CyberGhost Review: Is It the Best Cheap VPN?

Our in-depth CyberGhost review will tell you whether or not this VPN is worth your money. We’re discussing a high-power VPN service with affordable prices, lots of servers, and impeccable security and privacy. Arguably, it’s not the most popular option in 2024.

While it’s not ideal by any means, its apps have plenty of features. CyberGhost is famous for its streaming and torrenting servers. It’s also beloved for its 24-hour VPN free trial for testing purposes.

Our team has been using this service since its inception. Therefore, this CyberGhost test is based on our first-hand experience. Today, we’ll see if the provider is as good as it looks, as we examine its every aspect, from price and security to streaming, torrenting, and much more.

CyberGhost Pricing: How Much Does It Cost?

Since we mentioned its price, we should start our comprehensive review of CyberGhost from this point. Its pricing structure couldn’t be simpler. You have 3 plans, with the one in the middle being a standout deal. We like it quite a lot for obvious reasons.

At around $2.2/mo for the 2-year plan with 3 free months, CyberGhost possesses an outstanding value. Bear in mind that this plan costs only around $57 for the first 2 years, so it’s cheaper than NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Hide.me, and many others.

A better cheap VPN is Private Internet Access and it costs the same. However, PIA doesn’t have a 45-day refund policy from CyberGhost, which, again, is one of its better features. The provider offers monthly and a 6-month plan.

The latter is $6.99 and is also under a 45-day money-back guarantee. Sadly, the monthly plan has a short 14-day refund policy and is quite expensive. In this CyberGhost review, we’ll also mention its Security Suite for Windows at $1/mo on top.

It includes a phenomenal antivirus and something titled Security Updater to keep your apps up-to-date. Dedicated IP addresses are there too, each at $2.5/mo. More about them later in our CyberGhost analysis.

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Money-Back Guarantee and Free Trial

As mentioned, the provider has a nifty 45-day refund policy, making it superior to its rivals mentioned above. While the monthly plan is reduced to 14 days in terms of refunds, the provider has a few other incentives we’d like to point out.

One is a 24-hour free trial on macOS and Windows. Simply go to the site, sign in, download the app for free, and use it for a day. It’s enough to see if the provider is great for you or if you’d rather use NordVPN or ExpressVPN, let’s say. What about iOS and Android?

If you’re a phone user, CyberGhost grants you a 3-day free trial instead. Bear in mind that it doesn’t require a credit card like the other VPNs. You can test it without commitment, see how you like it, and decide your next step. Our CyberGhost review will also help with that.

Payment Methods

The provider offers multiple payment methods, such as:

• Credit and debit cards
• PayPal
• Bitcoin (BitPay)

All payment methods are subject to the above refund policies. However, it’s worth noting that Bitcoin doesn’t support add-ons, so you can’t buy the Security Suite for Windows and Dedicated IP addresses. You’ll have to use PayPal or a credit/debit card for that.

Ease of Use & Compatibility: Our Opinion

CyberGhost looks quite nice and feels premium. We tested this VPN “inadvertently” by using it for years at this point. After trying out its Windows and macOS apps, we noticed they look identical but they’re not the most intuitive, especially when trying to find some features.

Connecting to a server is fairly quick, but only with WireGuard. OpenVPN connection times are quite long – 5 to 7 seconds on average. CyberGhost is snappier on iOS and Android where its apps are much simpler and more intuitive.

Device compatibility is excellent too. The VPN works on:

• Windows, macOS, and Linux (no GUI)
• Android and iOS
• TVs (Smart TV, Firestick TV, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, …)
• Routers (DD-WRT, TomatoUSB, Raspberry Pi, Sat-Receiver, Synology NAS, …)
• Gaming consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, …)

Moreover, you’ll find Smart DNS support, which can be used on pretty much any internet-enabled device. It’s great for streaming, so don’t think of it as another security measure. CyberGhost’s simultaneous connections are its weak point, at least in 2024.

NordVPN has 10, ExpressVPN 8, and CyberGhost is still capped at 7. Sure, additional router support is handy for protecting more devices. However, that applies only to devices connected to that router, so it’s no use outside the household.

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Security Features of CyberGhost: Is It Safe to Use?

A VPN can never be too safe but it surely can be the opposite. For us, the most important part of our CyberGhost review is this one. After using this provider for years and trying out its apps over and over again, we discovered that it’s one of the safest providers.

Let’s see what’s the background of this quick conclusion.

Basic VPN Features

Starting with the basic VPN features, CyberGhost has a wealth to offer. We’re discussing active and passive security features, such as:

• 256-bit encryption. A staple of this VPN. Impenetrable by nature, 256-bit encryption safeguards every connection, making you untraceable online. No one has ever breached this encryption, so you’ll have no fear of hacker attacks.
• Kill Switch. We tested its kill switch by intentionally terminating the connection. It activated immediately, shutting down our internet connection and preventing IP leaks. Interested in how it works? Here’s more info about the kill switch.
• DNS Leak Protection. This feature uses CyberGhost’s proprietary DNS servers to prevent DNS leaks. After testing it, we never had problems with it. We recommend keeping it “On” all the time because… well, there’s no reason to disable it!
• Block Content. A basic ad blocker that also works against trackers and malware. Frankly, it’s not the best around and doesn’t list blocked threats like NordVPN’s Threat Protection. It could be improved in terms of efficiency.
• Exceptions. It’s Website Split Tunneling that excludes the added websites from the VPN tunnel. There’s no App Split Tunneling – that’s only on mobile apps. Unfortunately, CyberGhost supports only OpenVPN for this feature.
• Perfect Forward Secrecy. This is a “passive” security feature that you won’t find in the app. It, however, means that the provider uses unique encryption keys for every new connection to prevent data theft. Once the connection is over, the encryption key is lost forever, so even if it’s stolen, the hacker would find it useless.

Advanced Security Features

The basic features we mentioned in our CyberGhost review are enough to keep you safe on the internet. The provider doesn’t have a load of advanced ones like NordVPN. Still, some of them are pretty interesting and worth looking at.

NoSpy Servers

We haven’t mentioned NoSpy servers in our CyberGhost review but now, it’s time to introduce them. You’ll notice all of them have the Romanian flag, meaning they’re in this country. Why? Because CyberGhost is also a Romanian VPN!

These servers are optimized for utmost privacy and are owned and operated by this company. Instead of renting them, the provider took matters into its own hands by eliminating third-party influence, hence the term “NoSpy.”

CyberGhost has a no-log policy that we’ll address later in the review. As a result, using these servers means you’re completely detached from third-party spying, tracking, and data collection. Everything you do is protected by the VPN only.

Best of all, these servers worked amazingly in our test. We discovered they’re not too slow either because they’re not MultiHop servers or anything similar. As we were in Europe, these Romanian servers provided stellar performance for gaming and downloading in P2P.

Modern Security Protocols

The provider offers a few protocols based on the platform you’re on. In total, there are three:

• OpenVPN
• IKEv2
• WireGuard

The last one is the best, with superior speed, stable performance, and top-tier security. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are great for security but lack speed in comparison. CyberGhost also lets you customize these protocols based on your needs.

For example, you can use TCP or UDP transfer protocols. TCP is great for connection reliability, while UDP is faster but less capable of bypassing VPN blocks. The Protocol menu lets you select the MTU size and sort of dictate the performance you’re getting.

You can transfer small packets or set the option to “Auto.” However, there’s also the Gaming mode, which improves speed and reduces latency when gaming. Lastly, the VPN lets you disable IPv6 connections when using it in case you don’t need them.

RAM-Only Servers

The provider has a huge number of servers and all are RAM-based. It’s a relief knowing that RAM servers can’t store data for too long. They’ll eventually be restarted and lose their data because RAM works like that. It’s a volatile memory that keeps data as long as it has power.

RAM servers are typical for all top-tier VPNs. They’re a guarantee that no hacker or government body can seize the server and steal information. CyberGhost can just press “Restart” and all information will evaporate in seconds.

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IP and DNS Leak Test

CyberGhost has around 100 countries to pick from and our team tested at least half for IP and DNS leaks. After trying out multiple locations and servers, we wanted to show you one to avoid prolonging our CyberGhost review significantly.

The image above shows you our first IP and DNS leak test on ipleak.net. As you see, we used the American server and were physically in Belgrade. Yet, the IP/DNS leak test results showed only American IP and DNS addresses, so everything was fine.

Another test was on browserleaks.com. We don’t need to repeat our explanation and tell the same tale twice. CyberGhost’s security is on par with NordVPN and ExpressVPN in this regard, having absolutely no issues with leaking data.

Does CyberGhost Keep Logs?

No, this VPN is completely log-free. CyberGhost is based in Romania and this country’s privacy laws are friendly. This means the company isn’t forced to store and hand out user data to the authorities. One more thing – its parent company is Kape Technologies.

Many know it for its Crossrider history and it wasn’t the best. Crossrider (Kape’s ex-name) was a completely different company and Kape Technologies today has nothing to do with it. After all, this company owns some of the most secure VPNs right now, including:

• CyberGhost
• ExpressVPN
• Private Internet Access

All three are safe and secure. They also don’t store logs and never sell user data to advertisers and data brokers. Indeed, the provider has a no-logging policy but we’ll need to analyze it in our CyberGhost review.

CyberGhost’s Privacy Policy Review

Thankfully, its privacy policy page is short and clear. At the forefront is Timo Beyel, CyberGhost’s CTO, and underneath is the privacy policy. As you can see, the provider treats its users with utmost attention to privacy and security.

The VPN doesn’t keep logs of your browsing history, traffic destination, data content, and search history. None of this information is monitored or logged, so the provider has no idea what you’re up to online. Moving on, CyberGhost mentions a few more things.

It says it doesn’t keep connection logs, IP addresses, connection timestamps, and even credit card information. In terms of stored information, we have nothing to discuss. Every VPN stores something and CyberGhost relies on non-sensitive information.

For example, your email address, which is mandatory to register for a VPN. Troubleshooting information is also there, including the browser type, OS version, battery charge, and a few more. It’s not only for troubleshooting actually but more for improving the service.

CyberGhost uses cookies on its site like any other VPN but again, these aren’t any trackers that will monitor your steps outside of CyberGhost’s website. Its privacy policy is free of ambiguities. It’s easy to read and grasp in minutes, making it one of the best around.

Third-Party Audits

The VPN existed for a long time before getting a third-party audit. Its pre-audit era was reliant on the so-called transparency reports that the provider published 4 times a year. It still does, like PIA, so this tradition prevailed. A few years ago, it received its audit.

Deloitte, the company that worked with NordVPN, Surfshark, and PIA on their audits, also conducted an in-depth CyberGhost test. The company examined its entire infrastructure, including a no-logging policy, and came back with positive results.

Deloitte concluded that the provider adheres to its no-log promises. Its examination of apps, configuration management, and IP token-based systems was also successful, showcasing CyberGhost’s prowess and plentiful security advancements.

CyberGhost Server Location Analysis

We promised to discuss its server locations in this CyberGhost review. The provider offers servers in 100 countries and 126 locations, which means we have an array of city-level servers. The number of servers is above 12,000, which is impressive.

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Take ExpressVPN with 3,000+ servers and you’ll see a stark difference. It’s not always about numbers, however. The quality of this server fleet is immaculate. For one, all servers are hosted on RAM. Two, all servers offer 10 Gbps performance.

Third, you have dedicated streaming and torrenting servers. Simply connect to one of these and watch Netflix anywhere or download torrents anonymously. Earlier in this CyberGhost review, we also mentioned dedicated IP addresses.

With 21 locations on offer, this is the best option if you aim for Dedicated IPs. These locations include Canada, Switzerland, Australia, France, the UK, the USA, Tokyo, and a few other locations. In the US alone, you can choose 6 cities – quite impressive.

CyberGhost also has Smart DNS addresses for streaming. They’re available not only in the USA but in Germany, the Netherlands, and a few other locations. In comparison, ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer only has US-based DNS addresses.

Speed Tests: CyberGhost’s Performance Evaluation

If you’re interested in its speed test results, this section of our CyberGhost review is for you. We tested CyberGhost from Belgrade, where we resided during the review process. At this time, our internet speed without using a VPN was:

To ensure we put the provider through a real-life test, we tested a few different locations. These include the UK, which is close to us, the USA, which is further away, and then Japan, whose distance is similar. CyberGhost was tested for 3 days in a row.

We also repeated tests 3 times a day while the protocol selection was set to “Auto” to mimic the way most people will use the VPN. We’ve compiled the best CyberGhost speed test results from each location – here they are:

UK Speed Test Results:

US Speed Test Results:

Japan Speed Test Results:

We can see that CyberGhost performs well and is fast enough for daily use. Its download and upload speeds aren’t the best around, however. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are way faster. We noticed that CyberGhost used OpenVPN on more than a few occasions too.

That might be why its speed was slower in some tests. In practice, connections were stable and ping wasn’t very noticeable except when using the Japanese server. Overall, nice results but far from the best. Check our special guide about faster VPN options if you need them.

Streaming & Torrenting With CyberGhost

Trying out CyberGhost’s dedicated servers always resulted in a stellar experience. Torrenting servers are in more than 70 countries and they were pretty fast in our tests. Connecting to one is a breeze, after which, you can go online and initiate the P2P download.

CyberGhost’s speed reduction is barely noticeable when using a server close to you. However, even after using a few servers outside Europe, torrenting was smooth and satisfying. When it comes to streaming servers, you’ll find plenty.

Users will likely pick those from the UK, the USA, Australia, and India. UK and US servers can unblock Netflix libraries from these respective countries. CyberGhost isn’t the most efficient Netflix-wise and unlocks just a few libraries – usually not more than 10.

Other streaming services work like a charm. Hotstar, MAX, BBC iPlayer, and many others pose no problem for this provider. We’d also like to state our discovery that streaming servers work better for streaming than “normal” servers – what an irony, huh?

Thus, if you want to unblock streaming services, we think sticking to these is a good move. If you need a VPN for more “general” purposes, its “ordinary” servers will do the trick.

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Using CyberGhost for Bypassing Censorship: Is it Efficient?

CyberGhost is far different than NordVPN and ExpressVPN in this regard. Namely, the VPN doesn’t offer obfuscation, so it’s impossible to use it to beat censorship in China. It’s a good VPN for the United States but this country isn’t censored.

After trying out CyberGhost’s apps in China, the experience was far from good. It wouldn’t budge, as they say, because the VPN app refused to connect. You’d be far better off with NordVPN’s obfuscated servers whose reliability in China is non-negotiable.

Now, don’t get all depressed. CyberGhost works in some regions people consider “censored.” They include the UAE, Qatar, India, and a few more. For example, this is a popular VPN provider in the UAE, and consequently Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Just don’t expect miracles in censorship-heavy regions. As said, NordVPN is a recommended option, although you can also use ExpressVPN’s built-in obfuscation.

Customer Support

CyberGhost’s customer support is paramount. It’s among our favorite features in this CyberGhost VPN review. 24/7 live chat support is the name of the game. This allows you to instantly get in touch with the VPN and request help or ask questions.

However, the support team is multi-lingual, so apart from English, it’ll talk in German and French. CyberGhost has plentiful how-to guides and FAQs on the site, making it extremely simple to get help. When you open its Help Center, you’re showered with helpful stuff.

For instance, you’ll immediately see setup guides for Android, iOS, macOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire OS, etc. Each guide is illustrated beautifully, with screenshots and step-by-step explanations. If something’s unclear, you have 24/7 live chat support.

Or perhaps, you can also use its email support by submitting a request. Your choice.

Conclusion

Our CyberGhost review is near its end, so let’s digress on what we said. After testing it and using it for years now, we can safely say that CyberGhost is a solid VPN for the money. It’s not the best when pinned against PIA and Surfshark but it’s pretty close.

We like its wealth of servers, streaming/torrenting abilities, strong privacy features, bank-grade encryption, and amazing device support. Sadly, CyberGhost isn’t the most advanced VPN, lacking obfuscation, double VPN servers, and more simultaneous connections.

So, do we recommend buying it after this in-depth review? We’d say yes but also no. Yes, if you don’t like PIA and Surfshark at the same price. No, if you haven’t tried these two or even NordVPN, which is the best provider you can currently get.

NordVPN is faster and offers obfuscation, double VPN servers, and more simultaneous connections while costing just $1/mo more. PIA and Surfshark cost the same but with unlimited concurrent connections and nearly identical features to NordVPN.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide – we gave you three superior, yet similarly-priced options to think about.

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