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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

Zenmate VPN vs Astrill VPN 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    Germany-based ZenMate provides a very innovative VPN service and is popular for its many security features and ability to bypass geoblocks that are usually hard to crack. Meanwhile, Astrill VPN is based in Seychelles, a VPN-friendly country, and is well respected for having servers in a wide range of locations. Both providers supply dedicated apps for MacOS, Windows, iOS, and Android devices and provide strong 256-bit encryption across all these platforms. ZenMate and Astrill both operate networks of around 300+ servers, in over 30 and 60 countries, respectively. With regard to advanced features, while ZenMate provides malware blocking and support for VoIP services, Astrill competes by providing dedicated IP addresses and access to IPv6 and DNS leak protection. Astrill offers a 7-day money-back guarantee on new orders, but ZenMate doubles up on this by issuing guaranteed refunds within the first 14 days after you subscribe. This is a closely contested battle, so keep on reading to find out which VPN emerges as the winner.

    Our Score

    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.2/10
    Features 5.3/10
    Pricing 3.6/10
    Ease of Use 5.0/10
    Reliability & Support 7.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 9.1/10

    ZenMate has been a popular VPN for 10+ years, especially with its free browser extensions. It offers low prices and many appealing features like streaming servers and fast speeds. But none of this matters if it can’t keep you safe, so I decided to find out if it really can. After my tests, I can say ZenMate is a safe VPN offering great value. It works great for streaming, has fast speeds at cl...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    M
    Mattew
    10.0/10
    Good experience

    No matter your location, using a VPN is important for your online security. I got ZenMate for exactly ... that and I am satisfied with it, especially when it constantly improves its service. Customer support helped me so much and I just wanted to say that I've asked for their help a few times. And every time the support was respectful and fast in their response time. Keep it up!More

    Latest negative user review
    K
    Kaleo
    4.0/10
    Buggy and Unreliable

    Good when it works, with a limited number of available servers. However, 1. Does not always connect ... to the fastest server. 2. On the Mac, it does not automatically connect to a server. 3. On iOS, it does connect automatically BUT does not do so consistently. 4. The Mac app has been buggy and not connecting at all, FOR MONTHS. They still have not fixed it.More

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 5.3/10

    Astrill VPN is one of the most popular VPNs to use in China. But it's also one of the most expensive VPNs available and doesn't have a money-back guarantee. With such a big investment, is it still the best VPN for China, and should you try it if you're located elsewhere? After my tests, I can confirm it's an excellent VPN for China but falls short in other areas. It offers slow speeds and clunky a...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    N
    Nestor
    10.0/10
    Been using it for a long time.. but have to go

    I have been using Astrill for more than 10 years. Never had a problem. A couple of times I used the ch... at for support and it was excellent. However this is probably going to be my last year. Reason .... price. With the virus crisis I am unemployed and can not afford it. They do not give any kind of discount and keep raising the price year after year. I am not in China so I suspend it, I do not need all those features.More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    Jim
    2.0/10
    Don’t even think of it if you own Apple products

    Worst VPN ever. Unreliable, unstable. It’s utterly expensive. Forget about streaming. Apple products a... re almost useless with it. Technical support team answers are pretty much like “Why don’t you turn it off and on?”. Please don’t waste your money as I did. They don’t even have a refund policy!More

    Pricing

    Starting price $1.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $12.5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 0 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    ZenMate provides a powerful VPN service that’s packed with advanced security features and capable of bypassing tough geoblocks from around the world. Astrill, on the other hand, is also a reliable VPN provider with many useful security features, and server presence in a wider range of countries.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    If you need to download torrents, we recommend using Astrill, which supports P2P file sharing on its servers and keeps you anonymous with features like advanced leak protection. ZenMate also allows torrenting on its servers, however.

    Best VPN for Windows

    ZenMate offers a dedicated Windows app that includes access to malware blocking and tracking protection. It also has a very user-friendly interface. The availability of a kill switch, access to OpenWeb and StealthVPN protocol options, and the ability to easily bypasses tough geoblocks are some of the most attractive qualities of Astrill’s dedicated app for Windows.

    Best VPN for Android

    ZenMate’s Android app has a beautiful layout that’s easy to understand, can be set up within minutes, and includes access to malware and tracking protection. Astrill also features a dedicated Android app that includes leak protection, unlimited server switching, free port scanning, and access to its entire network from your mobile device.

    Best VPN for Mac

    By providing a dedicated app with access to a NAT firewall, malware protection, a kill switch, and an Anti-TCP/IP fingerprinting feature, ZenMate provides a secure service for MacOS. Astrill competes with a powerful VPN app for MacOS that features split tunnelling, leak protection, and access to dedicated IP addresses.

    Best VPN for iOS

    DNS leak protection, malware blocking, and support for multiple languages are some of the best features of ZenMate’s dedicated iOS app. Astrill is also a reliable VPN for iOS users, as it supplies an app that features split tunnelling, IPv6 leak protection, and a Smart Mode that sends only international traffic through the VPN.

    Best VPN for USA

    ZenMate provides a US service that effectively unblocks Netflix and other geo-restricted websites via its dedicated servers. Astrill VPN can also be relied on to unblock US web services from any part of the world, including Netflix-US and similar sites with tough geoblocks.

    The Bottom Line

    These two VPNs put up a good fight for the top prize, but ZenMate’s more budget-friendly prices, longer refund policy, and greater user-friendliness of its apps make it the winner. With a neat layout present across its apps for all platforms, ZenMate is also far better suited for VPN newcomers. Interestingly, ZenMate has difficulty competing against truly elite VPN services. Our top-rated VPNs like NordVPN and CyberGhost offer better prices, higher speeds, larger networks, and better support for anonymous torrenting.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is Zenmate VPN better than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, Zenmate VPN is better overall than Astrill VPN. It has 4700 servers in 81 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $1.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between Zenmate VPN and Astrill VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then Zenmate VPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is Zenmate VPN faster than Astrill VPN?

    Yes, Zenmate VPN is faster than Astrill VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do Zenmate VPN or Astrill VPN offer any deals?

    Both Zenmate VPN and Astrill VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.