CyberGhost VPN review: A complete guide 2024

Our Verdict

Our Verdict

CyberGhost provides fast and secure VPN services, including an automatic kill switch, at a more affordable price compared to many other well-known VPNs. Additionally, CyberGhost allows you to access streaming content on platforms like Netflix. However, while CyberGhost has its strengths, it may not always offer a completely seamless user experience, so it may not be considered the top VPN option available.

Pros

• Affordable pricing
• Strong security features
• User-friendly interface
• Streaming and torrenting support

Cons

• Inconsistent speeds
• Limited advanced features
• Blocked by some streaming services

4.6

Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting price

$2.29 per month

Split tunneling

Yes

Number of IP addresses

Unknown, static IPs available

In the quest for online privacy protection, reliable VPNs are essential. In this review, I'll delve into CyberGhost VPN, detailing its strengths and weaknesses, so you can determine if it meets your needs.

CyberGhost VPN 

CyberGhost VPN stands out for its ability to not only maintain your desired location but also do so efficiently and at high speeds. This addresses the primary concerns of most users, thanks to its unlimited bandwidth and fast loading times, enhancing the overall user experience.

Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of CyberGhost:

Speed

• Average speed reduction: 49%
• Server count: Over 6,800
• Server locations: Available in 89 countries
• IP addresses: Quantity unspecified; static IPs offered

I conducted speed assessments using CyberGhost across three days, utilizing dynamic IP addresses in two diverse locations with both wireless and ethernet connections. One location had slower broadband, while the other boasted faster fiber-optic internet. Internet speeds in the US can fluctuate by state and provider, and local infrastructure heavily influences test outcomes. Faster internet services will naturally produce higher speed results.

Therefore, my focus lies more on evaluating the speed loss, which typically exceeds half for most VPNs, across varying connection types. I utilize tools like speedtest.net to standardize assessments. With CyberGhost, the average loss of internet speed amounted to nearly 49%.

Although CyberGhost surpassed Norton Secure VPN's 57% speed reduction, it lagged behind NordVPN's 32% decrease. Closing the gap with other speed-focused VPNs like Surfshark and ExpressVPN, which incurred losses of 27% and less than 2%, respectively, may present a greater challenge for CyberGhost. However, enhancements in performance, including the addition of over 2,000 servers in the past year, indicate that CyberGhost might be experiencing a sustained improvement in speed.

CyberGhost exhibited its highest performance on Australian servers, averaging 144 megabits per second (Mbps). However, it reached its peak speed on Paris servers, hitting 327 Mbps during a testing round with an average of 182 Mbps. Comparatively, non-VPN speeds in the same round averaged about 217 Mbps. Among tested European servers, French servers ranked the fastest, while German servers fell short compared to competitor VPNs. UK speeds ranked second overall, averaging 142 Mbps.

US servers in New York faced difficulties, with speeds reaching only 55 Mbps, peaking at 165 Mbps, and trailing behind CyberGhost's Singapore servers, which averaged 65 Mbps. Singapore's performance showed inconsistency, including the lowest recorded speed of 3 Mbps.

Interestingly, CyberGhost's Windows client consistently achieved slower speeds than its MacOS counterpart. To eliminate machine-related issues, speeds were tested on multiple Windows machines with comparable processing power to the MacOS testing machine, within a 10-minute window to minimize time-sensitive traffic spikes.

While our Windows testing machines typically attain slightly slower connection speeds than MacOS machines, the gap was significantly wider when testing CyberGhost compared to other VPNs. For instance, CyberGhost's server labeled New York-S403-i48 reached a top speed of 86 Mbps on Windows machines, while on the MacOS machine during the same round, speeds peaked at a much faster 344 Mbps.

Security and privacy

• Location: Romania, operated by a UK parent company
• Encryption: Utilizes AES-256
• Leak Tests: No leaks detected in recent assessments
• Features a kill switch

While our tests didn't reveal any leaks of IP addresses, DNS, or other potentially identifying data, CyberGhost doesn't obscure the fact that a VPN is being used, warranting some caution. In March 2019, a CNET reviewer similarly found CyberGhost failed one of our data leak tests, exposing internet traffic to ISPs.

Due to its lack of obfuscation technology, CyberGhost isn't recommended for privacy and anonymity in countries where VPNs are prohibited, such as China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

CyberGhost employs standard AES-256 encryption and supports Perfect Forward Secrecy, regularly changing encryption keys to prevent security breaches. The service includes a useful kill switch feature to prevent network data leakage outside the secure VPN tunnel if the connection fails. While it doesn't offer a multi-hop option, CyberGhost provides split-tunneling in its Windows client, allowing users to select which computer connections to encrypt.

Previous security issues

Historical Security Concerns: A collaborative 2016 study by Australia's national science research foundation and UC Berkeley labeled the former free version of CyberGhost VPN as potentially malicious, due to suspected malware and excessive user permission requests. Although the free version is no longer available, CyberGhost CTO Timo Beyel dismissed the findings as a "false positive," attributing them to the app's use of a common framework that inadvertently prompted additional permissions. The app has since been updated to limit permission requests and disable certain features by default.

Despite these adjustments, reservations persist regarding the app's use of Google trackers. While CyberGhost underwent a basic assessment by AV-Test in 2019, no independent audits have been conducted since 2012, although the company intends to undergo third-party audits in the future, according to Beyel. However, CyberGhost does release an annual transparency report detailing subpoena requests and provides quarterly updates on its website.

For optimal privacy, VPN providers ideally operate outside Five Eyes and similar intelligence-sharing alliances. While CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania, its parent company's privacy track record warrants scrutiny. Although CyberGhost's business jurisdiction is in Romania, cautious interpretation of its privacy policy suggests potential data sharing not only with its UK-based parent company but also its US-based counterpart.

Data collection

Similar to most VPN services, CyberGhost collects certain maintenance-related data, but claims not to log server location choices, total data transferred, or connection timestamps. Independent verification of its no-logs policy is challenging. However, CyberGhost does log certain user hardware data, likely to enforce the limit of seven simultaneous connections per account.

According to a spokesperson interviewed by CNET in August 2019, CyberGhost can assist law enforcement by activating limited user-tracking features under specific conditions, requiring proof of misuse and a valid warrant.

In 2016, CyberGhost faced criticism for requesting root-level access to customers' computers and logging unique identifiers, though these functions have since been removed. Concerns were also raised about the removal of threads discussing potential log-keeping practices in its free proxy service.

In March 2019, CyberGhost was affected by a data breach involving email addresses and usernames but no passwords. Additionally, its method of ad-blocking has drawn criticism for being ineffective and potentially insecure, as it inspects and modifies requests instead of filtering them. However, CyberGhost plans to improve this feature and introduce new privacy modules beyond VPN services.

Affordability

• User-Friendly Interface: Enhanced experience on Android, while MacOS offers better usability
• Supported Platforms: Available on Windows, Android, Android TV, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, and FireTV
• Pricing: $2.75 monthly or $49.50 for an 18-month subscription
• Simultaneous Connections: Allows for up to seven connections at once

While using CyberGhost, I encountered no difficulties accessing Netflix or other streaming platforms, nor did I face issues with torrenting clients. The service categorizes its servers into four groups tailored to specific needs: NoSpy servers, optimized for torrenting, streaming, and use with static IP addresses. CyberGhost imposes no data limits and allows unlimited server switching.

Setting up CyberGhost on a new iPhone SE presented a few challenges, with occasional network issues and compatibility concerns with certain Wi-Fi networks. However, installation on a Samsung S10 Plus proceeded smoothly. The feature discrepancy between Android and iOS apps was noticeable, with more options available on Android.

Both mobile and desktop versions limit city selection to eight countries, but users can easily assess server congestion levels and choose less busy options. CyberGhost's most economical plan is priced at $2.75 per month for an 18-month subscription, totaling $49.50 upfront. Alternatives include a 6-month subscription for $7.99 monthly or a pricier monthly plan at $12.99. While competitive with NordVPN's two-year plan at $3.71 monthly ($89 total) and IPVanish's one-year plan at $6.49 monthly ($78 annually), it falls slightly short of Surfshark's heavily discounted two-year subscription at $2.49 monthly.

Payment options include credit/debit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and cash in select regions. Subscribers enjoy a 45-day money-back guarantee for yearly plans, while shorter subscriptions are covered by a 14-day guarantee. CyberGhost provides 24/7 chat support, along with a robust knowledge base comprising helpful articles and tutorials.