CyberGhost vs NordVPN
CyberGhost and NordVPN are highly popular VPN providers that flaunt great capacity, features, and ease of use. Both are excellent for unblocking streaming services such as Netflix, and both are able to deal with exhaustive censorship, but which one takes the edge? We’re about to find out, so stick around.
Last updated 1st October 2023
NordVPN has the edge in most areas on CyberGhost, namely speed, torrenting, gaming and security – which is why Nord is one of the most trusted and popular VPNs on the market.
Don’t completely rule out CyberGhost, they have a stand out money-back guarantee and performs well in all areas, particularly streaming.
Features Comparison
NordVPN |
CyberGhost |
|
| Servers | 5600+ | 6000+ |
| Encryption | AES-256 with 4096-bit DH key |
AES-256 with 4096-bit RSA key
|
| Devices | 6 | 7 |
|
Average Server Speed
|
115 Mbps | 65 Mbps |
| Netflix Support | Yes | Yes |
|
Torrenting Support
|
Yes | Yes |
|
Customer Service
|
24/7 live chat and email |
24/7 phone, live chat and email
|
| Free Trial | No | 1 day |
| Pricing | Starts at $3.71/month |
Starts at $2.25/month
|
|
Money Back Guarantee
|
30 days | 45 days |
CyberGhost vs NordVPN - Full Comparison
Speed
We decided to go a different and more-detailed route when carrying out our speed tests. To test the connection speeds of CyberGhost and NordVPN, we used to Speedtest.net whilst utilizing a virtual server using Gigabit Ethernet. Note that our tests are based in North America.
Both services were able to maintain good connections, but NordVPN had the edge with its US servers. On UK servers, both services averaged around the same connection speeds, ranging from 60-79 Mbps on a 75 Mbps connection.
In fact, when comparing their speeds side by side, NordVPN offered consistently better speeds. In our tests we saw NordVPN dropping just 8% download speed when connected whereas Cyberghost dropped 20.7% – not a huge difference, but potentially enough to affect your streaming if you’re downloading at the same time.
Why are NordVPN’s U.S servers so much faster than CyberGhost? Well, because NordPN has support for WireGuard, which is a protocol that enables NordVPN to utilize advanced encryption algorithms at very high speeds. The protocol is adopted by NordVPN by the name of NordLynx.
CyberGhost, on the other hand, doesn’t support the WireGuard protocol. It’s also worth noting that during our tests, the majority of CyberGhost U.S servers were overloaded, which could be why it wasn’t faster than NordVPN.
Servers
The more servers your VPN can offer, the better from the user’s perspective as it allows you to find fast, stable connections more easily.
While NordVPN has traditionally been the market leader in this area, recent improvements to their product mean that Cyberghost now scores very highly with regard to the number of servers it offers.
Boasting 6,300 servers spanning 90 countries, Cyberghost significantly outperforms its rival – NordVPN has around 5,500 servers in 59 countries.
Cyberghost’s strategy of providing a sizeable number of servers in as many places as possible means you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to region-specific content, potentially allowing you to enjoy a much wider range of shows from around the world.
Features
NordVPN’s superb reputation is built on its excellent security features, and the use of 256-bit AES encryption and 4096-bit RSA keys ensures that if privacy is your priority, it won’t let you down.
Cyberghost uses the same technology, but with a few minor issues that let it down.
For example, while NordVPN allows the user to set up automatic network protection as soon as you connect to a wireless network, Cyberghost only provides this features when connecting to networks you have used before – which could be a problem if you’re connecting via a public Wi-Fi service in a new place.
However, in other areas Cyberghost has the edge over NordVPN, offering customizable kill switch protection across both desktop and mobile versions. The kill switch feature protects your privacy by stopping your internet connection completely when you get disconnected from the VPN server, but Cyberghost allows you to set ‘safe’ applications that can continue sending data when the VPN server disconnects on both their desktop and mobile versions, whereas NordVPN only offers this on their desktop version.
The variety of unique features offered by each product makes it difficult to pick a clear winner, but NordVPN’s slightly stronger security settings give it a narrow victory.
Streaming
Many streaming services are only available in certain parts of the world, which is where services like CyberGhost and NordVPN come in handy. NordVPN is able to unblock numerous streaming services around the world, including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, iPlayer, HBO, and more.
CyberGhost is also able to unlock numerous streaming services, from Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN+ to Amazon Prime Video, HBO, and YouTube. Not only that, but it also features servers that are specially optimized for streaming, offering users one-click access to popular streaming sites. In addition, CyberGhost filters its servers based on their support for streaming services.
It is worth bearing in mind that NordVPN’s obfuscation technology allows you to view Chinese content where Cyberghost (and many other VPNs) does not. The famed ‘Great Firewall’ of China heavily protects the country’s content, and NordVPN is almost unique in its ability to offer access.
Cyberghost probably just has the better offering here, but if you need access to Chinese content then NordVPN is the better bet.
Torrenting
Some ISPs have a strict policy against P2P activity, but with the aid of a capable VPN, you can engage in P2P file-sharing without any problems, as it’ll help mask your activities from your ISP and other third parties.
Both NordVPN and CyberGhost support P2P activity. However, NordVPN offers full P2P support in around 46 countries, whereas CyberGhost’s P2P support is limited to 30 countries. The good thing about CyberGhost, however, is that it shows the countries where P2P activity is supported.
Ultimately, the speeds that NordVPN is capable of maintaining make it the superior product if you use torrenting software on a regular basis.
Gaming
The increasing data usage of modern games makes internet speed a key consideration, and some users have found that their ISP ‘chokes’ their bandwidth during peak hours, preventing them from reaching top download speeds – which can make playing new games a frustrating, lag-filled experience.
So speed and security are two vital factors that all gamers should take into consideration when in search of a suitable VPN service. We’ve already established that NordVPN is the faster of the two, but what about security?
Well, NordVPN flaunts support for IKev2/IPsec, AES-256 encryption, and various other security measures. It also features a kill switch that helps keep sensitive information protected when the VPN disconnects.
CyberGhost also features AES-256 encryption as well as an automatic kill switch. However, we are leaning more towards NordVPN in terms of security because it features special servers that are DDoS-protected, so no need to worry about competitors ruining the gaming experience with a DDoS attack. Also, NordVPN enables you to have a static IP at an additional fee.
Free Trial
NordVPN’s month-long trial is generous by modern standards, allowing you plenty of time to understand how it works and explore the various features it has to offer.
Cyberghost has stopped its 7-day trial and replaced it with a no-quibble money-back guarantee that applies for 14 days if you have a monthly subscription, and 45 days for subscriptions of six months or longer – so you can potentially enjoy a longer trial period, but if you choose not to continue it, you need to cancel it yourself.
Subscription Plans
NordVPN sets you back $11.95 if you opt for a monthly plan, whereas CyberGhost will cost you $12.99 per month. If you opt for the 6-month plan, NordVPN will set you back $9.00 per month, whereas CyberGhost will set you back $7.99.
NordVPN’s longest plan is the 2-year plan, which costs you $3.71 per month. CyberGhost, on the other hand, has an 18-month plan that sets you back $2.75. Both services are pretty close when it comes to pricing, so we’ll call it a tie.
One thing that could help you decide which service to go for is the money-back guarantee. With NordVPN, you get a 30-day guarantee, whereas with CyberGhost, you get a 45-day guarantee.
Number of Devices
NordVPN provides security for up to six simultaneous connections. Cyberghost allows you to connect up to seven.
Pros & Cons of CyberGhost
Pros
- Good and stable connection speeds
- Excellent pricing for long-term plans
- Lots of protocols and encryptions
- Flaunts multi-platform support
- Accepts cryptocurrency payments
Cons
- Doesn’t offer the best anonymity
Pros & Cons of NordVPN
Pros
- World-class security and privacy
- Offer super fast and consistent connections
- Features an expansive network
- Flaunts an automatic kill switch
- Accepts cryptocurrency payments
Cons
- OpenVPN configuration is difficult
Verdict
Wow. These two really run a close race in terms of their offerings.
There are some unique, quirky features that might be essential for you – like being able to connect to China for example – but otherwise Nordvpn and Cyberghost are neck and neck.
Although Cyberghost’s superior ability to unblock region-specific content makes it a worthy contender, an array of security features and faster speeds mean that NordVPN is the better product overall.
However, each of these VPNs have their own unique benefits, so it’s important that you read through what each has to offer before making your decision.
