Cybersecurity · head to head
Netwrix vs Zscaler Internet Access
Netwrix
Cybersecurity
Data access governance and change auditing across Active Directory, file shares and Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Zscaler Internet Access
Cybersecurity
Secure cloud-native internet and SaaS access
- From
- $100/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Netwrix the portfolio is assembled from acquisitions, so consoles, agents and licensing metrics differ between products and the platform story is ahead of the engineering reality.; Zscaler Internet Access the pricing page names two base tiers, Essentials Platform and Zscaler Platform, plus modular add ons including three Digital Experience Monitoring tiers, but publishes no dollar figures anywhere and routes buyers to a demo request for cost
- They diverge on capability: Netwrix covers Change auditing, Zscaler Internet Access covers Secure web gateway.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Netwrix and Zscaler Internet Access actually diverge.
| Attribute | Netwrix | Zscaler Internet Access |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $100/year |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Web | Web, Desktop, Mobile |
| Founded | Unknown | 2007 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Netwrix
- Change auditing
- Effective permissions
- Data classification
- Access remediation
- Threat detection
- Group policy management
Only in Zscaler Internet Access
- Secure web gateway
- Cloud firewall
- URL filtering
- Advanced threat protection
- Data loss prevention
- Cloud sandbox
- Browser isolation
- CASB
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Netwrix
- An organisation that cannot tell an auditor who has access to a sensitive file share and needs an answer with evidencenot Zscaler Internet Access
- A security team reducing ransomware blast radius by removing Everyone and Domain Users permissions from sensitive datanot Zscaler Internet Access
- An IT team investigating an unexplained Active Directory change and needing the exact account, time and previous valuenot Zscaler Internet Access
- A company responding to GDPR data subject access requests that must first locate personal data scattered across legacy sharesnot Zscaler Internet Access
Zscaler Internet Access
- Cloud Securitynot Netwrix
- Zero Trustnot Netwrix
- Web Securitynot Netwrix
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Netwrix
- The portfolio is assembled from acquisitions, so consoles, agents and licensing metrics differ between products and the platform story is ahead of the engineering reality.
- Licensing metrics vary by product, per enabled user for some and per managed asset for others, which makes assembling a multi-product quote unusually difficult to compare against a single-vendor competitor.
- Auditing agents and collectors add load to domain controllers and file servers, and large estates need careful sizing to avoid degrading the systems being monitored.
- It reports and remediates but does not enforce access decisions at request time, so it complements rather than replaces identity governance and buyers still need an IGA tool for certification workflows.
- Coverage is strongest on Microsoft estates; Linux, NAS appliances and non-Microsoft SaaS are supported unevenly and often need additional modules or trail behind on feature parity.
Zscaler Internet Access
- The pricing page names two base tiers, Essentials Platform and Zscaler Platform, plus modular add ons including three Digital Experience Monitoring tiers, but publishes no dollar figures anywhere and routes buyers to a demo request for cost
Pricing, plan by plan
Netwrix
On request- Netwrix Platform$undefined/year
- Priced per enabled user or per managed asset depending on the product
- Auditing, data classification, privileged access and threat products licensed separately
- Netwrix 1Secure SaaS console with a 14-day free trial
Zscaler Internet Access
$100/year- ZIA Business$100/year
- Web security
- URL filtering
- Cloud firewall
- ZIA Transformation$200/year
- All Business features
- Advanced threat protection
- Cloud sandbox
- ZIA Unlimited$350/year
- All Transformation features
- Cloud browser isolation
- CASB
Which should you pick?
Choose Netwrix if
- You need change auditing.
- You work on Windows, Web.
- You also want effective permissions.
Choose Zscaler Internet Access if
- You need secure web gateway.
- You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- You also want cloud firewall.
Questions people ask
- Is Netwrix or Zscaler Internet Access better?
- Neither clearly leads. Netwrix starts at On request and Zscaler Internet Access at $100/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Netwrix or Zscaler Internet Access?
- Netwrix starts at On request and Zscaler Internet Access at $100/year.
- Does Netwrix or Zscaler Internet Access run on more platforms?
- Netwrix runs on Windows, Web. Zscaler Internet Access runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
- What is Netwrix best used for?
- Netwrix is most often used for an organisation that cannot tell an auditor who has access to a sensitive file share and needs an answer with evidence, a security team reducing ransomware blast radius by removing everyone and domain users permissions from sensitive data, an it team investigating an unexplained active directory change and needing the exact account, time and previous value, a company responding to gdpr data subject access requests that must first locate personal data scattered across legacy shares. Of those, an organisation that cannot tell an auditor who has access to a sensitive file share and needs an answer with evidence and a security team reducing ransomware blast radius by removing everyone and domain users permissions from sensitive data are not what Zscaler Internet Access is typically brought in for.
- What can Netwrix do that Zscaler Internet Access cannot?
- Netwrix covers Change auditing, Effective permissions, Data classification, Access remediation. Zscaler Internet Access covers Secure web gateway, Cloud firewall, URL filtering, Advanced threat protection.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Netwrix: Does it replace identity governance?
No. It shows you who has access and lets you fix it, but recertification campaigns and access request workflow are an IGA product.
Zscaler Internet Access: How many pricing tiers does Zscaler Internet Access offer?
Zscaler Internet Access offers two main platform bundles: the Essentials Platform (entry-level) and the Zscaler Platform (comprehensive). Specific pricing is not published online.
SourceNetwrix: Is there a SaaS option?
Netwrix 1Secure is the cloud console covering data and identity visibility, with a 14-day free trial including full access.
Zscaler Internet Access: Are there optional add-on modules available?
Yes. Zscaler offers extensive optional capabilities in five categories including Inline Cyberthreat Protection, Private Access enhancements, Data Security, Security Operations, and Zero Trust Branch.
SourceNetwrix: How is it priced?
Per enabled user or per managed asset depending on the product, quoted rather than published. Assume separate line items per module.
Zscaler Internet Access: How is Zscaler Zero Trust Branch priced?
Zero Trust Branch is sized by encrypted throughput (200 Mbps to 10 Gbps) or endpoint count (200 to 5,000 endpoints), with pricing varying by configuration.
SourceZscaler Internet Access: How do I get Zscaler pricing?
Zscaler does not publish pricing online. You must request a demo or contact their sales team to receive a pricing quote.
SourceRelated pages
More on Zscaler Internet Access
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