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Networking · head to head

Twingate vs Zscaler Internet Access

Twingate logo

Twingate

Networking

Zero trust remote access that publishes individual resources instead of a network

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zscaler Internet Access logo

Zscaler Internet Access

Cybersecurity

Secure cloud-native internet and SaaS access

From
$100/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Twingate has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Twingate the control plane is proprietary and hosted, so it cannot be run inside your own boundary and a vendor outage prevents new connections from being established even though the connectors are yours.; 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: Twingate covers Outbound only connectors, Zscaler Internet Access covers Secure web gateway.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Twingate and Zscaler Internet Access actually diverge.

Attributes where Twingate and Zscaler Internet Access differ
AttributeTwingateZscaler Internet Access
Starting priceFree$100/year
Pricing modelPer user per monthsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, DockerWeb, Desktop, Mobile
CategoryNetworkingCybersecurity
FoundedUnknown2007

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Twingate

  • Outbound only connectors
  • Per resource access
  • Identity provider integration
  • Device posture checks
  • Split routing
  • Access logging

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.

Twingate

  • Retiring a VPN concentrator that grants whole network access to anyone who authenticatesnot Zscaler Internet Access
  • Giving contractors access to two internal applications without putting them on the corporate networknot Zscaler Internet Access
  • Reaching private cloud resources across several accounts without building peering and bastion hostsnot Zscaler Internet Access
  • Producing per user access logs for an audit that a network level VPN cannot supplynot Zscaler Internet Access

Zscaler Internet Access

  • Cloud Securitynot Twingate
  • Zero Trustnot Twingate
  • Web Securitynot Twingate

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Twingate

  • The control plane is proprietary and hosted, so it cannot be run inside your own boundary and a vendor outage prevents new connections from being established even though the connectors are yours.
  • Every device needs the client installed and running, so unmanaged machines, appliances and third parties who will not install software are awkward to accommodate.
  • Pricing is per user per month, so an organisation with many occasional contractors pays full seats for accounts that connect twice a month.
  • Connections are client initiated, so server initiated flows back to a user device, and protocols that need arbitrary inbound reachability, do not fit the model.
  • It replaces remote access but not site to site networking, so an organisation that also needs offices and datacentres meshed together still runs a second network product alongside it.

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

Twingate

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Small number of users
    • Limited remote networks
    • Community support
  • Business$undefined/month
    • Per user per month billing
    • Device posture checks
    • Identity provider group sync
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Custom terms and volume pricing
    • Advanced controls and support commitments
    • Dedicated onboarding

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 Twingate if

  • You need outbound only connectors.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker.
  • You also want per resource access.
Twingate review

Choose Zscaler Internet Access if

  • You need secure web gateway.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want cloud firewall.
Zscaler Internet Access review

Questions people ask

Is Twingate or Zscaler Internet Access better?
Neither clearly leads. Twingate starts at Free 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, Twingate or Zscaler Internet Access?
Twingate has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Twingate and $100/year for Zscaler Internet Access.
Does Twingate or Zscaler Internet Access run on more platforms?
Twingate runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker. Zscaler Internet Access runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use Twingate for free?
Yes. Twingate has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zscaler Internet Access starts at $100/year.
What is Twingate best used for?
Twingate is most often used for retiring a vpn concentrator that grants whole network access to anyone who authenticates, giving contractors access to two internal applications without putting them on the corporate network, reaching private cloud resources across several accounts without building peering and bastion hosts, producing per user access logs for an audit that a network level vpn cannot supply. Of those, retiring a vpn concentrator that grants whole network access to anyone who authenticates and giving contractors access to two internal applications without putting them on the corporate network are not what Zscaler Internet Access is typically brought in for.
What can Twingate do that Zscaler Internet Access cannot?
Twingate covers Outbound only connectors, Per resource access, Identity provider integration, Device posture checks. Zscaler Internet Access covers Secure web gateway, Cloud firewall, URL filtering, Advanced threat protection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Twingate: Can I self host it?

No. Connectors run in your network but the control plane is a hosted service, which is the main structural difference from the open source mesh tools.

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.

Source
Twingate: Does it replace a site to site VPN?

No. It is remote access from users to resources. Connecting networks to each other is a different product category.

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.

Source
Twingate: What happens if Twingate is unavailable?

Established sessions may continue, but new connections depend on the hosted service to broker them, so plan a break glass path for administrators.

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.

Source
Twingate: Is the free tier usable for a small team?

For a handful of users and a small number of remote networks, yes. Group based policies and posture checks are the practical reason to move up.

Zscaler 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.

Source
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