Cyberghost VPN Review

CyberGhost: Is it worth it?

Many VPN providers offer the same things to users, which can make it difficult to choose which one to use. CyberGhost is one of the most well-known and most popular VPNs, often seen on VPNSurfers’ ‘best VPN’ lists.

To provide you with an in-depth review that takes a closer look at CyberGhost as a company and explores whether it is good value for money or not, we’ve researched some extra important aspects of the VPN provider.

Is CyberGhost Safe?

CyberGhost VPN has fantastic VPN features when it comes to security and privacy. Military-grade encryption on all of its VPN servers, DNS leak protection, an automatic kill switch in apps, ensures that your browser traffic is safe at all times.

CyberGhost also has a strict no-logs policy. The provider will never store IP addresses, DNS queries, connection and disconnection times, browsing history, data usage, session duration, or which VPN server you connect to. However, as is common amongst VPN providers, CyberGhost does collect email addresses, payment information, and cookie preferences when people are on their website.

We like that CyberGhost provides frequent transparency reports for customers, that include details about the VPN company’s servers and whether they’ve experienced any security breaches or not. This shows that the provider is keen to hold itself accountable when it comes to user privacy. However, CyberGhost doesn’t provide third-party audits like TunnelBear, which is disappointing. We’d like to see an independent audit of this provider to see if they are truly respecting user data as they claim to.

Best of all, CyberGhost’s headquarters is in Bucharest, Romania. This is important since Romania enjoys great data privacy laws and is not under the jurisdiction of The 5 Eyes alliance. This surveillance alliance is between several countries that share user data with one another in the name of international security.

Since CyberGhost employs only RAM memory on its servers, should there ever be a security breach of its network, user data would be completely wiped by switching off the servers. As well as this, CyberGhost has a NoSpy data center in Romania, with specialized servers that users who have purchased the No-Spy Servers add-on, can access. CyberGhost manages these end-to-end which means that there is the highest security level always.

From what we’ve read during our research, we’re confident that CyberGhost is a fairly safe VPN provider.

Does CyberGhost use Virtual Servers?

CyberGhost, like many other VPN providers, employs both physical and virtual servers. There are pros and cons to the use of both.

Physical Servers

Physical servers are often known to perform better and offer customers a better overall VPN experience. Data is also controlled locally, which means that companies have better control of it. However, physical servers offer less flexibility in terms of location, which is why many VPN providers turn to virtual servers.

Virtual Servers

Virtual servers are servers that are said to be in a physical place but are actually located elsewhere. This is common in the VPN world. Some individuals say that virtual servers are more dangerous due to server sharing and having to use a host server. However, they can be more cost-effective and are often better for territories in which it is unsafe to store a physical server.

On CyberGhost’s website, there is a rundown of server location and whether each server is physical or not. For example, CyberGhost offers Chinese servers, but they are not physically located in China, in case they get seized. Likewise in Iran and Russia, where there are more safety and privacy risks, CyberGhost employs virtual severs.

It’s good to see that CyberGhost is frank about its use of both virtual and physical servers. This enables people to choose the best server for them and establish a secure VPN connection.

Who Owns CyberGhost?

Unlike many other VPN companies, CyberGhost is open about its employees and owners, which is a little unorthodox in the VPN community. Kape Technologie owns CyberGhost and on the provider’s website, there is a team page, with names and information about all of the key company employees. The team began developing CyberGhost VPN in 2011 under the direction of co-founder, Robert Knapp.

The head office is in Bucharest, Romania, which as we’ve mentioned, enjoys incredible data retention laws. CyberGhost doesn’t legally need to provide the Romanian government with any user data.

CyberGhost even has a ‘private’ Instagram page that features a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of its team. It gives the VPN provider a more personable feel, which is a rare thing in the VPN industry. At VPNSurfers, we like the fact that CyberGhost is going against the industry norms and showing its customers what the people behind the VPN are like. It builds a sense of familiarity and trust between CyberGhost and its subscribers.

Is CyberGhost Free?

Everyone loves a great deal, but at VPNSurfers, we recommend that you look for paid VPN plans over free options. Although there are some reputable providers out there that offer trustworthy free VPN plans, such as ProtonVPN and TunnelBear, CyberGhost doesn’t. However, it has a range of payment plans, that offer variety and the ability to try out the VPN.

• 1 month: The monthly subscription plan costs just $12.99 a month. With this plan, you get access to all of CyberGhost’s main features including 7 simultaneous connections. There is a 14-day money-back guarantee with this plan. The monthly price puts CyberGhost at the more expensive end of VPNs. For comparison, ExpressVPN costs $12.95 a month and NordVPN is $11.95 for its monthly plan.

• 6 months: For 6 months you’ll pay $38.34 which works out to $6.39 a month. This is great value for money, and what’s more, there is a 45-day money-back guarantee. To include extra features such as the password manager and static IP address, you’ll have to pay a little extra.

• 2 years (+ 2 months free): For 2 years, customers can get CyberGhost VPN for $2.25 per month, which equals out to $58.5. This is incredible value for money, and one of the best prices on the market. This VPN plan provides you with savings and is fully refundable for 45 days.

CyberGhost often offers great deals with big savings on its website. There is an annual Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal; the 2020 offer was 39 months with 83% savings and is fully refundable. Throughout the year CyberGhost also has other sales on all of its subscriptions.

As mentioned, the longer VPN plans are fully refundable for 45 days. This refund policy is longer than the industry standard and means that customers can experience a free trial of the VPN service. It includes a ‘no-questions-asked’ policy, meaning users can cancel the plan without needing to explain.

Can I Buy CyberGhost with Bitcoin?

Cryptocurrency is a preferred method of payment for VPN customers. It is less traceable and offers more privacy for individuals when online. Luckily, CyberGhost is one VPN provider that accepts Bitcoin alongside more orthodox payment methods including credit card and PayPal.

If you’re worried about whether you’ll be eligible for a refund when paying with Bitcoin, you needn’t be. CyberGhost will refund all customers, regardless of their payment methods. If you’re a big cryptocurrency user, then CyberGhost is a great VPN to use.

Is CyberGhost Easy to Use?

User accessibility is an integral aspect of a VPN. CyberGhost has well-designed apps for the majority of operating systems, which are easy to navigate and simple to use. There are different PC and mobile apps all of which have a simple yet clean design.

If you’re a fan of ghosts, then you’ll enjoy CyberGhost’s cute mascot. Although this doesn’t make the app easier to use, it’s nice to see a touch of personalization when it comes to design.

In terms of installation, the process is simple and easy to follow. On the desktop and mobile apps, it’s straightforward to connect to a VPN surfer. There is a power button that users can toggle on and off at the top of the screen, which informs you whether you’re connected or not.

Underneath the on/off button, you can access a pulldown menu. From here you can select your preferred server. You’ll see the real-time performance of each server such as user load, distance, and speed, all of which can help you to choose the best one for you.

Alternatively, there is also the ‘best server location’ option, which will provide you with the best server recommendations based on proximity and speed. Customers can also add their preferred servers to a favorites section for quick connection.

Changing your protocols can affect both speed and security, so it’s good to see that you can easily change protocols in the app. There is a choice of OpenVPN, WireGuard (which is the default option for Linux), IKeV2 (the default protocol macOS and iOS), and L2TP/IpSec (for Windows client). All of these protocols are considered to be good, and we like the fact that customers can switch between them for the best VPN performance.

All in all, CyberGhost is easy to use and especially great for VPN newbies. Features like the kill switch and split tunneling are simple to use and CyberGhost has user-friendly desktop and mobile apps.

Is CyberGhost Fast?

On the CyberGhost website, there is information about CyberGhost’s investment in a global server network. This network ensures that the provider’s servers have the fastest speeds possible. What’s more, CyberGhost has a great number of servers in good locations, so that everyone can connect to a nearby server for faster speeds.

We ran a few speed tests to check whether this provider does in fact provide its customers with fast speeds. We found that there was a 10-20% decrease in both download and upload speeds which is not too bad at all. Our speeds were the slowest when we connected to Asian servers, but this is expected since there is a greater distance.

The use of protocols can also affect connection speeds. As well as offering people the option to use OpenVPN and WireGuard, the CyberGhost also has IKeV2 and L2TP. The latter two protocols are faster and will speed up your VPN connection, whereas the open-source protocols are better in terms of providing security and privacy.

Since there are many factors that can alter speed such as user load, distance, and whether you are torrenting or doing something that consumes a lot of data, it’s good that CyberGhost has a large server network. By connecting to the closest possible server, you can guarantee that you’ll have a faster connection.

Does CyberGhost work with iPhone?

CyberGhost has a long list of compatible operating systems. There are apps for iOS and Android phones, and Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop PC. On top of these, there is a Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox proxy browser extension.

If you want to access streaming sites via your TV then you can enjoy one of the many TV apps that CyberGhost offers. These include Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV, Smart TVs, and Apple TV.

Gamers who want to protect their in-play gaming can use CyberGhost with Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS4. Since each CyberGhost plan comes with 7 simultaneous connections, you can safely protect all of your devices. However, if you want to bypass this device limit then you can add CyberGhost VPN to your router. There is a guide on how to do this on CyberGhost’s website.

Does CyberGhost unblock Netflix?

If you want to use CyberGhost to access streaming services, then you can do so with no problem. As well as offering online privacy, internet security, and a host of other safety features, CyberGhost has dedicated streaming servers. These servers can help people to access foreign Netflix libraries and bypass geo-restrictions to watch blocked content.

We tested CyberGhost with several Netflix libraries and were pleased that it managed to sneak past Netflix’s strong VPN blocker. On the CyberGhost site, it lists servers and what streaming sites they can unblock. This is a great feature as it makes it easier for people to choose which server to connect to when they want to watch content in a specific country.

You can access foreign Netflix content via the desktop PC client, mobile apps, and proxy browser extensions. The split tunneling feature that is available across all platforms is especially useful, as you can choose to only use the VPN for streaming services.

We found that speed wasn’t an issue, and we had HD quality and buffer-free video when watching Netflix. However, it’s important to take into account things like user load, distance, and whether the server is for streaming or not, as this will affect the download speed.

Is CyberGhost VPN good for Gaming?

Although gamers are wary of VPNs, since they slow down speeds, when we ran CyberGhost VPN through several speed tests, we were pleasantly surprised. We got a consistently low ping, which is really the only thing that matters to gamers. A low ping means that your gameplay won’t lag, which means your reactions will register in real-time.

Since CyberGhost VPN protects all major consoles and has a dedicated PC app, it is a great VPN to get if you’re a big gamer. With servers all around the world, you’ll be able to access geo-blocked content and enjoy lower prices especially if other territories have sales on days like Black Friday. CyberGhost VPN will also give you more privacy during play, and hide your IP address, making you less vulnerable to DDoS attacks.

Does CyberGhost have good Customer Service?

We were impressed with CyberGhost’s customer service. Firstly, there is a Support and Help section on the VPN provider’s site, along with information about the company’s privacy policy. There is also a 24/7 live chat where customers can connect to a member of the customer support team and get detailed answers to any queries they may have.

As well as the live chat, there is a ticketed system in which customers can submit a request and wait for a response. Here, you can enter more detailed information. This feature is useful if you’ve exhausted all other help services offered by the company.

Does CyberGhost Work in China?

China is famous for its internet censorship and Great Firewall which prevents VPNs from functioning properly in its territory. Although VPNs are not illegal in China, a VPN provider needs a license to operate its service in the country.

CyberGhost has 12 virtual servers in China, which suggests that residents there can access content in other countries and have better online privacy. However, we’re unsure as to whether residents outside of China can visit Chinese websites and watch television shows that are only shown in China. China is constantly improving its firewall technology in a bid to keep VPNs out.

There are 84 CyberGhost virtual and physical servers in Hong Kong, which is a good sign. Since China has announced new censorship laws in Hong Kong, many VPN providers have pulled their services out of Hong Kong. We’re glad to see that CyberGhost, as of now, has not done so, although only time will tell if they decide to or not.

It seems as though there may be better providers on the market, such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN, that have better success at getting past the Chinese firewall and providing people with the opportunity to view Chinese content. However, if you’re traveling to China, then it seems as though CyberGhost will enable you to connect to VPN servers outside of China without any issue whatsoever.

Author Madeleine Hodson

I’m Madeleine, and I'm a writer that specializes in cybersecurity, tech products, and all things related to the internet. I have a keen interest in VPNs and believe that everyone deserves internet freedom and security. I wr...
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