Perimeter 81 vs Zscaler
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top business vpn software picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Perimeter 81
Ranked #4 of 14 in this directory
Cloud-based network security platform with ZTNA and secure web gateway
Zscaler
Ranked #2 of 14 in this directory
The world's largest cloud security platform for Zero Trust transformation
Our pick: Zscaler. Our editors rank Zscaler higher overall in Business VPN Software — but Perimeter 81 can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Perimeter 81 | Zscaler | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Ztna | Sase |
| Editorial rank | #4 of 14 | #2 of 14 |
Strengths
Perimeter 81
- ✓Clean, intuitive admin console — easy for non-specialists
- ✓Quick deployment with agent-based and agentless access options
- ✓Now backed by Check Point's enterprise security expertise
- ✓Combines ZTNA with FWaaS and SWG in one platform
- ✓Good balance of features and usability for mid-market
Zscaler
- ✓Market leader processing 400B+ daily transactions
- ✓True Zero Trust — users never touch the network, only specific apps
- ✓Used by 40% of the Fortune 500 with proven scale
- ✓Comprehensive SASE: SWG, CASB, DLP, and ZTNA in one platform
- ✓150+ global data centers for low-latency access worldwide
Watch out for
Perimeter 81
- !Pricing has increased since Check Point acquisition
- !Some features are still being integrated with Check Point ecosystem
- !Fewer global PoPs compared to Zscaler or Cloudflare
- !Customer support quality has varied during transition period
Zscaler
- !Enterprise pricing — expensive for small and mid-market companies
- !Complex deployment requiring professional services
- !Long sales cycles and contract negotiations
- !Can introduce latency for real-time applications
Best use cases
Perimeter 81
- →Mid-market companies implementing Zero Trust without enterprise complexity
- →IT teams wanting a unified network security platform with easy management
- →Organizations migrating from traditional VPN to cloud-delivered security
Zscaler
- →Enterprise Zero Trust transformation replacing legacy VPN infrastructure
- →Securing cloud application access for 10,000+ employee organizations
- →Implementing comprehensive SASE architecture for global operations
About each tool
Perimeter 81
Perimeter 81 provides cloud-delivered network security combining ZTNA, firewall as a service, secure web gateway, and device posture management. Acquired by Check Point in 2023, it offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies network security for mid-market companies. The platform is known for its clean admin console and straightforward deployment.
Zscaler
Zscaler is the market leader in cloud-delivered security, processing 400+ billion transactions daily. Zscaler Private Access (ZPA) replaces VPNs with application-level Zero Trust access — users connect to specific apps, never the network. Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) provides secure web gateway, CASB, and DLP. Used by 40% of the Fortune 500, Zscaler is the enterprise standard for Zero Trust transformation. It's designed for the largest, most complex environments.
Still deciding? Browse all 14 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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