CyberGhost vs Windscribe 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

CyberGhost and Windscribe support data-heavy activities such as streaming, torrenting, and gaming. Despite both of their playful branding, one is considerably easier to use — and even functions a little better, too.

Windscribe is like a Pandora’s box of animated buttons and icons, whereas CyberGhost is an intuitive, out-of-the-box service. However, CyberGhost’s speeds are higher, and its server fleet is considerably larger, including specialty servers for streaming, P2P, and privacy.

Both VPNs are quality all-rounders and are especially adept at accessing streaming platforms in good quality. But with its plug-and-play functionality and range of easy-to-navigate servers, CyberGhost is the clear winner. You can even try it for free with its generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

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Streaming — CyberGhost’s Servers Offer Superior Streams

These are both excellent streaming VPNs that worked with every major platform we tested them with. However, CyberGhost’s faster speeds meant that buffering and loading times were minimal. However, we did notice some delays when logging into platforms with Windscribe and some buffering when loading videos.

Meanwhile, CyberGhost offers 100+ specialty streaming servers optimized for accessing specific platforms in HD or UHD from anywhere. CyberGhost’s engineers update these continuously to improve performance and ensure they’re not blocked by their respective platforms. Its regular servers also work with most platforms. From the UK, I tested the UK streaming-optimized servers, and they worked reliably.

CyberGhost has 8 specialty streaming servers for the UK

Windscribe performed well in my tests with BBC iPlayer, too. There were no long loading times or connection issues.

I tested Windscribe with various platforms from my location in the UK

With servers in many regions, both VPNs offer safe access to global platforms from anywhere. In fact, there were only a few regional channels that my international colleagues struggled to stream.

CyberGhost didn’t work with RTL (Germany) while Windscribe had no success with Hotstar (India) and RTE (Ireland). If any of those are important, it may help you make a decision either way.

Winner

CyberGhost’s specialty streaming servers and fast speeds make it a first-rate choice for streaming.

Server Network — A Considerable Win for CyberGhost

This is a one-sided round on the numbers alone since CyberGhost has considerably more servers across many more countries. In fact, Windscribe’s 134 server count is among the more modest of any premium VPN I’ve used. In addition, CyberGhost offers specialty servers for streaming, downloading, and gaming (PC only for the latter).

Plus, it has NoSpy servers in its secure base in Romania (outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance). These are privately owned and maintained by CyberGhost to eliminate the risk of third-party interference. The load is usually pretty high on these, which makes me wonder why CyberGhost doesn’t invest in more. But that shows how popular they are among its loyal users.

Winner

With a significantly higher number of servers across many more global locations, CyberGhost easily takes the round. But its range of specialty servers offers its users even more.

Speed — CyberGhost Blows Windscribe Away

Our UK tester had base speeds in the region of 240 Mbps. Tests were conducted using the WireGuard protocol since it’s the fastest offered by both VPNs. It’s the industry-leading protocol for fast speeds and it’s also open-source, meaning anyone can inspect the code and suggest improvements.

Even more impressive that the US tests were from Los Angeles

Speed discrepancies tend to be more pronounced over greater distances, and that proved to be the case here. CyberGhost’s download speeds from Japan were 29% faster, while upload speeds were a whopping 68% faster than Windscribe over the same distance.

Windscribe's US tests were taken from the nearer New York

Winner

With so many more servers, it’s hardly surprising that CyberGhost breezes past Windscribe in terms of speeds.

Gaming — CyberGhost Claims a Narrow Win

Ping is the all-important metric for online gaming since it measures the responsiveness of your commands to the on-screen action. Under 100 ms is recommended for smooth gameplay, and in both cases, mid-range servers in the US weren’t far off the mark. However, download speeds are also vital to prevent in-game buffering and lag.

As such, CyberGhost nudges past Windscribe, but the difference is pretty negligible. It’s also worth pointing out that both VPNs can be configured to router boxes, but there are no native apps, so the process is manual in both cases.

Ping is just as important for retro gaming as it is for Fortnite

Another point to mention is that CyberGhost offers gaming-optimized servers on its Windows app. These are designed to provide low ping, fast speeds, and strong security while gaming online. While I didn’t notice much of a performance difference between these and its normal servers, they are a nice option if you’re struggling to find a low-ping gaming connection.

Winner

It’s a close call, but CyberGhost takes the win with faster speeds and lower ping. It also offers gaming servers for its Windows app.

Torrenting — Another CyberGhost Specialty

It’s another win for CyberGhost, with specialty P2P servers in 85+ countries. The load was rarely above 50% on these servers, so crowding wasn’t an issue. And while they were only around 5% faster than CyberGhost’s regular servers, I did notice the speeds were a lot more consistent.

By contrast, Windscribe only supports torrenting on limited servers. Look for the P2P graphic next to the location. Servers without the graphic don’t support torrenting. Both VPNs have reliable malicious content blockers to stop the malware and dangerous files that can lurk on torrent sites, and both have kill switches to keep your file sharing private at all times.

Note that while torrenting is legal, downloading copyrighted materials isn't. The team and I don't condone copyright infringement, and we advise you to always check if the file you download is in the public domain or copyright-free to avoid any potential issues.

Winner

CyberGhost eases ahead with faster speeds and specialty servers.

Security — Draw

Windscribe offers more security protocols, including 2 obfuscation-based options (Stealth and WStunnel). These can help you evade tough network blocks at work, college, or on public WiFi hotspots. Meanwhile, CyberGhost covers with basics with a choice of standard protocols.

R.O.B.E.R.T. is the best VPN ad blocker I've tested

Meanwhile, Windscribe’s R.O.B.E.R.T. blocker is one of its flagship features. It’s highly customizable and blocks content at the DNS level. You can filter ads, trackers, adult sites, gambling, clickbait, and more.

Block content is a one-click solution with no customization options

CyberGhost’s ad blocker isn’t as impressive, but I can’t give the round to Windscribe since it doesn’t have RAM-only servers. All of CyberGhost’s fleet of 11,690 servers are RAM-only, meaning they wipe all user data automatically.

Winner - draw

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Windscribe is ahead on malicious content blocking and security protocols, but CyberGhost pulls level with its extensive network of RAM-only servers.

Privacy — CyberGhost is Out of Sight

Both of these VPNs have independently verified no-logs policies that you can trust. They also both take crypto payments. I also like that you can subscribe to Windscribe without submitting an email address (just don’t forget your password!).

However, Windscribe is based in Canada, a founding member of the 5 Eyes Alliance. This is a concern since they don’t have RAM-only servers. That means that if the servers were hacked or seized by government authorities, they would likely contain some user data.

Winner

CyberGhost offers a higher level of privacy from its base in Romania, outside of international data-sharing agreements. Its NoSpy servers are also a huge privacy asset.

Works in China — Windscribe Might, But Not Guaranteed

Most VPNs don’t have the customer demand or the resources to work in China. But Windscribe offers a range of protocols, including 2 obfuscation-based options (Stealth and WStunnel). There’s also a TCP version of OpenVPN, which can be useful if the more common UDP isn’t working. These offer a range of options if you’re struggling for connectivity in China.

Note that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China. Although there haven't been any public reports of tourists getting fined for using one there, we advise you to thread carefully. We don't condone breaking the law.

Winner

CyberGhost doesn’t promote itself as a VPN for China. While you may have to adjust your settings and prepare for at least some downtime, Windscribe is a viable option.

Installation & Ease of Use — An Easy Win for CyberGhost

Both these VPNs are remarkably quick and easy to install, but the apps differ remarkably. CyberGhost has a simple view app with a large “on” button. The server list is grouped by usage, and the admittedly basic features are easy to find and use.

CyberGhost's server list is easy to navigate

Conversely, Windscribe has an oddly shaped app that looks like a graphic from a 16-bit video game. The retractable server list pops out the bottom with a click, and the whole app switches to Settings when you tap the burger menu. It all reminds me of a flip-screen mobile phone from the 90s; it looks pretty slick, but is it really functional?

Even the icons on the Settings panel are a little confusing

Winner

Like most apps, CyberGhost has a cuboid design with an intuitive layout. Experienced users may prefer Windscribe’s more technical layout, but it’s not for VPN beginners.

Reliability & Support — Real Agents Swing It for CyberGhost

These VPNs offer comparable support, with one key distinction — CyberGhost lets you talk to real agents 24/7, whereas Windscribe restricts you to a chatbot. That said, it’s one of the better chatbot services I’ve used. I contacted it 10+ times when writing this comparison, and it always answered accurately and succinctly. But, the human touch wins the round for CyberGhost.

Winner

Windscribe’s chatbot service is impressive, but if you have a specific problem that needs human cooperation, CyberGhost is the one to go for.

Tips on Choosing Between CyberGhost and Windscribe

• Smooth streaming. It’s important that a premium VPN should work with at least a few popular streaming platforms, but these both worked with almost every site we tried. And since they offer global networks, it’s possible to access libraries and niche channels in HD from anywhere.
• Fast speeds. Rapid speeds are important for data-heavy activities like streaming and gaming, but they also make regular browsing a lot more fun. Both are quick, but CyberGhost was faster in almost every test.
• Server networks. Both VPNs offer a host of global servers, but Windscribe’s fleet is minuscule compared to CyberGhost's.
• Robust security features. Both VPNs offer impressive security credentials, with bank-level encryption, kill switches, and a choice of protocols. In fact, we couldn’t separate them.
• Respectable privacy practices. Both VPNs have reliable no-logs policies, but Windscribe’s Canadian HQ in the heart of the 5-Eyes gave me concern. Especially as it can’t match CyberGhost for RAM-only servers.
• Easy to use. Windscribe’s app may look sleek, but it takes a while to get the hang of its interface. Whereas, CyberGhost is straightforward from the first click.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee. We’ve been testing the guarantees that both these VPNs offer for years, and it’s always quick and easy.

CyberGhost vs. Windscribe — Reddit Opinions

Both VPNs have loyal fans on Reddit, with CyberGhost lauded for its ease of use and large server network. There are far more posts about the free version of Windscribe, but those who upgrade to subscribing to Windscribe Pro rarely seem to regret the decision.

Reddit has glowing reviews for both CyberGhost and Windscribe