Cisco Umbrella vs Zscaler: SASE / SSE Comparison (2026)
Cisco Umbrella offers a free tier, while Zscaler does not. Both platforms support a zero-trust approach and have undisclosed pricing. Cisco Umbrella highlights industry-leading DNS security and ease of management. Zscaler emphasizes comprehensive SASE/SSE solutions, private access, data security, and support for multiple identity providers.
AI Citation Scorecard
How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask sase / sse questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.
Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.
Pricing
Key Features
- ✓Industry-leading DNS security
- ✓Robust DNS security + more
- ✓Secure Internet Access (SIA)
- ✓Security Service Edge (SSE)
- ✓Secure Internet Access
- ✓Private Access for all users
- ✓Data Security for all apps
- ✓Cyberthreat Protection Standard
- ✓Zero Trust for Workloads
- ✓Comprehensive SASE/SSE solutions
- ✓Traffic Forwarding options
- ✓Multiple Identity Providers (IdP) support
When to choose Cisco Umbrella
Cisco Umbrella is more suitable for users prioritizing a free tier and strong DNS security, along with ease of deployment and management.
When to choose Zscaler
Zscaler is more suitable for organizations seeking comprehensive SASE/SSE solutions with features like private access for all users, data security for all applications, and extensive identity provider support, and where a free tier is not a critical requirement.