⚠️ This VPN is no longer actively maintained or reviewed
This VPN service is either no longer operational or no longer meets our current testing and review standards.
For up-to-date, independently tested options, see our Recommended VPN Services.
Important Update (2023): ZenMate VPN has merged with CyberGhost VPN as of May 2023. Existing ZenMate users now access their VPN service through CyberGhost apps. This review reflects ZenMate’s final service capabilities before the transition.
ZenMate VPN offered their users both free and paid subscriptions before merging with CyberGhost VPN in 2023.
Their free version had IPSec IKEv2 & L2TP protocols, while the premium version came with OpenVPN tunneling protocol – though modern VPNs now prioritize WireGuard for optimal speed and security.
Many VPNs offer 256-bit AES encryption, but ZenMate offered both 128-bit and 256-bit encryption options depending on the plan.
They claimed to have reached as many as 45 million users, founded loudly and proudly on three simple words: Fast. Secure. Easy.
But did ZenMate meet its promise before the merger?
Find out in this comprehensive review…
ZenMate VPN Overview
| SERVICE STATUS: | N/A |
| OVERALL RANK (LEGACY): | 64 |
| USABILITY: | 3/5 |
| LOG FILES: | Grey Area (IP Logging) |
| LOCATIONS: | 74 countries, 3,300+ servers |
| SUPPORT: | Contact Form Only |
| TORRENTING: | Allowed on Premium Plans |
| NETFLIX: | Limited Access (Pre-Merger) |
| ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: | 128 and 256-bit AES; OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, L2TP |
| COST (LEGACY): | $2.99/Month |
| CURRENT SERVICE: | CyberGhost VPN |
ZenMate Pros (Historical Analysis)
1. Safe Encryption, Strong Protocols
Your VPN protocol is what tunnels your signal around the world. It’s how you get from Point A to Point B.
There are many different VPN tunneling protocols in use today, with modern standards favoring WireGuard and OpenVPN for optimal security and performance.
For Mac users, ZenMate used IPSec and IKEv2 protocols. This is a stable and secure protocol that performs well. IKEv2 is particularly excellent for mobile devices due to its ability to quickly reconnect when switching networks, and it’s one of the fastest protocols available.
It does have limited platform support compared to modern alternatives, though, and may be vulnerable to certain firewalls.
Windows users had access to IPSec and IKEv2 as well, with the added option of L2TP/IPSec.
ZenMate Ultimate, their premium plan, was compatible with OpenVPN software. Through this system, users could “upgrade” ZenMate’s service to the infinitely preferable OpenVPN tunneling protocol. OpenVPN’s open source system is maintained by the entire cybersecurity community and remains widely considered an industry standard for safety, though WireGuard has emerged as the preferred choice for speed-focused applications.
For encryption, ZenMate’s protocols supported AES, which is used by fortune 500 companies and the federal government alike. It’s powerful and secure.
These protocols could run both AES 128 and 256. While 256 is stronger, ZenMate repeatedly stated that they believed the 128 was more effective for consumer use.
They claimed that the 256-bit AES used by government agencies was overkill on the individual level, and not worth the added computational cost. (It also provided slightly faster performance.)
Still strong enough to land it under the Pros, though modern VPN standards typically default to AES-256 encryption.
2. Speed Performance Was Within Acceptable Levels
There are VPNs which slow your internet speed to a screeching halt, and there are some which cause a hardly noticeable shift.
But make no mistake:
All VPNs will slow you down, at least a little bit. Modern protocols like WireGuard have significantly reduced this impact.
So where did ZenMate fall between the atrociously slow and the moderately decreased?
Somewhere in the middle for 2018 standards.
The EU test saw a strong download speed, with the upload falling more into the average range than we usually like to see.
EU Speed Test (Historical)
- Ping: 39 ms
- Download: 63.44 Mbps (34.5% Slower Than 97 Mbps Benchmark)
- Upload: 12.81 Mbps (75.8% Slower Than 53 Mbps Benchmark)
The US server that we tested fared about the same, except upload speeds plummeted into unacceptable levels.
US Speed Test (Historical)
- Ping: 204 ms
- Download: 57.03 Mbps (41.2% Slower Than 97 Mbps Benchmark)
- Upload: 2.98 Mbps (94.3% Slower Than 53 Mbps Benchmark)
So, while we considered these speeds to be in the pro column for 2018, it was a close decision. Modern VPN standards expect much faster performance, especially with WireGuard protocol implementations.
Out of the 78 VPNs we tested at the time, we ranked ZenMate #23 in terms of speed.
3. Limited Netflix Compatibility (Historical)
Have you ever cursed at this screen?
That error code remains the bane of a VPN user’s existence.
It’s a Netflix error blocking access to their service for using a VPN. Why do they do this? Because Netflix doesn’t want you circumventing its licensing restrictions.
Netflix’s content is geo-locked, so different areas have different television shows and movies to choose from. Important Update: Netflix has significantly strengthened its VPN detection capabilities and now blocks VPN usage on ad-supported plans and live events entirely.
We tested five of ZenMate’s servers and two of them managed to work with Netflix at the time. It might be worth noting that both of those servers were located within the US.
Because of this limited success, ZenMate made it onto our list of VPNs that worked with Netflix in 2018, though streaming compatibility has become much more challenging industry-wide since then.
4. Extensive Server Network and Kill Switch
According to their final specifications before the merger, ZenMate had over 3,300 servers located within 74+ different countries. That was quite impressive, considering a year prior they barely had 40 servers.
They were big into the bypassing of censorship, which was especially helpful if you were using their service in a country that restricts internet use.
They allowed unlimited simultaneous connections on their paid plans, which was more generous than most VPNs at the time.
One of the standout ZenMate features was its built-in kill switch. This was an added layer of protection that would abruptly end your session if your signal became unsecured. This has since become a standard feature of most of the best VPNs that we review.
5. P2P Torrenting Support (Premium Plans)
ZenMate initially received criticism for not allowing torrenting on their servers.
But they adapted in their later years, offering unlimited P2P traffic on their premium and ultimate packages.
It should be noted, however, that in their terms of service, ZenMate included language about banned activities that could be interpreted as restricting certain P2P activities.
Torrenting utilizes peer to peer communication to download small bits of large files from multiple people. There’s inherent risk associated with this, of course. You’re letting strangers into your system.
That’s why most torrenters prefer to use a VPN as an extra layer of armor between their private information and potential cybercriminals who want to exploit their system.
Many companies had taken to banning the use of P2P torrenting on their servers, but ZenMate eventually embraced supporting this valuable service on their premium tiers.
6. Clean Security Scan
We always check our VPNs for viruses, scanning the program in search of 66 different viruses which could be betraying system security.
ZenMate received a clean bill of health during our testing period.
7. Broad Device Support
Thanks to the eventual addition of OpenVPN software, ZenMate became a more versatile VPN alternative before its merger.
ZenMate worked across web browsers, desktop computers, and mobile platforms. Smart TV devices weren’t officially covered, but they could be configured with OpenVPN software.
You could officially use ZenMate with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and on the Chrome, Firefox, Opera browsers, and even for your routers through their downloadable VPN service.
This impressive lineup, coupled with the eventual addition of OpenVPN software, made ZenMate a VPN that could be used on a wide variety of devices throughout the home.
ZenMate Cons (Historical Issues)
While there was much to appreciate about this service, there were significant concerns that ultimately contributed to its merger with CyberGhost.
Unclear logging policies and a jurisdiction placing it right in the crosshairs of a multi-nation surveillance alliance were major red flags.
On top of that, their customer support left much to be desired, consisting mainly of a contact form with less-than-stellar responses.
Let’s examine the issues that existed.
1. IP Address Logging Concerns
ZenMate claimed that they didn’t log or hold onto any of your activity or data.
They stated in their official privacy policy, “Our objective is that no personal data is collected, processed or permanently stored.”
Digging deeper, we found more concerning information:
Collecting information about browser and operating system details are not violations of privacy. This type of metadata collection is standard practice and not identifying information.
This was concerning.
They were logging original IP addresses.
They assured users it was anonymized and clarified that not all data was logged permanently. However, the collection of original IP addresses still raised significant red flags for privacy-conscious users.
It’s important to note that the company stressed that information was not stored once the VPN was enabled. But if you could be identified as someone using a VPN through IP correlation, it wasn’t truly anonymous service, even if your subsequent activity remained protected.
2. Located in Germany (Within 14 Eyes Jurisdiction)
ZenMate’s German location fell under the scope of the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance, the infamous international intelligence-sharing agreement.
How secure could “secure” be when 14 different governments potentially had legal pathways to access your information through intelligence-sharing agreements?
This jurisdictional concern remains relevant for privacy-focused users when selecting VPN services.
3. IP Leaks Detected During Testing
DNS and WebRTC leaks can completely unravel a VPN’s ability to protect your information.
Whether it’s a DNS server ignoring your VPN tunnel or WebRTC APIs undoing your security, the end result is the same.
Your original IP becomes visible to the world.
Out of six tests, ZenMate failed two, and even one failure is enough to put a VPN’s safety into serious question.
- https://ipleak.net/ – Failed
- https://www.perfect-privacy.com/check-ip – Passed
- https://ipx.ac/run – Passed
- https://browserleaks.com/webrtc – Passed
- https://www.perfect-privacy.com/dns-leaktest/ – Passed
- https://dnsleak.com – Failed
These leak test failures represented a major security vulnerability that could expose users’ real locations and identities.
4. Application Stability Issues
During our testing, we attempted to use ZenMate for Windows.
Please note the word “attempted.”
When I first clicked the download link on their website, the installation was impressively fast, loading onto the laptop within 10 seconds.
Then, astonishment quickly turned to frustration.
That blank white screen was all we encountered. Moving the mouse over where login fields should be showed a cursor, indicating this was clearly a program display issue.
Minimizing and reopening the window resulted in this:
The blank white screen transformed into a blank black screen.
We reached out to their customer support department, receiving the following response the next day:
This was frustrating as it was clearly a generic copy-and-paste response. We had already included two screenshots with our initial ticket submission, so it appeared our request for help was barely acknowledged.
These application stability issues likely contributed to the decision to merge with CyberGhost, which offered more reliable software development resources.
5. Limited Customer Support Quality
ZenMate used a contact form for their customer support tickets. The system had improved since early 2018, but remained problematic.
First, you would click on the support link at the top of the page.
Once you arrived at the Support page, you’d notice a small “Help” button in the lower right-hand corner.
After clicking that, their customer support contact form would appear.
We asked about their torrenting services and whether TOR network usage was supported. Our request was submitted on a Sunday at approximately 2:30 p.m.
There was no automatic email confirmation that our question was received, which typically provides peace of mind that someone has received your query and will respond.
Instead, we were left wondering when or if we would receive any response.
We received a response less than 24 hours later, though the quality was disappointing.
This was a timely response, however, it didn’t actually answer our questions. We asked if their service supported TOR and torrenting. They addressed torrenting-related questions but never directly acknowledged our initial TOR query.
We knew from our own research that they allowed P2P services with their paid plan, but the representative here didn’t clearly communicate this information.
Instead, they pushed their premium service without ever directly addressing the initial question.
While they had stepped up their customer support compared to earlier years, ZenMate still had significant room for improvement in this area before the merger.
ZenMate VPN Costs, Plans, & Payment Options (Historical)
Note: These were ZenMate’s final pricing structures before the 2023 merger with CyberGhost.
There were three tiers to ZenMate besides the free option.
Like most free services, the free option was quite limited. You had TLS encryption, their firewall services, browser extensions, and servers located in Germany, Hong Kong, the United States, and Romania.
But since the free service was limited only to the browser extensions, it functioned as a proxy and not a full VPN. It encrypted the data passing through the browser, but not through other services on your computer.
For full VPN functionality, payment was required.
The Premium package included the full desktop VPN client for Windows or Mac, the fastest speeds available, access to nearly 300 servers in 31+ countries, malware blocking, and tracking protection.
It was priced at $11.99 per month on a month-to-month basis, which was competitive with most VPNs for no-commitment pricing. For a one year plan, you saved 67% and paid $3.99 per month. For a two-year commitment, the price dropped to $2.05 per month.
The Ultimate Package included everything from the premium tier, plus a streaming guarantee.
All paid plans came with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which was standard practice. This showed confidence in their product performance.
As far as payment options, you had several choices.
You could use PayPal, credit card, Union Pay, or Qiwi Wallet. Cryptocurrency payments were not supported, which was a limitation for privacy-focused users.
ZenMate VPN: Final Assessment & Current Status
Our 2018 Recommendation: We did not recommend ZenMate VPN.
ZenMate’s protocols and encryption were decent for their time. We appreciated their eventual embrace of OpenVPN, effectively bringing the service to multiple platforms and representing a positive step in the right direction.
However, several critical issues prevented us from recommending the service:
Major Concerns:
– The fact that they logged original IP addresses combined with their location within a surveillance alliance jurisdiction was problematic for privacy-focused users.
– The DNS/WebRTC leaks we discovered were extremely worrisome. When using a security tool, users need confidence that it’s bulletproof.
– Our hands-on application testing was disastrous – we couldn’t get the program to function properly.
– Customer service was inadequate, providing generic responses that didn’t address specific technical issues.
Historical Context:
Out of the 78 VPNs we reviewed during that period, we ranked ZenMate at number 64. It missed our bottom 10 by only two positions, indicating significant room for improvement.
What Happened Next:
These accumulated issues likely contributed to ZenMate’s acquisition by Kape Technologies in 2018 and eventual merger with CyberGhost VPN in 2023. Existing ZenMate subscribers were transitioned to CyberGhost’s superior platform, which offered:
– Enhanced Server Network: Access to 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries (compared to ZenMate’s 3,300)
– Better Netflix Compatibility: Dedicated streaming servers optimized for popular platforms
– Improved Speeds: 10 Gbps servers with WireGuard protocol support
– Advanced Features: Split tunneling, dedicated IPs, and enhanced security measures
– Superior Customer Support: 24/7 live chat support instead of contact form only
Current Recommendations:
Since ZenMate VPN is no longer available, we recommend considering these top-tier alternatives:
For Former ZenMate Users:
– CyberGhost VPN – The natural successor with ZenMate user migration support
– NordVPN – Industry leader with excellent security and speed
– Surfshark – Budget-friendly option with unlimited device connections
– ExpressVPN – Premium choice with superior streaming capabilities
Modern VPN Standards:
Today’s leading VPN services offer significant improvements over ZenMate’s 2018 capabilities:
– WireGuard Protocol: Modern VPNs prioritize WireGuard for optimal speed and battery efficiency
– Enhanced Netflix Support: Dedicated streaming servers that consistently bypass geo-blocks
– No-Log Audits: Independent verification of privacy policies by third-party security firms
– Advanced Security: Features like Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and post-quantum encryption
– Better Leak Protection: Comprehensive IPv4, IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leak prevention
– 24/7 Live Support: Real-time assistance instead of contact form delays
The VPN Landscape Has Evolved:
The VPN industry has matured significantly since ZenMate’s heyday. Users now expect:
1. Verified No-Logs Policies: Independent audits confirming privacy claims
2. Consistent Streaming Access: Reliable Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu compatibility
3. High-Speed Performance: Minimal impact on connection speeds (typically <20% reduction)
4. Advanced Security Features: Kill switches, leak protection, and modern encryption
5. Transparent Jurisdiction: Clear understanding of data retention laws and government oversight
6. Responsive Customer Support: Live chat availability and knowledgeable technical assistance
For Business Users:
Modern VPN solutions also offer enterprise-grade features that weren’t available during ZenMate’s era:
– Centralized management dashboards
– Team collaboration tools
– Advanced threat protection
– Compliance reporting for GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations
Privacy Landscape Changes:
Since ZenMate’s operation, several important developments have shaped VPN requirements:
– GDPR Implementation: Stricter data protection requirements in the EU
– Increased Government Surveillance: Growing need for jurisdictional considerations
– Corporate Data Breaches: Higher awareness of encryption importance
– Streaming Service Restrictions: More sophisticated VPN detection technologies
Technical Standards Evolution:
The technical requirements for VPN services have advanced considerably:
– WireGuard Adoption: Faster, more secure protocol now industry standard
– IPv6 Support: Modern VPNs must handle both IPv4 and IPv6 traffic
– DNS over HTTPS: Enhanced privacy for DNS queries
– Perfect Forward Secrecy: Protection against future key compromises
Conclusion:
While ZenMate VPN served as an entry-level option during its time, the merger with CyberGhost ultimately benefited users by providing access to a more robust, feature-rich service. The VPN industry’s rapid evolution since 2018 means users now have access to significantly better options with enhanced security, performance, and reliability.
For users seeking the principles that ZenMate originally promoted—fast, secure, and easy VPN access—modern alternatives like NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost deliver these benefits with the added advantages of industry-leading technology, verified privacy policies, and comprehensive customer support.
The ZenMate story serves as a reminder that the VPN industry rewards innovation, transparency, and consistent performance. While ZenMate couldn’t maintain pace with industry leaders, its users gained access to superior technology through the CyberGhost transition.
Share Your VPN Experience
Disclaimer: This review reflects ZenMate VPN’s capabilities and limitations as they existed before the 2023 merger with CyberGhost. Current VPN recommendations are based industry standards and independent testing results.
11 user reviews for ZenMate VPN
Mike
No where to click in a box to agree with the "Zenmate VPN terms of service and privacy policy"
Seriously hack off! I've had this since June 2020 and now in Dec 2020, the box to agree with the "Zenmate VPN terms of service and privacy policy" has gone, so I can't log in. I have contacted support and they said "It's a visual bug and our developers are already working on it - in the next patch it will be fixed." Really? I've clicked around for about 30 mins without success. If this was a known bug, the least they could do is send an email out. Not at all happy!
J. Bruce
Zenmate
So damned buggy I wonder if it really does what the company claims it does and worse, their tech support is AWOL. Go to them with an issue and you don't hear back. Don't waste your time (if you are opting for a free version) or your money. Nothing but aggravation. I PAID for my sub, have fought with it, and the utter lack of tech support for two years. This VPN is total crap (read other reviews which say basically the same thing). Am going to uninstall and try another company that hopefully knows what the heck it's doing.
Cara
Since May 2019 huge issues with ZEN - their promise of streaming guarantee is a joke
Ever since my Ultimate subscription taken out end of March 2019, I encountered numerous problems - foremost though that no functioning UK IP address has been provided and the UK streaming feature has been disabled for over six weeks now - thus no access to iPlayer. Surprisingly, ZEN still advertises that they guarantee streaming.....I had contacted support numerous times and they asked me to try all sorts of things from re-install software to using another browser although they will have been aware of the issue all this time - which they then admitted after I got really annoyed with them. Answer "our developers are working on this". There is of course also no 24/7 support as advertised. I have been made to waste so much of my time on this and eight weeks down the road still no access to iPlayer with streaming disabled.... also Netflix cannot be streamed.
From my experience I can only say to stay away from ZEN.
I have now cancelled my subscription - what a bizarre experience.
MDawg
Zenmate is great when it works but inconsistent in engaging - false green shield
I use ZenMate as an add on to my Chrome browser and Firefox (both on Macintosh OSX).
Starting a couple months ago ZenMate starting being inconsistent.
ZenMate is still inconsistent with activating its VPN. Both on Chrome browser where I keep ZenMate logged in and I retain cookies, and also on Firefox where I never login to ZenMate and Firefox is set to delete cookies on every restart, sometimes when the green shield is on ZenMate is working fine and the https://www.iplocation.net/ shows the proxy IP address and other times even though green shield leads me to believe that all is well and ZenMate is working, checking iplocation.net reveals that ZenMate is doing nothing and the IP address has not been changed.
This is unacceptable - even one mistake with proxy is too many mistakes. ZenMate must be reliable and engage every time, when that green shield is green on it must be active and working no false green.
Terry W
So Slow I had to remove it
I have been using the free version for a few days. Since I have no idea if it is doing what they claim, I can only tell you what I have witnessed first hand. Web sites load so slow. Some taking over 3 minutes! I was not able to stream on Netflix, though I could on youtube once I could get the site to download. There are no settings that you can change in the free version. Since I have never used a VPN I don't know if there should be on a free version, though I would have thought so. Before I decided to pay for anything I wanted to see if it would work well for me. Needless to say, I am removing it.
USA user
Edward
Zen Support is Useless
I am an engineer & I use Zen [MAC] for contact to UK programs. I would prefer to pay the UK TV companies directly but that is not possible. Thus I use Zen..... Initially it was good and stable but now very very poor value for money. The technical support is less than poor: all I get is cut & paste statements letting me know why it does not work. It has not worked for me in over a month and the "technical support team" are working on the issue. Not good for the cost. Also the protection is poor. I have suggested that I call a human and talk through the issues, the response is; "technical support team" are working on the issue. Hopeless.
Roger
Positive report on support
I am using ZenMate since a few years and quite satisfied. I am not a computer geek but ZenMate do its job for windows as well as for android. It’s very easy to use and it’s very reliable. I just renewed a 2 years ultimate subscription for a very attractive price. Due to some glitch I was unable to activate my subscription, open a ticket with support and the next day I received a nice mail telling me that my subscription was activated. So personally I rate the support 5 stars. Thanks to Bien Wong
Chris Hardaker
Sorry about Windows
I am the V.P. of Product at ZenMate (ZenGuard is the parent company).
I am truly sorry that you had problems with the Windows client. We would love to work with you on trying to find the fault. Normally Windows, although problematic at times, works perfectly. Almost all of our Windows users are happy, but yes, we do have the occasional problem. We work hard on trying to clear every fault and our Windows development team will see if they can replicate this problem.
With regards to some of your comments.....
"Copy and Paste" - With over 40 million accounts in existence, you can imagine the number of times we are asked these questions. Therefore, yes, our support team has a batch of macros where they can add answers that are pre-written. If they had to write out the answers for every user, we would need to quadruple the team size and increase prices.
Yes, we do record your IP Address. However, this is not a risk for our customers. As with any business, we like to measure the performance of our website, and this includes our dashboard where most of the service control is. As such, we use standard tools like GA to monitor this. At no time is your IP Address attached to your user account, and as we do not record any usage information, the best we can say is "yes, this email address has an account. Yes, this IP Address did visit our site. No, I cannot tell you if that is the same person. No, I cannot tell you if they ever actually used our service."
With regards to Torrenting, our standard answer is the we do not condone copyright infringement. However, we also note that P2P networking is not illegal in most countries. Personally, Linux distribution via P2P is a legitimate use of the technology and they is how I get most of my distributions. As such, P2P systems do work through us, as long as you use the desktop client and not the browser client.
I hope that clears up those issues. If not, please feel free to email me and I would be happy to answer any further questions.
Kind regards
Chris Hardaker
V.P. Product
ZenMate
Bruno
Free version gets the job done.
While using the free version of Zenmate, I can’t say it’s bad. It’s actually pretty decent, offering an easy to use interface with 4 different servers to use from. It helps with routing issues to different platforms, which is mainly why I use it. With that said, latency is often quite high while browsing, it being Zenmate’s biggest fault.
Laurie Richings
A relative long term user but now disenchanted with Zenmate
I have used Zenmate for about four years on my MacBook Pro up to High Sierra version 10.13.1. Up to early November, I have been quite satisfied with the product and support and I have been happy to pay the annual subscription.
I now cannot use my computer using Opera, my normal browser, and in order to report my problems to Zenmate I have had to resort to using a Win 10 machine just to provide details and screenshots.
I have not been able to get a human to contact me on how to resolve my difficulties, just a series of Bot responses asking for more information.
In the past, if the problem was not getting resolved, Zenmate support would take over my machine and get to the bottom of the issue.
David
Zenmate against government censure
When my country, the Netherlands, started censoring the Pirate Bay in an attempt to curb online piracy, I wasn’t quite the happy camper. I used the website quite often for products not marketed towards my country, and books no longer in print.
Thankfully Zenmate’s free browser plugin for Google Chrome was quickly found, and could conveniently route my internet traffic through the United States so I could still get my reading fix, and I’ve never had an issue with it.