CyberGhost vs PrivateVPN 2025

Agnieszka Stec

Cybersecurity Researcher

CyberGhost and PrivateVPN are both strong VPNs. Determining which is better can be challenging because they cater to different needs. While both offer great performance, CyberGhost is the overall winner due to its broader feature set, advanced security tools, and more extensive network of 11,690 servers.

We tested both VPNs thoroughly, covering speed, streaming capabilities, torrenting support, gaming performance, security, pricing, and privacy protections. CyberGhost consistently delivered faster speeds and smoother streaming across multiple platforms. PrivateVPN does gain points with its port forwarding support and easy-to-use interface.

I recommend CyberGhost as your best option. Though both VPNs work with most streaming services and offer user-friendly apps, CyberGhost simply gives you more value for money.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Our Score: 9.9

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Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — CyberGhost Works With More Platforms

Both VPNs are reliable for streaming, but CyberGhost has more to offer. It has dedicated streaming servers that let you find the right server for your platform faster. PrivateVPN doesn’t have servers optimized for specific streaming services, so you may need to experiment to find the most suitable ones.

Both VPNs can safely access major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video, from anywhere. However, CyberGhost worked with more Netflix libraries in our tests, including Japan and Germany, which PrivateVPN didn’t work with.

CyberGhost offers smart DNS functionality, which helps you enjoy your content with fewer delays and without encryption overhead. PrivateVPN lacks this feature, so you rely on its VPN connection, which can occasionally be slower. However, in our tests, it performed well with the majority of the popular streaming platforms.

Winner

While both VPNs provide fast speeds and safe access to major services, CyberGhost’s specialized servers and smart DNS feature make it a better choice for streaming.

Server Network — CyberGhost Has Larger Global Coverage

You get a much larger network with CyberGhost. While PrivateVPN still provides decent global coverage, its focus is mostly on Europe and North America. CyberGhost offers more options, especially in Africa, South America, and Asia.

Both VPNs use a mix of physical and virtual servers. A virtual server is a machine in another location that assigns you an IP address for a chosen country. This is useful for obtaining an IP address in countries with strict VPN policies or just to get faster speeds and better reliability for remote locations. Currently, CyberGhost offers 50 virtual locations and PrivateVPN 7.

CyberGhost offers specialized servers for streaming and torrenting, making it easier to find optimized options for specific needs. PrivateVPN supports these same activities but doesn’t label servers explicitly for them, requiring you to experiment more.

You also get the option of dedicated IPs with CyberGhost, which are useful for accessing secure networks. PrivateVPN doesn’t provide this feature, relying solely on shared IP addresses. It offers dynamic dedicated IPs, but these are only temporary. Dedicated IPs should always be static to ensure maximum security and privacy.

Winner

CyberGhost’s larger network, specialized servers, and dedicated IP options make it the winner in this category. PrivateVPN still offers reliable servers, but CyberGhost delivers a broader and more tailored experience overall.

Speed — CyberGhost Wins With More Consistent Speeds

CyberGhost and PrivateVPN both deliver good speeds on nearby servers, but CyberGhost was noticeably faster in our tests. We tested them from a US location on many servers, including the US, UK, and Japan. Our baseline speed was 230 Mbps, and we used the WireGuard protocol for CyberGhost and L2TP for PrivateVPN.

CyberGhost outperformed PrivateVPN on both nearby and distant servers. We recorded only a 14% speed drop on a nearby server and a 64% speed drop on a distant server. This is pretty good, considering our exceptionally high baseline speed.

PrivateVPN delivered acceptable speeds on close-by servers, but not ideal — we experienced 39% speed loss connected to a US location, and we could stream and browse with no issues. However, its performance on a distant UK server was much worse, with a 90% speed loss, which noticeably affected performance. Here is the summary of our tests:

Winner

CyberGhost wins with fast and consistent speeds across its whole network, on close-by and faraway servers alike.

Gaming — Both VPNs Are Good for Gaming

To decide which VPN is better for gaming, we tested how quickly a device communicates with a server. The metric is called ping, and it’s crucial for your gaming performance. For a lag-free game, ping shouldn’t be higher than 100 ms.

Both VPNs performed well on nearby servers but had similar issues on distant ones. However, it’s worth noting that higher pings on faraway locations are very common for most VPNs, so we weren't surprised. I recommend connecting to the closer server for the best speeds.

I recommend WireGuard protocol for the best speeds

Winner - draw

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Since the difference in performance between the two VPNs was minimal, it was hard to pick a winner.

Torrenting — PrivateVPN Wins With Port Forwarding

We tested torrent compatibility with qBittorrent and uTorrent, and both VPNs worked seamlessly. CyberGhost simplifies the process with dedicated torrenting profiles and optimized servers, while PrivateVPN supports P2P traffic on all its servers.

PrivateVPN stands out with port forwarding, which lets you configure torrent clients for improved connectivity and faster downloads. However, without this feature, CyberGhost compensates with overall faster speeds.

Another standout feature of PrivateVPN is its Application Guard (Windows), which functions as a lightweight kill switch. It automatically closes specific applications if the VPN connection drops. This is particularly helpful for torrent clients, where protecting your privacy is essential.

Both VPNs performed well in leak tests, with no IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks detected. However, CyberGhost additionally offers more advanced privacy features like NoSpy servers and malware and ad blocker, which we will discuss in detail further on.

Winner

With port forwarding and Application Guard, PrivateVPN is the winner of this comparison. However, CyberGhost is a great VPN for torrenting, too, with optimized servers, faster speeds, and advanced security features.

Security — CyberGhost Has More Features

Both CyberGhost and PrivateVPN implement AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your data. However, CyberGhost supports additional protocols, including WireGuard, which effectively balances speed and security. PrivateVPN focuses on OpenVPN and IKEv2, offering reliable protection but often slower speeds.

CyberGhost has a built-in ad and malware-blocker, Block content. It gives you enhanced protection from malicious websites and intrusive ads. In our assessment using an ad block testing tool, it blocked 90% of online ads. PrivateVPN lacks these features, relying solely on its VPN encryption to protect you.

Only CyberGhost confirms the use of RAM-only servers, which offer enhanced data protection by wiping data after every reboot. It also has NoSpy servers located in a highly secure base in Romania, safe from threats of third-party interference. PrivateVPN relies on rented servers. This doesn’t mean they are any less secure than those of CyberGhost; however, eliminating the middleman is definitely a good sign.

If you’re looking for obfuscation features, PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN effectively disguises your VPN traffic as a regular internet connection, making it useful in restrictive environments. However, it can significantly lower your speeds, so it’s recommended to use it only if necessary. CyberGhost doesn’t offer obfuscation.

Winner

CyberGhost provides a wider range of protocols, built-in ad and malware blockers, and NoSpy servers. However, PrivateVPN is also a secure option, especially if you need obfuscation to bypass network restrictions.

Privacy — CyberGhost Has Undergone Multiple Audits

CyberGhost and PrivateVPN have a no-logs policy, but only CyberGhost was independently audited. It also backs its claims with regular transparency reports, which detail how it manages user data, providing added confidence in its practices. I hope PrivateVPN will decide to go through an audit as well to confirm its no-logs policy.

You can rest assured that your data won’t be shared with intelligence agencies as CyberGhost is based in Romania, a privacy-friendly country outside the 14 Eyes Alliance. PrivateVPN, on the other hand, is based in Sweden, which is a member of this alliance. However, since PrivateVPN doesn’t log your data, it technically has nothing to share, even if such a request comes.

Both VPNs accept cryptocurrency payments. This adds an extra layer of protection by letting you create an account without tying payment details to your identity.

Winner

CyberGhost edges ahead with privacy audits, transparency reports, and privacy-friendly jurisdiction. While both VPNs protect your privacy well, CyberGhost offers more verifiable safeguards, making it the stronger choice for privacy-conscious users.

Works in China — PrivateVPN Is More Reliable

The Great Firewall (GFW) is frequently updated, making it challenging even for the best VPNs to maintain a reliable service. At the moment, CyberGhost doesn’t explicitly claim it works in China. PrivateVPN’s support assured us that although they can’t give us any guarantees, there are plenty of people using it in the country.

PrivateVPN recommends using the OpenVPN protocol together with its Stealth feature to hide VPN use. It’s also recommended that you get the VPN before traveling, as its website will most likely be blocked in China. However, if this functionality is a deal-breaker, take a look at the best-known VPNs for China.

Winner

Only PrivateVPN claims it can work in China, so it’s the winner in this category.

Installation & Ease of Use — Both VPNs Are User-Friendly

Both VPNs are quick and easy to install, although PrivateVPN’s app is simpler, which makes it a great VPN for a newbie. It offers two interface modes, Simple and Advanced, with more configuration options so you can decide which suits you better.

I like that PrivateVPN shows latency data next to each server

I like CyberGhost’s Smart rules feature. It helps you automatically customize the app to your needs. You can set CyberGhost to trigger different apps or connect to your favorite server on  startup.

Under CyberGhost's Smart rules section, you’ll also find the automatic WiFi protection

CyberGhost supports various devices, including browser extensions. PrivateVPN doesn’t have browser extensions, but it supports major platforms like Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Android, and Firestick. Both VPNs can also be manually installed on a router and provide APK files for Android.

Winner - draw

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Both VPNs are quick to set up and beginner-friendly. While CyberGhost can appeal to more advanced users, PrivateVPN is a perfect VPN for complete beginners.

Reliability & Support — CyberGhost Is Quicker to Answer

Both VPNs provide live chat, email support, FAQs, and a knowledge base. Their live chat is available without an account, which is a plus. In both cases, you need to interact with a bot before you get through to a representative. However, CyberGhost’s bot connected me to an agent faster.

CyberGhost’s knowledge base is well-organized and extensive, which makes finding the answer easier. PrivateVPN knowledge base is smaller, so in case of a problem, you might need to contact support for further troubleshooting.

Winner

Both VPNs offer good customer service, but CyberGhost wins with a faster response rate and a bigger knowledge base.

Pricing

	CyberGhost	PrivateVPN
Starting Price	$2.19/month	$2/month
Price (On Renewal)	$56.97 per year (subject to change)	$72 per year (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	45 days with a long-term plan, 14 days with the 1-month plan	30 days
Number of Devices per License	7	10
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Manual setup with guides	Manual setup with guides

CyberGhost and PrivateVPN both offer discounted rates for longer-term subscriptions. However, overall, CyberGhost is more affordable for long-term use.

Neither VPN uses a tiered subscription model, so when you pay for either, you access all available features without upgrades. CyberGhost is also more feature-rich, so you get better value for the price. It also offers extra features like dedicated IPs and a Security Suite add-on for Windows for an extra fee.

CyberGhost provides a 45-day money-back guarantee for its extended plans and 14 days for its monthly plan. Conversely, PrivateVPN offers a 30-day guarantee for all its plans. While both offer clear refund processes, CyberGhost’s extended window for long-term plans gives you greater peace of mind before committing.

Winner

Although both VPNs are quite affordable, CyberGhost wins with lower prices on long-term plans and a longer money-back guarantee.

Our Methodology for Testing CyberGhost vs PrivateVPN

We evaluated CyberGhost and PrivateVPN using a comprehensive set of criteria. Our analysis began by verifying that both services provide strong security and privacy features, including military-grade encryption, data leak protection, and kill switches. Finally, we tested their customer support and refund processes.

For a detailed explanation of our testing process, visit our methodology page, where we outline the rigorous steps our expert team takes to deliver reliable and current VPN reviews.

CyberGhost vs PrivateVPN — Reddit Opinions

According to Reddit, which is better — CyberGhost, or PrivateVPN? It’s hard to identify a clear preference. But with over half a billion Reddit users globally, we find it important to weigh in these real-life experiences and opinions.

Reddiors often highlight that both CyberGhost and PrivateVPN are reliable VPN options. However, like with every service, you’ll also find users not happy with the services, mostly because of the speed drop they experienced.

PrivateVPN is often preferred for its user-friendly design and obfuscation, which allows it to be used on a restrictive network.

On the other hand, CyberGhost appeals to users who value speed and security. It is praised for its vast server network and strong focus on privacy.