NordLayer
8.2/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $8/user/mo
- Reviews
- 4.3/5 (G2)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs wanting an easy business VPN evolving toward zero-trust network access
Best ZTNA / Business VPN · 2026
NordLayer vs 
Zscaler Private Access NordLayer vs Zscaler Private Access: on our data-weighted scoring, Zscaler Private Access edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.4/10). NordLayer starts at $8/user/mo and is best for smbs wanting an easy business vpn evolving toward zero-trust network access; Zscaler Private Access starts at Custom quote and is best for enterprises replacing legacy vpn with cloud-delivered, scalable zero-trust access at the largest scale. Choose Zscaler Private Access for the stronger overall track record; consider NordLayer if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
Zscaler Private Access
8.8/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.5/5 (~65 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- —
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Enterprises replacing legacy VPN with cloud-delivered, scalable zero-trust access at the largest scale
Affiliate links — vendors may pay us a commission. It never affects our data-driven ranking.
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | NordLayer | Zscaler Private Access |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.4 | 7.9 |
| User reviews | 8.6 | 9.0 |
| Adoption | 0.0 | 4.8 |
| Affordability | 4.3 | 5.0 |
| Feature breadth | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Ease of trial | 3.0 | 3.0 |
NordLayer vs Zscaler Private Access: head-to-head
| NordLayer | Zscaler Private Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing model | per user | quote |
| Free trial / tier | — | — |
| Best for | SMBs wanting an easy business VPN evolving toward zero-trust network access | Enterprises replacing legacy VPN with cloud-delivered, scalable zero-trust access at the largest scale |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 (65) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.4 | 7.9 |
Choose NordLayer if…
You need smbs wanting an easy business vpn evolving toward zero-trust network access.
Pros
- Easy to deploy + manage
- Nord Security brand backing
- 14-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No free tier (5-user minimum)
- Dedicated IP/gateway costs extra
- Less ZTNA depth than Zscaler/Cato
Choose Zscaler Private Access if…
You need enterprises replacing legacy vpn with cloud-delivered, scalable zero-trust access at the largest scale.
Pros
- Market-leading scale + reliability
- Strong app-segmentation security
- Massive integration ecosystem
Cons
- Among the priciest ZTNA
- Quote-only (no public list price)
- Complex to fully deploy
In depth
Pricing: Zscaler Private Access vs NordLayer
Zscaler Private Access bills on a quote model from Custom quote (no trial), while NordLayer uses a per user model from $8/user/mo. Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.
Features & deployment
Zscaler Private Access ships 6 headline capabilities (Cloud-delivered ZTNA, App segmentation (apps invisible to internet), No inbound connections / dark cloud, 150+ global data centers) and deploys Cloud. NordLayer ships 6 (Cloud business VPN + ZTNA, Network segmentation, Dedicated servers + static IP, Device posture security), deploying Cloud.
Ratings & verdict
Zscaler Private Access holds 4.5/5 (~65 G2 reviews); NordLayer holds 4.3/5 (G2). On our data-weighted score, Zscaler Private Access edges ahead (8.1 vs 7.4/10). Pick NordLayer instead when smbs wanting an easy business vpn evolving toward zero-trust network access. See Zscaler Private Access alternatives or NordLayer alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
- NordLayer vs Zscaler Private Access: which is better?
- NordLayer vs Zscaler Private Access: on our data-weighted scoring, Zscaler Private Access edges ahead (7.9 vs 7.4/10). NordLayer starts at $8/user/mo and is best for smbs wanting an easy business vpn evolving toward zero-trust network access; Zscaler Private Access starts at Custom quote and is best for enterprises replacing legacy vpn with cloud-delivered, scalable zero-trust access at the largest scale.
- Is NordLayer cheaper than Zscaler Private Access?
- NordLayer starts at $8/user/mo and Zscaler Private Access starts at Custom quote (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of June 16, 2026. Sources: nordlayer.com, zscaler.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.