ZenMate is no longer sold as a standalone VPN, and its former desktop and mobile apps are retired. ZenMate stopped creating new accounts and selling new subscriptions on 16 March 2023. Its paid VPN service then moved to CyberGhost apps, with support for the old ZenMate apps ending on 1 May 2023.
This retained ZenMate review explains what changed, what former subscribers should do, how the browser extension differs from the retired apps and which supported VPNs UK users can consider now.
Last updated: 6 October 2026
Do not buy a ZenMate activation code or download an old ZenMate desktop or mobile installer from a third-party website. Former paid subscribers were directed to use CyberGhost apps with their ZenMate login. Any remaining account, renewal or billing issue must be checked through ZenMate's official account and support routes.
ZenMate review: current status
| Service detail | Current position |
|---|---|
| Standalone VPN status | Retired and no longer sold to new customers |
| New accounts and subscriptions stopped | 16 March 2023 |
| Old desktop and mobile app support ended | 1 May 2023 |
| Successor app | CyberGhost VPN |
| Current ZenMate pricing or trial | Not available to new customers |
| Old paid account | Check the ZenMate account portal or ZenMate support |
| Old ZenMate apps | Unsupported; uninstall them and remove obsolete VPN profiles |
| Browser extension | Treated separately in the 2023 notice; do not assume an old extension is a maintained full-device VPN |
What happened to ZenMate?
ZenMate announced that its engineering team was joining forces with CyberGhost and that CyberGhost's mobile and desktop applications would provide the VPN service from 16 March 2023. At the same time, ZenMate stopped creating new accounts and selling new subscriptions.
The old ZenMate desktop and mobile applications remained supported only until 1 May 2023. After that date, paying ZenMate subscribers were instructed to download CyberGhost and sign in using their existing ZenMate credentials.
This was more than a normal app update. ZenMate ceased to be a current standalone VPN purchase, while CyberGhost supplied the working apps and server network. The old ZenMate prices, server list, device allowance, performance, settings and streaming results therefore cannot be used as current product information.
The dates and transition process are set out in ZenMate's own official service-change announcement.
Did ZenMate become CyberGhost?
CyberGhost became the application and VPN-service provider for ZenMate subscribers, but ZenMate did not simply rename its old apps. CyberGhost has its own applications, features, plans, terms and support system.
ZenMate's 2023 notice said existing subscribers could use their ZenMate login with CyberGhost apps. It also said ZenMate would continue to manage ZenMate subscriptions and account support, while CyberGhost support would not have access to the underlying ZenMate account.
The notice described an authentication process that allowed CyberGhost apps to validate a ZenMate login without receiving the subscriber's ZenMate login or payment details. That was the stated arrangement at the transition date; it should not be turned into a broader claim about every old account in 2026.
If you still have a ZenMate subscription or billing query:
- Sign in through the official ZenMate account page, not a link in an unsolicited email.
- Check the subscription status, renewal setting and most recent payment.
- Search for the original 2023 service-change email and any later billing messages.
- Contact ZenMate support using the email address associated with the account.
- Keep the order number or receipt available, but never send your password or full card number.
Do not assume that buying a new CyberGhost plan will automatically cancel an old ZenMate renewal. They are separate billing questions and should be verified individually.
What happened to ZenMate subscriptions?
ZenMate's official notice distinguished between several types of subscription:
- Direct ZenMate subscriptions: customers were told their account and pricing would remain with ZenMate, while the VPN connection would be delivered through CyberGhost apps.
- App Store and Google Play subscriptions: access was expected to continue until the end of the paid period, but auto-renewal was not available through those stores.
- Expired or non-renewing subscriptions: service continued only to the end of the existing term; users could not add a new ZenMate subscription afterwards.
- Users taking a separate CyberGhost offer: ZenMate said remaining time could be added when the same email address was used, subject to the specific offer process.
Those were the published transition arrangements, not a guarantee that a particular old entitlement remains active today. Former customers should check their account and bank, card or PayPal history rather than relying on the age of the original purchase.
If you find a recent ZenMate-related charge that you do not recognise, first ask ZenMate support to identify and cancel the relevant account. Contact the payment provider if the merchant cannot resolve an unauthorised payment. Refund rights depend on the payment route, transaction and applicable terms.
Should you uninstall the old ZenMate app?
Yes. The retired ZenMate desktop and mobile applications should not remain installed. An unsupported VPN app can retain network permissions, start-up items, saved profiles or bugs that no longer receive fixes.
The UK National Cyber Security Centre recommends removing apps that are no longer used and replacing unsupported software. See its guidance on keeping devices and applications supported.
Former ZenMate users should:
- Uninstall the ZenMate application from each computer, phone and tablet.
- Remove any saved ZenMate VPN profile from the device's network settings.
- Delete manual OpenVPN configuration files that are no longer required.
- Check the browser for an old ZenMate extension and remove it if it is no longer deliberately used.
- Restart the device if its connection or DNS settings do not return to normal.
- Install CyberGhost or another supported replacement only through its official site or a recognised app store.
Old installers, repackaged APKs and unofficial extensions may be obsolete or altered. A working-looking interface is not proof that the original service, updates or support have returned.
Does the ZenMate browser extension still work?
The browser extension needs more careful treatment than the retired desktop and mobile apps. ZenMate's May 2023 notice said its extension would continue to offer standard server locations, while its optimised streaming locations would move to the CyberGhost apps.
That historical statement does not establish that every ZenMate extension found in a browser store is actively maintained in 2026. Store listings, versions, permissions and availability can change. It also does not turn the extension into a full VPN for the whole device.
A browser extension normally handles only compatible browser traffic. Other applications, background services and devices do not automatically pass through it. Anyone who needs a current whole-device VPN should use a supported native VPN app rather than relying on a legacy extension.
If the extension is still installed, check its current developer, update date, permissions and official support information. Remove it if the provenance or maintenance status is unclear.
What ZenMate offered before the transition
ZenMate began with browser extensions and later offered consumer VPN applications. The former product focused on simple country selection and one-click connections rather than detailed networking controls.
Historical versions included automatic location selection, favourite locations, automatic start-up options and a kill-switch function marketed as EverSecure. The service also sold browser extensions and applications for common desktop and mobile platforms.
These are historical details, not a present-day recommendation. The previous version of this page included expired pricing, a discount link, refund wording, unsupported no-logs conclusions, torrenting advice, guaranteed streaming claims and first-person testing that cannot be verified. Those elements have been removed.
Best ZenMate alternatives for UK users
CyberGhost is the direct transition product for an existing ZenMate account, but it is not automatically the best new purchase. New buyers should compare current VPNs according to their actual requirements.
| Your priority | VPN to consider | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Direct ZenMate transition | CyberGhost | CyberGhost supplied the apps and VPN service for ZenMate subscribers after the 2023 transition. It is the relevant product for understanding that change, but a new purchase has separate CyberGhost terms. |
| Premium all-round choice | ExpressVPN | Our current first-place overall option for UK users who prioritise straightforward apps, wide device support and extensive travel coverage. |
| Feature-rich alternative | NordVPN | A strong fit for users who want a broader feature set, ten simultaneous connections and extensive UK and international coverage. |
| Many household devices | Surfshark | Unlimited simultaneous connections make it practical for a household with many supported devices. |
| Advanced configuration | Private Internet Access | A suitable choice for users who value detailed protocol and connection controls. |
| A continuing free plan | Proton VPN | Proton VPN maintains a genuine free plan without a data allowance, although its free location and feature choices are more limited than its paid service. |
This is a needs-based transition table, not a second sitewide ranking. The current overall TheBestVPN.uk order remains ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Private Internet Access and Proton VPN. Compare those providers in our best VPN UK guide.
CyberGhost: the direct ZenMate transition
CyberGhost is the first service to check if you still have a ZenMate account because ZenMate explicitly moved paid access to CyberGhost's desktop and mobile apps. For an entirely new subscription, assess CyberGhost on its current pricing, renewal terms, applications, connection limit and published evidence rather than treating the old ZenMate relationship as a recommendation.
Read our current CyberGhost review for UK users. Do not use an old ZenMate discount link or assume that an expired ZenMate offer applies to a new CyberGhost account.
ExpressVPN: the stronger all-round new purchase
For someone choosing from scratch, ExpressVPN remains our first-place overall UK recommendation. It is better suited to readers seeking a current premium product with simple applications and broad device support.
This is an editorial assessment, not a promise that ExpressVPN will be fastest on every connection or work with every streaming platform. Access can change, and a VPN does not provide the account, subscription, viewing entitlement or TV licence required by a service.
Proton VPN: the free-plan alternative
Users searching for the old free ZenMate extension may prefer a current provider with a clearly documented free tier. Proton VPN states that its free plan has no data limit. Free accounts still receive fewer server-selection and feature options than paid plans, so check the official Proton VPN Free page before installing it.
Was ZenMate safe?
ZenMate was a genuine commercial VPN, but its retired applications cannot be assessed as if they were a current product. An old review score, privacy policy or test result does not demonstrate the safety of unsupported software today.
The former article treated German privacy law and ZenMate's own statements as proof that users were completely safe. That conclusion was too absolute. A VPN can encrypt traffic between a device and the VPN server and replace the public IP address seen by many sites. It does not guarantee anonymity or remove cookies, account logins, browser identifiers, payment records or activity outside the tunnel.
A current VPN decision should use the provider's current privacy policy, supported applications, update record, ownership, audit evidence and terms. CyberGhost must be reviewed on that basis; ZenMate's historical marketing cannot answer those questions for it.
Final verdict
ZenMate should not remain in active rankings or be presented as a VPN that new UK customers can buy. Its review URL is still useful as a factual transition guide because people continue to search for the brand, old accounts and the browser extension.
Former paid subscribers were directed to CyberGhost apps, while ZenMate retained account management at the time of the transition. Anyone with an unresolved historical account should use the official ZenMate routes. New buyers should compare current VPNs rather than purchasing an old code or choosing CyberGhost solely because it inherited the ZenMate service experience.
Is ZenMate still available?
ZenMate is no longer sold as a standalone VPN. New accounts and subscriptions stopped on 16 March 2023, and support for its old desktop and mobile apps ended on 1 May 2023.
Did ZenMate shut down?
ZenMate retired its standalone desktop and mobile apps and moved paid VPN access to CyberGhost apps. The browser extension was treated separately in the 2023 notice, so it should not be described as having ended on exactly the same date.
Did ZenMate become CyberGhost?
CyberGhost became the app and VPN-service provider for ZenMate subscribers. ZenMate retained its account and billing management at the time, so this was a service transition rather than a simple product rename.
Can I use my ZenMate account with CyberGhost?
ZenMate's 2023 notice instructed paid subscribers to use their ZenMate credentials in CyberGhost apps. Check the current ZenMate account portal or ZenMate support for an individual old account or entitlement.
Should I uninstall the old ZenMate app?
Yes. The old ZenMate desktop and mobile apps are unsupported. Remove them and any obsolete VPN profile or manual configuration that is no longer needed.
Does the ZenMate browser extension still work?
ZenMate said in 2023 that the extension would retain standard locations, but that does not prove that every store listing is actively maintained now. Verify its developer, version, permissions and support status; remember that an extension does not protect all device traffic.
What is the best ZenMate alternative?
CyberGhost is the direct transition product for an old ZenMate account. For a new purchase, ExpressVPN is our premium all-round choice, NordVPN provides a strong feature set, Surfshark suits many devices, PIA offers advanced settings and Proton VPN provides a continuing free plan.
