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ZenMate VPN Review

ZenMate VPN Review 2023: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam?

Published on: October 14, 2022
Last Updated: October 14, 2022

ZenMate VPN Review 2023: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam?

Published on: October 14, 2022
Last Updated: October 14, 2022

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ZenMate VPN Review 2023: Summary

ZenMate logo

According to the company, ZenMate is an inexpensive and easy-to-use VPN service. It allows for P2P file sharing, has decent security settings, and streams Netflix in the U.S.

But the VPN’s slow connections, hazy privacy policies, and lackluster support are all major letdowns. 

So, if you’re just getting started with VPNs and want something that will let you stream media, download torrents, and keep your data secure while using free public WiFi, NordVPN is a decent option.

We’ll talk about how well streams work, what features are available, how safe they are, what kind of apps are available, and how helpful the company is to its customers.

Let’s see whether ZenMate does what it says it will.

Continue reading this ZenMate VPN review, or get the app immediately if you’re ready to learn more about this program.

Pros
  • High standards of confidentiality and protection of personal data
  • Subscriptions for continuous access that don’t break the bank
  • Streams U.S. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video
  • WebRTC, IP, and DNS breaches are all completely sealed.
Cons
  • The Privacy Statement is Unclear
  • Generalized slowdowns in speed
  • Servers that stream media that aren’t dependable
  • Firestick users are out of luck, as neither Smart DNS nor an app is available.
  • Few sophisticated personalization choices
  • The IKEv2 protocol is required exclusively for Mac and iOS apps
  • A lack of mobile applications

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ZenMate VPN Review 2023: In-depth

What do you think of this supposed supersonic speed?

When I last tested ZenMate, its performance wasn’t great in terms of speed, and it’s very disappointing for me that the results are the same as previous.

Test results should be interpreted with caution, but they can give a useful way to compare providers’ speeds.

To determine how quickly each VPN can transfer data, designers connect to each one using a gigabit connection and track the speeds at which they download.

The United States (U.S.), Germany (D.E.), and Japan (J.P.) all provide test servers for the tests.

At least four hours separate each of the three times we administer the same test throughout the day.

When it was recently tested ZenMate, it saw an average speed of roughly 32 Mbps, less than stellar.

In contrast, the average speed of 377 Mbps was more than ten times as fast as before. Just so you know, that makes it really quick compared to other VPN services out there.

However, there was a fair amount of variation; U.S. servers often provided faster speeds than their German counterparts.

In any case, all of the test servers we used were capable of simultaneously supporting multiple 4K streams.

How Private Is ZenMate, And Does It Keep Logs?

ZenMate

In contrast to other VPNs examined, ZenMate doesn’t provide as much information on its no-logs policy on its webpage.

The privacy policy is about 4,000 words lengthy, but it fails to answer important issues concerning their safety measures.

There is no explanation of ZenMate’s no-logs policy or how the company interacts with demands from law authorities.

Given that ZenMate hasn’t been audited, these omissions are especially problematic.

It’s also worth mentioning that many of ZenMate’s main competitors, including NordVPN, have checked their privacy policies by professional intelligence officials.

An external audit and a transparent explanation of ZenMate’s logging policies would work wonders for the service’s reputation.

Privacy And Security

Similarly to other VPNs, ZenMate offers a free and paid version. The free edition has significant limitations, such as fewer server locations and slower download rates.

The paid version, however, has additional safeguards and uses encryption standards approved by the military.

And that’s not even counting the enticing extras available as add-ons for the browser!

Log Policy

ZenMate keeps almost no logs at all. Internet protocol (I.P.) addresses, server I.P.s, and other details of user surfing are not recorded by the company.

It merely logs the minimum information necessary to run its servers, such as network times, dates, and bandwidth use.

These data are useless to anyone who would like to monitor your internet activity because they cannot be used to deduce your browsing or downloading habits.

Jurisdiction

Located in Germany, a member of the 5/9/14-Eyes Alliance, ZenMate provides a secure and private VPN service.

Fourteen nations have signed up for the latter group to exchange intel they’ve gathered around the world.

Even if asked, the corporation cannot provide any information about its consumers because of its no-logging policy.

Encryption

This virtual private network supports the IKEv2, L2TP, and OpenVPN protocols, three of the most widely used in the industry.

Few adjustments to the settings are necessary on the part of the user.

The most secure encryption protocol, AES-256, was employed for this job. However, ZenMate only provides AES-128 encryption for its browser add-ons.

Since AES-256 is safer but takes longer to decrypt, speed and security are being sacrificed here.

ZenMate VPN Servers

ZenMate VPN Servers

Server support is where ZenMate falls short. There are currently only 298 servers across 30 countries, far fewer than most industry leaders offer.

The United States and Western Europe are home to the largest populations. You may be unable to connect to a local server if you don’t happen to live in one of these places.

In reality, not everyone has a pressing need to visit far-flung locales; if you only require access to the most well-traveled regions, such as North America, Oceania, Britain, and Western Europe, you shouldn’t need to worry.

Unfortunately, some well-known places aren’t included. Check the ZenMate website’s server list to cover all the required locations.

Mobile Apps

ZenMate

Like its desktop counterpart, ZenMate’s VPN app for Android features a minimal interface consisting of the current location (set to “Auto choose”), a large “On” or “Off” button, and a small “Menu” icon.

This maintains a high level of usability by keeping things straightforward.

If you want to secure your active connection, you must press Connect when you begin and Disconnect when you’re done.

There are fewer options in the list of locations compared to the desktop version.

However, you can still examine ZenMate’s specialized streaming locations and utilize the Favorites feature to save your most often used servers.

ZenMate’s Features

Further in this ZenMate VPN review, let’s discuss what features this VPN has and how they work.

Virtual private networks (VPNs) function similarly by encrypting data transmissions and rerouting them through secure VPN servers.

However, a VPN’s features set it apart from a subpar service. Let’s evaluate ZenMate’s current status.

Split Tunneling

ZenMate currently lacks split tunneling, a feature seen in several leading VPNs. Just what does “split tunneling” entail?

This function allows you to send certain data through the VPN connection while sending other data through your regular ISP connection.

As our banking portals restrict access to users from countries other than the United States, we primarily use them to access our online accounts.

Instead of completely disabling VPN use, designers simply adjust their settings so that the online banking traffic is routed over the local area network rather than the VPN.

This way, none of our other internet activities will be disrupted. Regrettably, Zenmate lack this feature.

ZenMate’s Kill Switch

ZenMate Kill Switch

The company claims that activating the kill switch is a standard feature of all ZenMate programs.

If your connection to the VPN server drops, it will automatically disconnect you from the internet. There is no way to disable the kill switch from the settings menu.

You can disable it in the Settings menu of the Windows version; however, doing so will result in a message box stating that you have failed to do so. It is a rigorous approach to implementing a kill switch.

I.P. And DNS Leak Protection

Reviewers have raised concerns about potential DNS leaks;  perhaps this reflects claims that ZenMate made several adjustments in the past several months that weakened its capacity to defend users’ online security and privacy.

Those worried about their privacy have a lot of reasons to be concerned about Google.

After hearing the news that app developers had gained access to users’ personal Gmail accounts, the first thing designers wanted to know was, “Which VPN services make use of Gmail?

Protocols

The company professes VPN ZenMate is compatible with a wide range of protocols.

In addition, they have just released a variant of their software compatible with the OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) protocol.

OpenVPN is often considered an excellent protocol because of its robust encryption and security features. ZenMate allows you to toggle between TCP and UDP in its settings.

ZenMate VPN also works with the IKEv2/IPSec and L2TP/IPSec protocols.

ZenMate VPN, including the OpenVPN protocol, provides good security and encryption.

Stealth Connection

While similar to the incognito mode seen in browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, ZenMate VPN’s Stealth Connection is handier because it deletes my browsing data and cookies without requiring me to open a new window. 

Multi-Hop

As an alternative to a single VPN, multi-hop can function as a double VPN, providing even more anonymity and protection.

By linking to two separate VPN servers, this function effectively doubles the strength of your data protection.

Although ZenMate lacks this functionality, it is not a deal breaker because not everyone needs or even wants multi-hop.

Compared to standard VPNs, multi-hop networks are notorious for causing connection slowdowns due to their usage of double encryption.

If you’re looking for a VPN service that supports multi-hop connections, we recommend NordVPN.

Unlimited Bandwidth

When using this VPN service, there is no need to worry about exceeding a data limit. It makes no difference if you use the free version of ZenMate VPN.

The free version of ZenMate for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge is limited in speed. To use more than 2MBps, a Pro or Ultimate membership is required.

Although it may not seem like much, it is adequate for reading a web page without any problems. However, it is not sufficient for rapidly loading many websites at once.

Unlimited Device Connections

ZenMate

Every premium ZenMate VPN account allows for simultaneous connections from an unlimited number of devices.

Sharing your subscription with loved ones at no additional cost is a huge perk.

To set things in comparison, only a small handful of the best VPNs on the market permit limitless connections from many devices at once.

Auto-Connect / Auto-Select

ZenMate

With just a single click, you may connect your device to this VPN just like any other. However, ZenGuard doesn’t always utilize the same method when deciding where to send your traffic.

For convenience, ZenMate for Chrome connects directly to the previously used server as the Windows software simply defaults to the “best” server location without offering any context on why that particular place is optimal.

Android’s default client setting is “Auto-Select,” which allows for completely random selection.

Plans And Pricing

ZenMate Pricing

The base monthly cost of ZenMate is $10.99, which is within the normal $10–$13 range for such services. At $4.49 per year, costs are a little less than typical.

In case that seems like a lot to spend, know that ZenMate’s three-year plan is significantly less expensive at just $1.64 per month.

There is no longer a six-month option for ZenMate VPN Ultimate, and the annual pricing has increased to $4.49 per month from $3.33 at the time of our last review.

If that’s more than you’d like to spend, don’t worry; ZenMate’s three-year subscription costs just $1.64 per month, a significant discount.

What Customer Support Does ZenMate Offer?

On the surface, ZenMate’s knowledge base appears to be a standard help portal, yet it turns out to be rather thin on actual information.

Several of the links to other help pages simply go to error messages, creating it more complicated than it needs to be to discover what you’re looking for. 

For instance, the “Getting Started” section provides nothing more than “download the app and log in.” ZenMate also provides personalized assistance via email, but not via phone or live chat.

In Summary, the best VPNs in 2023 are;

Review Verdict

In-depth explanations of the software’s underlying principles and a detailed walkthrough of what it offers are also included in this ZenMate VPN review. 

It has a huge letdown: the VPN’s speeds are only average, its privacy policies aren’t clear, and its customer service isn’t better.

The short version: stay away from ZenMate. Alternatives are encouraged, with NordVPN being especially recommended.

👉 Get NordVPN’s FREE Trial

If you’re looking for a VPN service that’s fast, reliable, and easy to use, go no further than NordVPN. 

It provides all the specific security and privacy features customers can expect from a premium VPN, plus some additions like double-hop VPN and Onion over VPN. 

NordVPN is situated in a jurisdiction that respects users’ right to privacy.

ZenMate VPN Review 2023: Is It Legit? Is It a Scam? - EarthWeb
ZenMate VPN

In this ZenMate VPN Review, we will walk you through the program's operation and highlight both its advantages and disadvantages.

Price: $10.99

Price Currency: USD

Operating System: Android & iOS

Application Category: Monitoring

Editor's Rating:
3

Pros

  • High standards of confidentiality and protection of personal data
  • Subscriptions for continuous access that don’t break the bank
  • Streams U.S. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video
  • WebRTC, IP, and DNS breaches are all completely sealed.

Cons

  • The Privacy Statement is Unclear
  • Generalized slowdowns in speed
  • Servers that stream media that aren’t dependable
  • Firestick users are out of luck, as neither Smart DNS nor an app is available.
  • Few sophisticated personalization choices
  • The IKEv2 protocol is required exclusively for Mac and iOS apps
  • A lack of mobile applications

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Written by Trevor Cooke

Trevor Cooke is an accomplished technology writer with a particular focus on privacy and security. He specializes in topics such as VPNs, encryption, and online anonymity. His articles have been published in a variety of respected technology publications, and he is known for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and accessible manner.

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4.7/5