CyberGhost VPN Review (2026): Is it the right choice?

CyberGhost VPN Review

Perfect privacy and solid streaming, at a fair price. CyberGhost offers fast download speeds and a large server network. If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly VPN, CyberGhost is one of the VPNs out there.

• Privacy: 100%. CyberGhost’s clear no-logs policy and security features ensure complete online privacy.
• Streaming: 100%. CyberGhost offered reliable streaming at Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Prime, Max, and BBC iPlayer in our tests.
• Speed: 100%. CyberGhost’s download speeds are excellent, making it perfect for streaming and gaming.
• Security: 100%. CyberGhost offers top-tier encryption, protocols, a kill switch, split tunneling, and more.

CyberGhost is great, but NordVPN is the most advanced VPN.

Privacy

When we tested CyberGhost, we found it to be one of the most privacy-conscious VPNs available today. The service operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not record or store users’ IP addresses, browsing history, DNS queries, VPN server IPs, or individual bandwidth usage. This ensures that no identifiable data can be traced back to any user activity.

Data Collection

CyberGhost’s data collection is intentionally minimal and limited to anonymized and aggregated metrics. The company gathers only information such as the number of connection attempts, app version statistics, the date of the last successful connection, device type, and basic account data — all used solely for service optimization. Importantly, all collected information is non-identifiable and serves only statistical and technical purposes.

RAM Servers

The VPN’s entire infrastructure runs on diskless, RAM-only servers, which automatically wipe all data with every reboot. This design eliminates the possibility of physical data seizure or unauthorized access, significantly enhancing user privacy. In addition, CyberGhost publishes quarterly transparency reports detailing all government and legal data requests — consistently demonstrating its inability to comply due to the absence of identifiable user data.

Audits

CyberGhost’s no-logs policy and internal systems have been independently audited. Deloitte conducted audits in 2022 and 2024, confirming the provider’s adherence to its no-logs claims and verifying its incident management and token-based dedicated IP systems. Since 2012, QSCERT has also performed annual audits of CyberGhost’s Information Safety Management System, maintaining its ISO certification.

Dedicated IP

The token-based dedicated IP system is another standout feature, ensuring that no dedicated IP address can ever be linked back to a user account. CyberGhost also maintains a bug bounty program to encourage ethical hackers to identify and report vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Romania

The company is headquartered in Romania, a jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eyes surveillance alliances and free from EU data retention laws — making it an ideal base for privacy-focused operations. For additional anonymity, CyberGhost supports cryptocurrency payments and the use of burner email addresses.

However, transparency has its limits. While CyberGhost publishes summaries of its Deloitte audits, it does not release full audit reports or specify the nature of legal requests received.

History

In terms of security history, CyberGhost has shown consistent accountability. In 2016, it addressed privacy concerns in its free Android app by discontinuing the free version altogether. A 2018 Typeform incident led to limited exposure of non-sensitive data such as emails and usernames, while a 2024 breach involving 83,600 credentials was confirmed to be caused by external malware, not a failure of CyberGhost’s own systems.

Founded in 2011 and acquired by Crossrider (now Kape Technologies) in 2017, CyberGhost benefits from Kape’s privacy-focused transformation. Once an ad-tech firm, Kape has since rebranded and invested heavily in privacy infrastructure, independent audits, and RAM-only server deployments.

Conclusion

Overall, CyberGhost has built a strong reputation for privacy protection and transparency. Its consistent audit history, privacy-friendly jurisdiction, and proven no-logs practices make it a trustworthy choice.

For users who prioritize absolute minimal data handling, Private Internet Access (PIA) — another Kape-owned VPN — may offer an even stricter approach. But for most privacy-focused users, CyberGhost strikes an excellent balance between anonymity, usability, and transparency.

Streaming

CyberGhost is a strong contender for streaming enthusiasts, offering reliable access to a variety of platforms and regions. One of its standout features is its ability to unblock an impressive 10 Netflix libraries, including those in the US, UK, Canada, France, and Germany.

Additionally, CyberGhost boasts dedicated streaming servers optimized for platforms in regions such as Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, and Poland.

A major highlight is the inclusion of its Smart DNS feature, which bypasses geo-restrictions on multiple platforms, extending its usability beyond just US-based services. CyberGhost also excels with British streaming platforms, delivering consistent performance with BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, ITVX, and the UK Netflix library.

However, CyberGhost is not without its shortcomings. It is unable to access DAZN, which is a notable limitation for sports fans. While the VPN generally offers fast speeds, users may experience occasional inconsistencies depending on server load and their distance from the server.

Overall, CyberGhost is a dependable choice for streaming, with robust coverage across Netflix and other major platforms. That said, users prioritizing maximum streaming compatibility or consistently faster speeds might find NordVPN or Surfshark to be more suitable alternatives.

Speed

CyberGhost offers excellent speeds on local servers, with only a minimal 6% drop compared to base speeds—ideal for most online activities. However, performance declines on long-distance connections, with speeds dropping by up to 19%, impacting activities like streaming and gaming in faraway regions.

Performance Overview:

• Local Speeds: Average download of 94Mbps, virtually indistinguishable from a standard connection. Browsing and streaming remained smooth with no noticeable delays.
• International Speeds: Average download of 80Mbps, but connections to distant servers (e.g., Europe, Asia, Australia) showed reduced speeds, slower loading times, and occasional buffering in Full HD streams.

Key Metrics Across Servers:

• Best Performance: Local servers (e.g., New York or Toronto) with negligible speed loss and low latency.
• Challenging Connections: Far-off locations like South Africa and Australia, where download speeds dropped to 60Mbps and 80Mbps, respectively, with higher latency.

Compared to top-tier competitors like NordVPN, CyberGhost falls behind, particularly in international performance. While suitable for casual users on nearby servers, heavy users or those needing reliable speeds globally may find better options elsewhere.

Security

When it comes to security, CyberGhost delivers a robust yet straightforward protection package that performed reliably throughout our tests.

Encryption

CyberGhost uses AES-256-bit encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy, ensuring that every VPN session generates a unique encryption key. This means that even if one session key were compromised, past and future sessions would remain secure. Depending on the protocol, CyberGhost employs either AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption ciphers, both considered industry standards for top-tier security.

Protocols

We tested all three supported VPN protocols — WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), and IKEv2 — across multiple devices and servers worldwide. Regardless of the configuration, CyberGhost successfully prevented DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks, maintaining our anonymity throughout browsing, streaming, and torrenting sessions. We confirmed this through dedicated leak tests and Wireshark packet analysis, which verified that all internet traffic was indeed encrypted.

Kill Switch

CyberGhost includes an automatic kill switch that prevents data from leaking if the VPN connection drops. It runs continuously on macOS and mobile apps, though in our tests, it failed to hide our real IP address when switching servers, which slightly diminishes its reliability in edge cases.

Wi-Fi Rules

Its Wi-Fi Protection feature automatically activates the VPN when connecting to unsecured or public networks — a practical safeguard for frequent travelers or remote workers. On Windows and Android, Smart Rules let users automate VPN behavior per app or network, such as launching specific apps or connecting automatically when joining new networks.

Security Suite

CyberGhost’s Security Suite for Windows, powered by Intego, adds an antivirus and firewall for all-around protection. The Block Content feature further enhances security by blocking known malware and tracking domains, though it doesn’t filter out ads. Windows users also get Privacy Guard, which helps disable Microsoft’s data collection and personalized advertising.

Privacy Features

Beyond device-level protection, CyberGhost includes several privacy-focused tools. The Private Browser combines Chrome compatibility with DuckDuckGo’s privacy enhancements, while the Secret Photo Vault on iOS encrypts photos and videos, featuring break-in detection and a decoy password for added security. Its Identity Guard monitors up to two email addresses for breaches and sends instant alerts if your credentials appear in leaked databases.

Conclusion

Overall, CyberGhost provides strong, reliable security with a wide range of practical features and proven encryption standards. While it lacks advanced transparency and next-generation protections, its comprehensive safeguards and successful independent audit make it a trustworthy option for everyday privacy protection.

Servers

When we tested CyberGhost, we found it offers physical servers in 50 countries and a total server network, including virtual locations, spanning 90 countries. This gives users solid global coverage, though it’s slightly below the top 10 VPN brands’ average total server country count of 93.

It’s worth noting that only five of the top 10 VPN brands publicly disclose their physical server counts, so CyberGhost’s transparency in this area is commendable.

Physical servers are real, hardware-based machines located in specific countries. In contrast, virtual servers are software-defined, meaning they may appear to be in one country but are physically located elsewhere. Virtual servers can improve speed and availability, but they sometimes raise privacy concerns because traffic may pass through jurisdictions different from the one advertised.

CyberGhost’s network offers multiple specialized server categories, each designed for different use cases:

• Streaming Servers: Optimized for fast, reliable access to popular streaming platforms like Netflix (US, Germany, France), BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Crunchyroll, and Hulu. In our tests, these servers consistently delivered smooth playback with minimal buffering.
• Anonymity Servers: Built for users seeking comprehensive privacy, routing traffic through secure infrastructure to minimize tracking and fingerprinting.
• Downloading Servers: Dedicated to fast and secure downloads, ideal for torrenting and large file transfers, with consistent speeds and strong encryption during our trials.

Overall, CyberGhost offers a versatile and transparent server network, with a balance of specialized performance and privacy-oriented configurations that cater to different user needs.

Prices

CyberGhost does not offer a one-year plan, but its two-year subscription remains one of the most affordable among the top VPNs. The two-year plan costs $56.94, and after the initial term, it renews at $56.94 per year.

When compared to the competition, CyberGhost’s pricing is quite appealing. The average first-year price across the top 10 VPNs is $53.47, while the average renewal price jumps to $102.85. CyberGhost’s renewal rate makes it an excellent choice for users looking to avoid steep price increases.

For budget-conscious users, we recommend considering Norton, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost, Bitdefender, TotalVPN, and Avast, all of which deliver solid value. On the other hand, Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN sit at the premium end of the market, offering additional features but at a higher cost.

CyberGhost strikes a sweet spot between affordability and performance, particularly for long-term users who appreciate predictable renewal pricing.

User reviews

To assess user satisfaction, we analyzed Trustpilot scores across the top VPN brands. CyberGhost holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.0 from over 23,500 reviews—a strong showing close to the top 10 VPN average of 4.1 based on around 22,000 reviews.

This volume of feedback reflects CyberGhost’s large user base and overall positive reputation. Most users praise its ease of use, streaming performance, and reliability. Negative reviews typically mention occasional connection issues or customer support delays, though these experiences are relatively rare.

In our own testing, CyberGhost proved stable and intuitive, aligning with the general sentiment found online. While a few competitors have slightly higher ratings, CyberGhost remains one of the most well-reviewed and trusted VPNs in its price category.

Ownership

CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, a London-based security software provider with ties to Israel. Kape also owns ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, ZenMate, and Intego Antivirus, with over 7 million paying subscribers across its products.

Kape Technologies

Kape Technologies acquired CyberGhost in March 2017.

Kape’s history is notable:

• 2012: Teddy Sagi, an Israeli entrepreneur, acquired Crossrider, a browser extension development company later associated with adware.
• 2014: Crossrider went public on the London Stock Exchange.
• 2016: New management pivoted to privacy and security.
• 2017-2021: Kape acquired CyberGhost VPN, Intego, ZenMate, Private Internet Access, and ExpressVPN.
• 2023: Kape delisted from the London Stock Exchange and became private.

Some worry that Kape is largely a financial holding company, focusing on subscriber growth, while limiting the R&D spend in its companies.