ZenMate VPN Review

The modern age has brought a lot of advancement in terms of technology, greater awareness of social issues, and more. However, the negative was not far behind, and many would argue that we have a lot more problems than solutions these days. With the world migrating more and more towards a digital version, the same issues are appearing there.

Today, depending on where you live,  your online freedom might be restricted, or even entirely taken away. Countries like China have power over what their citizens can do, see, or access. While China is considered an extreme case in this aspect, new internet laws are emerging around the world, and it doesn’t look pretty.

Therefore, it’s important to have a way to avoid censorship and restrictions, as well as malware, cyber threats, and snooping. The necessity for increased online security has led to the rise of VPNs, with countless providers emerging. However, it is not easy to decide which of them is providing a good service. To help out with that, we have reviewed many VPNs thus far and will continue to do so.

Today, we will check out ZenMate VPN, and see whether or not the service is truly as good as it claims to be.

ZenMate Features

• Server network: ZenMate has a decent server network spread across 31 locations around the world. It’s not as impressive as its elite peers, but it still has a presence on every continent.
• Encryption: The company uses 128-bit AES-GCM encryption, which is not the best one in the market. Nonetheless, it should keep your data safe.
• Security protocols: ZenMate uses TLS 1.2 (RFC 5246) protocol, which provides quite decent protection when combined with its other security features.
• Kill Switch: This feature prevents online exposure in case the service malfunctions or stops working. 
• P2P support: The brand now allows full P2P file sharing and torrenting activity. It even allows you to protect yourself while torrenting.
• Multiple device support: You can connect up to five devices at once using the same account, which is great for those using multiple different devices.
• Works with Netflix: ZenMate is one of the few VPNs that Netflix hasn’t blocked yet, meaning you can access any library you want.
• Great speeds: While speeds are often an issue with VPNs, ZenMate was a pleasant surprise in this department. It actually managed to maintain pretty good speeds even when connected to far away servers.
• Zero DNS leaks: The company offers a great DNS leak protection, and it had absolutely no DNS leaks during testing, which is quite impressive.
• Smart Location feature: This allows you to connect to the best server available. In most cases, that means the closest one.
• No log policy: Even though ZenMate offers a no log policy, it does keep some of your data like emails and contact information.
• 7-day free trial: Apart from having a free version, ZenMate will also let you try out its premium version for free during the first seven days. After that, however, they will start charging you for a subscription, unless you cancel it first.

Interface

The ZenMate app interface is pretty much the same across all devices, so it should feel familiar no matter what you use. It is easy to navigate, very straightforward, and user-friendly.

The interface consists of a white background with a green ZenMate logo, below which is the country you’re connected to. You’ll find other information as well, such as download and upload speed, and the length of your connection. Additional settings are found beneath, and that is pretty much it. It is a great app for new users, and all you need to do to connect to a server is to tap on the shield-shaped logo.

Apps

As I mentioned earlier, ZenMate allows you to connect to five different devices simultaneously using a single account. While you can manually configure most VPNs to work on different devices, the process requires some amount of technical knowledge.

You likely won’t have such issues with ZenMate, as it provides apps for Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and Linux. It also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Furthermore, it even has an app that works with OpenVPN.

Unfortunately, ZenMate doesn’t have dedicated apps for Smart TVs, routers, and gaming consoles yet. However, the company is always looking to improve its services and could introduce more apps in the future.

If you need a VPN for one of those devices, you can either attempt to tweak one of the existing apps yourself or choose another service. 

Privacy and Security

ZenMate provides TLS 1.2 (RFC 5246) protocol with 128-bit AES-GCM encryption, RSA handshaking, and strong SHA 384 for authentication. One negative thing about this service is that it is based in Germany, which is a part of the 14 eyes alliance.

For those who do not know, 14 eyes alliance is a surveillance alliance that includes 14 countries from around the world. This means that all these nations can request data of pretty much anyone under their jurisdiction.

That is why the company strongly claims that it doesn’t log any of your data, except for email addresses and contact information. In other words, you’ll remain anonymous while using the service, but the authorities may eventually find out that you are a VPN user.

As for P2P, it is a gray area that is neither encouraged nor strictly banned. It might be a good idea to talk to customer support before actually starting with torrenting. Although, you should be safe considering that the service does not record your activities.

Server Locations

ZenMate’s server network isn’t as large as its elite counterparts. However, it still has a presence on every continent apart from Antarctica, which is great for accessing and unlocking different content from all over the world.

The company has servers in 31 locations: 

• Americas: Canada, the US, and Brazil.
• Africa: South Africa.
• Asia & Pacific: Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Israel.
• Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the UK.

Installation and setup

Downloading and installing ZenMate apps is quite easy and quick. After signing up and choosing a payment plan, simply choose the app for the device you need, and follow the guidelines. The service is well-organized, with a pleasant design, clear notifications, and easily accessible features.

Moreover, you can just as easily download and install the browser extensions for the three most popular browsers — Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

Pricing and Payment Options

You should keep in mind that ZenMate VPN features a free and a premium version. The free plan does not offer the same benefits as the paid class. However, it is a great way to check the service out, and see if you like what it offers.

As for the premium version, it offers a 7-day free trial period, as well as 30-day money back guarantee. The brand gives you three different opportunities to check out the service without spending a single penny, which is a great deal.

As for the plans and prices, There are three packages you could choose from:

• 1-month plan for $9.99 
• 1- year plan for $47.88 ($3.99 per month)
• 2-year plan for $49.20 ($2.05 per month)

Help and support

Finally, there is the small matter of customer support, which is also an important factor when choosing a VPN. A lot of VPNs don’t understand that customers need to establish quick contact and get the solution as fast as possible if they run into difficulties.

Unfortunately, ZenMate is one of them. The only way to contact the company is via email. The support is pretty quick when it comes to responding, and their answers can be helpful. However, many users prefer to have a live chat available at all times.

Still, their website is filled with good setup guides, a detailed FAQ, and answers to several questions. However, if you run into an actual issue, all you have is their email.

Zenmate pros:

• Excellent speeds
• Reliable connection
• Good encryption
• Great security features
• Easy to use
• Smart Location feature
• Support for all platforms, devices, and operating systems
• Helpful customer support
• Well-organized website
• No log policy
• A free version, free trial, and a proper-length money return guarantee
• P2P support

Zenmate cons:

• Located in 14 Eyes jurisdiction
• No 24/7 live chat
• Keeps some data about you

Other VPN Providers

If you’re still not too sure about ZenMate VPN, the list below features some of the highest-ranked brands in the industry:

 

Conclusion

So is this a good VPN service to use? We believe so. It has some issues, like the fact that it stores certain contact info when it promises a zero-log policy. However, that only proves that you are a VPN user, nothing more, and using one is certainly legal.

Also, it will protect you with great security features, and it will certainly provide you with excellent speeds. The monthly price is about the same as that of much better services, but when it comes to the annual plans, they are much cheaper. Plus, there is always the free version if you do not wish to pay for it. The server network is not exactly massive, but it should do the trick, and you can even use it to unlock Netflix, which is a rare characteristic these days.

All in all, it is not among the top services, but it is not as bad as other providers. 

Review summary

Choosing the right VPN service to keep your online anonymity and secure your traffic can be tough, as they all claim to be the best. But few of them can actually prove it. In this review, we have checked out ZenMate VPN, listed its strengths and flaws, and explored what it has to offer. Now, it’s up to you to decide if this brand is right for you.