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.
Advertising Disclosure

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.

PrivateVPN vs Zenmate VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.2/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 9.1/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, Cyberghost and Expressvpn are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Managing Editor

    PrivateVPN and ZenMate are among the most respected VPNs on the market and are known for excellent security, with advanced features like leak protection, 256-bit encryption, and a kill switch. They both provide apps for all major operating systems, including iOS and Android, and are capable of getting past tough geo-restrictions, even the blocks on providers like Netflix and Hulu. Differences between these providers include contrasting approaches to building out a server network. While ZenMate provides around 300 servers in over 30 countries, PrivateVPN operates a streamlined array of over 100 servers in 56 countries. PrivateVPN also allows up to six simultaneous device connections, while ZenMate allows only five. In addition, PrivateVPN has a more generous refund policy, offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, while ZenMate offers refunds within 14 days for new subscribers. One standout feature of PrivateVPN’s service is the availability of Remote Help for users struggling to install the apps on their devices. No other VPN provider offers a similar option. So PrivateVPN has claimed the early lead – read on to see which of these VPNs comes out on top in the end.

    Our Score

    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 8.8/10
    Reliability & Support 9.2/10
    Features 9.1/10
    Pricing 9.4/10
    Ease of Use 9.2/10
    Reliability & Support 9.2/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 9.2/10

    PrivateVPN advertises itself as one of the best VPNs for streaming at a low price. It also claims to have great torrenting support, strong security features, and a true no-logs policy. But PrivateVPN is a small company, so can it compete with the biggest VPNs? To learn the answer, I tested out everything it offers. My global team and I found out if it really lets you stream securely in the bes...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    D
    Daniel Andersson
    10.0/10
    Works Great for many years.

    I've been using their service for a great many years, and I'm very pleased indeed. Great service and s... upport, and more than enough speed for covering my needs. As long as they have coverage in countries I need to connect to, the number of servers in total is less relevant, as long as the servers they Do have provide enough speeds. They also support Wireguard, which is seldom mentioned in these reviews, probably since they don't have it in their native app, but they do and it's rock solid using that with their provided config files, and that in and of itself also increases the connection speeds, at least for me. All in all, they provide anything and all I want from a VPN provider. What others see as a downside, split tunneling and such, I see as a strength. I want my VPN provider to stick their nose in my business as little as possible, but rather provide a "clean VPN line" and then let Me decide what to do with my routing table. In short, they're Great, for my needs, but others will have to test and make up their own minds. :-DMore

    Latest negative user review
    E
    Emil
    2.0/10
    Been There

    I've been using PrivateVPN for a year. The main reason was due to good price. It's slow, on certain ho... urs of the day you can't watch video smoothly. They have down time or some other problem frequently and it take ages to fix it. Customer support are so poor that my mum without IT knowledge could probably do a better job. Now I switched to another one and feelings for PrivateVPN is much worse because I have something to compare withMore

    Read the full review
    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

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $1.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    PrivateVPN is a top-rated VPN provider that offers rock-solid security features and very fast servers capable of bypassing the toughest geoblocks undetected. ZenMate also has a reliable service with many innovative security features and user-friendly cross-platform apps.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    PrivateVPN offers one of the best available VPN services for torrenting, with high-speed servers that fully support P2P file-sharing and a strict no-logs policy. ZenMate offers support for torrenting and P2P file sharing on its paid plans, but it’s worth noting that for a long time, this provider expressly prohibited P2P activity on its servers.

    Best VPN for Windows

    By providing a Windows app with a sleek design and security features like IPv6 leak protection and remote help for installation, PrivateVPN makes it hard for many other providers to compete. With ZenMate’s dedicated Windows app, you can benefit from a built-in malware blocker and a smooth user interface.

    Best VPN for Android

    PrivateVPN provides a reliable service for Android devices that features a dedicated app, StealthVPN, and access to its entire network of servers in 56 countries. ZenMate also has an Android app that features tracking and wi-fi protection.

    Best VPN for Mac

    If you need a powerful VPN for MacOS that features support for the OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, IKEv2, and IPSec protocols, alongside 2048-bit encryption with AES-256 and tracking protection, PrivateVPN is an ideal choice. MacOS users can also trust ZenMate’s dedicated app, which offers high-level security features like advanced leak protection.

    Best VPN for iOS

    PrivateVPN offers access to very fast servers from its iOS app, which includes features like tracking and IPv6 leak protection. ZenMate competes with its own iOS app that actively blocks malware to keep your data safe, and a kill switch to prevent unsecure connections.

    Best VPN for USA

    PrivateVPN offers an exceptional service for the USA, with high-speed dedicated servers that unblock Netflix and hundreds of similar websites worldwide. ZenMate also unblocks Netflix-US and many similar sites. The only drawback is that it does not match up to the speed of PrivateVPN.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    PrivateVPN is one of the most reliable VPN providers in the world for overall security, and it wins this contest for numerous reasons. It provides very fast servers for easy torrenting or smooth streaming of your favorite shows. Yet in spite of offering superior performance and a wider variety of features, PrivateVPN actually costs less than ZenMate! Finally, PrivateVPN’s technical support, including Team Viewer remote installation assistance, helps it cement its position not only as the winner of this comparison, but as one of the best VPN providers in the world.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with PrivateVPN
    Go with Zenmate VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is PrivateVPN better than Zenmate VPN?

    Yes, PrivateVPN is better overall than Zenmate VPN. It has 200 servers in 63 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between PrivateVPN and Zenmate 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 PrivateVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is PrivateVPN faster than Zenmate VPN?

    Yes, PrivateVPN is faster than Zenmate 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 PrivateVPN or Zenmate VPN offer any deals?

    Both PrivateVPN and Zenmate 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

    Kate is a Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promotes the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.