and particularly poor connecting to far-away servers.

The VPN’s streaming-optimized servers were hit-and-miss, and didn’t always unblocked streaming websites. Having said that, our recent streaming tests show ZenMate works with US Netflix.

While its competitive price tag will appeal to some users, ZenMate needs to improve its software before it can compete with the very best VPN services.

EXPERT ADVICE: Our CyberGhost VPN tests resulted in faster, more private and secure connections than ZenMate. Also owned by Kape, CyberGhost is cheap, easy to use, and unblocks Netflix USA. Try CyberGhost risk-free for 30 days.

ZenMate Key Data

Data CapUnlimited
Download Speed94Mbps
Logging PolicyNo Logs
Data LeaksNo
JurisdictionGermany (14-Eyes member)
Servers4,800
IP Addresses4,800+
Countries With Servers81
US NetflixYes
TorrentingUnlimited
Simultaneous ConnectionsUnlimited
Works In ChinaNo
SupportLive-Chat, Email & Online Resources
Cheapest Price$1.51/mo over 3 years
Free Trial7 Days (No Payment Info Required)
Money-Back Guarantee30-day Money-Back Guarantee
Official WebsiteZenmate.com

Privacy & Logging Policy

Vague Logging Policy

8.78.7/10
How is this calculated?

We dissect the logging and privacy policies of every VPN. A VPN should never log:

  • Your real IP address
  • Connection timestamps
  • DNS requests

A base of operations outside of 14-Eyes or EU jurisdiction is preferable.

ZenMate is a Germany-based VPN, which isn't the best for privacy. Its logging policy is obscure and vague, too, which means we don't fully trust the way it handles your data. After talking with ZenMate representatives and having them answer questions, we're more confident that it's a safe service. However, its commitment to privacy needs to be clarified and put in writing.

Ranked #15 out of 55 VPNs for Privacy & Logging Policy

ZenMate’s 5,000 word privacy policy mentions the word “VPN” only once:

“The above-mentioned Personal Data is not, at any point, associated with any kind of activity done by the user inside the ZenMate VPN tunnel, which is NOT recorded, logged or stored at all.”

While this sounds good, it’s not actually specific enough. Most of the privacy policy refers to information the ZenMate website collects, or when you register an account, not when you use the VPN service. This includes your name, address, email, IP address, and approximate location.

The policy states that it doesn’t log any of this information when using the VPN itself. However, it doesn’t state the data it actually does log.

In short, ZenMate has written a vague no-logs statement that almost every VPN on the market uses.

We spoke to a ZenMate representative to clarify the situation. They stated that the VPN does not keep records of user activity, metadata, timestamps, or IP addresses.

The company knows how many users there are on a particular server at any given time, but it doesn’t know who these users are.

Based on these responses, it seems that ZenMate is a private VPN that keeps minimal information about its users and their activity.

However, this information needs to be included in the privacy policy before it can be recommended with absolute certainty.

Based on this ambiguity, the company would benefit from an independent audit that verifies its no-logging claims. As it stands, the the current level of ambiguity is not acceptable for a top VPN.

Kape owns ZenMate

Kape Technologies purchased ZenGuard GmbH, the owner of ZenMate, in 2018. Kape owns three other (larger) VPN services: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access.

ZenGuard GmbH is still based in Berlin, Germany. ZenGuard is also merged with Mobile Concepts GmbH, which is based in the town of Übach Palenberg, Germany.

The VPN service falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union. This isn’t ideal for privacy as the EU has intrusive surveillance and data retention laws.

The European Union is also listed as an investor and/or partner in ZenMate VPN, which raises some concerns.

A European jurisdiction is not an issue if the VPN service has a verified no-logs privacy policy. While ZenMate appears to be private, an independent logging audit would go a long way to confirm this.

Streaming

ZenMate Works With 5 Netflix Libraries

8.18.1/10
How is this calculated?

Streaming is rated by the number of different services unlocked, how many regional libraries are viewable, and how consistently the VPN can access them.

Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and more are all tested on a weekly basis.

ZenMate has many servers optimized for unblocking streaming services, but they aren't always reliable. Currently, ZenMate unblocks BBC iPlayer, 5 Netflix libraries (including the US), and Amazon Prime Video. It's a good VPN for streaming, but it's connection speeds can be very slow.

Ranked #20 out of 55 VPNs for Streaming

Here’s a list of popular streaming platforms that ZenMate currently unblocks:

Streaming PlatformWorks with ZenMate
Channel 4No
Amazon Prime VideoYes
BBC iPlayerYes
Disney+No
HBO MaxNo
Hotstar IndiaNo
HuluNo
ITVXNo
Netflix USYes
YouTubeNo

ZenMate is a relatively good VPN for beating streaming geo-blocks, but it doesn’t quite match the capabilities of the highest-rated streaming VPNs.

The VPN has lots of servers designed to bypass streaming geo-blocks, but over years of testing we’ve found that these servers don’t work 100% of the time.

Currently, ZenMate operates servers targeting the following streaming services:

  • 7TV
  • Amazon Prime
  • ARD
  • BBC iPlayer
  • CBS
  • Disney+
  • Fox Sport
  • Hulu
  • ITV
  • NBC
  • Netflix (FR, DE, IT JP, US)
  • ORF
  • SlingTV
  • Yle
  • Zattoo DE

We encountered numerous problems testing the above servers. The VPN often failed to connect to them altogether. When it did connect, it often didn’t unblock the relevant streaming platform.

ZenMate works with US Netflix

In our latest tests, ZenMate worked with 5 Netflix regions: USA, Japan, Italy, Germany, and France. This is very impressive compared to other mid-tier VPNs we’ve tested such as Avira Phantom VPN.

ZenMate US Netflix Streaming Test

ZenMate unblocks US Netflix

Sadly, due to the VPN’s slow long-distance speeds, we experienced a considerable amount of buffering.

ZenMate unblocks BBC iPlayer

Surprisingly, ZenMate still works with BBC iPlayer. The BBC’s video service is one of the hardest to unblock, however ZenMate’s BBC iPlayer server worked as intended and with ease.

HBO Max, DAZN and Disney+ block ZenMate

Despite working with US Netflix, ZenMate couldn’t unblock other popular US content platforms like Hulu, HBO Max and Disney+.

We tried both the streaming servers, and the regular US servers, with no success.

ZenMate doesn’t have a Fire TV Stick app

Frustratingly, ZenMate doesn’t offer a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV.

Because the VPN company hasn’t released an official Android .apk file, it’s not possible to side load the Android VPN app, either.

Therefore, to use the VPN on your Firestick, you’ll have to install it on your home router. It’s a rather tedious process, so Firestick users should opt for a VPN with a native Fire TV Stick app, instead.

ZenMate has no Smart DNS support

Another failure of ZenMate is the absence of Smart DNS functionality. This is the easiest way to use a VPN on Apple TV and on games consoles.

Your only option to use ZenMate on these devices is, again, to set up the VPN on your router.

Torrenting

Torrenting-friendly Servers But Slow P2P Speeds

6.86.8/10
How is this calculated?

We calculate the average download bitrate of every VPN using a bespoke torrenting setup.

Testing also factors in the percentage of servers which permit P2P, plus useful features like port forwarding.

ZenMate is not a great VPN for torrenting. While all servers allow P2P traffic, with some specifically optimized for torrenting, speeds were too slow. Moreover, the VPN's vague privacy policy makes us wary of using ZenMate for sensitive file-sharing.

Ranked #28 out of 55 VPNs for Torrenting

ZenMate effectively hides your IP address, encrypts your data, and keeps your internet activity safe from ISP snooping. This is ideal for secure torrenting.

The service allows P2P traffic and file-sharing on all its servers, of which 60 (labeled ‘For downloading’) are specifically optimized for torrenting traffic.

ZenMate's torrenting servers

ZenMate lists P2P-optimized servers on its website.

We tested these P2P serveers with torrent clients like BitTorrent, Deluge, uTorrent, and Transmission, and they downloaded torrent files anonymously.

Also, the VPN’s kill switch, called ‘Secure Connect’, safely cut out our internet connection when the VPN unexpectedly failed. This prevented our true IP address from being exposed.

ZenMate Torrenting Test

ZenMate permits torrenting and has P2P servers

The problem with using ZenMate for torrenting are the VPN’s slow speeds. We couldn’t download files as quickly as we did when running ExpressVPN through our P2P tests.

What’s more, many of ZenMate’s servers aren’t fully optimized for torrenting. They’ll work, but torrent speeds weren’t as good in our experience.

Servers not optimized for torrenting include:

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • India
  • Israel
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Ukraine
  • Vietnam

ZenMate lacks port forwarding

Another P2P shortcoming of ZenMate is that it doesn’t allow port forwarding. Not many VPNs do, but seeders often seek this feature that drastically improves file upload speeds.

We particularly like PIA VPN’s port forwarding tool, which is one of the most customizable we’ve reviewed.

Speed

ZenMate's Network Delivers Disappointing Speeds

7.77.7/10
How is this calculated?

Speed ratings are calculated using upload speeds, download speeds, and ping (latency).

We test average speeds regularly using a dedicated 100Mbps connection in London, UK. Local download speed is considered the most important factor.

ZenMate's speeds are disappointing. The VPN just isn't fast enough, on both short-distance and longer-distance connections. Mixed with average ping times, ZenMate's streaming, torrenting and gaming speeds are underwhelming.

Ranked #37 out of 55 VPNs for Speed

Here’s a table showing ZenMate’s speed test results:

As the data shows, ZenMate provides disappointingly slow international speeds. ZenMate’s local speeds aren’t awful (94Mbps), but still not as fast as other top-tier VPNs like ExpressVPN or IPVanish.

We also recorded a disappointing speed loss of 15% when connecting from the US to a nearby server in Canada.

Dreadful Local Ping Times

We are not impressed with ZenMate’s local ping times. In our recent 2023 speed tests, we saw them rise to 16ms, which is unsustainable for online gaming.

Server Locations

4,800 VPN Servers in 81 Countries

9.19.1/10
How is this calculated?

The global spread and coverage of the VPN server network is the most important factor here.

We also consider the number of city-level servers, plus how many IP addresses are maintained.

This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.

ZenMate has a large server network. 4,800 servers across 81 countries is higher than average. The problem is that you cannot select city servers. That means ZenMate chooses the location for you. In large countries this could mean that you don't get an optimal location.

Ranked #11 out of 55 VPNs for Server Locations

Globe with a blue flag
81 Countries
Image of a city landscape
86 Cities
Image of a pink marker
4,800+ IP Addresses

ZenMate runs a large server network of 4,800 VPN servers in 81 countries.

It’s a good sized network, covering more countries than we’ve analyzed in NordVPN and Surfshark.

The VPN’s server locations are well spread out well across the world, even covering countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

However, like most VPNs, ZenMate’s servers are mostly concentrated in Europe and North America.

Additionally, ZenMate claims to own all its servers. In other words, the company doesn’t rent any servers. First-party ownership handled by any other third parties.

ZenMate lacks city-level options

The biggest issue with ZenMate’s server list is that you can’t select city-specific servers.

The VPN automatically selects a city within your chosen server location. ZenMate support agents confirmed this is intentional app behavior:

screenshot of zenmate support

The countries with servers in more than one city include:

  • Australia (Melbourne, Sydney)
  • Canada (Montreal, Toronto)
  • Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt)
  • UK (London, Manchester)
  • US (Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Washington)

The inability to choose a specific server is frustrating, and it makes it difficult to beat geo-blocks, particularly when it comes to US sports blackouts.

The company justifies this by referring to its Dynamic IP system, which ensures users can’t connect to the same IP address more than once when using the VPN.

While this system is very good for privacy, it does remove a degree of control from users, who need to connect to specific cities.

Security & Technical Features

ZenMate is Safe But Lacks Certain Security Settings

5.55.5/10
How is this calculated?

Top-rated VPNs offer OpenVPN or WireGuard protocols, AES-256 encryption, and a functional kill switch. We also consider additional security features and the global spread of VPN servers.

ZenMate does nothing wrong when it comes to security, but compared to the most advanced VPNs on the market it's lagging behind. It protects data with the unbreakable AES-256 and uses good default protocols, but there's no additional tools like split tunneling, obfuscation, first-party DNS, double VPN, and so on.

Ranked #37 out of 55 VPNs for Security & Technical Features

ProtocolsAvailable in ZenMate
IKEv2/IPSecYes
OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)Yes
WireGuardYes
EncryptionAvailable in ZenMate
AES-128No
AES-192No
AES-256Yes
BlowfishNo
ChaCha20No
SecurityAvailable in ZenMate
DNS Leak BlockingYes
First-party DNSNo
IPv6 Leak BlockingYes
Supports TCP Port 443No
VPN Kill SwitchYes
WebRTC Leak BlockingYes
Advanced FeaturesAvailable in ZenMate
Ad BlockerYes
Dedicated IPNo
Double VPNNo
Smart DNSNo
Static IPNo
SOCKSNo
Split TunnelingNo
Tor over VPN ServerNo
Tracker BlockerNo

ZenMate is a secure VPN service that comes with AES-256 encryption, an automatic kill switch, and no data leaks that could compromise your safety.

While the Windows and Android apps use the secure OpenVPN protocol by default, its macOS and iOS apps are limited to the less secure IKEv2 protocol.

WireGuard is only available on Android.

If you want to use OpenVPN or WireGuard on the Mac or Windows apps, you’ll have to set them up manually.

You can toggle DNS leak protection and disable IPv6 connections when connected to the VPN on Windows, and these features come with helpful descriptions explaining their function.

ZenMate’s Windows settings menu

All of the ZenMate apps use the same level of AES-256 encryption, which is the most secure encryption cipher available.

ZenMate offers a standard level of security that is more than enough to protect your data on public WiFi networks. However, the VPN would benefit from investing in advanced features like a malware blocker, Double VPN, or obfuscation tools.

Without these features, ZenMate remains basic and unsophisticated when compared to the most secure VPN services on the market.

If security is your main priority, we recommend reading our Perfect Privacy review to understand how VPNs can benefit from a wider range of features.

ZenMate also needs to upgrade its security on Mac and iOS. The inability to switch protocols on these platforms means it’s currently more secure on Windows and Android.

Data Leaks, Malware, and Tracking Tests

We put ZenMate through a series of security tests to ensure that it’s as safe as it claims to be. We first tested the app to see what permissions and trackers it installs on your Android device. Here’s what we found:

We found that the Android app contains 8 trackers and 10 permissions – none of which are considered out of the ordinary.

We also ran all of ZenMate’s installation software through a virus scanning system to ensure it presents no threat to your device. As you can see below, the app is perfectly safe and free from malware.

Zenmate malware test

Finally, we tested to see whether Zenmate VPN leaks sensitive data like your IP address or DNS requests. We found it is perfectly safe to use and did not leak any of our browsing data.

You can test it for yourself using our free VPN leak test.

Compared to services with GPS spoofing, split tunneling, MultiHop servers, and more, ZenMate’s security offering is quite basic.

However, it’s still a reliable and simple service and that will keep your browsing data safe.

Bypassing Web Censorship

ZenMate Doesn’t Work in China

44.0/10
How is this calculated?

Our remote-access server in Shanghai, China routinely tests if a VPN can beat restrictions and access a free, open internet. Obfuscation technologies and nearby servers are also a contributing factor.

This rating does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Security & Features rating.

ZenMate might work in countries that have soft censorship capabilities like Turkey, Pakistan, and UAE, but it's definitely not capable of getting past The Great Firewall of China. It doesn't offer any obfuscation technology that could even make this possible.

Ranked #32 out of 55 VPNs for Bypassing Web Censorship

ZenMate VPN does not work in China and hasn’t for a few years.

The company is open about this fact and doesn’t even sell its apps in China for this reason: “Because, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that the product will work reliably.”

The VPN does still operate servers in Hong Kong and has confirmed that its service is still working there. Keeping these servers isn’t without risk, however, as the Chinese government may soon get access to Hong Kong ISPs and snoop on your online activity.

ZenMate doesn’t work in highly-censored countries like Saudi Arabia or Iran, either. The VPN recommends that you don’t subscribe to a premium account if you plan to use it in these countries.

The company’s honesty about its limitations is refreshing, but its inability to get around heavy censorship is disappointing.

The company does imply that its service is working in Turkey, Pakistan, and the UAE. However, this information was last updated over three-years ago, so the situation is likely to be different today.

Simply put, ZenMate is not private, effective, or reliable enough to be used as an anti-censorship tool. It doesn’t offer any obfuscation technology or the option to use SoftEther connections that may conceivably get around state censorship.

If you are looking to use a VPN in a highly-censored country, we suggest that you take a look at our recommendations for VPNs that work in China.

Device & OS Compatibility

Apps for Major Devices

How is this rated?

A quality VPN should maintain functional, fully-featured applications and extensions for as many platforms and devices as possible.

This does not directly contribute to the Overall Rating, but instead makes up a portion of the Ease of Use rating.

ZenMate is compatible across a good number of devices and you can install it on router, which allows you to protect all devices connected to your home internet. There’s also free and paid extensions for many different browsers, which is good to see. But we’d like to see custom apps for Fire TV Stick and Linux.

Apps

ZenMate is available to download as an application on the major platforms, including:

  1. Windows
  2. Mac
  3. iOS
  4. Android
  5. Router

It can also be installed on routers, but it doesn’t have a custom app for Amazon Fire TV or Linux.

There are setup guides on the ZenMate website for the various custom apps on offer.

ZenMate offers an unlimited number of devices under one subscription. This means you can protect as many devices as you’d like without paying more.

The company also sells business VPNs that come with managerial support and a management dashboard.

This is useful for companies looking to share confidential information and protect themselves from cybercriminals at a time when corporate hacks are frequent.

Games Consoles & Streaming Devices

It’s possible to install ZenMate on your router, which will encrypt the traffic from every device connected to your home network. This means that you can technically use ZenMate on gaming consoles and TVs, including:

  1. Amazon Fire TV
  2. Android TV
  3. Nintendo
  4. PlayStation
  5. Xbox

However, it’s only possible to do this with ZenMate on DD-WRT routers via manual OpenVPN configuration.

ZenMate has a router installation guide for this process but states that “you need to have at least some technical understanding.”

ZenMate’s slow speeds and high latency mean it’s not a good VPN for gaming anyway. Gamers need super-fast speeds and low ping, or ideally a Smart DNS feature – none of which ZenMate provides.

If you’re looking to use a VPN with your Xbox, we suggest checking our updated list of the best VPNs for gaming.

The same applies to its compatibility with Linux. There’s no ZenMate app for Linux so it requires manual installation.

Using ZenMate with games consoles and streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick ultimately requires a lot of manual work and technical understanding.

Helpful information on this process isn’t easily found, so we suggest looking for a VPN with wider compatibility.

Browser Extensions

There are ZenMate browser extensions for:

  1. Chrome
  2. Microsoft Edge
  3. Firefox

Most VPNs offer Chrome and Firefox extensions, so it’s good to see ZenMate cater to Edge, too.

ZenMate’s Chrome extension features menu.

ZenMate has two types of proxy browser extensions: a free (limited) version, and a more complete ‘Pro’ browser solution.

The free browser add-on is very popular, counting over 4 million users. But, you’re restricted to four countries, one device, and 2Mbps capped speed. You’ll also miss out on the streaming-optimized servers.

The Pro browser extension gives access to the full server list, including all streaming servers, with no speed throttling.

ZenMate's Free, Pro and Ultimate products compared

ZenMate’s Free, Pro and Ultimate product plans compared.

ZenMate’s Pro browser extensions also come with tracking blockers, malware blockers, and WebRTC leak protection.

However, they use AES-128 bit encryption, which is less secure than the desktop and mobile VPN apps.

Ease of Use

Basic Apps Designed for Simplicity

9.59.5/10
How is this calculated?

This rating mainly consists of the intuitiveness of setup and everyday use.

Device or platform compatibility and customization options are also a factor.

ZenMate is very easy to use, but this comes at the cost of features, tools, and customization options. Newcomers will appreciate the simplicity, but advanced users might want more from their VPN. But we can't take away the fact that this VPN is consumer-friendly and well-designed.

Ranked #3 out of 55 VPNs for Ease of Use

How to Install & Set Up ZenMate

ZenMate’s VPN applications are extremely basic, designed for functionality and simplicity. There’s not much more you can do other than select servers.

That’s great for newcomers, but if you’re looking for advanced technical features you should consider a VPN with more customization options.

What’s frustrating about ZenMate is that the service is very different depending on what device you’re using.

To make things simple, we’ve put together this comparison table:

ZenMate’s Windows client

Out of all ZenMate apps, the Windows client is by far the most advanced and best-performing.

The PC software’s settings menu offers more diverse options, including the ability to change your connection protocol, auto-connect on start-up, use random-port to connect, and disable IPv6 connections when connected to the VPN.

The home screen consists of a big connect button and the option to change server location by selecting the arrows on the left hand side. It also includes servers optimized for streaming, torrenting, and regular servers.

zenmate windows app main screen

ZenMate Windows app main screen.

The Windows app defaults to OpenVPN and, unlike on macOS and iPhone, you can easily change protocol via a drop down menu. The only other protocol available is IKEv2, so the choice is limited.

In the settings menu you’ll find simple switches and drop-down menus for:

  • Auto-start
  • Auto-connect on start-up
  • Automatic server selection
  • Language
  • Automatic kill switch

These options come with small explainers, which make the technical aspects of ZenMate easier to understand.

ZenMate’s macOS application

The Zenmate app for Mac is much simpler than the PC application.

The only setting available is the choice to automatically run ZenMate on start-up or not. You can also deselect the option to ‘Automatically check for updates’.

There is strength in simplicity, though, particularly in the way that ZenMate organizes its servers in distinct categories for streaming, torrenting, and favorites.

Frustratingly, you can’t change your connection protocol on the Mac app. You’re in fact limited to just the IKEv2 protocol.

ZenMate’s Android and iOS mobile apps

The ZenMate Android app is slightly different and more unsightly than its counterparts. Its blue background is darker and the font lighter, which makes for a less visually-appealing app.

But ZenMate’s Android app is the only ZenMate software that uses the WireGuard protocol.

ZenMate on iOS is identical in arrangement to its Android counterpart but lacks any of the additional settings, making it more like the threadbare macOS app.

You’re also restricted to the IKEv2 protocol on iOS, which you can’t change, just like on the macOS application.

It’s extremely simple to use and has been arranged so that you can select servers easily. You can choose between ‘All’, ‘Streaming’, and ‘Favorites’ but, like on Android, there are no P2P-optimized servers available on iPhone.

ZenMate’s servers in the iOS app.

Customer Support

Helpful live Chat

6.46.4/10
How is this calculated?

This rating is based on our assessment of each VPN’s:

  • Email support
  • Live chat support
  • Online resources

Not every VPN offers all of these, and they often vary in quality and response time.

ZenMate has a good customer support system in place, including a 24/7 live chat on its website and a number of online resources. But the live chat agents didn't seem to have technical expertise and many of the web pages lack detail. For complex questions, you need to contact via email.

Ranked #34 out of 55 VPNs for Customer Support

Customer SupportAvailable in ZenMate
24/7 Live Chat SupportNo
24/7 Email SupportNo
ChatbotNo
Live Chat SupportYes
EmailYes
Email Support via Online FormNo
Tutorial VideosNo
Online ResourcesYes

ZenMate offers 24/7 live chat support, an online knowledgebase, website FAQ, and in-app ticket system.

This has come a long way from when the service had no live chat, unhelpful support bots, and slow email responses.

Our experience with ZenMate’s customer support was mostly positive. It runs a friendly 24/7 live chat support system with polite agents. Sometimes we had to wait a considerable amount of time for a response, but the wait was a matter of minutes – not hours.

zenmate live chat screenshot

ZenMate’s live chat window.

When the agents did respond, they answered with very little technical detail. In other words, ZenMate’s live chat is still lacking an expert angle and human touch. And we got the impression that they wanted to wrap it up as soon as possible.

Its online knowledgebase is fairly limited, too. Here you’ll find installation guides and troubleshooting FAQs. While there appears to be plenty of online resources, many of these pages are not very detailed at all and very often out-of-date.

Difficult questions are best directed towards the ZenMate support email. This service is slower than live-chat but provide answers that are typically more in-depth and useful.

ZenMate’s customer support doesn’t rival the exceptional support of other major VPN services. It’ll cover simple questions and troubleshooting, but it’s unlikely to solve any complex technical problems.

Price & Value

Affordable Pricing

77.0/10
How is this calculated?

Price & Value for Money receives a rating, but is not factored into our Overall Rating. We believe the reader should decide what is or isn’t a reasonable price.

A good rating here isn’t just based on how cheap the VPN is, but for the value it offers overall.

At $1.51 per month, ZenMate is easily one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. But that doesn't mean it's the best value for money. It's a basic 'click and protect' service, with few additional features. Believe it or not, but there are actually even cheaper services available – and better ones.

Ranked #21 out of 55 VPNs for Price & Value

ZenMate is available to buy on three plans:

  1. Monthly

    $10.99/mo

    Billed $10.99 every month
  2. Monthly

    $4.49/mo

    Billed $53.88 every 12 months
    Save 59%
  3. 3 Year(s)

    $1.51/mo

    Billed $59.00 every three years
    Save 80%

ZenMate is a very cheap VPN that offers three different products: the free browser proxy, the paid extension (Pro), and the full VPN software (Ultimate).

The Ultimate product, which works on all devices, costs $1.51 per month on a three-year plan ($59.00 upfront). A monthly saving of 85% compared to the one-month plan.

The Pro pricing plans (for web browsers only) break down as follows:

  • Pay monthly plan: $7.99 per month
  • 6-month plan: $3.19 per month (billed $19.14 every 6 months)
  • 12-month plan: $1.99 (billed $23.88 ever year)

ZenMate runs a student discount for UK users too, which is a great option.

While ZenMate is cheap, there are other cheap VPNs better than ZenMate, but priced similarly.

Payment & Refund Options

ZenMate can be purchased through these payment methods:

  1. American Express
  2. Mastercard
  3. PayPal
  4. Visa

These options are basic and limited. Some competing VPN services offer payments via cryptocurrency or cash to maintain user privacy.

For a privacy-focused app, it’s worth offering BitCoin or other private payment options.

ZenMate comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can sign up to any of these plans and get a full refund within the timeframe.

It’s a ‘no questions asked’ refund, so you don’t need to worry about any hidden conditions. This is generous but standard practice that allows you to thoroughly test the ZenMate experience before committing further.

ZenMate’s 7-day free trial

ZenMate also offers a seven-day free trial, available on macOS, Windows, Android and iOS. This way you can avoid the upfront payment that comes with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

To activate the trial, create a ZenMate account and follow the instructions. The trial doesn’t automatically upgrade you to a paid subscription after the seven days expire.

The Bottom Line

Is ZenMate Worth It?

ZenMate is a basic VPN service that offers a simple way to hide your IP address and encrypt your browsing data.

Its speeds and security are good enough for casual users but it doesn’t offer anything exceptional.

At the moment, we don’t recommend using ZenMate on any platform other than Windows. The macOS and iOS apps need improvement and there is a degree of doubt surrounding the VPN’s privacy policy.

The VPN is extremely easy to use, but this comes at the expense of any advanced features.

ZenMate will work if you’re only looking to stream US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or torrent occasionally. But there are more reliable services for this.

Casual users looking for a ‘click-and-protect’ service for public WiFi could also consider ZenMate, particularly as it is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market.

While its price is low and it has majorly improved in recent updates, ZenMate needs to continue improving its service before it represents real value for money.

Alternatives to ZenMate

Surfshark does everything that ZenMate does but better and cheaper. It’s faster, more secure, just as effective at unblocking streaming, and offers all the advanced features that ZenMate is lacking.

ExpressVPN is our #1 overall recommendation. It’s a super-safe, extremely quick service that does everything you could ever want a VPN to do. If you’re prepared to spend a bit more, you won’t regret avoiding all doubt and going straight to the top of the pile.


User Reviews for ZenMate

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