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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

CyberGhost VPN vs Avira Phantom VPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.7/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 5.9/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Editor's Note: Transparency and impartiality are important to us when bringing you our best selection of VPNs. Some of the industry-leading products on our list, including Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company. The VPNs we choose are derived from a thorough testing process.

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kate Richards
    Kate Richards

    Former Managing Editor

    CyberGhost and Avira Phantom Pro are two reliable VPN services — but one is much more versatile than the other.

    Avira’s VPN is the definition of a baseline product. It has one main strength — simple OpenVPN and IPSec encryption. It’s available for free, but if you want tech support and a kill switch, you’ll have to upgrade to the Pro version. With close to 40 servers in 25 locations, you won’t be unblocking Netflix (but Hulu and BBC work). Other notable features include DNS leak protection and autoconnect.

    CyberGhost has all of the above-mentioned features, and much more. You get over 2,200 servers in 60+ countries, “stealth” settings for bypassing censorship in China and elsewhere, and a heap of other useful extras. Privacy is also spotless with this VPN — it’s based in Romania and operates under a strict zero-logs policy. Avira Phantom admits to storing bandwidth logs, which isn’t ideal.

    Our Score

    Features 9.7/10
    Pricing 9.7/10
    Ease of Use 9.8/10
    Reliability & Support 9.9/10
    Features 5.9/10
    Pricing 6.6/10
    Ease of Use 6.6/10
    Reliability & Support 4.0/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Akash Deep
    Akash Deep

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Our Score: 9.7/10

    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-test...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    8.0/10
    CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for streaming

    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. HohoMore

    Latest negative user review
    S
    Sami Paananen
    2.0/10
    Pretty good

    CyberGhost does not connect automatically in pc when I connect online. Why? And on my phone (Android)...  it sometimes gets stuck, it does not open the app when vpn is working. I have to connect the VPN in my phone settings first. That is pretty annoying.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 5.9/10

    Avira has an extremely popular free antivirus software and offers both free and premium VPNs. However, just because the company has one renowned security option doesn't mean it makes one of the best VPNs. Can the free Avira VPN really keep you safe, and is it worth trying the premium version? To find out, I ran extensive tests on everything both versions of Avira Phantom VPN provide. That meant...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    10.0/10
    No issues

    I have no issues with this VPN (although I admit that it is from my favorite security company). Those ... who write about garbled text, for example, probably have their own operating system issues with which they should be concerned; I do not experience this or any other issue—not even after a clean install of Windows 10.More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    Joe
    6.0/10
    The only problem i have had is disconnects

    Easy to install, speed is good and many servers to choose from. However if I understood the author cor... rectly, there is not an unlimited number of devices you can connect. The first level is only five devices and then the next level is 25 devices. I now have 7 devices with Avira mounted. The problem I have had is that it randomly disconnects. It doesn't seem to happen often, perhaps once a day, but it is disconcerting. Checking with the help desk via email, I was advised to completely uninstall and reinstall, Unfortunately, that has not helped. The other issue is that a site called subscribe star seems to block it sometimes after you have logged in. That is, suddenly you get the "FORBIDDEN" window popping up and you cannot click on anything on the site's screen. I am guessing that the site has some sort of VPN restrictions but I am not sure. I am trying to contact them about the issue. It only seems to happen when I am running VPN.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.03/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 7 devices
    Starting price $5/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 60 Days
    Number of devices per license 5 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    CyberGhost is feature-packed, but also incredibly easy to use — all thanks to the premade profiles for all purposes. There’s nothing difficult about Avira Phantom, but the excellent encryption and uptime are offset by a limited server roster and a shaky privacy policy.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    Avira Phantom doesn’t explicitly forbid P2P, but its stance on torrents is definitely ambiguous. CyberGhost is the ideal choice for torrenting, as it has plenty of P2P servers.

    Best VPN for Windows

    CyberGhost is a joy to use on any platform, but its Windows client really shines. The profile-based interface and arsenal of great features are the major highlights. Avira Phantom Pro is straightforward and has a kill switch and DNS leak protection, but not much else.

    Best VPN for Android

    CyberGhost’s Android app offers the same exquisite experience on mobile like on desktop — it’s quite simple, yet packed with neat features. Avira Phantom offers one-tap protection and autoconnect on mobile, which is enough for many.

    Best VPN for Mac

    On Mac, CyberGhost retains the amazing profiles for easy protection or unblocking, along with the kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a plethora of useful settings. Avira Phantom also performs well on Mac, but doesn’t stand out with any special functionality.

    Best VPN for iOS

    CyberGhost’s updated iOS app now packs as many features as its other native clients, and the seven simultaneous connections can be very useful for equipping multiple devices with a VPN. Avira Phantom Pro is a great VPN for iOS if you’re looking for just the basics, and it supports up to 5 devices at the same time.

    Best VPN for USA

    Owing to the huge server network and the extra focus on unblocking with the streaming profile, CyberGhost is an absolute favorite for bypassing US geoblocks and accessing tricky platforms like Netflix reliably. Avira Phantom’s 36+ servers are a bit modest, and advanced unblocking isn’t guaranteed.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    So, who’s the winner in this comparison? The answer is obvious — CyberGhost. Does that make Avira Phantom a bad VPN? Not at all. The two VPNs simply serve different needs. CyberGhost is an excellent all-purpose VPN, and nothing is out of reach for it. Avira Phantom focuses on the very basics: effortless use and solid encryption. It all depends on what you want out of your VPN — and if it involves anything other than baseline protection, CyberGhost is the better choice.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with CyberGhost VPN
    Go with Avira Phantom VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is CyberGhost VPN better than Avira Phantom VPN?

    Yes, CyberGhost VPN is better overall than Avira Phantom VPN. It has 11690 servers in 100 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.03 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between CyberGhost VPN and Avira Phantom VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then CyberGhost VPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is CyberGhost VPN faster than Avira Phantom VPN?

    Yes, CyberGhost VPN is faster than Avira Phantom VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do CyberGhost VPN or Avira Phantom VPN offer any deals?

    Both CyberGhost VPN and Avira Phantom VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 82% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    Kate is a former Managing Editor at vpnMentor. Kate promoted the use of VPNs as a means to achieve unhindered access to the internet, as she strongly believes in online freedom for everyone.