SASE joins network connectivity with cloud-delivered security, and the label covers products of very different width: some only open private applications, others add SD-WAN, web filtering and SaaS control.
Prices run from public per-user tiers to quotes after a demo. This guide ranks twelve platforms on first-90-day effort, real price, exit, independence and fit.
Vendors can pay for visibility on this page. It never changes what an entry
says about a product, including the criticism, and we earn nothing when you click through to a
vendor. How that works.
In short
What SASE platforms do
Secure access service edge (SASE) is a cloud-delivered service that combines network connectivity, such as SD-WAN, with security functions like zero trust network access, a secure web gateway and a cloud access security broker.
In this order: setup effort, what it really costs, how your data comes back out, whether
you can leave, and who each SASE platform is built for. One rule sits on top of those tests:
Places 1 to 3 go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category, wherever the category has them; the established names follow from place 4 in their ranked order. Why those five, and why there is no
score out of ten, is on the how we work page.
Cisco and Duo customers adding cloud security to an existing Cisco network
Buyers wanting networking and security inside one product
Country is where the vendor is headquartered or contracts from, which is a
different question from where your data is hosted. Where the two tell different stories, the
entry says so.
Zero trust access to private resources with per-user tiers shown on the site
Ranked #1 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingNorth America
Twingate says it began building in 2019 and works remote-first, with its core team in Redwood City, California. Starter is free for up to five users and fifty resources. Teams and Business add SSO and identity-provider provisioning.
Enterprise adds custom agreements, pay by invoice and geoblocking. Anything beyond private access, such as DNS filtering, is marked as an add-on, so price what you actually need before comparing it with full SASE suites.
What stands out
Zero trust access
VPN replacement
Per-user tiers
Where it costs you
Teams stops at 100 users and Business at 500, so larger organisations move to a quoted Enterprise contract.
DNS filtering and static IPs are add-ons, and no SD-WAN, CASB or branch firewall service is listed.
Right for
Small and mid-size teams replacing a VPN who want per-user prices on the site
Wrong for
Buyers needing SD-WAN, CASB or branch firewalling
United StatesFree Starter plan for up to five users; Teams and Business per user published; Enterprise quoted
SD-WAN and SASE sold as a service over a private core network
Ranked #2 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Pricing on requestNorth America
Aryaka lists seven components in Unified SASE: Zero Trust WAN, next-generation firewall, CASB, ZTNA with VPN as a service, data protection and threat prevention, all applied through a single-pass architecture called OnePASS.
A private core network carries the SLA-backed performance, and the page cites a public SLA framework covering networking, security and last mile. The company states it was founded in 2009 and counts more than 500 customers.
What stands out
Private backbone
Managed option
Plan ladder
Where it costs you
Plan contents are listed but amounts are not, so cost is known only after a quote request.
The FAQ says clientless access for unmanaged devices is a future addition, so contractor access may need a client.
Right for
Multi-site organisations wanting network and security from one provider, optionally managed
Wrong for
Teams wanting prices shown or a self-serve trial
United StatesQuoted per organisation; three plans, SD-WAN, Unified SASE and Advanced Security
SD-WAN and SSE platform run as cloud, on-premises, hosted or blended
Ranked #3 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Self-hostablePricing on requestNorth America
Versa groups its offer under VersaONE: SD-WAN, SSE with ZTNA, CASB, secure web gateway, DLP and remote browser isolation, plus firewall and IoT security. In the cloud form, Versa's operations centre manages the platform around the clock while your team looks after the edge devices.
The hosted form lets a service provider configure and monitor with role-based co-management. Private SASE and Sovereign SASE appear as named products on its site.
What stands out
SD-WAN and SSE
On-premises option
Provider-hosted
Where it costs you
The deployment page shows no price and no trial, only a demo link.
On-premises management runs on appliances your own team operates, which adds staff time.
Right for
Organisations needing SASE they can run on their own premises or through a provider
Wrong for
Small teams wanting public prices and an instant sign-up
United StatesNo price on the site; demo requested through the site
SASE platform with a capped free plan and pay-as-you-go seats
Ranked #4 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Free tierPublished pricingNorth America
Cloudflare's documentation calls Cloudflare One a SASE platform combining networking and zero trust security: Access, Tunnel, a secure web gateway, a device client, browser isolation, CASB, DLP, email security and experience monitoring.
Log retention rises from 24 hours on the free plan to 30 days on pay-as-you-go and six months on contract. Free-plan CASB is limited to two read-only API integrations. The company lists San Francisco as its headquarters.
What stands out
Free plan
Per-user seats
Network add-on
Where it costs you
Network Services for SASE, full DLP and unlimited CASB integrations are contract-only add-ons.
The free plan keeps logs for up to 24 hours and offers community support only.
Right for
Small teams and proof-of-concept projects wanting zero trust access at a shown price
Wrong for
Buyers needing branch networking and full DLP without add-ons
United StatesFree plan up to 50 users; pay-as-you-go per user published; contract quoted
Former Perimeter 81, now Check Point's SASE with a self-serve start button
Ranked #5 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Pricing on requestMiddle East
The product lists Private Access (ZTNA, agentless ZTNA, enterprise browser, a global private backbone, firewall as a service), Internet Access (hybrid web gateway, SaaS security, mobile and browser security, automatic WiFi security) and SD-WAN.
A calculator estimates cost from users, data centres and project timeline. Check Point says it has worked in cyber security since 1993, with international headquarters in Tel Aviv and US headquarters in Redwood City.
What stands out
Formerly Perimeter 81
Private backbone
Agentless ZTNA
Where it costs you
Cost appears only through a calculator, a demo or a Start Now button whose terms are not described.
The pages carry the Perimeter 81 name beside Check Point's, so confirm which entity contracts and supports you.
Right for
Mid-size teams wanting ZTNA, web filtering and a private backbone with quick onboarding
Wrong for
Buyers who want a vendor independent of a large security group
IsraelPrice not shown; calculator, demo and a Start Now button
Cloud SASE with ZTNA, firewall and SD-WAN, billed per user
Ranked #6 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Published pricingNorth America
Barracuda describes SecureEdge as a cloud-first SASE platform that enforces policy in the cloud, at the branch or on the device. The firewall is a cloud-native service with intrusion prevention, malware protection and network access control.
A separate SecureEdge Access product serves remote users, and the pricing page bills it per user per month. Barracuda lists Campbell, California as its corporate headquarters.
What stands out
Per-user billing
MSP or AWS purchase
Secure SD-WAN
Where it costs you
The pricing page notes that minimums apply and splits buyers below and above 50 users.
Pricing sits on a general network protection page, and the amount loads dynamically.
Right for
Small IT teams that buy through an MSP or reseller and want firewall plus ZTNA
Wrong for
Organisations that need a verified amount before talking to a partner
United StatesPer user per month at a published list price; minimums apply; trial offered
Tailscale's Standard tier is billed per user and Premium adds just-in-time access, advanced SSH and network flow logs, while Enterprise adds custom agreements and pay by invoice. Devices are unlimited on every plan, and seats, not devices, are billed.
New customer accounts from 3 September 2024 contract with Tailscale US Inc., a Delaware corporation, while older accounts sit with the Canadian entity, so the country shown follows the original registration.
What stands out
Mesh network
Per-seat pricing
Private access only
Where it costs you
The free Personal plan is for non-commercial use and up to six users.
Once the trial ends, new users and devices stay blocked until a plan is chosen.
Right for
Engineering-led teams linking servers, clusters and laptops on one private network
Wrong for
Buyers needing web filtering, CASB or branch SD-WAN
CanadaFree personal plan; Standard and Premium per user published; Enterprise quoted
Netskope inspects traffic inline, which is how it sees uploads to the eleven file-sharing sites nobody knew staff were using. That visibility is unavailable to any endpoint agent.
It is also a platform commitment: a client on every device, traffic steering to maintain, and a quote that only makes sense when web filtering and private access come with it. As a standalone data loss purchase it is the most expensive way to get there.
What stands out
SSE plus SD-WAN
Test drive
Own network
Where it costs you
Needs traffic steering configured on every managed device
Buying it only for data rules wastes most of the platform
Right for
Organisations already moving to a cloud security edge platform
Wrong for
Teams wanting one narrow product rather than a platform
United StatesPrice not shown; demo, labs and a Private Access test drive
Cloud SASE counted per user, with a sovereign variant for your datacentre
Ranked #9 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Pricing on requestNorth America
Fortinet states it was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2000 and lists its headquarters at 909 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale. Its SASE pages cover a web gateway, firewall as a service, ZTNA and CASB, with FortiSASE for Thin Edge aimed at small office locations.
The documentation says the FortiSASE portal enforces licence requirements at login. The Sovereign edition is deployed by end users in their own data centres, giving control over core capabilities and data.
What stands out
Per-user licence
Sovereign variant
Firewall vendor
Where it costs you
No list prices appear on the SASE page or in the licensing documentation.
The Google Cloud edition is tied to the two higher bundles, so entry bundles do not cover it.
Right for
Estates already running Fortinet firewalls that want cloud security and a self-hosted option
Wrong for
Teams wanting per-user amounts shown before a sales call
United StatesSubscription per user or endpoint; amounts not shown
Zero trust exchange with two platform bundles and no shown prices
Ranked #10 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Pricing on requestNorth America
Zscaler's pricing page describes simple subscription pricing and two bundles. Essentials combines secure internet access, standard private access for 5 percent of users, and standard versions of digital experience, sandbox, firewall and cyber isolation, with data security in alert-only mode.
The Zscaler Platform bundle, marked recommended, adds the full private access platform and inline data security across all apps. Privileged remote access standard is included with platform purchases above 500 users.
What stands out
Two bundles
Internet and private access
Listed company
Where it costs you
Essentials includes private access for only 5 percent of users.
The pricing page shows no amounts and offers a demo instead of a trial.
Right for
Large organisations moving every user off VPN and appliances onto a cloud gateway
Wrong for
Small teams that want to start with a self-serve trial
United StatesQuoted per organisation; Essentials and Zscaler Platform bundles
Prisma Access and SD-WAN joined as one cloud-delivered suite
Ranked #11 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Pricing on requestNorth America
Prisma Access is described as a single cloud-delivered solution covering ZTNA, a secure web gateway, CASB, remote browser isolation and firewall as a service, and it deploys firewalls in the cloud for remote networks.
The page states 99.999 percent uptime, a 10 ms security processing SLA and a 35 ms SaaS performance SLA. A 2021 press release says Prisma SASE brings Prisma Access and Prisma SD-WAN together, and that each remains available as a standalone product.
What stands out
Cloud-delivered
SD-WAN included
Licensing guide
Where it costs you
No list prices or licence tiers appear on the Prisma Access page.
The only trial route on the page is a test-drive resource, not a self-serve trial.
Right for
Large enterprises wanting SD-WAN and cloud security from one vendor
Wrong for
Small teams wanting shown prices and a quick self-serve start
United StatesPrice not shown; licensing guide and sales contact
Cisco's cloud SSE with Duo identity and ThousandEyes insight
Ranked #12 of 12 in Best SASE Platforms in 2026.
Pricing on requestNorth America
Cisco Secure Access offers private application access with client or clientless ZTNA, plus VPN as a service for applications that are not zero trust ready. Identity threat defence uses Duo, Experience Insights uses ThousandEyes, and an AI Access function controls third-party AI applications.
The page states FedRAMP authorisation for US government use and offers a free-to-register four-hour workshop. Cisco lists its corporate headquarters at 3098 Olsen Drive, San Jose.
What stands out
Security service edge
Duo identity
Meraki link
Where it costs you
The product calls itself a security service edge and links to Meraki for SD-WAN rather than including it.
The page shows no prices and offers a test drive and workshop instead of a trial.
Right for
Cisco and Duo customers adding cloud security to an existing Cisco network
Wrong for
Buyers wanting networking and security inside one product
United StatesPrice not shown; test drive and workshop offered
Secure access service edge (SASE) is a cloud-delivered service that combines network connectivity, such as SD-WAN, with security functions like zero trust network access, a secure web gateway and a cloud access security broker. The differences that matter are rarely in the feature list, so this is
the order we would work through them.
01
Decide whether you need a published price
4 of the 12 tools here publish what they cost; the other 8 quote per organisation. The ones you can compare without a sales call: Twingate, Cloudflare One, Barracuda SecureEdge, Tailscale.
02
Decide how much the jurisdiction matters
These 12 vendors are established in 3 countries across 2 regions (North America 11, Middle East 1). That decides whose disclosure law applies to what the vendor holds, wherever the servers are.
What a SASE platform covers in practice
The term spans products of very different width. Twingate and Tailscale open private applications and nothing more, and their pricing tables list no web gateway or CASB. Cisco Secure Access calls itself a security service edge and takes its SD-WAN from Meraki. Aryaka, Versa Networks and Netskope pair SD-WAN with security in one offer.
Cloudflare One includes a web gateway, but the network services for SASE come only on a contract. Write down which of the four pieces you are buying: private access, web and SaaS control, SD-WAN and branch firewall, or data protection. Otherwise a cheap private-access product gets compared with a converged suite, and one of them looks wrong.
Which of ZTNA, web gateway, CASB and SD-WAN do you need on day one?
Which of them does the vendor sell itself and which come from a partner?
Is any item you need marked as an add-on or as upcoming?
Public tiers against quotes
Twingate, Tailscale and Cloudflare One show per-user tiers, and Barracuda states a per-user list price with minimums. Zscaler, Aryaka, Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE and Check Point SASE show plan contents or a calculator but no amounts.
Where prices are public, read the tier caps: Twingate Teams stops at 100 users and Business at 500, Cloudflare's free plan at 50 users, and Tailscale's free Personal plan at six users for non-commercial use. Where they are not, ask for a quote at your user count and site count, because Zscaler Essentials covers private access for 5 percent of users only.
What does the tier cost at your real user count, not the entry user count?
Which features sit in add-ons: DNS filtering, browser isolation, full DLP?
Is the free or entry tier allowed for commercial use?
Who runs it and where
Some vendors let you choose. Versa offers cloud, on-premises, provider-hosted and blended forms, and the on-premises form can be air-gapped. Fortinet's FortiSASE Sovereign is installed by the customer in its own data centres. Aryaka delivers its service self-managed, co-managed or Aryaka-managed, which matters if no one on staff runs a network.
Cloud-only products such as Cloudflare One and Zscaler leave operations to the vendor, which is quicker to start but gives you less control. Decide who will carry the pager before you compare features, and note that a managed option usually changes the contract as well.
Who handles day-to-day policy changes, your team or a provider?
Does the product have a self-hosted or sovereign form if you need one?
What does the contract say about support hours and response?
Proof of concept and exit
Trial routes differ. Twingate paid tiers carry a 14-day trial, Tailscale starts a 14-day Enterprise trial for custom-domain tailnets, Cloudflare offers a free plan for proof-of-concept work, and Netskope and Cisco offer test drives rather than trials. After Tailscale's trial, new users and devices stay blocked until you pick a plan.
Cloudflare keeps free-plan logs for 24 hours, so evidence for a security review must be exported early. Ask each vendor how policies, logs and device inventories leave the platform, whether that export is included in the subscription, and how long access continues after notice. Put those answers in writing before the pilot starts, because switching a security gateway mid-contract is slow and users notice every outage.
Can you run a real pilot with real users before signing?
How long do logs stay, and can they be exported to your own system?
What happens to access when a trial or term ends?
What goes wrong most often when buying SASE platforms
Comparing a private-access product such as Twingate with a converged suite such as Aryaka or Versa Networks as if they sold the same thing.
Budgeting from an entry tier price when caps, add-ons and contract-only modules raise the real cost.
Buying a SASE suite for its SD-WAN when the only need is a VPN replacement for a few dozen remote staff.
Skipping the log-retention and export question until an auditor asks for last quarter's access records.
07
Frequently asked questions
7 answers
What are the best SASE platforms in 2026?
Twingate leads our ranking of 12. A California company that sells one thing: access to private company resources without a VPN. Teams and Business are priced per user on the site and each paid tier has a 14-day trial, so a first rollout needs no sales call.
Know the scope before buying. DNS filtering is an add-on, and the plan tables mention no SD-WAN, CASB or firewall service, so web and branch security have to come from elsewhere.
Which SASE platforms publish their pricing?
4 of the 12, with the pricing model each one publishes:
Twingate: Free Starter plan for up to five users; Teams and Business per user published; Enterprise quoted.
Cloudflare One: Free plan up to 50 users; pay-as-you-go per user published; contract quoted.
Barracuda SecureEdge: Per user per month at a published list price; minimums apply; trial offered.
Tailscale: Free personal plan; Standard and Premium per user published; Enterprise quoted.
The other 8 quote per organisation.
Is there a free SASE platform?
Twingate, Cloudflare One, Tailscale offer a free tier or a free self-hosted edition.
Where are these SASE platform vendors established?
In 3 countries across 2 regions: North America 11, Middle East 1.
Twingate: United States.
Aryaka: United States.
Versa Networks: United States.
Cloudflare One: United States.
Check Point SASE: Israel.
Barracuda SecureEdge: United States.
Tailscale: Canada.
Netskope: United States.
Fortinet FortiSASE: United States.
Zscaler: United States.
Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE: United States.
Cisco Secure Access: United States.
Which SASE platforms can you host yourself?
Versa Networks. The other 11 are hosted by the vendor only.
What should you use instead of Twingate?
Aryaka and Versa Networks are the next two on this page. Aryaka is for Multi-site organisations wanting network and security from one provider, optionally managed; Versa Networks is for Organisations needing SASE they can run on their own premises or through a provider.
Who should not buy Twingate?
Buyers needing SD-WAN, CASB or branch firewalling. Teams stops at 100 users and Business at 500, so larger organisations move to a quoted Enterprise contract..
If your SASE platforms product belongs among these 12, tell us what it does and who it is for. Inclusion is an editorial call; what a listing is and is not is set out under software advice.
