They say you get what you pay for, but CyberGhost offers low prices and still claims to be one of the best. Subscriptions come as low as $2.03/month, so that much can’t be debated. But, can it really compete with its top-ranking competitors while charging so little?
Over the course of several weeks, we put CyberGhost through an extensive evaluation. We analyzed its privacy policy, stress-tested its global server network, measured its speeds, and explored its streaming and torrenting capabilities. Plus, I tested out all of its security features, went back and forth with customer support, and found out how well it works on the most popular devices.
After our tests, I believe CyberGhost checks all the essential boxes for a top-tier VPN, despite its low price point. There are actually only a few categories where it’s not the outright best. It also offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee with its longer plans. After testing it myself, I can say it’s trustworthy. It only took a few minutes to get approved, and all my money was returned in 3 days.
Try CyberGhost Risk-Free >>
CyberGhost VPN Pros, Cons, and Needed Improvements
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Secure access to streaming
CyberGhost works with a variety of platforms, including Netflix and Disney+.
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Impressive global network
CyberGhost has 11,690 servers in 100 countries with options dedicated to streaming, torrenting, and gaming — but none of them work in heavily censored countries like China.
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Military-level security
Not only does CyberGhost offer 256-bit encryption and a kill switch, but you can also customize it with extra features designed to keep you safe.
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No-logs policy is audited
Your privacy is protected since CyberGhost doesn't log any information that could be used to identify you.
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Designed for ease of use
CyberGhost doesn’t overcomplicate things and has native apps for every major operating system and even some smart TVs; plus it works on routers and gaming consoles.
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Money-back guarantee
You can try CyberGhost out for free for up to 45 days.
CyberGhost VPN Features — 2024 Update
9.4
💸
Price
|
2.03 USD/month
|
📆
Money Back Guarantee
|
45 Days |
📝
Does VPN keep logs?
|
No |
🖥
Number of servers
|
11690+ |
💻
Number of devices per license
|
7 |
🛡
Kill switch
|
Yes |
🗺
Based in country
|
Romania |
🛠
Support
|
24/7 Live Chat Support |
📥
Supports torrenting
|
Yes |
Streaming — One of the Most Reliable Options for Streaming
10.0
CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for streaming and can safely access content from anywhere. When we put it to the test, my global team and I could securely view over 30 major streaming services.
A key reason for CyberGhost's stellar streaming performance is its network of streaming-optimized servers. CyberGhost's staff regularly tests and updates these specialized servers to ensure they work reliably with the intended platforms.
Our global team had reliable connections on every server tested
But even when using CyberGhost's regular (non-optimized) servers, my international team and I could still stream a wide range of content in good quality, including various Netflix libraries, Pluto TV, Showtime, and more.
CyberGhost can securely access the following platforms from anywhere:
Netflix |
Disney+ |
Hulu |
Max |
Amazon Prime Video |
BBC iPlayer |
Paramount+ |
Peacock |
Crunchyroll |
Sling TV |
Spotify |
Eurosport |
Fox |
NBC |
ESPN/ESPN+ |
CBC |
Comedy Central |
NOW TV |
YLE |
Hotstar |
Vudu |
Canal+ |
Kodi |
Discovery+ |
6play |
France TV |
Sky TV |
Europe1 |
7TV |
ITV |
Sling TV |
ARD |
Rai Play |
Stan |
YouTube |
All 4 |
CBS |
MTV |
Fubo TV |
RTL+ |
Editor’s note: The VPNs we recommend have strict no-logs policies, meaning they don’t track your online activities. This means the responsibility falls on you to use the VPN in accordance with the rules and regulations of your location. We at vpnMentor do not condone or encourage any copyright infringement or other unlawful activities.
Works With: 15+ Netflix Libraries (Including the US, UK, and Japan)
CyberGhost has servers optimized for over 15 Netflix libraries, making it possible to access the full regional content libraries from anywhere in HD.
In our tests, we used its specialized Netflix UK server and could watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in HD with ease. The same applies to the Netflix US server.
With CyberGhost, each episode loaded within seconds
Beyond the US and UK, our team reported it also worked with Netflix libraries in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Canada, Germany, and Italy among others. The performance was reliable across the board, with the platform-specific servers delivering the best results.
We found that CyberGhost's regular servers worked well for Netflix in most cases too. The only exceptions were a few obscure regional Netflix libraries, which seemed limited to just the Netflix Originals content.
Works With: Disney+
We were also able to safely stream the Disney+ UK, US, and Italy catalog without any problems. We didn't encounter buffering or long loading times.
Both Disney-optimized and regular servers worked well with the platform
CyberGhost's virtual Hotstar India server worked just as well in our tests.
Works With: Hulu
It was easy to load Hulu and stream without interruptions using CyberGhost. The VPN's dedicated server for the platform let us stream HD content without issues.
There was no buffering as our US tester watched Under the Bridge on Hulu
Similar to our results with other popular services, we could securely watch Hulu on the very first server we connected to, whether testing on mobile apps or desktop browsers.
Works With: Amazon Prime Video
CyberGhost's performance with Amazon Prime Video was good overall, though it's worth noting that only its specialized servers delivered reliable access in high quality from anywhere. The non-optimized connections struggled with the platform or didn’t work at all due to them being detected.
Using specialized servers, we could stream from the UK, the US, Germany, and Japan libraries. Every team member had a smooth streaming experience with no issues in video quality.
The regular US server didn't work with Prime Video in our tests
Also Works With: BBC iPlayer, Max, ITV, Crunchyroll, Peacock, and YouTube TV
CyberGhost also demonstrated impressive performance with a variety of other popular services from anywhere.
For instance, we could safely stream BBC iPlayer during our tests. The streams loaded quickly, and we experienced no interruptions while watching shows like RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs the World.
The consistency carried over to other platforms that we tested as well. Whether it was Max (formerly HBO Max), Peacock TV, ITV, or Crunchyroll, CyberGhost provided seamless HD access to these services' full content libraries.
CyberGhost even handled live TV platforms with ease. When we used it for streaming sports, news, and other programs on YouTube TV, the VPN delivered a smooth and uninterrupted experience.
Doesn’t Work With: Some Netflix and DAZN Libraries
While CyberGhost worked reliably with the most popular Netflix libraries, it didn’t work with some more obscure ones. For instance, members of our global team couldn’t watch the Netflix libraries for Thailand, Argentina, and South Africa. They tried a variety of troubleshooting methods, such as switching VPN protocols and even changing browsers, but nothing worked. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, makes it possible to access Netflix Argentina and South Africa without any added delays.
It also struggled with some DAZN libraries and couldn’t access them in good quality from anywhere. For instance, while it worked with a few that our international team tested (US, Italy, Germany, and more), it didn’t with DAZN UK. We tried multiple regular UK servers since there wasn’t one optimized for DAZN UK, and all of them gave us an error message.
I tried several UK servers and none of them worked with DAZN UK
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Speed — Most Servers Are Fast (Only a Few Aren’t)
9.0
CyberGhost’s fast speeds make it a great option for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. While testing speeds, we looked at these 3 things:
- Download speed is how fast you’ll receive data. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps). This lets you know how quickly you can load web pages, stream videos, etc.
- Upload speed is how fast you can send data. It’s also measured in megabits per second (Mbps). This tells you how fast you’ll be able to send emails, upload videos, post to social media, etc.
- Ping is how long your data takes to travel from point A to point B. If the ping is lower, you’ll have a more responsive connection; this is really important when you’re gaming online. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms).
We have a dedicated speed tester who conducts regular tests on CyberGhost servers from the same location in the UK. This helps us create more accurate comparisons since all the VPNs in the table below were tested with the same connection in the same geographic area. The CyberGhost results were recorded with the WireGuard protocol since it was the fastest.
See how CyberGhost compares to other fast VPNs
USA (Dallas)
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
USA (Miami)
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
USA (Los Angeles)
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
USA (New York)
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
Canada
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
Brazil
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
UK
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
France
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
Japan
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
Australia
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
Singapore
Download Speed
Upload Speed
Ping
160.63 Mbps
48.49 Mbps
5 ms
103.16 Mbps
49.78 Mbps
5 ms
111.47 Mbps
86.44 Mbps
116 ms
125.04 Mbps
28.32 Mbps
75 ms
200.96 Mbps
56.18 Mbps
56 ms
111.61 Mbps
49.52 Mbps
74 ms
186.53 Mbps
104.80 Mbps
161 ms
73.75 Mbps
57.14 Mbps
133 ms
133.77 Mbps
81.13 Mbps
119 ms
104.89 Mbps
90.47 Mbps
144 ms
100.97 Mbps
74.94 Mbps
193 ms
68.68 Mbps
33.48 Mbps
210 ms
219.97 Mbps
94.10 Mbps
4 ms
173.22 Mbps
90.59 Mbps
11 ms
157.99 Mbps
43.93 Mbps
204 ms
153.61 Mbps
125.61 Mbps
98 ms
140.79 Mbps
24.06 Mbps
182 ms
81.06 Mbps
62.09 Mbps
179 ms
118.06 Mbps
103.02 Mbps
187 ms
102.79 Mbps
83.94 Mbps
203 ms
145.80 Mbps
139.18 Mbps
208 ms
137.35 Mbps
143.93 Mbps
184 ms
142.39 Mbps
104.08 Mbps
181 ms
110.89 Mbps
131.79 Mbps
229 ms
255.61 Mbps
82.73 Mbps
4 ms
164.71 Mbps
172.99 Mbps
43 ms
168.15 Mbps
151.89 Mbps
75 ms
114.39 Mbps
49.95 Mbps
75 ms
183.82 Mbps
140 Mbps
58 ms
7.22 Mbps
9.03 Mbps
78 ms
159.42 Mbps
9.09 Mbps
143 ms
99.70 Mbps
124.54 Mbps
115 ms
157.03 Mbps
111.84 Mbps
116 ms
159.43 Mbps
115.71 Mbps
142 ms
49.06 Mbps
152.61 Mbps
192 ms
69.95 Mbps
100.88 Mbps
227 ms
These tests are conducted from the USA
*N/A indicates that we do not currently have speed test data for this location
CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested. Most VPNs drop your speeds by 10–20% on nearby locations, and as you can see, CyberGhost blows way past those expectations. It’s also quite fast while connected to most distant locations.
However, you can’t rely on optimized servers to improve your speeds. I wouldn’t discourage you from using them for gaming, torrenting, or streaming, but our tests showed little difference between their speeds and those of the regular servers.
Local Speed
We’ve rarely encountered large speed drops on European servers.
I’d consider the servers in Canada and the US to be midrange (between 4,000 and 6000km away). So, it’s impressive that they hardly ever drop our speeds by more than 30%.
Long-Distance Speed
Speed drops of 60% are common on distant servers, but CyberGhost almost never lowers our speeds that much. Compared to its competitors, CyberGhost holds up incredibly well on far-off servers, and speed drops aren’t significant until servers are over 10,000km away.
The only VPN I’ve found that’s consistently faster is ExpressVPN, and it’s not by much. My only minor complaint here is that you can only see the load percentage on the macOS app. This tells you how crowded the location is, and I hope this measurement is added to its other native apps eventually.
Gaming — Smooth Gameplay on Nearby Servers
9.4
When it comes to online gaming, a fast and reliable connection is crucial for a seamless experience. CyberGhost recognizes this and has set up a network of gaming-optimized servers in strategic locations like the UK, the US, and Germany. These servers are designed to deliver low-latency performance, making it easy to find the right connection for gaming.
I put CyberGhost's gaming capabilities to the test, starting with a baseline ping of 27ms. When I connected to CyberGhost's nearby server in Berkshire, my ping only increased slightly to 30ms. The gaming-optimized London server gave me an even better 28ms ping. Connecting to a gaming server in Paris also gave me a low latency connection of 30ms.
This level of performance on nearby servers is on par with ExpressVPN, which is the fastest gaming VPN I’ve tested. The low latency on its nearby UK server allowed me to enjoy seamless sessions of Free Fire on my Android device without any lag.
My gameplay was smooth even during competitive situations
CyberGhost's gaming-optimized servers also proved their worth when I tested cloud gaming platforms. I was able to stream GeForce Now titles with ease, as the VPN's low-ping connections ensured a responsive and lag-free experience.
However, the performance on long-distance servers was not as impressive. When I connected to CyberGhost's gaming server in New York, my ping spiked to 102ms, which resulted in some lag while playing Warzone on my PC. While this is still better than most other VPNs, I had slightly better results with providers like ExpressVPN (79ms) and NordVPN (92ms).
Server Network — A Large Network With Great Coverage
9.8
CyberGhost has an impressive global network of 11,690 servers in 100 countries. That’s a lot more coverage than most other top VPNs I’ve used. It means your chances of finding a fast connection are higher because there’s most likely a server close by.
I was impressed that CyberGhost has 11 server locations in the US alone, but there’s also a lot of coverage in the Asia/Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East, and Europe.
I’m also a fan of its activity-specific servers, which makes it downright easy to find the ideal connection for your needs. For instance, it has dedicated servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
Virtual Locations
CyberGhost currently offers virtual servers for nearly 50 locations. Its physical locations are exactly what they sound like — servers run on machines in the city listed. But for virtual servers like Saudi Arabia, the machine is in another location that assigns you an IP address in that country.
Any location without a green checkmark under the "located" column is a virtual server
Virtual servers can help VPNs provide faster and more reliable connections in remote places. They also let them operate in countries where VPNs are banned (or are vulnerable to government interference). However, these can result in lower ping rates and download speeds if the physical machine is farther away from you than the location you want to connect to.
NoSpy Servers
CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers make the VPN more secure — but you need to be on a 6-month plan or longer to access them. The NoSpy servers are based in CyberGhost’s private data center in Romania, and only the CyberGhost team can access them. They significantly reduce the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks since there’s no third party involved — ideal for extra protection while torrenting, for example.
CyberGhost doesn’t have a multi-hop feature, but it’s not a big deal because NoSpy servers are actually better. I prefer CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers to something like Proton VPN’s Secure Core feature. This is a multi-hop feature that increases security by routing your traffic twice, but you lose a lot more speed compared to NoSpy servers, and they’re just as secure.
Even though they’re a little slower, NoSpy servers are worth it for the added security.
Dedicated IP Servers
A dedicated IP server provides you with an IP address that is exclusive to you — no one else can use it. This IP remains the same every time you connect to the VPN.
Having a dedicated IP offers several advantages. It prevents overcrowding since the IP is solely assigned to your account. This also makes it more difficult for your dedicated IP to get blocked by websites or online services. CyberGhost uses a token-based dedicated IP system, meaning the company itself doesn't know your dedicated IP. This enhances privacy and anonymity.
Remote workers can also benefit from a dedicated IP, as it allows them to bypass restrictions some companies place on untrusted IP addresses when connecting to internal networks remotely.
CyberGhost's dedicated IP servers are currently available in a limited number of countries, including the US, UK, France, and Canada. Connecting to a dedicated IP server from farther locations could result in reduced speeds compared to nearby servers.
Security — Advanced Security Features for Maximum Protection
9.9
CyberGhost VPN provides all the essential security features you'd expect from a premium VPN service. But it goes beyond the basics by including advanced measures like Wi-Fi protection, the ability to use random ports to bypass restrictions, and malware blocking — features not commonly found in other VPNs.
Overall, CyberGhost is one of the safest VPNs available today. It truly excels in this category, and it’s hard to think of what it could truly improve aside from adding a few features across all its apps rather than select ones. More on this below.
Military-Grade Encryption
CyberGhost is incredibly safe because it offers 256-bit AES encryption, one of the highest levels of encryption available. This means your data is protected with a 256-bit key, which creates a vast number of possible combinations (2^256).
It also uses perfect forward secrecy. This means the encryption key gets regenerated every time you connect to a server, providing an extra layer of security. Even if one encryption key is compromised, all your past and future data remains secure since the keys constantly change. This helps ensure your privacy is protected at all times.
Leak Test Results — Passed
CyberGhost is secure since it offers DNS and IP leak protection in its apps and browser extensions. Your ISP can use DNS requests and IPv6 traffic to see what you’re doing online, so you want to keep them private. CyberGhost ensures that your DNS requests are routed through its own DNS servers, and any IPv6 requests are blocked to prevent sites from seeing your real IP address. These functions are already switched on, which is great if you’re new to VPNs. You’ll be protected without having to worry about it.
I also found no viruses or malware when I ran CyberGhost's app through VirusTotal
I didn’t experience DNS or IP leaks on any server. I tested 10 different servers, including locations in France, the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Hong Kong using ipleak.net. It checked to see whether there were any faults or potential leaks in my connection and found none.
Automatic Kill Switch
CyberGhost offers an automatic kill switch on all its apps. This feature blocks your internet traffic if the VPN connection drops and ensures that your real IP address isn’t exposed. For instance, during my tests, I switched servers multiple times, and each time the kill switch effectively blocked my internet connection until the VPN reconnected.
This option is only available for Windows users
You can’t find this option on Mac, iOS, or Android because it’s integrated, meaning it’s always running automatically.
Security Protocols
CyberGhost offers three tunneling protocols to choose from: OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. Each protocol provides different benefits, letting you select the one that best meets your needs.
- OpenVPN. An open-source protocol known for its strong security and reliability. It is highly configurable and suitable for both UDP (faster, suitable for streaming) and TCP (more reliable, suitable for browsing) ports.
- WireGuard. Also open-source, WireGuard offers a balance between speed and security with a modern, streamlined codebase.
- IKEv2. Not open-source, but highly secure, IKEv2 provides fast connection times and excellent stability, especially for mobile users.
You can let the app pick the best protocol for you automatically or manually select one
You can select these protocols by accessing the settings in the CyberGhost app. Simply click on the gear icon in the lower-left corner of the app to customize your VPN experience according to your security and performance preferences.
App Protection and Split Tunneling
Split tunneling and app protection are 2 extra features that allow you to customize how CyberGhost works on your devices.
Split tunneling lets you decide which traffic goes through the VPN and which traffic uses your regular internet connection. I find it useful to keep my banking app out of the VPN tunnel because it doesn’t always work well with alternative IPs. This feature is only available on Windows and Android.
On Windows, you can add a URL under the Smart Rules menu in a section called Exceptions.
Split tunneling is not available for macOS, iOS, or Linux, which is frustrating. The limited nature of this feature is not ideal either. It’s tough to use it for streaming platforms on a desktop, and it’s hard to pinpoint websites on a phone.
App Protection lets you add apps to a list, so CyberGhost automatically launches and connects when you open them. The list is in a section called App Rules, and it’s under the Smart Rules menu.
Tor Compatibility
CyberGhost worked well with Tor in my tests. That said, there were some expected slowdowns since my traffic had to route through both the VPN server and Tor's encrypted relay network. The added security is worth the minor performance hit.
I recommend connecting to CyberGhost first before launching the Tor browser — this Tor over VPN setup is the most secure configuration. By connecting to CyberGhost's servers first, you hide your real IP address from Tor's entry node. This prevents your identity from being tied to the Tor circuit you're using.
Block Content
CyberGhost includes a Block Content feature that prevents ads, trackers, and malware domains from loading on your device. It does this by blocking the DNS domains associated with these unwanted elements at the VPN server level.
In my tests, Block Content successfully removed ads from sites I frequently visit, like The Spruce Eats and Investopedia. However, it doesn't seem to work for YouTube ads or ads you see on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
WiFi Protection
On desktop and mobile apps, you can set up CyberGhost to launch automatically when you connect to public WiFi. You can also set it to ask whether you want to connect to or ignore certain networks. WiFi hotspots are an easy target for hackers, so you’ll always want a VPN connected when using public connections. I found this feature really convenient because I didn’t need to worry about remembering to turn the app on; you’re protected no matter what.
You’ll find the automatic WiFi protection under the Smart Rules section
CyberGhost's Extras and Add-Ons
CyberGhost offers a few other unique features and add-ons. Most are free, too, except for dedicated IPs and Security Suite.
- Secret Photo Vault — CyberGhost’s Secret Photo Vault is an iOS-only app that hides pictures and videos behind password protection on your iPhone or iPad. You can choose to secure your files with a PIN or biometric protection. It has additional security features, including break-in reports and a decoy password to prevent anyone from accessing your vault. This app will also take a selfie of anyone attempting to hack your account, and it has an AI function that automatically sends NSFW photos to a separate folder. The app is free, and I found it easy to use — it’s just disappointing that it’s only available for iOS.
- Private Browser — This is a full-fledged browser that’s compatible with Chrome add-ons and extensions. Since it’s powered by DuckDuckGo, you don’t have to worry about Google having access to your data. Plus, it automatically deletes all of your browsing history each time you click out.
- Privacy Guard — This is a feature for Windows users that lets you analyze your OS and turn off many of the privacy invasions Microsoft has automatically activated. You can choose an advanced or basic privacy level, or customize what it disables. It will also help you turn off personalized ads from Windows since you can prevent it from sharing your information.
- Security Suite (for Windows) — CyberGhost's paid add-on security suite for Windows integrates Intego's advanced security features into the VPN. The Intego security suite brings additional layers of protection, including 24/7 malware protection, antivirus, and firewall functionalities, ensuring users can browse the internet with peace of mind. The anti-virus provides real-time protection against a wide range of threats, including malware, trojans, spyware, adware, and ransomware. To use this feature, you’ll need to install the Intego app separately.
- Identity Guard — When Identity Guard is activated (free with any CyberGhost subscription), you’ll receive alerts if your email address is compromised. You can add 2 email accounts and select 1 primary address to receive immediate reports, so you can change your password as soon as possible.
Privacy — Transparent Policies that Protect Your Data
9.8
CyberGhost upholds a stringent no-logs privacy policy. It refrains from retaining your IP address (and any related activities), DNS queries, or browsing records. Additionally, you can maintain the confidentiality of your payment information by opting for anonymous registration using Bitcoin.
The only data it stores is anonymized and used to improve the VPN's functionality
Plus, in 2022, one of the Big Four auditing firms, Deloitte, did an independent audit of CyberGhost's service, paying attention to its no-logs policy. It found that CyberGhost's server configurations are in line with its privacy policies and that it truly doesn't keep logs, so users or their activities can't be tracked. This means that CyberGhost doesn’t keep track of what you do online.
In January 2024, Deloitte conducted a second audit and validated CyberGhost's no-logs policy. This audit confirmed that CyberGhost's privacy claims and no-logs infrastructure work as expected. The audit highlighted CyberGhost's use of RAM-only servers and ephemeral containers.
However, it’s not as strict as the no-logs policies of other VPNs I’ve tested because it does store some anonymized data (including connection attempts and successes, the country where the connection attempt was made (but not your IP address), and which version of CyberGhost you use). This isn’t anything to worry about because none of this info can be tied to your personal details and is only used to analyze and improve the VPN.
However, I noticed that CyberGhost stores some of your hardware information to keep track of your simultaneous connections. This includes things like your screen size and the device you’re using. Other VPNs have found ways around this that don’t require storing this info, but it isn’t a risk to your security or privacy.
It also states in its policy that it reserves the right to share the data you give CyberGhost with law enforcement if it believes a crime has been committed. Thankfully, its transparency reports show that it has never done this, even after years of requests.
For added privacy, you can sign up with a burner email and a super strong password. On top of this, CyberGhost encrypts your password and assigns your account a serial number to track your user benefits and subscriptions anonymously. It also states that this info can’t be tracked back to your VPN sessions unless you use your full name as a username (which I don’t recommend).
Location — Privacy-Friendly Romania
CyberGhost is located in Romania. This is great for privacy because Romania is not part of the 14 Eyes Alliance (an agreement between Canada, The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and 9 other countries to share data about their citizens).
Since Romania isn’t a part of the alliance, CyberGhost has no obligation to store or share information with any government, so your data is safe.
Past Privacy Concerns
In 2016, a joint study by Australia's CSIRO and UC Berkeley examined free VPN apps on Google Play for security risks. The study classified CyberGhost's free VPN app as potentially malicious. It appeared to test positive for malware using VirusTotal and requested more user permissions than average, which raised some privacy concerns.
CyberGhost's CTO, Timo Beyel, called this a "false positive." He explained it was triggered by a framework in their app that let users access help by shaking their phones. However, this framework also allowed voice message attachments, adding permissions not required for the VPN's function.
The app was updated to restrict permissions and disable the voice message feature by default. CyberGhost no longer offers a free VPN app. Today, they only provide paid plans that have undergone significant security improvements, which inspires confidence in the service.
Security Breaches and Independent Audits
There have been no significant security breaches. In 2019, Typeform (a company CyberGhost uses to create user experience surveys) leaked 120 email addresses and 14 CyberGhost accounts’ usernames. No passwords were revealed, so there was no risk of hacking, and there have been no breaches since. This is proof of CyberGhost’s privacy practices; no critical information was leaked because none was stored.
In addition to being audited by Deloitte on two different occasions, it has also had independent auditing of its safety processes performed in the past. The 2012 audit was done by QSCERT, a company that investigates various large companies like Whirlpool and Hyundai. CyberGhost passed the security audit of its Information Safety Management System (ISMS) successfully, which is rechecked every year. This is the kind of honesty I like to see from a leading VPN.
Transparency Reports
CyberGhost releases a Transparency Report every 3 months. This provides information about malware activity flags, key statistics about its infrastructure, and how many requests for user data it receives. I don’t know of any other VPN that releases reports so frequently. A close runner-up would be Private Internet Access, which releases 2 per year, and CyberGhost doubles that. This shows me that CyberGhost is serious about being transparent with its customers.
To add to this, CyberGhost also maintains a bug bounty program. This initiative invites cybersecurity professionals and ethical hackers to probe its systems for vulnerabilities. If they find any security flaws, CyberGhost rewards them. This proactive approach shows CyberGhost's dedication to identifying and fixing potential issues before they can be exploited.
Does CyberGhost Work in China? Not Guaranteed
CyberGhost does not work reliably in China.
This means you can't hide your VPN usage on restrictive networks
I contacted its support team, and they confirmed that the VPN may not work consistently. While the Chinese government has banned many VPNs, there have been no publicly reported cases of them going after individuals for using them.
My teammates and I don’t condone any illegal activities, so we recommend you read up on the laws before using any VPN. If you choose to encrypt your connection in the country, I recommend checking out this roundup of the best VPNs for China.
Torrenting — Excellent VPN for P2P File Sharing
9.9
CyberGhost is an excellent VPN for torrenting — it offers dedicated P2P servers that are optimized for fast and secure file sharing. These specialized servers are designed to handle the high bandwidth demands of torrenting.
These torrenting servers are spread across multiple countries, so you can always find a fast nearby connection. During my tests, I connected to a P2P server in the Netherlands and downloaded a 4GB copyright-free Linux distro. With my average download speed of 170Mbps, the file took about 3.5 minutes to download. This was nearly the same speed as I had with no VPN connected.
I also recommend CyberGhost for torrenting due to its excellent security and privacy features. However, it was a little disappointing to find that CyberGhost doesn't offer port forwarding. This feature can help you connect to more peers in a torrent swarm, which can slightly boost download speeds.
While torrenting is legal in most countries, downloading copyrighted files isn’t. We recommend you only access files within the public domain while torrenting.
Installation & Apps
9.8
Great Compatibility and Ease of Use
CyberGhost is super easy to set up and use. After installing the app and logging in, it's as simple as tapping the power button to connect to the best server for your location.
You can access settings with the cog wheel in the lower left corner
The macOS app takes server selection a step further. It shows you each server's user count, load percentage, and distance, helping you make an informed choice. Windows users see the distance, while Android and iOS apps display only the location. I'd love to see the Mac's detailed view rolled out across all platforms eventually.
Unlike some VPNs that bombard you with customizations (I'm looking at you, Private Internet Access), CyberGhost's simplicity is its strength. It gives you a lot of choices without becoming overwhelming, especially for anyone new to VPNs.
Setup & Installation
Getting CyberGhost up and running couldn’t have been more straightforward. I installed it on my Windows laptop, iPhone, and Android tablet, and it only took a couple of minutes on each one.
It's not hidden deep in the dashboard like with some VPNs
On each device, downloading and installing was no different from any other app. I just chose the device from the download page of my account, waited for the download to complete, and logged in.
Quick Guide: How to Set up CyberGhost in 3 Easy Steps
- Sign up for CyberGhost on its website. Choose one of CyberGhost’s subscription plans and checkout. It also offers a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.
- Download the app onto your device. CyberGhost has easy-to-use native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You just need to sign in to your account and download the client.
- Connect to a server. Start streaming, browsing, gaming, or torrenting securely with CyberGhost.
Device Compatibility — Works With All Major Platforms
CyberGhost works with the most popular devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Fire TV, Android TV, and routers.
It’s also compatible with the following devices:
Apple TV |
Chromebook |
Kodi |
Smart TVs |
Xbox Series X, One, and 360 |
Roku |
Wii U |
PlayStation 4 and 5 |
Vu+ SOLO2 |
Raspberry Pi |
Synology NAS |
Nintendo Switch |
Desktop — Apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux
While largely similar in layout, there are a few key differences across the two operating systems.
Both apps also have a search function to make it easy to find the server you need
Mac users miss out on a couple of handy Windows features. For instance, OpenVPN has to be manually configured, so the "use random port" option for more stable OpenVPN connections is absent. Split tunneling, which allows you to route some traffic outside the VPN, is also unavailable on macOS.
The server lists vary too. You won't find specialized For Gaming servers on the Mac app, and you'll need to manually search for the extra-secure NoSpy servers. But one perk Mac users get is that longer subscriptions of 1 year or more include the Privacy Guard tool for managing system-level privacy settings.
Where the desktop apps really shine is in their Smart Rules functionality. You can automate CyberGhost to launch on system startup or when specific programs open. The rules also allow configuring WiFi protections, connection exceptions, and per-app protection.
If you're on Linux, you'll be using commands instead of a GUI. But CyberGhost's guides walk you through everything from changing protocols to tweaking settings. Just enter "cyberghostvpn --help" to see all available commands. OpenVPN and WireGuard are supported, but not IKEv2.
Android and iPhone (iOS)
CyberGhost’s mobile apps are almost the same as the desktop ones. They don’t come with quite as many features, though. While the Android version retains the ad blocker and split tunneling, iOS (on iPhone and iPad) does not.
Both mobile apps have the “small packet size” data compression option, which can increase connection speeds (mine increased 60% on long-distance servers on average with this enabled). This option is ideal for mobile use since it’s perfect for activities like streaming or making VoIP calls. But it’s not suitable for file sharing or transfers, which are better off using larger packets.
It’s also nice to see that both apps have the automatic kill switch (and leak protection) since iOS apps often miss out on that feature.
On your iPhone, you can still block ads, but you have to download the Private Browser add-on. This is not a browser extension but a full-fledged browser that’s compatible with Chrome add-ons and extensions. You can also access the Photo Vault feature on your Apple phone. This lets you keep your photos in a secure location protected by a password. It’s a decent feature, but I’d take split tunneling over it.
The information next to the servers is nearly identical to the desktop apps — you won’t be able to see the ping or distance of a server, though. The optimized servers for torrenting and gaming aren’t available for phones either. But I don’t see that as a big negative since most people torrent and game on desktops anyways.
The layout of both the Android and iOS mobile apps is really similar
As for security protocols, Android phones have OpenVPN and WireGuard. For iOS, you get WireGuard and IKEv2, but OpenVPN isn't available.
Browser Extensions for Chrome and Firefox
CyberGhost offers free browser extensions, but they're only available for Chrome and Firefox. You don't even need to create an account — simply add the extension to your browser and start using it.
However, these add-ons have significant limitations. They only provide servers in 4 countries: Germany, Netherlands, Romania, and the US. This small server selection makes it impossible to access most region-specific content.
More importantly, these extensions only protect browser traffic. Other apps and services on the device remain unprotected. The extensions also lack essential security features like encryption and a kill switch. For maximum protection, it's always better to use CyberGhost's full VPN app.
Apps for Fire Devices, Android TV
You can easily download the app and log in on your Android TV; it’s essentially the same process as setting it up on your Android phone. Just install it straight from the Google Play Store. On a Fire Stick or Fire TV, you just need to find the Amazon store on your device and download the app from there.
Smart DNS for Streaming — PlayStation, Xbox, Apple TV, and Smart TVs
With all other smart TVs, Apple TV, PlayStation, and Xbox, the easiest method for connecting CyberGhost is by using the Smart DNS feature. This lets you use a CyberGhost DNS code on devices that aren’t natively compatible with VPNs. However, keep in mind that this doesn’t encrypt your online traffic.
I set it up on my PlayStation in 5 minutes and was able to stream content with my console without a complicated router setup. All I had to do was copy a special DNS code into my device’s network settings.
You can find these codes in the My DNS Settings option under My Account on the CyberGhost website. CyberGhost has streaming-optimized DNS addresses for both US and UK Netflix and Hulu.
Other VPNs only give you a single code (usually based in the US) that isn’t optimized for streaming. CyberGhost even has German, Dutch, and Japanese DNS codes, but these aren’t specifically dedicated to streaming platforms.
Router Compatibility, but No Native App
You can set up CyberGhost on your router, but only if it already supports OpenVPN. This lets you use the VPN on any device connected to your home network through your router. CyberGhost has really helpful tutorials on its website to walk you through the steps. I followed the guide for connecting to OpenVPN on my DD-WRT router, which took me 20 minutes. Plus, its 24/7 live chat is always available if you need more support.
This is one of the areas where CyberGhost can’t compete with ExpressVPN since it has a complete router app that lets you connect your devices to different servers at the same time.
CyberGhost doesn’t have a native app for routers, but you can install the Flash Routers Privacy app on many Netgear, Linksys, and Asus routers to control CyberGhost more easily. Pre-configured routers are also available with the VPN already installed.
Simultaneous Device Connections — Protect Up to 7 Devices
With CyberGhost, you can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously. This is quite generous as most other VPNs typically limit you to 5 or 6 connections, but there are other top VPNs that offer unlimited concurrent connections. To put CyberGhost’s device limit to the test, I connected a MacBook, an iPhone 13, an Android tablet, an iPad, and a Lenovo Chromebook.
I began by streaming Disney+ on the MacBook and Amazon Prime Video on the iPad, both connected to CyberGhost’s London server. Meanwhile, I used the Android tablet to download a torrent and the iPhone 13 to stream Spotify. Finally, I connected the Lenovo Chromebook to stream my Netflix library securely.
Throughout this process, I noticed no performance issues. The streaming quality remained high, even on the same server, and the torrent download was fast and uninterrupted. This shows that you can use multiple devices on a single CyberGhost account without compromising performance.