Is ZenMate safe? ZenMate claims to be a no-logs VPN service, but it does keep some connection logs. It will also ask for your email address when signing up for the free version or the 7-day premium trial. It's also possible that ZenMate may clash with other VPN apps installed on your device. However, my internet actually loaded twice as fast without Zenmate turned on, and the iOS app contains a 500MB monthly bandwidth limit. This service is safe and provides safe browsing, but it's still a bit dishonest. I would recommend DotVPN over Zenmate for Chrome users.
Whether you want to browse the internet anonymously or you're looking for a solution to unblock Netflix, what you need is a VPN. But you can't randomly pick a VPN and hope that it will suit your needs while also protecting your online privacy. You need to make sure it's reliable and safe, and we're here to help you make the right choice.
We've found that ZenMate VPN falls under the category of trustworthy VPNs. What is ZenMate? ZenMate is an easy-to-use service that encrypts your internet connection, effectively hiding your IP address, no matter the browser you're using or the website you're visiting.
It creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server you want to connect to, keeping your location and other sensitive information completely safe and secure.
So, is ZenMate a good VPN? Read through the following ZenMate VPN review to find out.
ZenMate VPN review: Essential features
ZenMate has some beneficial features. It has an extensive network of servers across 35+ locations around the world. It's incredibly fast, doesn't log your data, and offers 360° protection for all connected devices. It allows a limited number of simultaneous connections – up to 5 devices.
In a nutshell, ZenMate VPN comes with the following features:
- Lightning speeds
- No-logs policy
- Military-grade encryption
- Identity Shield
- Unlimited P2P torrenting support
- Smart Locations feature
- Built-in DNS leak protection
- Kill switch
- OpenVPN
Speed test performance
We've tested ZenMate for its speed, and found that it has a very consistent performance.
When conducting the EU speed test, we saw a 63.44 Mbps download speed and a 12.81 Mbps upload speed, with a ping of 39ms.
The US speed test was a bit disappointing, showing a 57.03 Mbps download speed and a 2.98 Mbps upload speed, with a ping of 204ms.
ZenMate may not be the fastest VPN out there, but it is quite quick and can help you seamlessly download and stream any content you want, including HD videos.
ZenMate VPN: Privacy logging policy
Reading ZenMate's Privacy Policy, we found that this VPN doesn't log or store your data, nor does it monitor your online activity. It follows a strict no-logs policy, ultimately protecting your privacy and online security.
Digging a little deeper into the policy, we found that ZenMate collects and stores non-personal data, such as the browser type and operating system, but that doesn't violate your privacy.
However, it does log your original IP address for fraud detection purposes, but it stores it in an anonymous format, so it remains hidden and safe.
ZenMate Security: Encryption & protocols
What about security protocols? Is ZenMate safe?
ZenMate uses military-grade security, keeping your personal and sensitive data perfectly safe. It uses L2TP, 1Kev2, and OpenVPN security protocols. When it comes to encryption, it uses the AES 256-bit encryption for desktop and mobile clients, while using the AES 128-bit encryption for its browser extensions.
This VPN also comes with an Identity Shield feature, which additionally helps you protect your online privacy and security. It regularly checks for potential data breaches, instantly informing you to update your credentials in case your email address has been compromised somewhere on the net.
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ZenMate VPN Review: Compatibility
If you're wondering whether ZenMate is compatible with a particular platform you're using, you'll be happy to know that it supports all the major platforms.
It's compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, and comes with dedicated browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Its OpenVPN support makes it compatible with various gaming consoles, such as Xbox and PlayStation, as well as smart TVs.
ZenMate VPN: Pricing and plans
ZenMate has very appealing pricing plans. A monthly plan may have a bit steeper price than a lot of other VPNs, but you can get great discounts if you subscribe for an annual plan, not to mention a 3-year plan.
You can currently choose from the following ZenMate pricing plans:
- 1-month plan: $9.99 billed every month
- 1-year plan: $4.49 per month, billed $53.88 every year
- 3-year plan: $1.64 per month, billed $59 every 3 years
ZenMate also offers a free 7-day trial period, so you can give it a test run to see how it fits your needs. If you decide to subscribe to one of its paid plans, you can cancel your subscription for free during the first month if you don't find the VPN suitable for your needs.
ZenMate has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all its paid plans, so there's absolutely no risk in giving it a try.
Torrenting
ZenMate is torrent-friendly and allows you to find torrent-friendly servers quickly and effortlessly. It has a 'For torrenting' tab where you can find all the available servers optimized for P2P torrenting.
Since ZenMate has a no-logs policy, you can use torrents without any restrictions, as nothing can be traced back to you.
Unblocking Netflix and other streaming services
- Netflix US: Yes, we could unblock Netflix US
- Amazon Prime Video: Yes, we could unblock Amazon Prime Video
- Hulu: Yes, we could unblock Hulu
- HBO GO: Yes, we could unblock HBO GO
- BBC iPlayer: Yes, we could unblock BBC iPlayer
This VPN doesn't unblock servers on every possible platform, but it does a great job of providing unrestricted access to some major platforms. Cracklock manager.
Netflix is known for its geo-restricted content, but you don't have to worry about it with ZenMate, as it can easily unblock Netflix and change Netflix's region, although not in every country.
Here are some major platforms that we tried unblocking with ZenMate:
ZenMate customer support
ZenMate's customer support is entirely satisfactory, although it doesn't have a live chat option. You need to fill out a contact form to submit a customer support ticket, but you'll get a timely response. The customer support agents are very friendly and polite and will help you resolve any problem you may encounter. They're dedicated to providing every customer with excellent user experiences.
Does ZenMate work in China?
Unfortunately for Chinese users, ZenMate doesn't work in China. You can see on the VPN provider's website that it recommends the users in China not to sign up for its paid subscription, as it can't guarantee that the VPN service will work.
Final Verdict
So, is ZenMate a good VPN after all? It ticks almost all the boxes and is quite the right choice for helping you stay anonymous online and protecting your online privacy and security. Have a quick look at the essential pros and cons, so that you can have a clearer picture and make a wise decision.
The pros of using ZenMate VPN outweigh the cons, but the final decision is entirely up to you, of course. Hopefully, this Zenmate review has helped you make the right decision for your needs, but be sure to take this VPN for a free test drive first, so that you can see for yourself how it all works.
Zenmate VPN offers their users both free and paid subscription.
Their free version has IPSec IKEv2 & L2TP protocols, only the premium version comes with OpenVPN tunneling protocol.
Many VPNs offer 256-bit AES encryption, but Zenmate has only 128-bit encryption.
They claim to have reached as many as 43 million users, founded loudly and proudly on three simple words: Fast. Secure. Easy.
But does ZenMate meet its promise?
Find out in this review…
Zenmate VPN Overview
| OVERALL RANK: | 64 |
| USABILITY: | 0/5 |
| LOG FILES: | Grey Area |
| LOCATIONS: | 31 countries, 298 servers |
| SUPPORT: | Contact Form Only |
| TORRENTING: | Not allowed |
| NETFLIX: | Unblocks Netflix USA |
| ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: | 128 and 256-bit encryption AES; OpenVPN, IPSec, IKEv2, L2TP |
| COST: | $2.05/Month |
| OFFICIAL WEBSITE: | www.ZenMate.com |
ZenMate Pros
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, some far better than others.
For Mac users, ZenMate uses IPSec and IKEv2 protocols. This is a stable and secure protocol that performs well. It's one of the fastest protocols out there and it's super easy to set up, so, awesome.
It does have limited platform support, though, and may be vulnerable to firewalls.
Windows users have access to IPSec and IKEv2 as well, with the added option of L2TP/IPSec.
ZenMate Ultimate, their premium plan, is compatible with OpenVPN software. Through this system, users can 'upgrade' ZenMate's service to the infinitely preferable OpenVPN tunneling protocol. OpenVPN open sourced system is maintained by the entire cybersecurity community and is widely considered the industry standard for safety.
For encryption, ZenMate's protocols support AES, which is used by fortune 500 companies and the federal government alike. It's powerful and secure.
These protocols can run both AES 128 and 256. While 256 is stronger, ZenMate repeatedly states that they believe the 128 is more effective.
They claim that the 256-bit AES used by government agencies is overkill on the individual level, and not worth the added cost. (It also makes it a little faster.)
Still strong enough to land it under the Pros.
2. Speed Loss is 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.
So where does ZenMate fall between the atrociously slow and the moderately decreased?
Somewhere in the middle.
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
- 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
- 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 consider these speeds to be in the pro column, it was a close decision.
Out of the 78 VPNs we've tested, we rank ZenMate #23 in terms of speed.
3. Works With Netflix
Have you ever cursed at this screen?
That error code is 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 duping its system.
Netflix's content is geo-locked, so different areas have different television shows and movies to choose from.
We tested five of ZenMate's servers and two of them managed to work with Netflix. It might be worth noting that both of those servers were located within the US.
Because of this, ZenMate made it onto our list of VPNs that work with Netflix.
4. Sizable Server Park and Kill Switch
According to the main page of their website, they have 298 servers located within 31 different countries. That's pretty impressive, considering a year ago they barely had 40.
They're big into the bypassing of censorship, which is especially helpful if you're using their service in a country that restricts internet use.
They allow five connections per account, which is pretty similar to most VPNs we've reviewed.
One of my favorite ZenMate features is its built-in kill switch. This is an added layer of protection that will abruptly end your session if your signal becomes unsecured. This has become a common feature of most of the best VPNs that we review.
5. Unlimited P2P Torrenting
ZenMate used to get a lot of heat for not allowing torrenting on their servers.
But they've seemingly wisened-up in recent years, offering unlimited P2P traffic on their premium and ultimate packages.
It should be noted, however, that in their terms of service, ZenMate talks about banned activities, and includes something that sounds an awful lot like torrenting.
Torrenting utilizes peer to peer communication to download small bits of large files from multiple people. There's a danger associated with this, of course. You're letting strangers into your system.
That's why most torrenters like to use a VPN as an extra layer of armor between their private information and cybercriminals who want to loot and plunder their system.
Many companies have taken to banning the use of P2P torrenting on their servers, but I'm happy to see ZenMate and others continuing to support this valuable service.
6. No Viruses
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.
7. Supports Many Devices
Thanks to the recent edition of OpenVPN software, ZenMate has become a much more versatile VPN alternative.
Is Zenmate Safe Reddit
ZenMate works across web browsers, desktop computers, and mobile platforms. Smart TV devices aren't officially covered, but they can be used with OpenVPN software.
You can 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 recent addition of OpenVPN software makes ZenMate a VPN that you can use on a wide variety of devices anywhere in the home.
ZenMate Cons
While there's much to love about this service, there's still quite a bit to be nervous about.
Unclear logging policies and a jurisdiction placing it right in the crosshairs of a multi-nation surveillance alliance make me antsy.
On top of that, their customer support leaves much to be desired, consisting of a contact form with less-than-stellar responses.
Let's dive into the other side.
1. Logs Your Original IP Address
ZenMate claims that they don't log or hold onto any of your activity or data.
They say in their official privacy policy, 'Our objective is that no personal data is collected, processed or permanently stored.'
Digging a little deeper, I found some more information:
Collecting information about my browser and operating system are not a violation of my privacy. It's not identifying information, so I'm good with this.
Whoa.
Back up.
They're logging my original IP address?
They make sure it's anonymized and it is mentioned that all of it isn't logged. However, it's still collected which still raises a red flag.
It's important to note that the company makes sure to stress that information is not stored once the VPN is enabled. But if you can be identified as someone who is using a VPN, it's not truly anonymous service, even if your activity remains safe.
2. Located in Germany (Within 14 Eyes Jurisdiction)
ZenMate's German location falls under the scope of the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance, the infamous espionage alliance.
How secure is 'secure' when 14 different governments can have their hands in your information?
3. IP Leaks Detected
DNS and WebRTC leaks can completely unravel a VPNs 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 is out for the world to see.
Out of six tests, ZenMate only failed one, but even one failure is enough to put a VPN's safety into 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
That's a major issue.
4. Buggy, Crashing, and Wouldn't Start
I attempted to use ZenMate for Windows.
Please note the word 'attempt.'
When I first clicked the download link on their website, I was shocked at how fast it loaded onto my laptop. It was downloaded and opened within 10 seconds.
Then, my astonishment turned to frustration very quickly.
That blank white screen was all I got. If I moved the mouse over where login fields should be I got a cursor, so this was clearly just an issue with the program.
I minimized the window and opened it back up.
The blank white screen turned into a blank black screen.
I stopped banging my head on my desk, took an ibuprofen, and reached out to their customer support department, receiving the following email the next day:
This was irritating as it is clearly a ‘copy and paste' response. I had already sent them the two screenshots with my ticket submission, so it seems like my initial request for help was barely read.
If I were a consumer and not a reviewer, I would have uninstalled their program immediately and moved on with my life.
Instead, since I love my job, I answered their questions and sent them the screenshots for a second time.
Still no response.
5. Timely, But Vague Support Response
ZenMate uses a contact form for their customer support tickets. I was very impressed by how much their system has changed since I first tried to use it in early summer 2018.
First, you click on the support link at the top of the page.
Once you've arrived at the Support page, you'll notice a small 'Help' button in the lower right-hand corner.
After you've clicked on that, their customer support contact form pops up.
I asked about their torrenting services, and whether or not the TOR service works on their network. My request was sent through at around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, 2018.
I was dismayed to find that I received no automatic email confirming that my question was received. This is usually a good service as it gives a consumer peace of mind knowing that someone has received their query and will be in contact.
Instead, I was left scratching my head and wondering when or if I would receive any response.
I received a response less than 24 hours later, though I wasn't thrilled with it at all.
This was a timely response, however, it doesn't really answer my questions. I asked if their service allows TOR and torrenting. They answered questions related to torrenting service but they never directly addressed my initial query.
I know from my own research that they allow P2P services with their paid plan. I think that's what Adam here is trying to tell me, but he doesn't come out and say it.
Instead, they pushed their premium service on me without ever acknowledging the initial question.
While they've definitely stepped up their customer support game over the years, ZenMate still has a long way to go in this regard.
ZenMate VPN Costs, Plans, & Payment Options
There are three tiers to ZenMate besides the free option.
Like most free services, the free option is quite limited. You've got TLS encryption, their firewall services, browser extensions, and servers located in Germany, Hong Kong, the United States, and Romania.
But since the free service is limited only to the browser extensions, it's a proxy and not a full VPN. It encrypts the data passing through the browser, but not through other services on your computer.
Otherwise, you gotta pay.
The Premium package comes with the full desktop VPN client for Windows or Mac, the fastest speeds, the use of almost 300 servers in 31 countries, Malware blocking, and tracking protection.
It is priced at $11.99 per month on a month to month basis, which is on par with what most VPNs are charging for no commitment. For a one year plan, you're saving 67% and paying $3.99 per month. If you want to use it for two years year, the price drops down to an even better $2.05 per month.
ZenMate's customer support is entirely satisfactory, although it doesn't have a live chat option. You need to fill out a contact form to submit a customer support ticket, but you'll get a timely response. The customer support agents are very friendly and polite and will help you resolve any problem you may encounter. They're dedicated to providing every customer with excellent user experiences.
Does ZenMate work in China?
Unfortunately for Chinese users, ZenMate doesn't work in China. You can see on the VPN provider's website that it recommends the users in China not to sign up for its paid subscription, as it can't guarantee that the VPN service will work.
Final Verdict
So, is ZenMate a good VPN after all? It ticks almost all the boxes and is quite the right choice for helping you stay anonymous online and protecting your online privacy and security. Have a quick look at the essential pros and cons, so that you can have a clearer picture and make a wise decision.
The pros of using ZenMate VPN outweigh the cons, but the final decision is entirely up to you, of course. Hopefully, this Zenmate review has helped you make the right decision for your needs, but be sure to take this VPN for a free test drive first, so that you can see for yourself how it all works.
Zenmate VPN offers their users both free and paid subscription.
Their free version has IPSec IKEv2 & L2TP protocols, only the premium version comes with OpenVPN tunneling protocol.
Many VPNs offer 256-bit AES encryption, but Zenmate has only 128-bit encryption.
They claim to have reached as many as 43 million users, founded loudly and proudly on three simple words: Fast. Secure. Easy.
But does ZenMate meet its promise?
Find out in this review…
Zenmate VPN Overview
| OVERALL RANK: | 64 |
| USABILITY: | 0/5 |
| LOG FILES: | Grey Area |
| LOCATIONS: | 31 countries, 298 servers |
| SUPPORT: | Contact Form Only |
| TORRENTING: | Not allowed |
| NETFLIX: | Unblocks Netflix USA |
| ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: | 128 and 256-bit encryption AES; OpenVPN, IPSec, IKEv2, L2TP |
| COST: | $2.05/Month |
| OFFICIAL WEBSITE: | www.ZenMate.com |
ZenMate Pros
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, some far better than others.
For Mac users, ZenMate uses IPSec and IKEv2 protocols. This is a stable and secure protocol that performs well. It's one of the fastest protocols out there and it's super easy to set up, so, awesome.
It does have limited platform support, though, and may be vulnerable to firewalls.
Windows users have access to IPSec and IKEv2 as well, with the added option of L2TP/IPSec.
ZenMate Ultimate, their premium plan, is compatible with OpenVPN software. Through this system, users can 'upgrade' ZenMate's service to the infinitely preferable OpenVPN tunneling protocol. OpenVPN open sourced system is maintained by the entire cybersecurity community and is widely considered the industry standard for safety.
For encryption, ZenMate's protocols support AES, which is used by fortune 500 companies and the federal government alike. It's powerful and secure.
These protocols can run both AES 128 and 256. While 256 is stronger, ZenMate repeatedly states that they believe the 128 is more effective.
They claim that the 256-bit AES used by government agencies is overkill on the individual level, and not worth the added cost. (It also makes it a little faster.)
Still strong enough to land it under the Pros.
2. Speed Loss is 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.
So where does ZenMate fall between the atrociously slow and the moderately decreased?
Somewhere in the middle.
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
- 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
- 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 consider these speeds to be in the pro column, it was a close decision.
Out of the 78 VPNs we've tested, we rank ZenMate #23 in terms of speed.
3. Works With Netflix
Have you ever cursed at this screen?
That error code is 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 duping its system.
Netflix's content is geo-locked, so different areas have different television shows and movies to choose from.
We tested five of ZenMate's servers and two of them managed to work with Netflix. It might be worth noting that both of those servers were located within the US.
Because of this, ZenMate made it onto our list of VPNs that work with Netflix.
4. Sizable Server Park and Kill Switch
According to the main page of their website, they have 298 servers located within 31 different countries. That's pretty impressive, considering a year ago they barely had 40.
They're big into the bypassing of censorship, which is especially helpful if you're using their service in a country that restricts internet use.
They allow five connections per account, which is pretty similar to most VPNs we've reviewed.
One of my favorite ZenMate features is its built-in kill switch. This is an added layer of protection that will abruptly end your session if your signal becomes unsecured. This has become a common feature of most of the best VPNs that we review.
5. Unlimited P2P Torrenting
ZenMate used to get a lot of heat for not allowing torrenting on their servers.
But they've seemingly wisened-up in recent years, offering unlimited P2P traffic on their premium and ultimate packages.
It should be noted, however, that in their terms of service, ZenMate talks about banned activities, and includes something that sounds an awful lot like torrenting.
Torrenting utilizes peer to peer communication to download small bits of large files from multiple people. There's a danger associated with this, of course. You're letting strangers into your system.
That's why most torrenters like to use a VPN as an extra layer of armor between their private information and cybercriminals who want to loot and plunder their system.
Many companies have taken to banning the use of P2P torrenting on their servers, but I'm happy to see ZenMate and others continuing to support this valuable service.
6. No Viruses
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.
7. Supports Many Devices
Thanks to the recent edition of OpenVPN software, ZenMate has become a much more versatile VPN alternative.
Is Zenmate Safe Reddit
ZenMate works across web browsers, desktop computers, and mobile platforms. Smart TV devices aren't officially covered, but they can be used with OpenVPN software.
You can 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 recent addition of OpenVPN software makes ZenMate a VPN that you can use on a wide variety of devices anywhere in the home.
ZenMate Cons
While there's much to love about this service, there's still quite a bit to be nervous about.
Unclear logging policies and a jurisdiction placing it right in the crosshairs of a multi-nation surveillance alliance make me antsy.
On top of that, their customer support leaves much to be desired, consisting of a contact form with less-than-stellar responses.
Let's dive into the other side.
1. Logs Your Original IP Address
ZenMate claims that they don't log or hold onto any of your activity or data.
They say in their official privacy policy, 'Our objective is that no personal data is collected, processed or permanently stored.'
Digging a little deeper, I found some more information:
Collecting information about my browser and operating system are not a violation of my privacy. It's not identifying information, so I'm good with this.
Whoa.
Back up.
They're logging my original IP address?
They make sure it's anonymized and it is mentioned that all of it isn't logged. However, it's still collected which still raises a red flag.
It's important to note that the company makes sure to stress that information is not stored once the VPN is enabled. But if you can be identified as someone who is using a VPN, it's not truly anonymous service, even if your activity remains safe.
2. Located in Germany (Within 14 Eyes Jurisdiction)
ZenMate's German location falls under the scope of the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance, the infamous espionage alliance.
How secure is 'secure' when 14 different governments can have their hands in your information?
3. IP Leaks Detected
DNS and WebRTC leaks can completely unravel a VPNs 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 is out for the world to see.
Out of six tests, ZenMate only failed one, but even one failure is enough to put a VPN's safety into 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
That's a major issue.
4. Buggy, Crashing, and Wouldn't Start
I attempted to use ZenMate for Windows.
Please note the word 'attempt.'
When I first clicked the download link on their website, I was shocked at how fast it loaded onto my laptop. It was downloaded and opened within 10 seconds.
Then, my astonishment turned to frustration very quickly.
That blank white screen was all I got. If I moved the mouse over where login fields should be I got a cursor, so this was clearly just an issue with the program.
I minimized the window and opened it back up.
The blank white screen turned into a blank black screen.
I stopped banging my head on my desk, took an ibuprofen, and reached out to their customer support department, receiving the following email the next day:
This was irritating as it is clearly a ‘copy and paste' response. I had already sent them the two screenshots with my ticket submission, so it seems like my initial request for help was barely read.
If I were a consumer and not a reviewer, I would have uninstalled their program immediately and moved on with my life.
Instead, since I love my job, I answered their questions and sent them the screenshots for a second time.
Still no response.
5. Timely, But Vague Support Response
ZenMate uses a contact form for their customer support tickets. I was very impressed by how much their system has changed since I first tried to use it in early summer 2018.
First, you click on the support link at the top of the page.
Once you've arrived at the Support page, you'll notice a small 'Help' button in the lower right-hand corner.
After you've clicked on that, their customer support contact form pops up.
I asked about their torrenting services, and whether or not the TOR service works on their network. My request was sent through at around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, 2018.
I was dismayed to find that I received no automatic email confirming that my question was received. This is usually a good service as it gives a consumer peace of mind knowing that someone has received their query and will be in contact.
Instead, I was left scratching my head and wondering when or if I would receive any response.
I received a response less than 24 hours later, though I wasn't thrilled with it at all.
This was a timely response, however, it doesn't really answer my questions. I asked if their service allows TOR and torrenting. They answered questions related to torrenting service but they never directly addressed my initial query.
I know from my own research that they allow P2P services with their paid plan. I think that's what Adam here is trying to tell me, but he doesn't come out and say it.
Instead, they pushed their premium service on me without ever acknowledging the initial question.
While they've definitely stepped up their customer support game over the years, ZenMate still has a long way to go in this regard.
ZenMate VPN Costs, Plans, & Payment Options
There are three tiers to ZenMate besides the free option.
Like most free services, the free option is quite limited. You've got TLS encryption, their firewall services, browser extensions, and servers located in Germany, Hong Kong, the United States, and Romania.
But since the free service is limited only to the browser extensions, it's a proxy and not a full VPN. It encrypts the data passing through the browser, but not through other services on your computer.
Otherwise, you gotta pay.
The Premium package comes with the full desktop VPN client for Windows or Mac, the fastest speeds, the use of almost 300 servers in 31 countries, Malware blocking, and tracking protection.
It is priced at $11.99 per month on a month to month basis, which is on par with what most VPNs are charging for no commitment. For a one year plan, you're saving 67% and paying $3.99 per month. If you want to use it for two years year, the price drops down to an even better $2.05 per month.
The Ultimate Package includes everything you get with the premium, plus a streaming guarantee.
All paid plans come with a 30-day money back guarantee, which is great. I love to see companies standing behind the performance of their product.
As far as payment options go, you have a few choices.
You can use PayPal, credit card, Union Pay, or Qiwi Wallet. No cryptocurrency, unfortunately.
Do We Recommend ZenMate?
No, we do not.
Protocols and encryption are decent. I was happy to see their embrace of OpenVPN, effectively bringing the service to multiple platforms. Definitely a positive step in the right direction!
But…
The fact that it's logging my original IP address and is located within the jurisdiction of a surveillance alliance makes me nervous.
The leaks we found were worrisome. If I'm using a device for security I need to know that it's bulletproof.
My hands-on test was an utter disaster, and I couldn't get the program to work. That solidified my recommendation.
Had the customer service team actually walked me through the issue I was having, I would have been more forgiving. But they clearly only skimmed my questions and offered the most basic non-personalized responses they could muster.
Out of the 78 VPNs we've reviewed, we rank ZenMate at number 64. It missed our bottom 10 by two slots.
I recommend getting a VPN like NordVPN, Surfshark or ExpressVPN.
Don't waste your time (and money) with Zenmate.
Add your own ZenMate review
Cara 1/10
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 5/10
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 4/10
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 1/10
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 10/10
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 10/10
Sorry about Windows
Is Zenmate Vpn Safe
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. Ea harry potter games for mac. 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 7/10
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 4/10
Is Zenmate Safe
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.
Is Zenmate Vpn Safe
David 10/10
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.
