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CyberGhost Review: All You Need to Know

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cyberghost logo
Verdict:
RECOMMENDED​
Overall Score:
8.5 / 10

Cyberghost is among the top premium VPNs in the industry.

It has all the features needed to ensure the privacy and security of your devices as you use the internet from anywhere in the world.

If you’ve been thinking of getting CyberGhost but are unsure if it will meet your needs, you’re in the right place. I did a thorough test of CyberGhost to check its features, strengths, and weaknesses to provide you with this exhaustive review.

So keep reading to the end to know more about CyberGhost VPN.

vpnAlert Rating: 8.5 of 10 ⭐
Jurisdiction: Bucharest, Romania
Logging: No-logs policy but has no known audits
Encryption: AES 256-bit encryption
Security Features: AES Encryption, Split Tunneling, Public WiFi Protection, DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch
Servers: 7930 servers in 91 countries and 113 locations
Protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN
Average Speed Loss: 5.6 Mbps
Streaming: Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, BBC iPlayer, Qobuz, Pandora Radio…
Torrenting: Supports P2P on all servers
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Google Chrome, Firefox, Fire Stick TV, Smart TV, Routers, Xbox One/360, PS4, Roku, Wii U.
Simultaneous connections: 7
Customer Support: 24/7 live chat
Usability: User-friendly apps
Monthly Price: $12.99
Discount: Exclusive CyberGhost VPN offers
Official Website: https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/

CyberGhost VPN Review: At a Glance

CyberGhost is packed with rich features that make it a reliable option for people looking to protect their privacy or access restricted content.

For example, I immediately unblocked video streaming sites like HBO Max and audio platforms like Pandora Radio that are blocked in my region.

However, CyberGhost is not the cheapest VPN, like Surfshark, or the most secure VPN, like NordVPN. But you’ll still get good connection speeds, reliable security features, and affordable prices.

The area where CyberGhost stands out is its 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest of all VPNs. There’s also its amazing privacy, which is bolstered by the fact it’s based in Romania, where privacy is taken very seriously.

CyberGhost is also compatible with almost every known device.

This includes Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Roku, gaming consoles, media sticks, and Smart TVs, among many others.

For those in a rush, here’s a quick breakdown of the CyberGhost review results:

Categories: Score Out of 10:
Security 8
Privacy & Jurisdiction 9
Countries & Servers 9
Speed & Performance 8
Media Streaming 8
Torrenting 9
Multi-Platform Compatibility 9.5
Customer Support 7
User Experience & Usability 9
Pricing 8

On top of reviewing CyberGhost in detail, I’ll also briefly discuss the best three alternatives in case you find CyberGhost lacking.

So be on the lookout for that section later.

Pros

Cons

Privacy and Jurisdiction

Rating: 9.0 / 10

Where is CyberGhost located? What are its user logging policies?

Is its privacy worth a dime? These are the questions we’re going to explore in the section below.

Jurisdiction

CyberGhost VPN is a Romania-based company providing online privacy and security solutions since 2011. It started in Germany before relocating to Romania.

On top of being Dracula’s hometown, Romania is part of the European Union. This means that CyberGhost VPN is subject to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

This is one of the most stringent data protection regulations in the world. Under the GDPR, companies must take steps to protect user data and inform users about how their data will be used.

This was made possible by Romania’s refusal to adopt the EU Data Retention Directive. The rejection of this proposed rule meant that no one is obligated to monitor users online under Romanian law.

On top of this, Romania isn’t part of any surveillance alliance. This was part of the reason why CyberGhost quickly relocated there.

Who Owns CyberGhost?

CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, an Israeli company.

The acquisition happened on March 14, 2017, for about $10m.

An interesting fact about Kape Technologies is that it also owns Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN.

As far as third-party audits go, CyberGhost hasn’t undergone one, but there are plans to get this done in the near future. A third-party audit is a process where a VPN audit is done by a reputable independent company to thoroughly check important aspects of the services.

Third-party audits are important for the following reasons:

  • Allow VPN providers to test their security features.
  • Provides customers with more transparency.

That said, the lack of a third-party audit isn’t great. However, that doesn’t take away the core aspects that make CyberGhost VPN a powerhouse.

There wouldn’t be any reason for the VPN to shortchange its customers on issues as important as security and privacy.

Current and Past Logging Policies

In terms of privacy and logging policies, CyberGhost VPN has undergone some changes over the years. The company continues to tighten its privacy policy and doesn’t log any user activity.

This means your data is safe with CyberGhost VPN, as the company can’t hand over any information to authorities even if they are asked to do so.

A quick look at CyberGhost’s past logging policies didn’t reveal anything to indicate they’ve ever stored user logs. The earliest capture I got from the WayBackMachine from 2014 shows CyberGhost VPN has always been conscious about not logging user data.

CyberGhost became more clear in its stand against logging user information in 2016. It explicitly states that it doesn’t keep user logs.

This timeline makes CyberGhost one of the best as far as logging policies go.

The current version of CyberGhost doesn’t keep any logs.

There have been countless legal requests over the years from the government to access this data.

However, CyberGhost refuses to budge on this issue.

The following user data are not collected by CyberGhost in any form:

  • IP addresses
  • DNS queries
  • Browsing histories
  • Web content
  • Connection timestamps
  • Disconnection timestamps
  • Duration of online sessions
  • Bandwidth usage
  • VPN server connections

In a layman’s language, CyberGhost is categorically stating that it has no idea of your online activities and ensures nobody else gets that information.

The payment info you use to pay for CyberGhost services and the user cookie preferences are the only pieces of information that CyberGhost is privy to.

And that too is handled as private data only known to you and them.

The only information that CyberGhost has on its users includes the email address used to create an account and contact customer support.

CyberGhost claims to use third-party cookies with the sole aim of improving user experience and nothing more. You can learn more about this here.

For those who may not want their payment information known, CyberGhost now accepts cryptocurrency payments.

Overall, CyberGhost VPN provides a high level of privacy and security, thanks to its strong logging policies and location in a country with robust privacy laws.

Security

Rating: 8.0 / 10

Security is at the core of every VPN, and CyberGhost has all the security features to place it among the best in the industry.

But how safe is CyberGhost? What makes it stand out from other alternatives? Here’s how it holds up.

CyberGhost AES Encryption

When it comes to online security, encryption is one of the most important tools. And CyberGhost VPN has you covered with some of the strongest AES encryption around.

Every time you’re using the internet, you send and receive information via readable data packets passing through your ISP. This means any ISP can monitor everything you’re doing online.

The biggest problem with this is that ISPs are subject to the laws of the countries they operate in. They can give up that information when compelled.

And this is where CyberGhost’s military-grade AES-Encryption comes in.

What is AES Encryption?

AES encryption, or Advanced Encryption Standard, is a method of scrambling data so that it can’t be read by unauthorized parties.

It’s considered one of the most secure encryption methods available and is used by governments, banks, and other institutions all over the world. 

Available on: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Smart TVs, Fire Stick, and routers

Kill Switch

Like any other premium VPN service, CyberGhost comes with an inbuilt kill switch that further adds to the security already provided with encryption.

cyberghost automatic kill switch

The CyberGhost Kill Switch works by monitoring your device’s network connections. If it detects that your VPN connection has failed, it will automatically block all traffic going to or from your device.

This prevents any sensitive data from being sent over an unsecured connection, keeping your data and identity safe.

Available on: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS

Split Tunneling

This is another feature offered by CyberGhost. By the time of writing this review, split tunneling is only available on Android. It allows you to choose which traffic goes through your VPN and regular internet connection.

This can be useful if you want to access sensitive data while connected to the VPN but don’t want to compromise your privacy or security by routing all of your traffic through the VPN.

Split tunneling is disabled by default. You need to activate it first.

You can then choose specific applications that will use the VPN while others use your regular internet connection. This is done by creating a split tunneling profile.

Split tunneling is important because it lets you access all of your favorite websites and services without compromising your security or burdening your device with the unnecessary rerouting of traffic.

To customize the split tunneling feature on CyberGhost mobile app:

  1. Ensure there isn’t any active connection.
  2. Go to CyberGhost Settings.
  1. Click on the VPN tab at the top and navigate down to the App Split Tunnel.
  1. Tap on Mode.
  1. Then set Custom Rules.
  1. Uncheck the boxes adjacent to the applications you want to exclude from the VPN tunnel.

At the moment, CyberGhost offers split tunneling mainly on the Android platform. However, if you’re on Windows, you can use App rules to only set specific apps to work with CyberGhost. To do this:

  1. Launch CyberGhost VPN for Windows and go to Smart Rules.
cyberghost smart rules setting on windows
  1. Tap on App rules and choose an App you want to connect to CyberGhost only when you launch it.
smart rule apps windows

Available on: Android

Public WiFi Security

CyberGhost VPN is a powerful and valuable tool for people who want to stay safe when using public WiFi. While it can be dangerous, especially at locations like coffee shops, airports, or hotels, there are ways you can protect yourself.

The Wi-Fi provider can monitor all your online activities, and using CyberGhost is one of the many ways you can ensure this doesn’t happen.

For starters, CyberGhost has an in-built Automatic Wi-Fi Protection feature that kicks into action every time you connect to new Wi-Fi, protecting you from vulnerabilities on unsecured connections.

And this is not just limited to Public Wi-Fi. You can use CyberGhost when connected to your home Wi-Fi to keep your ISP out of your business.

To secure yourself with CyberGhost when using unknown Public Wi-Fi:

  1. Tap on the Settings icon top right.
  1. Tap on the Wi-Fi tab and then select Unsecured/Unconfigured WiFi.
  1. This will open up a list of actions: Ask, Protect, Disable protection, and Ignore.
  1. Choose Protect. With this active, CyberGhost will automatically activate every time your device connects to a new Wi-Fi.
  2. Go to Manage Wi-Fi Networks and assign different reactions to each Wi-Fi network. This is where you can also delete a protected Wi-Fi network.

Available on: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS

DNS Leak Protection

CyberGhost’s DNS Leak Protection is one of the most essential security features a VPN can offer. It keeps your identity and location hidden by routing your web traffic through CyberGhost’s secure servers.

This way, even if someone manages to uncover your true IP address, they will only see the CyberGhost IP address instead.

Setting up DNS leak protection is easy – just follow these simple steps:

  1. Open the CyberGhost app and click “Menu.”
  2. Select “Settings” and then “Protocols.”
  3. Tick the box next to Enable DNS Leak Protection and then click “Save.”
  4. Exit the app and reopen it.

Dedicated IP

cyberghost dedicated ip 1

CyberGhost offers a Dedicated IP feature at $3.75/month.

You get to use the same IP address every time you log in.

It also gives you unrestricted access to blocked networks, and the configuration process is quick and straightforward. The best part is that the IP address you get isn’t shared.

You’re the sole user, meaning more security/privacy and better speeds.

Now, you can choose to pay for the Dedicated IP monthly, but that will run up quite a bill. The best option would be to tie it alongside a long-term plan, in this case, the 3-year plan.

Although you’ll be billed once for the entire 3-year period, you get a huge discount. You can pay using a credit card or PayPal.

Here’s what the whole plan looks like:

cyberghost dedicated ip price plan

Getting a Dedicated IP isn’t that complicated either.

Just follow these steps:

  1. Include the Dedicated IP add-on to your regular subscription.
  2. Redeem your token from your My Account section.
cyberghost token download for dedicated ip
  1. Validate the token provided across all your apps.
get cyberghost vpn

How Does CyberGhost’s Dedicated IP Work?

Once you have an active Dedicated IP subscription, getting it running is a matter of a few tweaks. Unlike a shared IP, this gives you exclusive use of a single IP address.

This means you have better control of your privacy and don’t have to deal with the bad neighbor effect common with shared IPs.

The following is an illustration of how a Dedicated IP address functions.

dedicated ip working illustration

However, you need to be aware that the token can only be generated once.

Once you’ve gotten yours, don’t lose it, as CyberGhost VPN states that there’s no way of retrieving or generating another one.

The token is needed when you activate the Dedicated IP or reinstall the VPN on any of your devices. So take good care of your token and keep it in a safe place.

Some notable benefits of using a Dedicated IP address include the following.

  • You can use it to access sensitive services like online shopping accounts, bank apps, and trading platforms. Shared IPs usually get flagged for this kind of thing.
  • It’s easy to get off any blacklist, as you’ll be free of the bad neighbor effect associated with shared IPs.
  • It’s perfect for remote work. Your company data is better secured.
  • You’ll experience fewer CAPTCHAs, as protection systems will regard you as a safe user rather than a bot.
  • It can be used to keep your IoT devices from broadcasting your information to potential hackers.
  • Dedicated IP addresses are a great way of securing your website, as it limits threats to the backend.

Private Browsing

cyberghost private browser

CyberGhost comes with a private browser that you can use to browse incognito. This effectively stops any kind of monitoring and, at the same time, eliminates ad popups that usually dampen the online experience.

Notable features of the CyberGhost Private Browser include:

  • Zero Google integrations, meaning no data mining from Google.
  • Blockage of ads on every website you visit.
  • Incognito browsing stops companies and websites from tracking your activities online.
  • It’s chromium-based and free to use and supports Chrome add-ons.

Security Protocols

On top of the standard encryption, the kill-switch, DNS leak protection, and other security features, CyberGhost has a number of security protocols that add more options for safeguarding users. They include the following:

OpenVPN (TCP vs. UDP)

Availability: Windows, Android, Linux, and Fire TV app.

This is an open-source VPN protocol within CyberGhost that provides strong encryption for users. It supports UDP and TCP ports and customizes a user’s online experience in terms of their browsing and streaming needs.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) means there’s the full transmission of data at a slower speed but in the correct order.

Meanwhile, UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transmits data packages at a much faster rate but at the expense of reliability.

Pros

Cons

IKEv2

Availability: Windows, macOS, and iOS

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is another VPN protocol that was developed by Cisco and Microsoft.

It’s native to iOS and Windows devices and, when paired with a protocol like IPSec, grants users reliable cryptographic algorithms and keys.

Its main function is reconnecting mobile devices during network switches.

When you have an active CyberGhost connection on your mobile device, you might need to switch from Wi-Fi to mobile or voice data.

That transition usually has a momentary loss of internet connection.

IKEv2 ensures the VPN connection doesn’t drop through the whole process, thus maintaining the protection.

Pros

Cons

WireGuard

Availability: Windows (CyberGhost 8 only), macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android / Fire TV App.

WireGuard’s main features include high speeds, elite-level cryptography, and it’s easy to implement. In a nutshell, it has all the best qualities of OpenVPN and IKEv2. The only stumbling block is that it’s still experimental.

Pros

Cons

CyberGhost VPN Security Tests

The final part of my tests was on leaks. A VPN claiming to not have any leaks is a big deal, and I set out to find just how true this statement was with CyberGhost VPN.

CyberGhost AES Encryption Test

Using the WireGuard protocol, I did a quick test to see if what CyberGhost claims about its encryption is true. I began by setting up the WireGuard protocol, then launched Wireshark with the VPN active.

I then analyzed all the data packets, focusing on UDP and TCP.

The results showed an illegible script, proof that encryption is alive and strong on CyberGhost VPN.

Below is the image I captured of one UDP stream.

cyberghost udp stream captured on wireshark

DNS Leak Test

I started with a DNS leak test through dnsleaktest.com.

As you can see from the results below, my traffic was routed through a public address called Heficed, located in the US, yet I was conducting the test from Kenya. That’s a positive result indicating no DNS Leaks.

cyberghost dns leak test usa

Just to confirm, I changed the server to Denmark and repeated the same test. The results were the same. CyberGhost passed the DNS leak test.

cyberghost dns leak test denmark

WebRTC Leak Protection

Next up was the WebRTC Leak protection test. If you’re heavy on torrenting or filesharing with CyberGhost, then knowing you’re protected from WebRTC leaks is vital. Using ipleak.net, here’s how CyberGhost performed.

No leaks were detected.

cyberghost ipleak test

Android and iOS App Permissions

The last bit of security test that I wanted to highlight was the app permissions that CyberGhost VPN requests when installed on a mobile device.

I have an Android phone and I used the exodus tool for this test.

I went with the most recent CyberGhost version dated April 12, 2022.

There are 3 trackers and 13 permissions. The trackers include AppsFlyer, Google Analytics, and Google Tag Manager.

All of these are expected since they’re mostly used for advertisement purposes.

cyberghost app trackers

Now, for the permissions, 13 was a little too much, although a quick look over them and I couldn’t see anything compromising. Below is how the permissions on Android look like.

Overall, there’s nothing of great concern regarding the permissions you grant on Android. But you’re free to exercise the money-back guarantee if you feel like the permissions you need to grant are too much.

Countries and Servers

Rating: 9.0 / 10

Servers play an important role in VPNs. They are the virtual IP addresses that your device gets assigned to allow you to bypass restrictions and access blocked content in your region. So how does CyberGhost measure up in terms of servers?

CyberGhost has 7930 servers in 91 countries and 113 locations by the last count. They’re spread across the globe, with the highest number being in the United States with 1317 servers.

The following is a table of the top 5 countries with the highest number of CyberGhost servers:

Country Server Count
The United States 1317
Germany 1031
France 773
United Kingdom 662
Canada 336

CyberGhost (supposedly) doesn’t own all of its servers.

According to one support agent, the only servers CyberGhost owns are its NoSpy servers.

It’s worth noting that the ownership of these servers doesn’t mean much in terms of experience or functionality. Every CyberGhost server, rented or owned, is fully encrypted and runs on RAM only. This means that there’s no storage of data on hard drives.

However, another support agent gave different information, claiming no servers are rented. We reached out to CyberGhost to get a clear answer.

The information we got wasn’t satisfactory. I’ll highlight the responses a little later.

cyberghost servers connected to united states

CyberGhost makes your work easier by grouping servers based on function. For instance, there are servers dedicated to streaming.

So if all you want is to access restricted content like HBO Max, you simply tap the “For Streaming” section and choose an appropriate one.

Some are even optimized for specific streaming sites, like BBC iPlayer and Netflix.

cyberghost streaming servers

There are also servers for downloading, which can come in handy if you want a torrenting VPN or use CyberGhost for MEGA Downloads.

Another handy feature here is the indication of server loads in the form of percentages. When you open a server list on CyberGhost, you’ll see percentage values next to a server.

This indicates the server load at that particular time.

The lower the value, the lower the server load and the better the performance, and vice versa.

Furthermore, you can also favorite a server that works well for later use.

Every server that you favorite goes into the “Favorites” section at the very top for quick access when you log in.

CyberGhost's NoSpy Servers

cyberghost nospy servers

CyberGhost may or may not have rented servers. However, renting servers isn’t uncommon in the VPN world. Outside of ownership, there’s no difference in terms of security and privacy, so there isn’t a need to panic.

I got conflicting information regarding this, so I can’t tell whether it’s a marketing gimmick or something else.

Moving on, the NoSpy servers are CyberGhost’s answer to providing users with the highest level of security and privacy. The servers are located in Romania and are operated by CyberGhost SA, a subsidiary of the main company.

The NoSpy servers are physically isolated from the rest of the CyberGhost network. They’re located in physical data centers that have strict security measures in place to ensure that no one can access your data.

The NoSpy servers also have a strict no-logs policy.

In addition, NoSpy servers allow you to keep your IP address private by using an encrypted connection that masks your true identity.

This ensures no third party can see what sites you visit or where you connect from. This means even your ISP can’t track your online activity.

Another amazing aspect of the NoSpy servers is that most of them are dedicated to torrenting. This gives you the best download speeds while protecting you at the same time. The slightest interruption within the encryption channels triggers the killswitch into action immediately.

Now, I earlier mentioned that the NoSpy servers are supposedly the only ones owned by CyberGhost. We reached out to the CyberGhost support team for further clarification, and the responses were conflicting.

I asked Francis if CyberGhost owns all its servers. He confirmed that CyberGhost rents the bulk of its servers. The only ones they own are the NoSpy servers which are based in Romania. On further inquiry regarding any future changes in server ownership, he admitted he wasn’t in the loop as he was technical support.

Simultaneously, my team member reached out to another CyberGhost support agent. The answer we got here was that all the servers are NoSpy servers.

So by extension, all of them are owned by CyberGhost, and none are rented.

The reason they made it look like there are two sets of servers was for a “marketing strategy.”

Does CyberGhost Bypass Geo-Restrictions and Censorship?

CyberGhost is adept at bypassing censorship and geo-restrictions.

Every streaming platform worked without any issues.

How does CyberGhost pull this off?

  1. It encrypts your data so your internet service provider (ISP) can’t see what you’re doing online. This means your ISP can’t track your online activity or block certain websites.
  2. CyberGhost VPN then changes your IP address to appear as if you’re located in a different country. This allows you to bypass restrictions placed on specific countries.
  3. CyberGhost VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means no one can track or record your data or activities.

Speed & Performance

Rating: 8.0 / 10

Speed is vital when it comes to VPNs. How does CyberGhost VPN perform in terms of connection speeds?

One thing about VPN speeds is they’re determined by a number of factors: your ISP base speeds, the server location, the device you’re using, and the number of users on a particular server, just to mention a few.

To get a clear picture of how CyberGhost speeds performed, I did tests using random servers from the closest to the furthest. All tests were conducted with the IKEv2 protocol and base speeds of 5MBps.

Kenya

cyberghost speed test kenya

South Africa

cyberghost speed test south africa

Vietnam

cyberghost speed test vietnam

New Zealand

cyberghost speed test new zealand

Iceland

cyberghost speed test iceland

Based on the result, it’s clear that choosing the closest servers doesn’t always give you the best speeds. Iceland had faster speeds despite being thousands of miles away compared to where I’m located in Kenya.

But this only proves what we mentioned earlier. There are many factors at play, which means the speeds will always rise and drop at any given time.

Here’s a table of the speeds using different categories of serves and protocols.

  NoSpy Servers Gaming Servers Torrenting Servers Streaming Servers
WireGuard 9.66Mbps 1.46Mbps 2.68Mbps 2.11Mbps
OpenVPN 7.93Mbps 0.33Mbps 0.69Mbps 2.23Mbps
IKEv2 6.98Mbps 24.61Mbps 20.34Mbps 5.04Mbps

How to Speed Up CyberGhost VPN?

You can do many things to speed up your Cyberghost VPN connection, such as:

  1. Make sure you’re using the latest version of Cyberghost VPN. Outdated software can lead to slower speeds and more connection problems.
  2. If you have any active antivirus or firewalls, ensure you add CyberGhost VPN as an exception. Some firewalls and antivirus software tend to block VPNs from working efficiently.
  3. Try connecting to the closest server possible. The closer the server, the higher the likelihood that you’ll get faster connections.
  4. Try disabling encryption and compression in your Cyberghost VPN settings momentarily. Both of these features can slow your connection speeds.
  5. If you’re using a laptop, try connecting to a power source. Laptops tend to consume a lot of battery power, which can slow down your VPN speeds.
  6. Disable any applications or processes that are hogging your bandwidth. These could be anything from BitTorrent clients to video streaming services.
  7. If all else fails, contact the support team for assistance. They’ll be happy to help you troubleshoot and optimize your Cyberghost VPN connection.

Media Streaming

Rating: 8.0 / 10

CyberGhost can unblock and stream just about any of the most popular video and music streaming platforms.

Additionally, CyberGhost has servers dedicated to streaming only.

CyberGhost even goes a step further and optimizes specific servers to specific streaming platforms.

For instance, you’ll find a server optimized for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Crunchyroll, ESPN, etc. With this, you won’t have to spend a lot of time trying different servers for your streaming needs.

cyberghost for streaming server connected to hulu

CyberGhost also works with Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV+, Hulu, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video, as illustrated below.

Netflix

cyberghost netflix streaming

CyberGhost works with Netflix. There wasn’t any buffering, with the experience even better when using CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers.

Amazon Prime

cyberghost streaming on amazon prime

Amazon Prime is another streaming platform that I could stream with CyberGhost without issues. There wasn’t any buffering, even with 4K content.

I switched servers to see if there were any changes, but it was too minimal.

So, if you’re in a region where Amazon Prime is blocked, CyberGhost has what it takes to stream any type of content.

Hulu

cyberghost streaming on hulu

Hulu wasn’t any different. I was able to stream high-res content without issues using random CyberGhost streaming servers within the United States.

Disney Plus

cyberghost streaming on disney plus

CyberGhost was able to unblock and stream Disney Plus within minutes.

The process is simple, especially when you use the streaming servers.

Buffering was non-existent, even when watching 4K content.

HBO Max

cyberghost streaming on hbo max

HBO Max is another popular streaming platform that I tested with great results. Like the other platforms, HBO Max offers movies and shows with 4K resolution, and there wasn’t buffering involved.

I tried several servers within the US using the same protocol, and there weren’t significant variations in the streaming speeds.

Other Streaming Platforms

Here’s a table of the streaming platforms you can unblock with CyberGhost’s streaming dedicated servers.

Streaming Platform Countries Available
Netflix Over 190 countries
Hulu The US
HBO Max United States, Latin America, Europe
Amazon Prime The US, Europe, some Asian countries
Disney+ The US, Europe,
BBC iPlayer The UK and Europe
ESPN The US, Australia, Brazil, Latin America, Canada
Eurosport European countries
RMC Sport All EU countries and France
CBS Sport The US and Canada
Peacock The US, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, the UK
Sling TV United States

Torrenting (P2P)

Rating: 9.0 / 10

We may be in the age of streaming, but torrenting is still huge, and CyberGhost is ideal for this.

CyberGhost may be against using torrents for sharing and downloading copyrighted material, but it values security more. You can use CyberGhost to safely and anonymously download torrents.

Does CyberGhost Support Torrenting?

Torrent downloads via CyberGhost are available on any device.

These include Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux.

Additionally, CyberGhost has servers dedicated to torrenting.

They’re optimized for maximum security and the best downloading speeds, so you don’t have to do much. Furthermore, with encrypted tunnels, you won’t be restricted from blocked torrent domains, and neither will there be any throttling of speeds by your ISP.

cyberghost for torrenting servers

Expect the following when using CyberGhost for your torrenting needs.

  • No logging to protect your privacy and potentially protect you from any blowback associated with the illegal sharing and downloading of copyrighted materials. Being based in Romania gives credence to this claim since data protection laws are very strong. This is a statement on their website regarding this matter.

“We’ve never breached our customers’ trust because we never stored their data in the first place. We are based in Romania, a country with no data retention laws. As such, we are not legally bound to log any data. Romania is not part of any surveillance alliance, so nothing compels us to collaborate with foreign intelligence agencies.”

  • An airtight DNS leak prevention shields your online activities, even from your ISP. This feature is automatically enabled across all devices, so all you have to do is activate the VPN and start downloading. Here’s what CyberGhost has to say about its DNS leak protection.

“CyberGhost team developed an airtight DNS leak protection: our very own DNS service, enabled by default in all of our apps…When you use Cyberghost VPN, all DNS requests are routed through our DNS servers, while IPv6 requests are blocked. Simple and secure.”

  • You get turbo-fast speeds through fast servers dedicated to torrenting and downloading. Cyberghost continuously upgrades and scales up its servers to accommodate more speeds. This is their statement on this.

“Because everything starts in the data center, we’re constantly scaling our server fleet to improve baseline performance…Aside from P2P traffic, our infrastructure also includes streaming and gaming-optimized servers. CyberGhost is compatible with the fastest encryption protocols and depending on what you’re doing online, the app automatically switches to the best type of connection.”

  • Unlimited bandwidth without any data caps. CyberGhost even claims to increase the bandwidth with your increased usage. Here’s a statement regarding the removal of bandwidth restrictions.

“Many VPNs say they don’t limit users’ bandwidth, but they have other caps in place that are not as obvious…CyberGhost doesn’t limit bandwidth or traffic in any way. In addition, we regularly increase our average bandwidth to accommodate increased usage. When we say unlimited, we mean it.”

  • Optimized torrenting servers: Rather than using general servers that may not be ideal for torrenting, CyberGhost has servers dedicated to this. They’ve been optimized to give users the best possible speeds to cut down download times.

“CyberGhost is the first VPN to offer optimized servers for torrenting. We specifically designed these servers for P2P traffic, which means more reliable connections and faster downloads...Depending on where you live, we recommend choosing one of the torrenting-optimized servers in Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Canada, India, or Egypt. These are some of the regions where torrenting legislation is still favorable.”

CyberGhost Torrent Test and Results

To illustrate how CyberGhost handles torrenting, I chose three torrenting servers. One nearest to me (Kenya), One furthest from me (Australia), and one in the middle (Luxembourg). The speeds varied, and here’s how it panned out.

With Kenya, I clocked about 3Mbps of speeds for the download, and the 3GB file took me about 16 minutes.

cyberghost torrent speed test kenya

I switched to Luxembourg, and the speeds dropped a little, with a download speed of about 2Mbps. This took about 24 minutes to download the same file.

cyberghost torrent test luxembourg

The speeds when I switched to Australia went down further to 1.3Mbps, and this collectively took me about 39 minutes to finish the download.

cyberghost torrent test australia

Multi-Platform Compatibility

Rating: 9.5 / 10

CyberGhost has dedicated apps for macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. This offers users the convenience of switching to any device without interruptions.

Simultaneous Connections on CyberGhost

CyberGhost allows for up to 7 simultaneous connections using the same subscription. This gives you a lot of flexibility, as you can have it running on all your devices at the same time at no extra cost.

cyberghost device compatibility

Windows

CyberGhost is compatible with Windows. This includes standalone PCs, laptops, and phones. Furthermore, it’s compatible with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

The following are the minimum requirements needed for CyberGhost to run efficiently on any Windows device:

  • 1GHz 64-bit (x64) processor or 32-bit (x86)
  • A minimum of 310Mbs hard drive space
  • Compatibility with .NET 4.6
  • 2GB of RAM

macOS

This is another major platform that works well with CyberGhost.

You can use the VPN on a MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, and Mac mini. Additionally, it’s compatible with macOS Mojave (10.14), macOS High Sierra (10.13), and macOS Sierra (10.12).

Linux

CyberGhost is compatible with Linux. Installing it is as straightforward as any other platform. It works on Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, and 19.04.

It also works with Fedora 31, 30, and 29 and Mint 19, Kali, CentOS 17, and Pop!_OS.

iOS and Android

You can use CyberGhost on any iOS device, be it an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, or Apple Watch. Using the app is easy, and all it takes to connect is a single tap to any server you like. You get notified when you link your iOS device to any public Wi-Fi.

Android

Android is a popular mobile platform, and naturally, CyberGhost is compatible with all devices that use it. This ranges from mobile phones to iPads and Smart TVs. Some of the Android OS that works well with CyberGhost include Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop, KitKat, and Jelly Bean.

Does CyberGhost Have Browser Extensions?

You can also install CyberGhost as a VPN extension on Firefox and Google Chrome. The extension offers you features like anonymous browsing, online tracking blocks, hidden IP, and blocking of malicious content, among many others.

Can I Use CyberGhost on Firestick?

CyberGhost is compatible with Fire TV running on Fire OS 4.6 and 2nd generation Fire Stick. Unlike other devices, installing CyberGhost VPN on your Fire TV is a little different. Here are the detailed steps:

  1. Open Amazon Store through your Fire TV/Firestick and look for CyberGhost VPN.
  2. Select your application and click on the Get button to start the download to your device.
  3. Sign in to the app and tap on Open to launch it.
  4. Choose between “Agree and Continue” or “I wish to opt-out.”
  5. A PIN code will be generated, and you can use it to validate your username and password.
  6. You’ll have to grant CyberGhost VPN the permissions it needs for a first-time installation. Connect and start using the VPN.

Customer Support

Rating: 7.0 / 10

Customer support is at the core of any online service, and CyberGhost VPN is no exception.

CyberGhost provides detailed troubleshooting guides for all the common problems on its Help page. But if you still can’t find what works for your problem, you can get in touch with support through a live chat option that runs 24 hours a day (I confirmed this).

To access the Live Chat, simply tap on the Live Chat option on the official website. You have to enter your name and email, then select a language before typing in what you need help with.

Hitting “Start Chat” opens up a live chat with a Customer Support staff.

I started by asking a simple question on whether Cyberghost offers a free trial.

It didn’t take long to be connected to Maxxi, who was more than willing to handle the question.

The question was then answered satisfactorily. I had expected to be connected to a bot but judging from how Maxxi talked, this was a real person.

This was then followed by Maxxi asking if I had any other pending issues or questions. A nice touch that shows CyberGhost is willing to go that extra length to ensure people get all the answers they need.

Finally, the chat ended with a goodbye from Maxxi with an option to rate the chat.

In terms of timely responses, CyberGhost is doing fine.

However, the conflicting information we got about renting and owning servers didn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

Customer Support is where users go as a last resort, so you’d expect the agent you’re connected to have all the information you need to solve a problem.

Having different support teams that don’t know bits about their own product only creates confusion.

We’re still waiting on concrete feedback regarding the ownership and renting of servers. An update will be provided as soon as we get the clarification.

But this is an area that could do with some improvements.

User Experience & Usability

Rating: 9.0 / 10

CyberGhost is hands down one of the easiest-to-use VPNs around, and that’s a bold statement considering I’ve tested countless VPNs.

The learning curve isn’t that hard. This means even a newbie who has never seen a VPN before can have a clue on what to do.

Another aspect that gives CyberGhost great usability is the multi-platform support. It doesn’t matter which device you’re using; the VPN uses a more standard format that you can pick on quickly.

Using CyberGhost VPN

Using CyberGhost VPN on any device is easy. The following is a guide on setting up and using the VPN on some of the most commonly used devices around.

Windows

You can set up CyberGhost VPN on any version of Windows after Vista using the following steps.

  1. Create an account and subscribe to a plan that fits your needs.
cyberghost windows account settings
  1. Download and install CyberGhost for Windows.
  2. Log in to the app and choose your profile.
  3. Configure your settings to suit your needs and how you want the app to behave. (This includes auto-connections on launch, etc.)
cyberghost windows connect on launch setting
  1. Start using CyberGhost on your Windows device.

macOS

macOS is another popular platform, and you can set up CyberGhost.

The system requirements are Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra) or newer.

You also need to have a minimum of 7 megabytes of free space on your hard drive. You can then set up CyberGhost using the following steps.

  1. Create an account and choose a subscription plan that fits your budget.
  2. Download and install the app. You will receive a pop-up window to guide you through the installation process.
cyberghost macos installation settings
  1. You’ll have to enter your macOS username and password to confirm the installation.
cyberghost macos installation successful
  1. Log into CyberGhost and start using it.
using cyberghost on macos

Android

The Android version of CyberGhost is straightforward and lightweight.

You can get it working on your Android phone within minutes using the following steps:

  1. Purchase a CyberGhost plan that’s within your budget.
  2. Install from Google Play.
  1. Log in and enter your credentials and begin using the app.
  1. Simply tap on the large connection button to automatically connect to the best available server.

iOS

You can also use CyberGhost on iOS devices. There’s very little difference from what you get with Android, and the following are the steps to get it working within minutes. You need iOS 13 and later for CyberGhost VPN to work.

  1. Create an account and subscribe to a plan.
  1. Find and download CyberGhost from the App Store.
  1. Once installed, sign in to the account after launching the app.
  1. Agree to the terms and conditions and choose whether you want to allow notifications or not.
  1. This will open up a screen with a connection button. Simply tap on it once to automatically connect to the best location.

Pricing

Rating: 8.0 / 10
cyberghost vpn subscription plans and pricing
Image for illustration only. Design, deals, and details may differ. Click on the image for current info.

CyberGhost is among the cheapest VPNs around. The pricing plans are split into 4 tiers:

  • The best value plan lasts for 3 years and 3 months. It’s billed at once and renewed after that period. It comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
  • The next best option is the 2-year plan that’s billed once every two years. It also comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
  • Then there’s the 1-year plan that’s billed at once every 12 months. You still get the same 45-day money-back guarantee.
  • If you only need CyberGhost for one-time use without a long-term commitment, you can choose the 1-month plan. But this is expensive and comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Note that a Dedicated IP feature isn’t included in any of the price plans above. You have to pay for it separately. Here’s how much it will cost you.

cyberghost dedicated ip price

Payment Methods

You can purchase any CyberGhost plan using various payment methods, including Credit and Debit cards, PayPal, and, more recently, BitPay, a crypto option.

However, if you need addons like Dedicated IP, avoid using BitPay, as it doesn’t support that.

Other notable payment options you can use include Google Pay and Amazon Pay.

Does CyberGhost Offer Free Trial?

CyberGhost offers a fully free VPN trial that allows you access to all the premium-level features. The best part is that you don’t need a credit card to sign up for this.

All you need to begin your free trial is to provide a primary email address.

This means there are no hidden charges at the end of the trial period.

You can then choose if you want to continue with a paid subscription or end your journey there. However, you can’t use your free CyberGhost VPN trial more than once.

This is to stop the abuse of this feature. Therefore, you’ll only be allowed one trial period.

What Is CyberGhost’s Refund Policy?

CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee for its long-term price plans and a 14-day money-back guarantee on the monthly plans.

This is the longest among premium VPNs, and that’s another factor you should consider when deciding what to go for.

If, at any point, you feel like CyberGhost services are not up to your standards, the no-questions-asked money-back guarantee comes into effect.

To get the refund, simply get in touch with the support team.

There aren’t any forms you’ll have to fill, and neither are there any return fees charged. However, there are some slight conditions involved.

  • If you’re on the monthly plan, ensure you contact the support team within 14 days of payment to get your money back.
  • You must send in the request for the long-term plans within the first 45 days.

How Does CyberGhost Compare With Other Top VPNs?

CyberGhost is among the cheapest VPNs around, and this is how it compares with its closest competitors.

VPN Provider: Monthly Plan: Best Deal: Payment Options: Refund Policy:
CyberGhost $12.99 3 Years + 3 Months Free ($83.85) – Save 83% PayPal, International Wire Transfer, PayNearMe, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
NordVPN $11.99 2 Years ($95.76) – Save 66% Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, ACH Transfer, Cryptocurrencies 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Surfshark $12.95 24 Months + 2 Months Free ($59.76) – Save 82% MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Cryptocurrencies 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
ExpressVPN $12.95 12 Months + 3 Months Free ($99.95) – Save 49% Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, WebMoney, iDeal, UnionPay, and more 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
PureVPN $10.95 24 Months + 3 Months Free ($53.95) – Save 82% PayPal, Visa, Moneybooker, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, WebMoney, and more 31-Day Money-Back Guarantee

What Users Online Think About the Service?

CyberGhost is a popular VPN that’s loved by people around the world.

It can be hard to gauge its performance based on user opinions and reviews. However, I was able to find some user comments that best illustrate what people think of CyberGhost.

wouter cyberghost trustpilot review

But it’s not all rosy; there are some negative comments from different users directed at specific areas where they feel CyberGhost lacks.

sheila cyberghost trustpilot review
duchess cyberghost trustpilot review

The same was happening on Google Play, where there’s a mix of good and bad user reviews

jack cyberghost playstore review
stephen cyberghost playstore review

Overall, users have mixed reactions when CyberGhost VPN is involved.

I have used a lot of VPNs, and CyberGhost, just like the others, isn’t without faults. So coming across negative reviews is not uncommon.

CyberGhost Alternatives

What are CyberGhost’s alternatives? If CyberGhost doesn’t meet your needs, what are the next most ideal VPNs that you can turn to? There are many VPNs around that can get the job done, but the following are my top three recommendations.

Surfshark - Most Affordable

If CyberGhost doesn’t fit your mold and you need an alternative without breaking your bank, Surfshark is your best bet.

It has all the necessary features you’ll need in a VPN, and most importantly, it can unblock any content. It also features amazing speeds that make it ideal for streaming and torrenting. But what makes it stand out is its unlimited device connections, the only VPN with this feature.

Surfshark also features a kill switch, and you can use the Camouflage Mode to keep your online footprint under wraps.

You can even save more by taking advantage of these fantastic discounts here.

NordVPN - Best Security

NordVPN excels in the security department, and it features Double VPN, robust kill switches, high-level encryption, and split tunneling, just to mention a few. Pricewise, it may be higher than CyberGhost, but it’s still within the affordable range of most people.

Speeds are also good, and you can use NordVPN for gaming, streaming, and torrenting.

You can get exclusive discount deals here. Read this detailed review of NordVPN to know more.

ExpressVPN - Best Speeds

ExpressVPN is not cheap, so this VPN isn’t for you if you’re looking for an alternative to CyberGhost based on the price plans.

However, it excels in a lot of other areas. It has sufficient worldwide servers, can unblock just about anything, and features one of the fastest speeds around.

It has military-grade encryption, a kill switch, split tunneling, and doesn’t log user activity. You can also count on a fast and responsive support team when things go wrong.

To offset the slightly high price tag, ensure you take advantage of these discounts here.

Criteria ExpressVPN NordVPN Surfshark CyberGhost
Jurisdiction The British Virgin Islands Panama The British Virgin Islands Romania
Security Features Kill Switch, 256-bit AES encryption, Automatic Obfuscation, Private DNS Two Kill Switches, Obfuscation, Onion Over VPN, Double VPN, 256-bit AES encryption, CyberSec CleanWeb, Kill Switch, NoBorders Mode, MultiHop DNS Leak Protection, Port Forwarding, Kill Switch, Public WiFi Protection, Split Tunneling
Logging No Logs No Logs No Logs No Logs
Protocols OpenVPN, Lightway,  IKEv2, L2TP/IPSec, NordLynx, IKEv2 OpenVPN WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec
Servers Over 3,000 servers in 94 countries 5,462 servers in 60 countries Over 3,200 servers in 65 countries 7,991 servers in 91 countries and 113 locations
Torrenting P2P support on all servers Dedicated P2P servers P2P support on all servers but no seeding Dedicated P2P servers
Streaming Unblocks BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more Unblocks BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more Unblocks BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more Unblocks Netflix, HBO, BBC iPlayer, and more
Devices Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, routers, Smart TVs, game consoles, Firefox, Chrome Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Smart TVs, routers, PS4 and XBox consoles, Firefox, Chrome, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Smart TVs, game consoles, Chrome, Firefox Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Smart TVs, Firestick, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Simultaneous Connections 5 devices 6 devices Unlimited devices 10 devices

FAQ

There are many premium VPN alternatives that you can use in place of CyberGhost. The best three include NordVPN for its great security, Surfshark for its affordable price plans and unlimited connections, and Express VPN for its great connection speeds.

You can connect up to 7 devices at the same time when using CyberGhost VPN. You don’t need to pay anything extra for these connections; all you need is to use the same account.

Once you have hit the device limit, the only way to add another device is by deleting an existing one from the “My Devices” section.

Final Word

I would recommend CyberGhost if anyone asked for my honest opinion.

It checks all the features you would ordinarily need for your day-to-day online activities. It’s affordable, with only a few alternatives like Surfshark costing less.

So, if you’ve been on the hunt for a reliable VPN and you’re lost on what to go for, try CyberGhost right now. You won’t regret it!

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