Cyberghost Review

CyberGhost takes a different approach to VPN design: make everything as simple as possible for people who don’t want to think about VPNs. Open the app, pick what you want to do — stream Netflix, torrent securely, browse privately — and CyberGhost connects you to the right server automatically. No manual server picking, no protocol configuration, no decision fatigue.

We tested CyberGhost for two weeks across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. We ran speed tests on five server locations, tested six streaming platforms using CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers, examined the privacy policy, and compared its beginner-friendly approach against our top-rated VPNs.

The result: CyberGhost is the easiest VPN to use, with the largest server network and an industry-leading 45-day money-back guarantee. But it sits behind NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark on speed consistency and behind Proton VPN on transparency. For first-time VPN users or anyone who just wants streaming to work, CyberGhost is a solid, affordable choice.

CyberGhost Pricing Plans

CyberGhost is the cheapest VPN on our list when you commit to the 2-year plan. The 45-day money-back guarantee — 15 days longer than any competitor — gives you the most time to test before committing:

All plans include a 45-day money-back guarantee on plans of 6 months or longer (the 1-month plan gets 14 days). We tested the refund process — live chat processed it in under 10 minutes with no retention pressure. The refund appeared within 5 business days.

At $56.94 for two years, CyberGhost is slightly cheaper than Surfshark ($59.76) and dramatically cheaper than NordVPN ($80.73) and ExpressVPN ($119.76) over the same period.

CyberGhost Key Features

• 9700+ servers in 100 countries. The largest server network of any VPN we tested — nearly double NordVPN’s 6000+ and five times Proton VPN’s 1900+. More servers means less congestion, more geographic options, and a higher likelihood of finding a fast server near your target location.
• Dedicated streaming servers. CyberGhost labels servers by the streaming service they’re optimized for — “Netflix US,” “BBC iPlayer,” “Disney+ US.” No guessing which server to pick. These servers are actively maintained to stay ahead of streaming platform VPN blocks.
• Dedicated torrenting servers. Clearly labelled P2P-optimized servers with high bandwidth and no traffic restrictions. Removes the guesswork about which servers support torrenting.
• NoSpy servers. Premium servers housed in CyberGhost’s own Romanian data centre, operated entirely by CyberGhost staff. No third-party access. Available on longer-term plans for users who want extra privacy assurance.
• Content Blocker. DNS-level ad and malware blocker. Less sophisticated than NordVPN’s Threat Protection or Surfshark’s CleanWeb, but effective at blocking known ad domains and malicious URLs.
• Smart Rules. Automation feature that lets you define when CyberGhost connects automatically — on untrusted Wi-Fi, when a specific app launches, or on system startup. Useful for “set and forget” protection.
• Dedicated IP (add-on). Available for an extra monthly fee. Gives you a static IP address that only you use — useful for accessing IP-restricted services like banking or remote work portals without triggering security warnings.

Speed & Performance

CyberGhost’s speed performance is the most variable in our test group. Nearby servers perform well, but the large server network means quality varies more from server to server than with tighter, more curated networks:

Tested on 500 Mbps fibre connection, Windows 11, WireGuard protocol. June 2026. Three-test average per location.

CyberGhost retained 70% of our base speed on UK servers — the lowest in our test group (NordVPN: 90%, ExpressVPN: 84%, Surfshark: 78%, Proton VPN: 72%). Long-distance performance was also the weakest, with Australia and Japan dropping to 32–36% of baseline. For streaming in HD, browsing, and general use, CyberGhost’s speeds are adequate. For 4K streaming or speed-sensitive tasks, NordVPN or ExpressVPN are more reliable choices.

The sheer number of servers can work in your favour — if one server underperforms, switching to another in the same region often fixes it. The dedicated streaming servers in particular delivered more consistent results than the general-purpose servers.

Privacy & Logging Policy

CyberGhost’s privacy setup is adequate but less transparent than NordVPN or Proton VPN. The Kape Technologies ownership adds a layer of complexity:

Jurisdiction: Romania. Romania has strong privacy protections — the country’s Constitutional Court struck down mandatory data retention laws in 2014, and there’s no legal requirement for VPN providers to log user data. However, CyberGhost’s parent company, Kape Technologies, is headquartered in the UK (a Five Eyes member), which creates a jurisdictional ambiguity that privacy purists find concerning.

Logging policy: CyberGhost states it does not log browsing history, traffic destinations, data content, IP addresses, DNS queries, or connection timestamps. The company does collect anonymous aggregate data (total number of connections per server, crash reports) for network maintenance purposes.

Independent audits: CyberGhost’s no-logs policy was audited by Deloitte in 2022. The audit confirmed CyberGhost’s claims. However, CyberGhost has been less proactive about follow-up audits compared to NordVPN (which has completed four) and ExpressVPN (PwC + KPMG + Cure53).

Kape Technologies ownership: CyberGhost was acquired by Kape Technologies (formerly Crossrider) in 2017. Kape also owns ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. Crossrider’s background in browser extension-based adware raises legitimate privacy concerns. While CyberGhost has maintained its privacy operations post-acquisition and passed independent audits, the ownership structure is the primary reason CyberGhost scores lower on privacy than NordVPN or Proton VPN.

Transparency reports: CyberGhost publishes quarterly transparency reports documenting law enforcement requests. These reports confirm the company has not provided user data in response to any requests — consistent with its no-logs policy.

Streaming & Geo-Unblocking

CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers make it one of the easiest VPNs to use for streaming. Instead of trying random servers, you pick the service you want and CyberGhost does the rest:

The dedicated streaming server approach genuinely simplifies the experience. Where NordVPN and Surfshark might require trying 2–3 servers to find one that works with a specific platform, CyberGhost’s labelled servers worked on the first attempt for 5 out of 6 platforms we tested. Amazon Prime Video UK was the only exception.

Apps & Ease of Use

CyberGhost’s apps are designed for people who have never used a VPN before. The interface guides you through every step, and the task-based server organisation means you never need to understand what a protocol or server location means:

• Windows — the app opens with a simple on/off button and smart server recommendations. The sidebar organises servers by category: “For streaming,” “For torrenting,” “For gaming,” and “NoSpy servers.” Each streaming server is labelled with the platform it supports. Smart Rules allow automatic connection on untrusted networks.
• macOS — mirrors the Windows design. Full feature parity including Smart Rules and all server categories.
• iOS — streamlined with one-tap connect. Content Blocker and Smart Rules included. The app’s simplicity is its strength — it’s arguably the most beginner-friendly VPN app on iOS.
• Android — similar to iOS with additional split tunnelling support. Includes all server categories and Smart Rules.
• Linux — CLI only (no GUI). Commands are straightforward but this is the one platform where CyberGhost’s beginner-friendly reputation doesn’t hold up.
• Browser extensions — Chrome and Firefox. Free, but function as proxies (not full VPN). Limited to 4 server locations in the free extension.
• Smart TVs and consoles — works via router setup or Smart DNS feature. The Smart DNS is simpler than ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer but covers fewer platforms.

You get 7 simultaneous connections per account — more than NordVPN (6) but less than ExpressVPN (8), Proton VPN (10), and Surfshark (unlimited).

Customer Support

CyberGhost’s support is responsive and helpful, matching the product’s beginner-friendly positioning:

Live chat: Available 24/7. We contacted support four times during testing. Average wait time was 2–4 minutes. Agents were patient, clearly trained for less technical users, and provided step-by-step instructions with screenshots for setup questions. This is the support experience best suited to VPN beginners.

Email support: We submitted two tickets. Responses arrived within 8–12 hours. Adequate quality but slower than NordVPN and ExpressVPN. One response included a link to a relevant knowledge base article that resolved the question completely.

Knowledge base: Well-organized with clear categories and platform-specific guides. Articles include screenshots and are written in accessible, non-technical language. Less comprehensive than ExpressVPN’s documentation but well-suited to CyberGhost’s target audience.

Verdict — Is CyberGhost Worth It in 2026?

Reviewed by Amine Megh

Cybersecurity Writer & Editor · Last updated: June 2026 · How we test