Introduction

In the era of hybrid work and borderless IT environments, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is no longer optional, it’s essential. Traditional VPNs fail to meet today's distributed workforce's dynamic access demands and security standards. Enter ZTNA tools, the cornerstone of secure, user-specific, context-aware access to applications and data.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) is a security approach that provides secure access to applications for remote users by verifying their identity and device health before granting access, rather than trusting all traffic within a network. It moves from traditional VPNs, which often grant broad network access, towards a more granular and secure model.  

What is ZTNA?

ZTNA is a set of technologies that enable remote users to have secure access to private applications without placing them on the network or exposing them to the internet.  

How does it work?

ZTNA uses a secure, encrypted tunnel to connect users to specific applications, providing an extra layer of security. It evaluates the user's identity, device security posture, and other factors before granting access.

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Top 10 ZTNA Tools for Remote Workforces in 2025

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1. Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange

Overview: A leader in Gartner’s ZTNA quadrant, Zscaler offers a cloud-native platform with full inline inspection, user-to-app segmentation, and identity-aware access.

Zscaler Pricing: Tiered per-user pricing. Enterprise-wide plans are available.

Zscaler Licensing Options: Per-user per-month (PUPM), enterprise license agreements.

Best Use Cases: Enterprises with complex hybrid environments.

Pros:

• Seamless Office 365 and SaaS integration

• Fast user onboarding

• Real-time analytics

Cons:

• Complex to manage for smaller IT teams

• Higher cost for advanced features

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 15 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5 - 81 Reviews

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2. Palo Alto Networks Prisma Access

Overview: Cloud-delivered ZTNA solution leveraging ML for dynamic risk-based policies, integrated with Palo Alto’s firewall and XDR suite.

Prisma Access Pricing: Usage-based + user-tier plans.

Prisma Licensing Options: Flexible cloud-delivered security bundles.

Best Use Cases: Enterprises needing unified SASE and ZTNA.

Pros:

• Native integration with Cortex XDR

• Great for regulated industries

• Low-latency access globally

Cons:

• Steep learning curve

• Requires Palo Alto ecosystem for full value

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 53 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5 - 245 Reviews

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3. Cloudflare Zero Trust

Overview: Lightweight and scalable ZTNA via Cloudflare One, emphasizing ease of deployment and WARP client.

Cloudflare Pricing: Free tier available; business plans start affordably.

Cloudflare Licensing Options: Free, Business, Enterprise.

Best Use Cases: Startups, SMBs, or hybrid cloud-first teams.

Pros:

• Quick deployment

• Integrated browser isolation

• Usage-based licensing

Cons:

• Less granular reporting

• The free tier lacks advanced features

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 92 Reviews  
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.5/5 - 206 Reviews

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4. Cisco Duo

Overview: Known for MFA, Duo now supports complete device trust + secure access across cloud and on-prem environments.

Duo Pricing: Per-user per month.

Duo Licensing Options: MFA, Duo Access, Duo Beyond.

Best Use Cases: Organizations already using the Cisco security stack.

Pros:

• Intuitive user interface

• Great for BYOD policies

• Device trust + MFA in one tool

Cons:

• Limited visibility into app traffic

• It may require other Cisco tools for depth

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 395 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5 - 697 Reviews

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5. Tailscale

Overview: WireGuard-based ZTNA tool for simple peer-to-peer connectivity and access control.

Tailscale Pricing: Free for individuals. Teams: $5/user/month.

Tailscale Licensing Options: Free, Teams, Enterprise.

Best Use Cases: Developers, distributed teams, IoT.

Pros:

• Straightforward setup

• No VPN-like complexity

• Ideal for remote-first teams

Cons:

• Limited policy control at scale

• No inline inspection

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 17 Reviews  
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.3/5

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6. Perimeter 81

Overview: Cloud-based ZTNA + firewall + network segmentation in a single interface.

Perimeter 81 Pricing: Starts at $8/month/user.

Perimeter 81 Licensing Options: Essentials, Premium, Enterprise.

Best Use Cases: Mid-market orgs needing SASE + ZTNA.

Pros:

• Unified network & access management

• Intuitive dashboard

• Fast scaling

Cons:

• Logging depth needs improvement

• Customization is limited to the base tier

G2 Rating: 4.6/5
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.5/5

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7. Appgate SDP

Overview: Strong enterprise-grade ZTNA based on software-defined perimeter principles.

Appgate Pricing: Quote-based; varies by endpoint count.

Appgate Licensing Options: Annual enterprise agreements.

Best Use Cases: Enterprises needing advanced micro-segmentation.

Pros:

• Context-rich access decisions

• Great scalability

• On-prem + hybrid support

Cons:

• Steeper deployment time

• Pricing transparency lacking

G2 Rating: 5/5 - 28 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.7/5 - 40 Reviews

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8. NordLayer

Overview: B2B-focused secure access from NordVPN, offering lightweight ZTNA for SMBs and remote teams.

NordLayer Pricing: Starts at $8/user/month.

NordLayer Licensing Options: Basic, Advanced, Enterprise.

Best Use Cases: Growing teams need fast rollout.

Pros:

• Easy to manage

• Quick onboarding

• Affordable for SMBs

Cons:

• Feature set limited compared to bigger players

• No built-in EDR

G2 Rating: 4.5/5 - 117 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4/5 - 1 Review

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9. OpenZiti by NetFoundry

Overview: Open-source ZTNA framework ideal for developers and those building secure network overlays.

OpenZiti Pricing: Free and NetFoundry plans are available.

OpenZiti Licensing Options: Open source, SaaS tiers via NetFoundry.

Best Use Cases: DevSecOps, CI/CD pipelines, embedded ZTNA.

Pros:

• Dev-friendly APIs

• Full network abstraction

• Zero public exposure

Cons:

• Requires technical skill

• Less turnkey than others

G2 Rating: 4/5 - 8 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.6/5 - 7 Reviews

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10. Check Point Harmony Connect

Overview: Secure access via Harmony Connect ZTNA, integrated with Check Point’s threat prevention.

Check Point Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing.

Check Point Licensing Options: CloudGuard + Harmony bundles.

Best Use Cases: Enterprises in regulated industries.

Pros:

• Threat prevention included

• Suitable for financial & healthcare

• Detailed policy templates

Cons:

• Enterprise-focused

• Not designed for SMBs

G2 Rating: 4.4/5 -117 Reviews
Gartner Peer Insights: 4.5/5 - 765 Reviews

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Comparison Table: Top 10 Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Tools for Remote Workforces

FAQ

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Why is it important?

ZTNA reduces the attack surface by limiting access to only necessary resources, minimizing the risk of lateral movement if an attacker gains access. It also offers continuous verification of user and device health, unlike traditional VPNs that typically only authenticate at the point of connection.  

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What are the benefits?

ZTNA offers granular access control, continuous verification, reduced attack surface, and a more secure remote access experience.  

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What are the differences from traditional VPNs?

VPNs often provide broad network access, while ZTNA offers more precise access controls, granting access only to specific applications or resources.  

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How can ZTNA be implemented?

ZTNA solutions often integrate with identity providers (IdPs) and single sign-on (SSO) platforms, enabling seamless user authentication and authorization. They may also use agents on user devices to assess device security posture.  

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What are the challenges of ZTNA?

Implementing ZTNA can require careful policy definition to avoid creating bottlenecks or slowing down critical processes.

Conclusion

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As enterprises embrace remote-first or hybrid workforces, Zero Trust Network Access tools are becoming a non-negotiable part of the modern IT stack. Each solution on this list offers something unique, from low-code deployment to enterprise-grade policy engines.

While deploying ZTNA, managing associated SaaS licensing, usage visibility, and cost optimization becomes equally critical. That’s where CloudNuro.ai comes in. As a SaaS Management Platform (SMP) recognized by Gartner, CloudNuro helps IT teams:

• Track license consumption across ZTNA & security apps

• Identify underutilized tools

• Optimize renewals and cost planning

Explore the CloudNuro platform and gain complete control of your ZTNA and SaaS ecosystem.

👉 Book a Free Demo with CloudNuro.ai

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