CyberGhost vs PureVPN 2025

Agnieszka Stec Cybersecurity Researcher

Updated on 12th February 2025

While CyberGhost and PureVPN both have their strengths, CyberGhost stands out as the overall winner due to its extensive server network of 11,690 servers, advanced security tools, and more user-friendly apps. Can you trust CyberGhost VPN? Yes, and there are plenty of users who would agree — founded in 2011, the company now boasts 38 million customers worldwide¹. PureVPN is a decent option, but it falls short in a few areas where CyberGhost blazes ahead.

We thoroughly evaluated both VPNs in terms of their speed, streaming capabilities, torrenting support, gaming performance, security, pricing, and privacy protections. CyberGhost offered consistent speeds and smoother streaming across various platforms. PureVPN, on the other hand, shines with its port forwarding support and obfuscation capabilities.

Overall, I recommend CyberGhost as the better choice. Although both VPNs are good for streaming, gaming, and torrenting, CyberGhost provides better value for money.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — CyberGhost Works With More Platforms

While CyberGhost and PureVPN offer solid streaming performance, CyberGhost provides a slight advantage in overall consistency.

It has a bigger server network and offers more consistent speeds on both nearby and long-distance servers. Plus, it works with Max, which PureVPN wasn’t able to do.

Both VPNs have dedicated servers that work best with your favorite streaming platforms. In CyberGhost, you can find them under servers for streaming, while PureVPN calls them Shortcuts. These servers are optimized and regularly updated to ensure you can get safe access to popular platforms from anywhere.

Only CyberGhost offers a smart DNS feature, which lets you stream in HD even on devices that don’t natively support VPN connections, like game consoles. Unlike a VPN, smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic which can result in faster speeds.

Winner

Do CyberGhost’s streaming servers work better than PureVPN’s? Yes — CyberGhost let us safely access a few extra Netflix libraries, plus Max, which PureVPN could not do. CyberGhost also has a smart DNS feature for use on gaming consoles or older smart TVs.

Server Network — CyberGhost Has More Server Locations

CyberGhost offers a significantly larger server network compared to PureVPN. This not only gives you more locations to choose from but also makes it easier to find a nearby server with less congestion.

Both VPNs offer a mix of physical and virtual servers. Virtual servers are used in a country where a physical server can’t be located (for example, because of VPN restrictions or infrastructure difficulties). In the past, PureVPN relied heavily on virtual servers, but following community suggestions, it recently started replacing them with physical ones.

The VPNs offer dedicated IPs for an extra fee, but PureVPN provides a broader range of 10 locations, while CyberGhost limits its dedicated IP options to fewer locations, including the US, UK, France, and Canada. Additionally, PureVPN offers residential IP addresses through its Residential Network add-on. They can be useful for hosting a website or setting up remote access to your device.

PureVPN owns all its servers, which is reassuring because eliminating the middleman increases security. However, only CyberGhost uses RAM-only servers, which are essential for online privacy and security. We will discuss this in detail below.

Winner

Which VPN has better server quality, CyberGhost or PureVPN? CyberGhost wins because it offers a larger number of servers across more countries, providing more options for speed and stability. Its use of RAM-only servers is crucial for optimal privacy and security. However, PureVPN is also a solid choice with more dedicated IP locations and residential IP options.

Speed — CyberGhost Wins With Faster Long-Distance Speeds

CyberGhost and PureVPN both deliver good speeds on nearby servers, but CyberGhost has better speeds on long-distance connections. We conducted tests from a US location on many servers, including the US, UK, and Japan, and used the WireGuard protocol for both.

We also found that CyberGhost gave us better upload speeds. This is an important measure when it comes to uploading photos or videos on social media or presenting from your computer at work. PureVPN also handled uploads decently but showed more inconsistency, especially when connected to distant servers.

The table below summarizes the results of our tests.

Winner

Which VPN performs better in speed tests, CyberGhost or PureVPN? Both VPNs are fast, but CyberGhost showed better retention of both download and upload speeds on long-distance servers.

Gaming — CyberGhost’s Faster Speeds Make It Better for Gaming

To determine which VPN is better for gaming, we measured how quickly a device connects to a server​​ using a metric called ping. Ping is essential for smooth gameplay. For an optimal experience, it should be under 100 ms.

There wasn't any lag unless we connected at faraway distances

Both VPNs performed well with nearby servers but showed ping exceeding 100 ms on distant ones. However, higher pings to far-off locations are typical for most VPNs, so this wasn't unexpected. For the best speeds, connect to a server that's closer to your location.

Although there wasn’t a huge difference in ping between the two VPNs, we also had to take speeds into consideration. Since CyberGhost has the fastest speeds when we connected to long-distance servers, it edges ahead of PureVPN in this category.

Winner

Which VPN has better connection stability for gaming between CyberGhost and PureVPN? CyberGhost’s overall lower ping rates and faster speeds on nearby and faraway connections make it the better option for gaming.

Torrenting — PureVPN Comes Out Ahead With Port Forwarding

CyberGhost and PureVPN both offer P2P servers specialized for torrenting. They are also very fast — we managed to download a 2GB copyright-free file in under a minute with each VPN.

PureVPN comes ahead with port forwarding, which allows for configuring torrent clients for better connectivity and faster downloads. However, the feature is only available as an add-on, which is an extra cost on top of your VPN subscription.

Both VPNs offer tried-and-tested privacy policies and IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC protection. We didn’t experience any leaks, and the downloading speeds were excellent for both services. That being said, CyberGhost goes the extra mile with advanced features like NoSpy servers and an ad-blocker, which gives you extra protection while torrenting.

Winner

Do PureVPN’s slower speeds make CyberGhost the better option for torrenting? Not necessarily — although it’s not as fast as CyberGhost, PureVPN wins this category with port forwarding.

Security — CyberGhost Wins With RAM-only Servers

Both CyberGhost and PureVPN offer solid encryption, supporting AES-256, the industry standard for security. They also support Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), have reliable kill switches, and use industry-standard security protocols.

CyberGhost’s entire server network is built on RAM, which means no data is ever written to physical drives, enhancing privacy. PureVPN, while it has started incorporating RAM-based servers, it hasn’t yet rolled them out as extensively, leaving CyberGhost with the advantage in terms of overall server security.

Block content is CyberGhost's​​ ad and malware tracker, which protects you from malicious websites and intrusive ads and performed well in my tests, blocking 85% of online threats.

PureVPN’s Tracker Blocker is currently in beta. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test its effectiveness, as enabling it caused the app to crash. It does, however, offer Content Filtering, which lets you customize which types of sites it blocks for protection against malicious content.

PureVPN guards your safety with Quantum Resistant Encryption Keys. This feature aims at protecting you from cybercriminals once they gain access to quantum technology. It's currently available on more than 60 servers, with growing compatibility. You need to ensure that your protocol is set to Automatic to use it.

PureVPN offers automatic obfuscation on all its servers, which means that your VPN traffic is hidden and disguised as regular internet traffic — a feature useful on restricted networks. While CyberGhost lacks obfuscation, it offers NoSpy servers with similar functionality. These servers make it more difficult for third parties to detect VPN usage.

Winner

Which VPN offers better security features — CyberGhost or PureVPN? Although both VPNs are very secure, CyberGhost has the upper hand with RAM-only servers and fully functional ad and malware blocker. PureVPN gets points for automatic obfuscation and Quantum Resistant Encryption Keys.

Privacy — Both VPNs Have Solid Privacy Policies

You want a VPN that protects your data, and both CyberGhost and PureVPN follow strict no-logs policies. CyberGhost backs this up with two independent audits and quarterly transparency reports that detail requests for user data. PureVPN has also undergone audits to verify its no-logs policy.

Is CyberGhost a Russian company? No, CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, which is a UK-based company.

Operating under privacy-friendly jurisdictions, both providers position themselves to protect your data from government interference. CyberGhost is based in Romania, and PureVPN operates from the British Virgin Islands — countries outside the 14 Eyes Alliance, with strong privacy protections for users.

Both VPNs accept Bitcoin, allowing you to subscribe without revealing sensitive financial details. Additionally, CyberGhost allows you to pay with Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, and Dogecoin.

It’s worth mentioning that although PureVPN is a trusted and secure VPN today, its past involvement in sharing user data during a legal investigation could be alarming for some. CyberGhost has no known breaches or data controversies, giving it a more substantial record for protecting your information.

Winner - draw

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Are the privacy policies of CyberGhost and PureVPN verified to be trustworthy? Yes, all data points to both VPNs having a tried-and-tested no-logs policy. However, CyberGhost may appeal to some more with its transparency reports and clean track record.

Works in China — PureVPN Might Work in China, But It’s Not Guaranteed

Even the most advanced VPNs have trouble providing consistent service in China due to constant updates to the Great Firewall and blocking VPN connections. Currently, CyberGhost does not explicitly claim to work in China. PureVPN’s support team mentioned that, while they cannot offer any guarantees, many users reportedly can access the service within the country.

PureVPN’s automatic obfuscation on every server disguises your VPN traffic as regular internet traffic, which is helpful on restricted networks. It also offers a virtual server location in Beijing. It’s recommended to get the VPN before traveling the country, as the VPNs official website can be blocked there.

If you’re having trouble with your VPN connection in China or simply want to explore other options, take a look at our list of the best VPNs for China.

Winner

Is it true that neither CyberGhost nor PureVPN works reliably in China? While its customer service reps can’t guarantee consistent access, PureVPN’s obfuscation feature gives you a higher chance of success. CyberGhost isn't known to work in China.

Installation & Ease of Use — CyberGhost Is More User-Friendly

Both CyberGhost and PureVPN offer user-friendly installation processes, though CyberGhost has a slight edge when it comes to simplicity and speed. CyberGhost’s installer is quick and more automated, while with PureVPN, you have to manually enable some features. I had to manually configure it to support the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols on my Mac. There was a guide on how to do it, but I understand how it can be daunting for some.

The apps for both services are intuitive, but CyberGhost gave me a smoother experience. PureVPN, although nicely designed, lost points when it asked for my feedback within 1 minute after the installation. The constant notifications were an annoyance and they only disappeared after restarting the service.

I especially like CyberGhost's Smart Rules feature, which allows you to tailor the app to suit your preferences. For example, you can configure it to launch specific apps or connect to your preferred server automatically at startup.

Winner

Is PureVPN too overwhelming for new users compared to CyberGhost? It can be, depending on the level of customization you’re looking for. Overall, I found CyberGhost more user-friendly. I also appreciate it doesn’t send you feedback requests straight from the app.

Reliability & Support — Both VPNs Offer Great Support

Both VPNs provide good support options, including live chat, email support, and extensive knowledge bases. I always got extensive answers from the agents and was generally satisfied with them. PureVPN is also active on various social media platforms. However, for the quickest response, I recommend using the live chat.

Response times were favorable with CyberGhost, as its agents typically reply within a minute via live chat during peak times. You might wait slightly longer with PureVPN, but every time I managed to connect with an agent in under 5 minutes, so it was still pretty fast.

Winner - draw

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Is PureVPN’s customer support too generic compared to CyberGhost's? Despite some reviews I’ve read online, the customer support of both VPNs was really good in my experience. Every time I contacted respective VPN agents, I got a satisfying answer.

Pricing

	CyberGhost	PureVPN
Starting Price	$2.19/month	$2.14/month
Price (On Renewal)	$56.97 per year (subject to change)	$54.95 per year (subject to change)
Money-Back Guarantee (Days)	45 days with a long-term plan, 14 days with a short-term plan	31 days
Number of Devices per License	7	10
Router Setup (for Unlimited Devices)	Manual setup with guides	Manual setup with guides

Both VPNs offer good value for money with almost the same pricing on long-term plans (which, in both cases, are the most affordable in the long run). They also have generous money-back guarantees with trustworthy refund processes and even free trials for up to 7 days, depending on the device. However, unlike PureVPN, CyberGhost doesn’t require credit card details on its free trials, which is a plus.

CyberGhost doesn’t have a tiered subscription model, which means that you get all available features without updates. PureVPN, on the other hand, offers 4 different tiers: Standard, Plus, Max, and Teams, so you can choose the one tailored to your needs.

Winner

What is the pricing comparison between CyberGhost and PureVPN? With almost identical pricing, it’s hard to choose a winner. However, CyberGhost comes on top, offering more features, flexible free trials with no credit card needed, and a longer money-back guarantee.

Our Methodology for Testing CyberGhost vs PureVPN

When comparing CyberGhost and PureVPN, we used a thorough set of criteria. Our evaluation started by confirming that both services offer robust security and privacy features, such as military-grade encryption, protection against data leaks, and kill switches. We also reviewed their speed performance, customer support, and refund procedures.

For a detailed breakdown of our testing process, visit our methodology page, where we explain the rigorous steps our expert team follows to provide accurate and up-to-date VPN reviews.

CyberGhost vs PureVPN — Reddit Opinions

According to Reddit, which VPN is better, CyberGhost or PureVPN? Redditors consider both VPNs reliable options, but, as with all services, they both receive mixed opinions. PureVPN is less trusted due to its past logging incident. Some users have reported CyberGhost offering inconsistent speeds, but many claim the opposite.

On the other hand, both VPNs have been praised for good speeds and helpful customer support. They are also considered easy to use and have good streaming capabilities.