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A universally powerful VPN for a very affordable price.
Last Updated October 28, 2024
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Whether you’re streaming on Netflix, you’re downloading torrents, or you want to stay secure online, a VPN service provides essential benefits to keep your experience smooth and private. It does this by routing your internet activities through an encrypted tunnel to a remote VPN server.
Headquartered in Romania, CyberGhost is one of the top-tier options on the market. If you’re hunting for a VPN provider that covers all the bases, this site will likely pop up in the conversation.
For this CyberGhost VPN review, I tested the VPN to see how well it holds up. I concluded that CyberGhost is an excellent VPN that deserves its strong reputation. Read on for the full details of my review.
CyberGhost is a popular VPN, and it’s easy to see why. It can guarantee access to the sites with the toughest geo-blocks. You can count on stable and reliable connections. Plus, it will bypass regional blocks on your favorite streaming services. It is simple, modern, and visually appealing.
However, the real test of a VPN service goes beyond its looks. So, I took a deep dive and tested every feature of the VPN service. This review of CyberGhost also includes external tests to gauge the VPN’s speed and privacy protection.
Overall, I’m impressed by this VPN’s pricing, security, streaming, and extra features. That said, CyberGhost needs to work on a few areas. I was slightly disappointed with how much performance dropped as the distance to the server increased. However, considering its price, CyberGhost stands near the top of the VPN leaderboard.
I successfully connected to US and UK Netflix libraries on the first try. Using CyberGhost’s US servers. I could unlock content to stream in high-definition. I could also stream Netflix Australia without any hassle.
I encountered geo-blocks when trying to access Netflix Germany through the Frankfurt server. However, switching to the Nuremberg server was enough to clear that up.
My last test was for South America. I tested Netflix streaming services in Chile, Peru, and Brazil and could stream in HD.
If you want to bypass Netflix’s powerful geo-restrictions, CyberGhost VPN is one of your best bets.
While testing, I found that CyberGhost VPN can unblock Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video. Additionally, the VPN easily bypasses restricted access to sites like Facebook, Google, and YouTube.
What’s more, I could stream content seamlessly without any lag. CyberGhost offers nearly 100 dedicated streaming servers. Each server has a tag that labels the streaming service it’s optimized for. Even so, connecting to any of these servers will get you past most geo-restrictions from streaming services.
I’m impressed by the sheer number of VPN servers CyberGhost offers. There are 9,200+ servers in 100 countries.
This is one of the most extensive networks in the industry, offering about three times the number of servers you would get on the highly-rated ExpressVPN. Simply put, more servers translate to higher chances of finding speedy and reliable options in and around your location or the location you want to connect to.
Unsurprisingly, the greatest number of servers are spread across North America. Still, CyberGhost has decent global coverage, with several servers on every other continent.
The VPN offers a choice of physical and virtual servers. Virtual servers are exactly what they sound like—virtual machines that run on physical servers. They are somewhere other than they appear. For instance, a virtual server in Algeria may be a simulated machine hosted on a physical server in Portugal.
Physical and virtual servers work similarly, but a few differences depend on the infrastructure. One downside is that several virtual servers hosted on a physical machine may adversely affect the VPN’s performance.
Previously, CyberGhost tagged every server on its apps to show whether they were physical or virtual, but it has moved away from that in the current versions. That said, the website has a complete list that highlights that information.
You will find different types of servers on CyberGhost optimized for various activities. They are:
By default, most VPNs, including CyberGhost, randomly assign dynamic IP addresses when you connect to a server. Because these addresses are shared across VPNs, multiple users access the internet with the same IP address from different locations. This has a privacy advantage—it significantly reduces the chances of online activity being traced back to an individual internet user.
On the other hand, static or dedicated IP addresses belong exclusively to one user. They are less likely to be blacklisted by streaming platforms and websites. A dedicated IP address is also better at bypassing CAPTCHAs and will process online payments more easily. In addition, it removes the chances of another user’s illegal activities being traced back to you. It is an important feature for businesses and website owners.
CyberGhost offers an innovative “token-based dedicated IP.” This adds an extra layer of security and privacy, as not even the provider knows the dedicated IP address assigned to you. If you run a website or own a business in or around the UK, US, Germany, France, or Canada, you may want to opt for this offer. As with other services, this is a paid feature.
I will discuss other optimized servers available on CyberGhost as the review continues.
When you hop on the internet via a VPN, the connection speed takes a hit because of the extra step your internet traffic must go through. However, the best VPN providers ensure that the increased latency is barely noticeable.
So that you enjoy the best performance available, CyberGhost will connect to the best server location by default when you click the power button. That server depends on a few things, such as distance to the server, reply speed, and user load.
I tested CyberGhost’s performance compared to the speeds I got while off the VPN. I noted each result’s download and upload speeds, which tell different stories about the connection’s performance.
Using the online speed test tool Ookla, I tested for my base internet speed. I got 35 Mbps download and 3.8 Mbps upload.
Next, I tried out CyberGhost’s Best Server Location feature.
Moving forward, I switched to VPN servers located in:
My speed tests began pretty well, with a minimal speed decrease. When I connected to the server the VPN decided was the best fit, the drop in download speed was barely perceivable. Interestingly, the upload speed increased compared to the base result.
Switching to a server in London produced a significant drop-off in performance. The download speed was reduced to 24 Mbps, 26% slower than I initially observed. The upload speed suffered a similar speed reduction.
The decline was even worse when I connected to a server in Dallas. Download and upload speeds fell by 37% and 22%.
Finally, I tested a server in Taiwan, where I experienced the worst decline in speed. The download speed was cut in half, while the upload speed only saw a slight reduction in performance.
The speed test results show that CyberGhost is something of a mixed bag. You’re likely to enjoy blazing-fast speeds while connected to a nearby server compared to what you get directly from your internet service provider. However, connecting to a farther server may cause poor results.
It’s important to note that this is a common issue with VPNs and is not peculiar to CyberGhost. In fact, it performs much better over longer distances than most other VPN services.
Furthermore, VPN speed tests aren’t always conclusive. Several factors contribute to the test results each time, including the connection speed in your starting location and the tunneling protocol used. If you measure a server’s speed five minutes apart, you may observe notably contrasting results.
CyberGhost is a torrenting-friendly VPN provider. With no restrictions, you can enjoy P2P sharing and torrenting across all its servers. To ensure these activities are hassle-free, there are optimized servers with 70+ locations.
Those servers provide the best speeds for P2P downloads based on your location and internet connection speed. When you find one that works perfectly, add it to your favorites list to save time.
State-of-the-art VPN encryption, perfect forward secrecy, and a strict no-logs policy are some other features that secure your data while P2P sharing with CyberGhost. Torrenting is not the safest internet activity, and you don’t want certain actors tracing your traffic back to you.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks. If you prefer to torrent on your smartphone, you may not get the optimal service, as CyberGhost only offers dedicated P2P servers on its desktop apps.
In addition, it does not come with a SOCKS5 proxy service, which offers faster location spoofing. Still, only a few VPN providers offer this.
Speed is one of your top priorities if you are considering a VPN for gaming purposes. If your VPN has long response times, there is bound to be lag, which is frustrating while gaming. Consequently, you want a VPN with lower ping times.
So, I tested CyberGhost to see how well it handles gaming. My primary aim was to check if the VPN service would maintain its high speed while playing League of Legends, a resource-heavy MMO game. I also wanted to check if the bandwidth was high enough and the latency low enough.
Instead of using a smart location on CyberGhost, I connected to a long-distance server to see how much of an impact it would have on the game speed.
The outcome? I could enjoy seamless gameplay even when connected to a CyberGhost server far away. Though I was expecting a little lag, the CyberGhost connection gave me complete control over the fast-paced action throughout the gaming session. It didn’t even seem like I was using a VPN. Therefore, I am willing to recommend CyberGhost for Gaming.
Of course, when you game while on a VPN, you’ll want to choose a server close to you. Go for the Best Location feature on CyberGhost so that a server will be chosen automatically based on performance.
Virtually every VPN provider promises to protect your online traffic and ensure that your actual IP address will always stay hidden. Unfortunately, these claims are not always true.
If you are banking on a VPN to safeguard your internet presence, it should offer top-notch data encryption, IP leak protection, and robust security protocols. Additional security features, such as split tunneling, can be very handy.
CyberGhost uses 256-bit AES encryption that combines SHA-512 HMAC authentication and a 4096-bit RSA key with the AES 256-bit cipher. It is the industry-standard encryption used by security experts and the US government.
AES 256-bit encryption is symmetric, which means it uses the same key for encryption and decryption. This makes it virtually impossible to break. Even with a powerful quantum computer, decrypting 0.1% of the data would take billions of years.
CyberGhost comes with OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols. Tunneling protocols have different strengths and weaknesses, but these three are the fastest and most secure.
The VPN automatically chooses the best protocol on Windows based on your internet connection. However, you can switch between them manually. The open-source OpenVPN has a reputation as the most secure tunneling protocol, but the newer WireGuard trades off some security for better speed.
Other operating systems offer fewer options. For instance, you must install OpenVPN apps on Mac and iOS manually. Furthermore, Android and Linux systems do not support reliable IKEv2.
In 2011, CyberGhost became the first VPN to publish a Transparency Report, providing details on the number of requests it received from authorities to release user data. It shared this information with customers annually until 2019, changing it later to once every three months.
There’s more. CyberGhost changes the encryption and decryption key for every VPN session. This feature, called Perfect Forward Secrecy, adds security to your VPN connection. Using unique sets of keys for each session drastically cuts down the chances of your internet activity being monitored.
According to its privacy policy, CyberGhost doesn’t keep connection or activity logs, including websites visited, online traffic, DNS queries, or data content. Its RAM-only servers help to guarantee this, as they wipe out server data on each reboot.
Like most other VPNs, CyberGhost will only collect the data users share while signing up, like email addresses and payment info. It uses this information to streamline its service by keeping track of simultaneous connections.
A strict no-logs policy is a common guarantee in the VPN industry. However, history has shown that not every provider is honest with this claim and some, in fact, do store identifying logs on their servers.
To guarantee users of its integrity, CyberGhost underwent an independent audit of its servers in September 2022. A major audit firm, Deloitte, conducted the exercise, inspecting CyberGhost’s server network and management systems. The firm gave special attention to the company’s no-logs policy, dedicated IP system, and configuration management.
The audit’s result was conclusive: CyberGhost does not store user logs and cannot trace its customers’ locations or activities. Deloitte’s audit, carried out according to global standards, is a big confidence booster for privacy-conscious users.
The kill switch feature protects you by preventing data leaks if your connection goes wrong. This must-have security measure monitors your traffic to watch for a drop. Whenever your connection becomes unstable or switches off, it automatically blocks all incoming and outgoing traffic to prevent potentially costly data exposure. When the pathway to the server is restored, your internet gets reconnected.
While some VPNs require you to enable the kill switch manually, CyberGhost activates the feature when you connect to a VPN server.
While a VPN may be essential for your online safety and privacy, you likely don’t need one whenever you connect.
With split tunneling, you can decide which of your traffic stays under the VPN’s cloak and which does not. The VPN sends the former through the encrypted private tunnel it provides, while the rest uses the open network and is thus unencrypted.
Split tunneling can be useful in online banking situations where a VPN connection may be blocked. It can also conserve bandwidth, preventing bottlenecks.
I tested the feature by streaming a video on Netflix on the VPN while completing a bank transaction off the VPN, and it split the traffic perfectly.
On the CyberGhost Windows app, you can add exceptions—websites that bypass the VPN’s private tunnel when you visit them. You can also assign designated apps to apply the VPN connection. CyberGhost calls this App Protection. I successfully tested by adding my banking app to the whitelist. Both settings are present in the Smart Rules section.
On Android, you can circumvent the connection for apps but not websites. Unfortunately, split tunneling does not exist in any form on macOS, iOS, or Linux platforms.
It’s important to remember that split tunneling bypasses the VPN’s protection, leaving parts of your connection visible to any onlookers and potentially vulnerable.
I ran CyberGhost through an online tool to see if users are vulnerable to data leaks, representing critical privacy threats. I picked eight servers at random, with locations including the US, the UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, and South Africa.
According to my test results, all CyberGhost apps are free from IP, WebRTC, and DNS leaks. You can be sure CyberGhost will keep your IP address and DNS requests hidden and private.
Below is an example of the results when I connected to a US server. You can see that only the US server is detected rather than my ISP’s server, which is what we want to see.
There were approximately 52 million data breaches in the second quarter of 2022 alone, and the rate of compromised data is still rising.
2019 CyberGhost experienced a minor security breach that exposed 120 email addresses and 14 usernames attached to user accounts. However, it is worth mentioning that no passwords were revealed, as CyberGhost does not store those logs, and the accounts were not hacked.
To its credit, CyberGhost was open about this incident and committed to ensuring the privacy of its customers.
Furthermore, the CyberGhost ID Guard feature comes in handy if your information is revealed to be part of a data breach. When this happens, you receive an instant heads-up, which allows you to change your password immediately.
CyberGhost provides additional security through Wi-Fi Protection on its mobile and desktop apps. This feature automatically launches CyberGhost when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network.
This is particularly useful if you connect to an unsecured public Wi-Fi network, as they are soft targets for bad actors. Wi-Fi Protection is available in the app’s smart rules section. By default, it will ask if you would like to connect to or ignore a particular network, but you can select either option so it doesn’t ask every time.
CyberGhost protects against malware, ads, and tracking. To get optimum protection, you should turn on all three. That way, you will not see pop-ups or other ads that can infect your device.
I tested the ad blocker and found that it is touch and go. I was impressed by its ability to block Facebook ads. However, the outcome was not quite stellar for other ads I encountered. While I did not see many pop-up ads I usually encounter on some websites, others were resistant to the feature’s powers.
If advertisements really bother you, you may be better off using a dedicated ad blocker app or browser extension to eliminate them.
If you subscribe to a plan for over a month, you can hop on CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers, which are more private than regular servers. The provider fully manages NoSpy servers, which feature “top-of-the-line hardware” with advanced security measures. They also provide faster speeds courtesy of extended bandwidth.
CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers are hosted in Romania, where the company is headquartered. The Balkan country has privacy-friendly data regulations, although CyberGhost’s zero-log policy means it stores no geolocation data anyway.
There’s no clear-cut answer to this question. CyberGhost has a server in China, but as you may guess, it’s a virtual one in a different country. However, China heavily censors internet access for its residents with its powerful and forbidding technology, aptly named The Great Wall of China.
I contacted CyberGhost’s customer service via live chat and received a mixed reply. Yes, CyberGhost works in China, but only to a certain extent. Most internet service providers in China block VPNs.
Because you can only test this out physically, and I can’t, I have to go with the official stance. Most VPNs are not capable of breaking past that barrier anyway. If you need a VPN for China, you will be better off opting for ExpressVPN.
CyberGhost VPN offers three premium subscription tiers for potential users to choose from. You can select between a monthly plan, a six-month plan, and a two-year plan.
CyberGhost offers competitive pricing. The short-term plan costs $12.99/month, billed every month. It is slightly above the average monthly plan for a premium VPN. I don’t recommend the 1-month plan. For one, you cannot use the CyberGhost NoSpy servers, an important feature if you want all the privacy you can get. Moreover, the 14-day money-back guarantee here is way less than you can get with longer packages.
A step higher is the six-month plan, which costs $6.99/month and is billed $41.94. This plan nearly halves the average monthly price compared to the monthly plan. It also comes with the benefit of a 45-day money-back guarantee. This is significantly longer than the industry average of 30 days, so you get more time to try the VPN service.
Subscribing to the 2-year plan with 4 free months (28 months effectively) saves you over 80%. This plan costs an average monthly fee of $2.03, billed $56.94 once for 28 months.
CyberGhost does not offer a free plan. However, there’s a free trial for Windows and Mac (24 hours), Android (3 days), and iOS (7 days). The free trial does not require credit card.
CyberGhost has custom apps for iOS, Mac, Windows, Android, Debian-based and RPM-based Linux systems and Chromebooks. The VPN is compatible with many devices and platforms, including Android TV, Apple TV, Roku, Kodi, Amazon Fire Stick, and others.
CyberGhost is also easily compatible with routers and has setup guides on its website. It is one of the best choices if you want to configure a router VPN. CyberGhost is available on TomatoUSB, TomatoUSB Merlin Build, and DD-WRT routers. Using the VPN directly on your router lets you bypass the simultaneous device limitation and still protect the whole network. However, if you’re out of your router’s range, you’ll be unprotected unless you activate CyberGhost on your individual devices.
CyberGhost lets you use its service on up to seven devices simultaneously, just above the industry standard of five. In case you run out of device slots, you can log out of any one of the connected devices through your account and instantly use a new one.
CyberGhost does not offer an app for PlayStation, Xbox, or other gaming consoles. To protect those devices, you can install the software on a router and re-route the web traffic of the devices connected to your network.
You could also configure the Smart DNS feature on your gaming console. This feature is available for PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox One and 360, Wii, and Wii U. Like a VPN, Smart DNS is a great way to bypass regional restrictions on content access. However, it will not hide a device’s IP address or encrypt data. Instead, CyberGhost switches its domain name system (DNS) with a different address to conceal the actual geo-location.
CyberGhost comes with dedicated browser extensions for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome (which also includes Edge). Both extensions are free to download and use—you don’t need to sign up for an account first. The extensions provide eight servers in four countries: Romania, the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany.
CyberGhost is easy to install and use. The app is simple enough, even though it’s jam-packed with features. Its minimalistic user interface looks clean and modern. CyberGhost seems to care that customers enjoy smooth and seamless experiences. CyberGhost is a great option for newbies, especially on macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
When you log in, you can simply push the prominent power button and the VPN will connect to the best server present in your area, depending on your internet connection.
On the desktop apps, a left-pointing arrow expands at a click to reveal CyberGhost’s optimized servers, complete server list, and settings area. After you find an optimal server, you can add it to your Favorites list to save for later.
CyberGhost is big on customization and offers many settings to tweak the app to your preference. While the options are extensive, I still found CyberGhost an intuitive app. Each setting has a label describing what happens when you change it.
There are many options to help customers resolve their complaints and inquiries. First, there is an easy-to-use live chat service. If you experience a problem with CyberGhost, you can chat with a customer service representative available around the clock.
I used this method to ask about the 45-day money-back guarantee and received a prompt response. The live chat support team provided me with all the information I needed politely and professionally.
The representative may ask for your email address if you are a registered user. If your request needs extra time to deal with or if the live chat disconnects due to an internet issue, you’ll receive an email later with a guide or resolution.
You can also contact CyberGhost directly through email. Furthermore, the provider offers support on its website, where you can find user support guides, FAQs, and setup guides with useful information.
Overall, CyberGhost excels at customer support. I would have liked to see phone support, but few VPNs have dedicated call lines.
Overall, CyberGhost is well worth its high user rating, with its user-friendly apps, robust security and privacy provisions, good speeds and network size, affordable pricing, and ability to bypass content restrictions.
Most VPN users prioritize online safety and privacy, and CyberGhost stands out. It offers bank-level encryption, a strict and verified no-logs policy, an automatic kill switch, and several advanced and extra features. Regular transparency reports and an independent audit by Deloitte sweeten the deal.
CyberGhost also performs excellently as a streaming, gaming, and torrenting service. Several servers dedicated to each activity remove the need for trial and error and ensure you enjoy lag—and buffering-free experiences. CyberGhost can evade geo-restrictions on streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and many more.
If you have questions or complaints, you aren’t left to your devices (pun intended). I found CyberGhost customer support as promised: 24/7 live chat that is constantly available and plenty of helpful resources.
CyberGhost still needs to improve some aspects of its service. While servers closer to my location provided fast speeds, performance dropped significantly on farther servers. In addition, CyberGhost seems to have prioritized the Windows client. Some of the functionality available on Windows is missing on other operating systems.
All said and done, I recommend CyberGhost to users looking for a capable, speedy, and reliable VPN. The only VPN I recommend more highly is ExpressVPN.
Yes. CyberGhost has one of the largest subscriber bases, and people consider it an excellent choice for accessing online content privately and securely. Still, a popular VPN is not automatically a good one, so I threw a barrage of tests at it to confirm.
The results clearly showed that CyberGhost deserves a high rating. It performs excellently in most of the areas a top-tier VPN should, like security, streaming access, ease of use, torrenting abilities, and more. Like any VPN, CyberGhost isn't perfect—but it comes close. ExpressVPN is the only VPN that comes closer to perfect.
CyberGhost plans range from $2.03 per month to $12.99 per month, depending on the commitment period.
Price aside, the details differ a bit for each plan. For instance, the refund period for the monthly package only lasts 14 days. On the other hand, both longer-term plans offer 45-day money-back guarantees for users who are not completely satisfied.
I recommend choosing the two-year plan, as you get the best value for your money. Not only is it much cheaper long-term, but CyberGhost also offers four extra months to sweeten the deal. Note that CyberGhost will subsequently bill the $56.94 fee annually after the first two years and four months, which increases the price to $4.75 per month.
You can connect seven devices to your CyberGhost account simultaneously, two more than other VPNs offer on average. That said, some VPNs, like IPVanish, allow you to connect unlimited devices with a single subscription.
CyberGhost is compatible with various platforms and devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, routers, TVs, and streaming devices. Consequently, it is a top choice for large households and users with many devices.
Yes. CyberGhost is a solid VPN, but a VPN can perform flawlessly in certain areas and still remain untrusted. You want a service with unassailable structures to prevent the loss or exposure of sensitive user information.
Fortunately, my CyberGhost VPN review reveals you can trust the service with your internet traffic. It has an arsenal of essential privacy and security tools, like bank-level encryption, an automatic kill switch, leak protection, and an audited no-logs policy.
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