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Switching guide

Zscaler alternatives: SASE platforms compared for 2026

Short answer

The highest-scoring alternatives to Zscaler on our weights are Cato Networks, Netskope and Fortinet. Zscaler scores 6.00 and ranks 5 of 6. A SASE migration usually runs site by site, so the right alternative depends on which criteria matter most to you.

By The Transit Desk · Best SASE Platforms · Published

Desk research from each vendor's own public pages.

Why do teams look beyond Zscaler?

  • A private backbone and a PoP or data center count are not stated on the pages we read.
  • Compliance certifications, including FedRAMP, are not stated on the pages we read.
  • CASB and remote browser isolation are not named on the SASE page we read.

Which alternatives score highest?

  1. 1.

    Cato Networks

    Cato Networks total 8.70 / 10
    Cato Networks SASE ring: lists 8 of 8 components.8/88 of 8

    Cato SASE Platform: SD-WAN, SSE, ZTNA and AI security on one global cloud

    Scores higher than Zscaler on: converged architecture, global network, as the vendor states it, component coverage, unified management and policy, vulnerability response transparency, published compliance certifications and deployment options.

    Pairing

  2. 2.

    Netskope

    Netskope total 8.00 / 10
    Netskope SASE ring: lists 8 of 8 components.8/88 of 8

    Netskope One: SSE, SD-WAN and AI security on the NewEdge network

    Scores higher than Zscaler on: converged architecture, global network, as the vendor states it, component coverage, unified management and policy and published compliance certifications.

    Pairing

  3. 3.

    Fortinet

    Fortinet total 7.10 / 10
    Fortinet SASE ring: lists 6 of 8 components.6/86 of 8

    FortiSASE and Fortinet Unified SASE (FortiSASE with Secure SD-WAN on FortiOS)

    Scores higher than Zscaler on: converged architecture, global network, as the vendor states it, unified management and policy, vulnerability response transparency, published compliance certifications and deployment options.

    Zscaler scores higher on: AI security inside the platform.

    Pairing

  4. 4.

    Palo Alto Networks

    Palo Alto Networks total 7.05 / 10
    Palo Alto Networks SASE ring: lists 8 of 8 components.8/88 of 8

    Prisma SASE: Prisma Access, Prisma SD-WAN, Prisma Browser and related products

    Scores higher than Zscaler on: global network, as the vendor states it, component coverage, unified management and policy and published compliance certifications.

    Zscaler scores higher on: converged architecture and AI security inside the platform.

    Pairing

  5. 5.

    Cisco

    Cisco total 5.30 / 10
    Cisco SASE ring: lists 4 of 8 components.4/84 of 8

    Cisco Secure Access (SSE) paired with Cisco SD-WAN or Cisco Meraki SD-WAN

    Scores higher than Zscaler on: unified management and policy, published compliance certifications and deployment options.

    Zscaler scores higher on: converged architecture, global network, as the vendor states it, component coverage and AI security inside the platform.

    Pairing

When does staying with Zscaler make sense?

Staying with Zscaler makes sense if your access model is built on its proxy architecture and zero trust brokering, if you rely on its AI Gateway and MCP and A2A brokers, or if branch connectivity is not part of your scope.

What should a migration plan cover?

Decide whether SD-WAN and branch networking move with the security service or stay separate. List the ZIA and ZPA policies and app segments to migrate, confirm the target's TLS inspection approach, and request certification evidence and network details in the target vendor's own wording.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top-scoring alternative to Zscaler?

Cato Networks at 8.70 on our default weights. It scores higher than Zscaler on converged architecture, global network, as the vendor states it, component coverage, unified management and policy, vulnerability response transparency, published compliance certifications and deployment options.

Which Zscaler alternatives list FedRAMP?

Netskope, Palo Alto Networks and Cisco, on the pages we read.

Which Zscaler alternatives list all eight SASE components?

Cato Networks, Netskope and Palo Alto Networks.

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