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Most buyers should pick Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange.
Choose Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange for its inline model, authorized access controls, and stated protection for users, data, AI agents, and models; its published offer also sets access and traffic limits. Choose Cisco Umbrella if DNS Security or SIG plans fit your need and a 14-day trial matters. Cisco’s the vendor's homepage is broader than Umbrella, so verify Umbrella-specific scope. Neither product publishes subscription prices, making total cost hard to compare.
01Side by side
| Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange | Cisco Umbrella | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | No free plan listed |
| Best for | Inline zero trust access and broader stated protection | DNS security or secure internet access |
| Core strength | Inline, authorized connections | DNS Security and SIG plan options |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Names user data and AI protection | Umbrella-specific details not supplied |
| Team/seat costs | 500-user minimum; ZPA Standard has 1 per 20 subscribed | Education: faculty/staff licensed; students included at no charge |
| Support | Not published | Not published |
Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Choose Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange if
- Choose Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange if inline, authorized access is central.
- Choose Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange if user data and AI protection matter.
- Choose Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange if its listed access limits fit.
Cisco Umbrella Choose Cisco Umbrella if
- Choose Cisco Umbrella if DNS Security plans match your requirements.
- Choose Cisco Umbrella if SIG plans and a 14-day trial appeal.
- Choose Cisco Umbrella if you need its education licensing terms.
02Pricing compared
Neither vendor publishes subscription prices in the published pricing details, so we can’t compare likely spend or total cost. Zscaler lists two packages: Essentials Platform and Zscaler Platform. Essentials includes ZPA Standard at one user per 20 subscribed, with a 500-user minimum, up to 20 App Connectors and 10 App Segments, and 1 GB of Workloads traffic per user monthly. Zscaler Platform lists ZPA for all subscribed users, unlimited App Connectors, 20 App Segments, and 2 GB of Workloads traffic per user monthly. Add-on prices and overage costs are not published.
Cisco lists DNS Security Essentials and Advantage, SIG Essentials and Advantage, Education, and Government offerings; prices are not published. Its listed DNS Security and SIG plans include a 14-day trial. SIG Essentials lists 500 sandbox file-inspection samples daily; SIG Advantage lists unlimited samples. Get quotes before choosing on cost.
03Features and depth
Zscaler describes the Zero Trust Exchange as an inline platform that connects each entity only to resources it is authorized to reach. Its stated scope includes user and data protection, security for deployed AI agents and models, and helping SOCs stop threats. Those are broad platform claims; the published information does not establish how each capability is packaged or priced. The listed access and traffic allowances differ by package, so check the limits against your deployment.
The published Cisco homepage describes Cisco’s wider networking and security portfolio, not Umbrella specifically. It highlights distributed enforcement, zero-trust segmentation, application protection, unified management, and security embedded across network layers. Umbrella’s listed offerings are more specific: DNS Security plans and SIG plans for secure internet access, with different sandbox sample allowances. That gives a clearer starting point for evaluating DNS and internet security, but the homepage material does not confirm how its broader Cisco capabilities map to Umbrella. Verify product scope, integrations, and included controls with Cisco before comparing it directly with Zscaler.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published material is too thin to say which product is easier to deploy or manage. Zscaler’s packages list concrete limits for users, App Connectors, App Segments, traffic, and dedicated IP pairs, which gives buyers specific items to validate during scoping. It does not explain setup effort or day-to-day administration.
Cisco’s the vendor's homepage describes a broad security portfolio, while its Umbrella pricing details name DNS Security and SIG plans. That gap makes Umbrella-specific evaluation harder. Ask both vendors for deployment requirements, management workflows, support terms, and a written list of included features. Cisco lists a 14-day trial for its DNS Security and SIG plans; no Zscaler trial is listed in the published details.
Questions people ask
Is Zscaler getting acquired?
The published information does not say that Zscaler is being acquired, so we can’t confirm an acquisition. It describes Zscaler’s platform and pricing details only. Check a current company announcement or regulatory filing for a reliable answer before treating acquisition talk as fact.
What is the new name for Cisco Umbrella?
The published sources do not say that Cisco Umbrella has a new name. They list Cisco Umbrella offerings including DNS Security and SIG plans, while Cisco’s homepage describes its wider networking and security portfolio. Confirm naming and product availability with Cisco.
What is the difference between ZPA and ZIA?
The published details describe ZPA: Essentials includes ZPA Standard with a user ratio and minimum, while Zscaler Platform includes ZPA for all subscribed users. They do not explain ZIA, so we can’t give a grounded comparison of the two products from these sources alone.
Is Zscaler awful?
That depends on the deployment and requirements. The published review rates Zscaler 6.3 overall, while noting broad zero-trust coverage, meaningful access limits, and unpublished prices. Those details support careful evaluation, not a blanket verdict. Check package limits, costs, and required capabilities before deciding.