aws-gate vs Fortra ZTNA: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
Features, pricing, ratings, and pros and cons, compared head to head.
aws-gate is a free zero trust network access tool. Fortra ZTNA is a commercial zero trust network access tool by Fortra. Compare features, ratings, integrations, and community reviews side by side to find the best zero trust network access fit for your security stack. Independent and vendor-neutral: our scores and rankings are earned, never bought — sponsored placement is always labeled.
CST VerdictShort answer
Teams managing SSH access to AWS EC2 fleets will appreciate aws-gate for eliminating bastion host complexity; it routes connections through the AWS Systems Manager Session Manager API instead, cutting operational overhead and removing a persistent attack surface. The tool is free and open-source with 516 GitHub stars, making it genuinely low-friction to pilot in existing AWS environments. Skip this if your organization needs fine-grained IAM policy enforcement or audit logging at the session level; aws-gate prioritizes access simplicity over the compliance controls that large regulated enterprises typically require. Mid-market and enterprise teams replacing VPN will find Fortra ZTNA's strongest value in its hybrid deployment flexibility and granular access controls that actually enforce least-privilege without admin headaches. The platform covers all four critical NIST CSF 2.0 areas for identity and continuous monitoring, which matters because most ZTNA products punt on asset inventory or detection tuning. Skip this if your org needs deep integration with legacy on-premises identity systems or runs exclusively on-prem; Fortra's strength is in hybrid environments where cloud and datacenter access requirements overlap.
Based on our analysis of core features, company size fit, deployment model, here is our conclusion:
