# F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) vs Zscaler Private Access Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Zscaler Private Access excels in user experience, with many praising its **background operation** that eliminates the need for manual connections. Users appreciate how it streamlines their workflow by allowing them to access applications quickly without the hassle of traditional VPNs.
- **Users say** that F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) offers a **simple and intuitive interface** , making it accessible even for newcomers. Reviewers highlight the ease of monitoring traffic through its graphical tools, which enhances usability for administrators.
- **According to verified reviews** , Zscaler Private Access has a higher overall satisfaction score, reflecting its ability to meet user needs effectively. Users mention that it provides access only to necessary applications, which enhances security and performance.
- **Reviewers mention** that while F5 BIG-IP APM is trusted for its **reliable access policies** , some users feel it may not be as seamless as Zscaler in terms of everyday usability. The need for manual connections can detract from the user experience compared to Zscaler's automatic functionality.
- **Users highlight** Zscaler's strong support and partnership, with many noting that the company is responsive and helpful in addressing issues. This level of support contributes to a positive overall experience, as reflected in its high ratings for quality of support.
- **G2 reviewers indicate** that while both products are effective, Zscaler Private Access stands out for its **ease of setup** and administration, making it a preferred choice for organizations looking to minimize onboarding time and complexity.



| | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.1 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 18 | 137 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Enterprise (76.5% of reviews) | Enterprise (47.1% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

**Not enough data**

### Zscaler Private Access

Pros:
- Security (64 reviews)
- Ease of Use (53 reviews)

Cons:
- Connection Issues (24 reviews)
- Error Handling (21 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.8 (12 reviews) | 9.1 (104 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.8 (12 reviews) | 9.0 (107 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | Not enough data | 8.7 (78 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | Not enough data | 9.0 (32 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.7 (9 reviews) | 8.9 (94 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | Not enough data | 9.3 (32 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.8 (10 reviews) | 9.4 (103 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Zscaler Private Access

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Single Sign-On (SSO)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | 8.7/10 | 34 |

#### Authentication Options

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Authentication User experience** | Not enough data | 9.0 (31 reviews) | 
| **Supports Required Authentication systems** | Not enough data | 8.9 (30 reviews) | 
| **Multi-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | 9.2 (31 reviews) | 
| **Supports Required Authentication Methods/Protocols** | Not enough data | 9.2 (28 reviews) | 
| **Federation/SAML support (idp)** | Not enough data | 8.6 (25 reviews) | 
| **Federation/SAML support (sp)** | Not enough data | 8.7 (25 reviews) | 

#### Access Control Types

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Endpoint access** | Not enough data | 9.2 (28 reviews) | 
| **Local Access** | Not enough data | 8.8 (27 reviews) | 
| **Remote Access** | Not enough data | 8.7 (30 reviews) | 
| **Partner Access** | Not enough data | 8.0 (26 reviews) | 
| **Supports BYOD users** | Not enough data | 7.9 (26 reviews) | 

#### Administration

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of installation on server** | Not enough data | 8.5 (28 reviews) | 
| **Password Policy Enforcement** | Not enough data | 8.9 (29 reviews) | 
| **Administration Console** | Not enough data | 9.0 (28 reviews) | 
| **Ease of connecting applications** | Not enough data | 8.9 (28 reviews) | 
| **Self Service Password Administration** | Not enough data | 8.4 (28 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multiple Operating system support** | Not enough data | 8.5 (27 reviews) | 
| **Multi-Domain Support** | Not enough data | 8.5 (27 reviews) | 
| **Cross Browser support** | Not enough data | 8.5 (26 reviews) | 
| **Fail over protection** | Not enough data | 8.3 (25 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (26 reviews) | 
| **Auditing** | Not enough data | 8.5 (26 reviews) | 
| **Third Party Web Services support** | Not enough data | 8.5 (24 reviews) | 

### Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Authentication type

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **SMS-Based** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Voice-Based Telephony** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email-Based** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Hardware Token-Based** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Software Token** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Biometric Factor** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile-Push** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk-Based Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Functionality

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Device Sync** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Implementation

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Easy Setup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile SDK** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web SDK** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Network Access Control (NAC)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Data

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Network Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Network

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scaling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Logistics

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Processes** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Blockage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **IoT** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Zero Trust Networking

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | 8.8/10 | 79 |

#### Network Management

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Network Segmentation** | Not enough data | 8.9 (65 reviews) | 
| **Network Mapping** | Not enough data | 8.7 (65 reviews) | 
| **Security Analytics** | Not enough data | 9.1 (63 reviews) | 
| **API/Integrations** | Not enough data | 8.5 (63 reviews) | 

#### Security

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Security Automation** | Not enough data | 9.1 (65 reviews) | 
| **Application Security** | Not enough data | 9.3 (72 reviews) | 
| **Workload Protection** | Not enough data | 8.6 (61 reviews) | 
| **Data Protection** | Not enough data | 9.3 (65 reviews) | 

#### Identity Management

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Adaptive Access Control** | Not enough data | 9.1 (65 reviews) | 
| **Identity Scoring** | Not enough data | 9.0 (61 reviews) | 
| **User Monitoring** | Not enough data | 9.0 (64 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 7.9 (39 reviews) | 
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | 7.9 (40 reviews) | 

### Cloud Edge Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Management

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multicloud Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **DLP Configuration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Dynamic Scaling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Enforcement** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Monitoring

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Center Networking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multicloud Visibility** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anomaly Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Protection

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Firewall-as-a-Service** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Application Brokerage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Web Gateway** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Access Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Components - Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Wide Area Network (WAN)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Web Gateway (SWG)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Firewall as a Service** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Artificial Intelligence - Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Predictive Capabilities** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Threat Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platforms

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Cloud Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Cloud Visibility

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Discovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Registry** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cloud Gap Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data loss Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Identity

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **SSO** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Governance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Business VPN

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Usage

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Device Usage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple Concurrent Connections** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Protocol Choices** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Unlimited Bandwidth** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **No Log Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Varied Server Locations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Unlimited Server Switches** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Miscellaneous

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Live Customer Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Open Source Code** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple Payment Methods** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Remote Desktop

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Zscaler Private Access** | N/A | N/A |

#### Administration

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Usage Information** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Diagnostics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Session Recording** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Session Transfer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Unattended Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Sharing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cross-Platform Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Device Access** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Applications Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Device Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Remote Wipe** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Device Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Device Enrollment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Single Sign-On (SSO) Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/single-sign-on-sso)

**Unique to F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) (3):** [Network Access Control Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/network-access-control-nac), [Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/multi-factor-authentication-mfa), [Remote Desktop Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/remote-desktop)

**Unique to Zscaler Private Access (4):** [Zero Trust Networking Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/zero-trust-networking), [Business VPN Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/business-vpn), [Cloud Edge Security Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-edge-security), [Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/secure-access-service-edge-sase-platforms)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM) | Zscaler Private Access | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 0% | 19.3% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 23.5% | 33.6% | 
| **Enterprise** | 76.5% | 47.1% | 

### By Industry

#### F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

- **Information Technology and Services:** 23.5%
- **Telecommunications:** 17.6%
- **Retail:** 17.6%
- **Computer Software:** 11.8%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 5.9%
- **Internet:** 5.9%
- **Government Administration:** 5.9%
- **Financial Services:** 5.9%
- **Capital Markets:** 5.9%

#### Zscaler Private Access

- **Information Technology and Services:** 23.1%
- **Computer Software:** 12.8%
- **Financial Services:** 8.5%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 7.7%
- **Telecommunications:** 5.1%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 4.3%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 3.4%
- **Computer Networking:** 3.4%
- **Insurance:** 2.6%
- **Banking:** 2.6%
- **Other:** 26.5%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

- [Google Authenticator](https://www.g2.com/products/google-authenticator/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (584 reviews)
- [Okta](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1325 reviews)
- [Cisco Duo](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (518 reviews)
- [BeyondTrust Remote Support](https://www.g2.com/products/beyondtrust-remote-support/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (388 reviews)
- [RealVNC](https://www.g2.com/products/realvnc/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (439 reviews)
- [AnyDesk](https://www.g2.com/products/anydesk/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1101 reviews)
- [Citrix DaaS](https://www.g2.com/products/citrix-citrix-daas/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (546 reviews)
- [Microsoft Entra ID](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (912 reviews)
- [TeamViewer](https://www.g2.com/products/teamviewer/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (4046 reviews)
- [Keeper Password Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/keeper-password-manager/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1235 reviews)

### Alternatives to Zscaler Private Access

- [Twingate](https://www.g2.com/products/twingate/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (76 reviews)
- [Microsoft Entra ID](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-entra-id/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (912 reviews)
- [Okta](https://www.g2.com/products/okta/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1325 reviews)
- [JumpCloud](https://www.g2.com/products/jumpcloud/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (4024 reviews)
- [Check Point SASE](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-sase/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (227 reviews)
- [Cisco Duo](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-duo/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (518 reviews)
- [OpenVPN Access Server](https://www.g2.com/products/openvpn-access-server/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (358 reviews)
- [Keeper Password Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/keeper-password-manager/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1235 reviews)
- [BetterCloud](https://www.g2.com/products/bettercloud/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (486 reviews)
- [ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/threatlocker-zero-trust-platform/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (482 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### F5 BIG-IP Access Policy Manager (APM)

No discussions available for this product.

### Zscaler Private Access

- Title: [What does zscaler software do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/zscaler-private-access-what-does-zscaler-software-do) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Used as VPN to secure internal network and used for cloud security "
- Title: [What is private access zscaler?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-private-access-zscaler) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "In Simple form, its sort of VPN connectivity but provide access to only application which user requires and secondly it is controlled by access policy..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/f5-big-ip-access-policy-manager-apm-vs-zscaler-private-access)