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Cortex Cloud by Palo Alto Networks vs Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 5, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Cortex Cloud by Palo Alto N...
Average Rating
10.0
Reviews Sentiment
8.7
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
Vulnerability Management (35th), Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP) (19th), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) (22nd), Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP) (16th), Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) (13th), Software Supply Chain Security (14th), Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) (7th), Application Security Posture Management (ASPM) (9th), Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) (8th)
Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange...
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
64
Ranking in other categories
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) (2nd), Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) (5th), Application Control (4th), ZTNA as a Service (1st), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) (1st), Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) (1st)
 

Featured Reviews

PG
Identifies vulnerabilities and enables proactive remediation through AI/ML capabilities
The solution helps me to understand misconfigurations in AWS or Azure cloud environments. It detects misconfigurations, suggests remedial actions, and helps identify vulnerabilities across cloud platforms. It provides action recommendations for CVEs against particular vulnerabilities The tool…
Sumit Bhanwala - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud-based platform simplifies device and data center management
I find it to be good. The solution is cloud-based with the latest inspection engines, which I find to be amazing. We are less dependent on data centers and device management, which reduces our efforts significantly. It improves our device management, data center management, and updating devices. We need fewer engineers for this management, and it reduces time and efforts for data center management, device upgrades, and IT support.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Overall, Cortex Cloud by Palo Alto Networks is a technically strong product, and I rate it ten out of ten."
"The product’s most valuable features are data discovery, activity control, and zero trust exchange."
"The most valuable features of Zscaler SASE include web filtering, application control, and the private access configuration."
"It does the job. What it is needed for. I can use it for VPN, I can use it for secure connections, I can use it as a firewall. So the solution does the job."
"I find all Zscaler Private Access features valuable because each replaces flawed technologies, such as EPAs being replacements for VPN and PR as a replacement for PAM, so I can't mention only one valuable feature. Overall, Zscaler Private Access is a good solution."
"It is straightforward to set up."
"SASE's most valuable features are proxy and content filtering."
"You can close your data protection gaps with Zscaler. You can quickly find all the classified, sensitive data across the cloud."
"It has some good data security and WIP features, providing secure Internet access."
 

Cons

"Some aspects of the GUI can be confusing and make it difficult for me to find certain options or navigate where needed."
"They should work on a replica account. There could be alerts and replica files sent to the DLP team during data collection."
"Sometimes, support takes time since the solution has some bugs that need fixing."
"While Zscaler supports client-initiated connections, it does not support server-initiated connections. This is a feature that Zscaler may consider adding in the future."
"Price-wise, it is a costly product and it should be reduced."
"We often face performance and latency issues with Zscaler SASE."
"SCMP support would be one of the biggest improvements in my opinion. More speed improvements are also required."
"There are some performance issues with the solution once the module addition begins"
"The stability could be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The solution has increased prices this year."
"It's an affordable solution"
"The cost is expensive. It depends on the number of users."
"My company is a Zscaler Private Access partner, so the customers pay for the license fees."
"It has been relatively reasonable for what it does. Some of the additional license costs based on the advanced next-generation firewall functions are quite high, and they should have certain features ready and available as a baseline rather than having to purchase additional licenses for it. Overall, the cost seems reasonable."
"The licensing model for Zscaler Cloud DLP allows you to only buy what you need. You don't need to buy it as a whole, so it's good."
"The pricing is expensive and on the higher end. Honestly, in my opinion, it is not worth the price."
"The product is a little more expensive than other tools."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Performing Arts
15%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Insurance Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business16
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise41
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cortex Cloud by Palo Alto Networks?
The solution is costly, with high-end capabilities suitable for enterprises. It is less affordable for startups or small-scale vendors.
What needs improvement with Cortex Cloud by Palo Alto Networks?
Some aspects of the GUI can be confusing and make it difficult for me to find certain options or navigate where needed.
What is your primary use case for Cortex Cloud by Palo Alto Networks?
The solution helps me to understand misconfigurations in AWS or Azure cloud environments. It detects misconfigurations, suggests remedial actions, and helps identify vulnerabilities across cloud pl...
What is the better solution - Prisma Access or Zscaler Private Access?
We looked into Prisma Access before choosing Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). Palo Alto’s Prisma Access is a secure access service edge (SASE) designed to deliver network security in a cloud-deliver...
What do you like most about Zscaler SASE?
The most valuable features of Zscaler Private Access are reliability, scalability, and availability.
What needs improvement with Zscaler SASE?
The solution needs to improve a lot of aspects.
 

Also Known As

No data available
Zscaler SASE, Zscaler DLP, Zscaler CASB, Zscaler CSPM, Zscaler Browser Isolation, Zscaler Posture Control
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Siemens, AutoNation, GE, NOV
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