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CyberGhost VPN Review (2024 Update): 9 Pros & 3 Cons

By Tibor Moes / January 2024 / Rating 5 of 5

CyberGhost VPN Review (2023 Update): 9 Pros & 3 Cons

CyberGhost VPN Review (2024)

CyberGhost is the best affordable VPN you can buy.

CyberGhost is ultra-fast, allows torrenting, works with all streaming services, and doesn’t track what you do online. Deloitte, one of the world’s top auditing firms, independently verified its no-log policy.

CyberGhost’s apps are highly intuitive and straightforward to use. So even if you’re new to the privacy industry, you’ll have no problem installing the software and protecting your digital privacy.

But most importantly, CyberGhost is very competitively priced. Although it misses some of NordVPN’s ultra-advanced features like Double VPN, CyberGhost is a fair bit cheaper and offers exceptional value for money.

We highly recommend CyberGhost. 

CyberGhost VPN Pros:

  • Excellent Value for Money. CyberGhost is the best affordable VPN you can buy. Few other VPNs offer similar value for money.
  • Works with all Streaming Services. CyberGhost works with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Apply TV, and more.
  • Allows Torrenting. CyberGhost allows torrenting on most of its servers and has dedicated P2P servers for extra high speeds while torrenting.
  • 7,000 Servers in 90 Countries. CyberGhost has physical servers in 53 countries and virtual servers in another 37 countries.
  • 7 Simultaneous Connections. Protect 7 devices at once, or install CyberGhost on your router to protect all your IoT devices.
  • No-Logs Policy. CyberGhost does not track what you do online. Deloitte, a leading accounting firm, has independently audited its privacy policy.
  • Intuitive and Easy to Use. CyberGhost’s design is intuitive and straightforward, allowing anyone to protect their online privacy.
  • Dedicated IP Address: As an optional extra, you can purchase a static IP address that is anonymous and exclusive to you.
  • Excellent Server Coverage in Africa: Many VPNs only have servers in South Africa. CyberGhost also has physical servers in Algeria and Kenya.

CyberGhost VPN Cons:

  • Doesn’t Work in China. CyberGhost doesn’t work in China because it lacks advanced obfuscation technology.
  • OpenVPN is Unavailable on Mac and iOS. CyberGhost only offers WireGuard and IKEv2 on Apple products.
  • Less Advanced than NordVPN: Although it is more expensive, NordVPN uses even more advanced technology, like Double VPN and RAM servers.

CyberGhost’s price varies by region. Click the button to see it in yours.

CyberGhost VPN Review (2024): Table of Contents

Click the links below to navigate this review.

Alternatively, you can skip this CyberGhost VPN review and head straight to our comparison of the best VPN of 2024.

CyberGhost VPN Specifications
Rating
5.0 ★★★★★
Streaming
Netflix, Amazon, Disney, Hulu, HBO, Apple, BBC, and more
Torrenting (P2P)
Torrenting Allowed
Logging
No Logs
Operating Systems
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux
Servers & Countries
7,000+ Servers in 90+ countries
Simultaneous Connections
7
Price for 1 Month
$ 12.99
Price for 1 Year
$ 47.64
Payment Method
Credit Card, Cryptocurrency, PayPal, AmazonPay, Direct Debit and more
Money-Back Guarantee
45 Days
Logging policy: Does CyberGhost VPN keep logs?

Logging policy: Does CyberGhost VPN keep logs?

No, CyberGhost does not keep logs of your online activities. Instead, it has a strict no-log policy, which means CyberGhost will never monitor your browsing history. Deloitte, one of the world’s top auditing firms, independently verified its no-log policy.

Why is logging important?

When you surf the web, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) can track your online activities and sell that data. However, your ISP can’t do that anymore when you use a VPN.

But when your data flows through the VPN servers, your VPN provider could spy on you as your ISP did. And some free VPN services do. 

That’s why reading your VPN service’s log and privacy policies is essential. For example, CyberGhost’s privacy policy clearly states what it tracks:

What does CyberGhost log?

  • Personal data: Name, address, email address, and billing method.
  • Non-personal data: Device, OS version, browser, language, resolution, and a few others. This data is anonymous and averaged across all users.

Personal and non-personal data are never connected. So CyberGhost knows, on average, what devices its users are using. But it doesn’t know what device you are using. Instead, it collects this data for web analytics and the improvement of its services.

What does CyberGhost not log?

  • Traffic data: Browsing history, traffic destination, web content, DNS queries, and search preferences.
  • Connection logs: IP address, connection timestamp, and session duration.
  • Payment information: Credit card information you submitted to its payment processors.

Note: Like other VPN providers, when you interact with CyberGhost’s website, it will collect your anonymized IP address and country. This is a standard part of web analytics; every VPN service does it. So it’s never connected to your online activities, and it’s nothing to worry about.

Is CyberGhost trustworthy?

Yes, we believe CyberGhost is trustworthy for two reasons:

Transparency reports

Every 3 months, CyberGhost publishes a report which states how often data requests are made to the company by the authorities. CyberGhost divides these requests into three groups:

  • Police requests (1%): Police departments or law enforcement agencies can request logs about an IP linked to an investigation or a case.
  • Malware activity flags (8%): Website owners or app developers complain about CyberGhost IPs being used for DDoS, botnets, scams, and spam.
  • DMCA complaints (91%): Law firms, that represent production companies, claim that copyrighted material was illegally shared via a CyberGhost IP.

However, as CyberGhost does not log what its users do online, these requests are pointless. After all, CyberGhost has no data to share.

But it shows the number of data requests being made: In 2021, CyberGhost received more than 264.000 DMCA complaints, more than double the number in 2020. A good reason to use a VPN service.

Independent audit

In 2022, CyberGhost underwent an independent audit by Deloitte, a major auditing firm, to review its no-logs policy. The goal was to investigate whether the privacy policy matched the server configurations.

The audit is available to CyberGhost users and confirms that the “server configurations align with the internal privacy policies and are not designed to identify users or pinpoint their activities.”

In short: Deloitte confirmed that CyberGhost does not track what you do online. You are anonymous when you use CyberGhost’s VPN service.

Ownership: Who owns CyberGhost VPN?

Ownership: Who owns CyberGhost VPN?

Kape Technologies owns CyberGhost. Kape is a security software provider from London that also owns ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, ZenMate, and Intego Antivirus. It is a publicly-traded company with more than 6.5 million subscribers across its products.

Why is ownership important?

Companies are registered in countries. And countries can have data retention laws or be part of surveillance alliances like the 5, 9, and 14 Eyes.

For instance, if a company is registered in the USA, it can get subpoenas by law enforcement agencies that order it to hand over its traffic data.

This is less likely to happen when a VPN provider is registered in a less scrutinizing country, like Romania. But it’s not a bulletproof solution.

Where is CyberGhost based?

CyberGhost was founded in Bucharest, Romania, in 2011. Today the company counts 70 people working from Romania and Germany. Most of the IT team is in Germany, while the rest of the team is found in Romania.

The company that operates the VPN, CyberGhost S.A., is still registered in Romania. As Romania has no mandatory data retention laws, it is an excellent jurisdiction for a VPN provider.

Who owns CyberGhost?

Kape Technologies acquired CyberGhost in March 2017. Kape is a software provider that also owns ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, ZenMate, and Intego. It’s a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange (ticker KAPE).

The company has a colorful history:

  • In 2012, Teddy Sagi, an Israeli businessman, acquired Crossrider. The company developed software development kits for browser extensions. Sadly, these were misused for ad injection by adware developers.
  • In 2014, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange.
  • In 2016, a new management team was appointed. The company stopped working on the software development kits to focus exclusively on digital privacy and security.
  • In 2017, the company acquired CyberGhost VPN.
  • In 2018, the company rebranded to Kape Technologies and acquired Intego, a famous antivirus program for Mac, and ZenMate, another VPN.
  • In 2019, the company acquired Private Internet Access, another VPN.
  • In 2021, the company acquired ExpressVPN, another VPN, and Webselenese, a company operating several large VPN review websites.

This consolidation is not uncommon:

The consolidation means that the privacy industry is growing up. That more money is involved, and the VPN services will continue to compete, innovate and improve. It’s good news for consumers.

And as a publicly-traded company with responsibilities to its shareholder, Kape must deliver on its privacy and security promises. So you can rest assured that they will do everything they can to defend your digital privacy. After all, their share price depends on it.

Security Features: Is CyberGhost VPN secure?

Security Features: Is CyberGhost VPN secure?

Yes, CyberGhost is highly secure. It uses the highest encryption standard (AES-256), excellent VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2), and offers a range of advanced protection features (kill switch, auto-connect, auto-launch, and split tunneling).

Servers – Where are CyberGhost’s servers located?

CyberGhost has more than 7.000 servers in over 90 countries.

In some countries, users can also select their VPN server on a city-level rather than just on a country-level. These are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA,

CyberGhost’s servers are spread across all continents. There are even physical VPN servers in Algeria, Kenya, and South Africa, giving African users solid server coverage compared to other VPN services.

  • 53 Countries have physical servers, meaning that the server is located within the country, giving you an actual local IP address.
  • 37 Countries have virtual servers, meaning that the server isn’t located within the country, giving you a virtual local IP address.

Virtual VPN servers are created because not every country has the local infrastructure to support physical servers. For instance, the Bahamas and Venezuela don’t have local server networks.

The advantage of a virtual server is that you can get a local IP address, which can help you access local websites, apps, and services. The disadvantage is that the actual server is located in a nearby country, lowering your download speed and increasing your ping.

Severs for streaming

Streaming services attempt to block IP addresses used by VPN services, and VPN services frequently update their IP addresses to unblock these streaming services. So there is a constant game of cat and mouse.

In their quest to unblock every streaming provider worldwide, CyberGhost has created specialized servers that unblock a single streaming service. These servers frequently update their IP addresses to evade the blocklist.

There are too many streaming servers to list, so we’ll highlight a few:

  • USA – Netflix
  • USA – Hulu
  • USA – Amazon Prime Video
  • USA – Disney+
  • USA – HBO Max
  • USA – Crunchyroll
  • USA – Comedy Central
  • USA – Fox
  • USA – NBC
  • USA – DAZN
  • Germany – Netflix
  • Germany – Amazon Prime Video
  • Germany – ARD
  • Germany – DAZN
  • Japan – Netflix
  • Japan – Amazon Prime Video
  • Japan – DAZN

The list goes on for a quite a long time. For instance, there are dedicated Netflix streaming servers in 16 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

It’s safe to say that CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for streaming.

Servers for torrenting

Servers in 82 countries are optimized for downloading torrents via peer-to-peer (P2P) networks at ultra-high speeds. The Windows and Mac apps list the servers that are optimized for torrenting.

Servers for gaming

Frankfurt, London, New York, and Paris also have servers optimized for gaming. These servers have low ping (some under 10 ms) to allow lag-free gaming. Only the Windows app shows these servers.

Servers with a dedicated IP address

Usually, when you use a VPN service, you share the server’s IP address with many other users. This can confuse websites and apps, leading you to see CAPTCHAs frequently. Also, when another user misbehaves, the IP address might be on a blocklist.

This is where a static IP address can help:

  • First, you will see fewer CAPTCHAs.
  • You will avoid blocklists.
  • You can add your dedicated IP address to a whitelist in closed networks.

As an optional extra, you can buy a dedicated IP address in a country of your choice. This is an anonymous and static IP address that only you will use.

The dedicated IP address will cost $ 2.50 per month extra with a two-year subscription. This is quite expensive, considering that the VPN service costs only $ 2.19 per month.

The available locations to register your dedicated IP address are Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA.

NoSpy servers

Very few VPN providers own all their VPN servers. Often, they rent servers in third-party data centers. This is risky, because the VPN provider does not fully control the hardware and security in these server parks.

Recently, a trend has started toward colocation. This means that VPN providers fully own and manage their own servers in third-party data centers. This is far more secure, as the VPN provider has end-to-end control. The data center only provides the space and electricity. But nothing else.

However, CyberGhost goes even one step beyond colocated servers. It has built a data center in its own headquarters in Romania. So these servers aren’t even located in a third-party data center. Everything is in-house.

Do keep in mind, CyberGhost’s NoSpy servers are a paid extra.

Kill switch

When you disconnect from the VPN or the VPN connection suddenly fails, the kill switch will disable your internet access. This feature protects your data and IP address from leaking onto the web outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. By default, the kill switch is turned on.

The feature is available on all operating systems. But it can only be turned on and off on Windows. It is always active on the others.

Prevent DNS leaks

Like a house has geographical coordinates that we simplify with an address, a website has an IP address that we simplify with a domain name. So, for instance, when you type in “softwarelab.org,” you’re taken to 165.227.148.211.

DNS servers handle this translation from domain to IP. And the owner of the DNS server, usually your ISP, can see every website the DNS servers look up. So it has a very accurate version of your browser history.

Luckily, CyberGhost uses its own DNS servers. This allows all your DNS queries to stay in the encrypted VPN tunnel and hidden from your ISP.

The feature is available on all operating systems. But it can only be turned on and off on Windows. It is always active on the others.

Block content (ad, tracking, and malware blocker)

CyberGhost’s ad, tracker, and malware blocker works via DNS. This means it can block websites, ads, and trackers on a DNS blocklist. Regular ads aren’t on a DNS blocklist. So the feature won’t stop all ads, as a traditional ad blocker might. It will only block the dangerous ones.

In our test, it blocked some pop-ups, but most ads (including video ads on YouTube) were still visible.

Automatically start CyberGhost

Under settings, you can choose to start CyberGhost automatically when you turn on your device.

Automatically connect to a VPN server after CyberGhosts starts

Under smart rules, you can choose to automatically create a VPN connection when CyberGhost starts. You can also select the server location to connect with.

Optionally, you can implement a short delay (in seconds) because not every system lets you directly create a VPN connection after starting.

Automatically launch an app after the VPN connection starts

You can choose an app that will automatically start after the VPN connection has been established. For instance, you can choose to launch Google Chrome in Incognito Mode or CyberGhost’s Private Browser.

So combining the three features above, you can automatically start and connect the VPN and open a private browser, when you start your PC.

Automatically connect to a VPN server when a specific app starts

You can instruct CyberGhost to create a connection to a VPN server when you launch a particular app. For instance, a P2P client or the Netflix app.

Set rules for when you create a Wi-Fi connection

You can set a range of instructions for CyberGhost to follow when you connect to a Wi-Fi network. These include:

  • Always start a VPN connection.
  • Never start a VPN connection.
  • Disconnect the VPN connection.
  • Ask you what to do.

You can create separate settings for secured (/ encrypted) and unsecured (/ unencrypted) Wi-Fi networks. That makes sense, because you might want different privacy settings on secured and unsecured networks.

The same choice is given on a network level. For instance, you can disconnect the VPN connection on your home Wi-Fi network while creating a VPN connection on the Wi-Fi network at work.

Split tunneling

On Windows, you can choose websites that bypass the encrypted VPN tunnel, allowing them to connect to the internet directly.

On Android, you can choose apps that bypass the encrypted VPN tunnel, allowing them to connect to the internet directly.

The advantage is that these websites and apps can see your actual IP address, which is necessary on some websites and networks.

Note: This feature is not available on Mac and iOS.

CyberGhost private browser

A secure Chromium-based web browser. The browser is compatible with all Chrome extensions, runs your searches through DuckDuckGo instead of Google, and deletes your browsing history when you close the app.

CyberGhost cookie cleaner for Chrome and Firefox

A browser extension for Google Chrome and Firefox that allows you to delete the browsing history, cookies, and cache for your current tab or the entire browser. You can clean the data from the last hour, the last 24 hours, the last 4 weeks, or of all time.

It’s a simple extension that some will find helpful. But the same functionality already exists in the browser itself. Chrome on Windows even has a fast key for it: Ctrl + Shift + Del.

HTTPS protection

There used to be a feature that forced HTTP websites to load in an HTTPS version, which is more secure. But this feature has been eliminated.

Tor compatibility

CyberGhost worked perfectly with the Tor browser (also known as The Onion Router) in our test.

Encryption

CyberGhost uses AES-256 encryption, which is the most secure version. At this time, there are no computers capable of breaking it.

Protocols

CyberGhost uses the following VPN protocols:

  • WireGuard: The newest and lightest VPN protocol. Some claim it’s the fastest, although we haven’t seen it outperform during our tests.
  • OpenVPN (UDP/TCP): One of the most used protocols, thanks to its open-source nature. It comes in UDP (faster) and TCP (more reliable) versions.
  • IKEv2: Some say it’s less secure. But it’s very good at re-establishing a VPN connection, making it ideal for switching between 4G and Wi-Fi.

On Windows, all protocols are available. On Mac and iOS, WireGuard and IKEv2 are available. And on Android, you can use OpenVPN and WireGuard.

Streaming test: Is CyberGhost good for streaming?

Streaming test: Is CyberGhost good for streaming?

CyberGhost VPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming. In contrast to most VPN services, it has dedicated streaming servers worldwide. These servers will constantly monitor and update their IP addresses to circumvent the blocklists by the streaming providers. 

Does CyberGhost VPN work with Netflix?

Yes, CyberGhost works with Netflix.

It has dedicated streaming servers for Netflix in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Does CyberGhost VPN work with Amazon Prime Video?

Yes, CyberGhost works with Amazon Prime Video.

It has dedicated streaming servers for Amazon Prime Video in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Does CyberGhost VPN work with Disney+?

Yes, CyberGhost works with Disney+.

It has dedicated streaming servers for Disney+ in Italy, India, and the United States.

Does CyberGhost VPN work with Hulu?

Yes, CyberGhost works with Hulu.

It has dedicated streaming servers for Hulu in the United States.

Does CyberGhost VPN work with HBO Max?

Yes, CyberGhost works with HBO Max.

It has dedicated streaming servers for HBO Max in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.

Does CyberGhost VPN work with Apple TV?

Yes, CyberGhost works with Apple TV.

But it doesn’t have dedicated streaming servers for Apple TV.

Speed test: How fast is CyberGhost VPN?

Speed test: How fast is CyberGhost VPN?

CyberGhost is a very fast VPN. In our test, the VPN only caused a 5% slowdown in our download speed when connected to the IKEv2 protocol on a local server. This is an excellent result and places CyberGhost among the fastest VPNs.

How do we run a speed test?

Unless you have a 1 Gbps (Gigabyte per second) internet connection, you’ll never be able to test the speed limits of a VPN service. This is because the connections to their server parks allow for far higher download speeds than the Wi-Fi network at your office or home does.

Instead, you can test the slowdown caused by routing your data through the encrypted VPN tunnel. And depending on the VPN technology and protocol used, this slowdown can be limited or severe. We have done exactly that from a WeWork in Cologne, Germany.

  • We tested our internet download speed 3 times on Fast.com and 3 times on SpeedTest.net. Then averaged the results to get our base speed.
  • We then connected to a local VPN server and repeated the test on every protocol: OpenVPN (UDP), OpenVPN (TCP), WireGuard, and IKEv2.

These are the results, ordered by download speed:

IKEv2

  • Download speed without a VPN connection: 88.7 Mbps
  • Download speed on a local VPN connection: 84.5 Mbps
  • Slowdown: 4.7%

WireGuard

  • Download speed without a VPN connection: 88.7 Mbps
  • Download speed on a local VPN connection: 74.0 Mbps
  • Slowdown: 16.5%

OpenVPN (UDP)

  • Download speed without a VPN connection: 88.7 Mbps
  • Download speed on a local VPN connection: 65.3 Mbps
  • Slowdown: 26.3%

OpenVPN (TCP)

  • Download speed without a VPN connection: 88.7 Mbps
  • Download speed on a local VPN connection: 64.3 Mbps
  • Slowdown: 27.4%

Conclusions of the CyberGhost VPN speed test

CyberGhost is very fast VPN. The results on the IKEv2 and WireGuard protocol were around the 5% to 15% range, which is what we expect from a fast VPN service. IKEv2 even outperformed our expectations.

OpenVPN (UDP) sadly underperformed our expectations. It is supposed to be a fair bit faster than OpenVPN (TCP), which focuses more on reliability. But in our test, the two performed very similarly.

That said, take speed tests with a grain of salt. Several temporary factors can influence their results, such as the server load. The most important conclusion is that CyberGhost is a high-speed VPN.

Leak test: How secure is CyberGhost VPN?

Leak test: How secure is CyberGhost VPN?

CyberGhost VPN is 100% secure, as it did not leak our IP address in any leak tests (IP, DNS, and WebRTC).

What is an IP leak?

When you surf the web via a secure VPN connection, the websites and apps you visit should see the VPN server’s IP address rather than your own. This is what makes you anonymous online. However, sometimes your originating IP address can be leaked.

This could happen because the VPN provider doesn’t use its own DNS servers or because of a WebRTC leak in your browser.

We tested for potential IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks via browserleaks.com. Our originating IP was from Cologne, Germany. And our VPN server was located in the Netherlands. So whenever the test results showed a Dutch IP address (see the image above), CyberGhost had no leaks.

These were the results:

IP leak test

CyberGhost did not leak our IP address in the IP leak test.

DNS leak test

CyberGhost did not leak our IP address in the DNS leak test.

WebRTC leak test

CyberGhost did not leak our IP address in the WebRTC leak test.

Price comparison: How much is CyberGhost VPN?

Price comparison: How much is CyberGhost VPN?

CyberGhost costs $ 2.19 per month in a two-year contract. This is significantly cheaper than NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and similar to Surfshark. This makes CyberGhost the best affordable VPN service you can buy. On pure value for money, only Surfshark can compete.

Price comparison

In the table below, you can compare the price of CyberGhost to that of its main competitors in a 1-year contract in USD. CyberGhost takes the prize as the most affordable VPN service.

The main competitor in its price range is Surfshark. And both offer even deeper discounts if you opt for a 2-year contract.

Payment methods

CyberGhost accepts many payment methods, including Credit Cards, Cryptocurrency, PayPal, AmazonPay, Direct Debit, and more.

CyberGhost
Surfshark
IPVanish
NordVPN
Hotspot Shield
ExpressVPN
For 1 Year
$47.64
$47.88
$47.89
$59.88
$95.88
$99.84
CyberGhost Security Suite Review (2023)

CyberGhost Security Suite Review (2024)

The CyberGhost Security Suite combines an antivirus program with two additional security features. These allow you to adjust the privacy settings in Windows and find apps that need updating. However, the antivirus software only works on Windows and is not good enough to compete with the best antivirus software, like Norton.

CyberGhost Security Suite

The security (antivirus) and privacy (VPN) industries are colliding. Many antivirus brands are adding VPN services. And many VPN services are adding antivirus software. The same is true for CyberGhost.

CyberGhost’s parent company, called Kape, also owns Intego Antivirus. Intego is primarily famous for its antivirus for Mac. But it also has an antivirus program for Windows PCs, which CyberGhost was allowed to use for its CyberGhost Security Suite.

When you buy the Security Suite, three additional modules will appear in the VPN app on Windows:

  • CyberGhost Antivirus
  • CyberGhost Privacy Guard
  • CyberGhost Security Updater

This total only costs $ 1 / month in a 2-year contract, which is an excellent deal. Most antivirus software are considerably more expensive. So what’s the catch? We’ll explore each module below.

CyberGhost Antivirus

CyberGhost’s antivirus software is based on Intego’s Antivirus for Windows, which uses Avira’s anti-malware engine. That might sound confusing, but it’s surprisingly common in the security industry. For instance, TotalAV has been using Avira’s anti-malware engine for years.

Luckily, CyberGhost does not hide the fact that Intego provides the antivirus software. When you install the antivirus module from within the VPN app, it will tell you that it’s “Installing Intego Antivirus.” We appreciate the transparency.

So how good is CyberGhost Antivirus? Well, it’s alright but not great. It includes a quick scan, complete scan, custom scan, and scheduled scan, but not much else. That makes it a very basic security solution, comparable to the free version of Avira Antivirus.

Also, keep in mind that CyberGhost’s antivirus software only protects Windows. Therefore, you won’t be able to install it on Mac, Android, or iOS. This is especially frustrating, as Intego has an excellent antivirus program for Mac.

CyberGhost Privacy Guard

Microsoft collects a lot of data on Windows users. Some of it is for commercial purposes, and others to keep Windows functioning and malware-free.

Within Windows, there are ways to turn this data collection off. But there is no simple and central way to do it. So instead, you’ll have to find each setting and opt out.

This is where CyberGhost Privacy Guard comes in. It offers you a single app where you can scrutinize 76 data-collection settings. Or, you can choose a pre-configured profile that will enable the app to adjust the data-collection settings on your behalf.

We think it’s a great feature, and thanks to it, we learned a great deal about Windows’ data-collecting habits. But be selective in what you turn off. Simply turning everything off could lead to some unpredictable results. After all, some of the data collection is done for legitimate purposes.

CyberGhost Security Updater

You have a lot of apps on your PC. And many of those apps are likely not up to date. That’s a problem. Because updates frequently include security patches. But how can you know which apps need updating?

This is what CyberGhost Security Updater solves. It shows you the apps that are out of data and points you to the location where you can download and install the update. In principle, it’s a great feature.

However, it’s not without its shortcomings. For example, you can’t update the apps from within the Security Updater. And the links pointing to the patch, often point in the wrong direction. For instance, the patches linked to are often the German ones (CyberGhost’s IT team is based in Germany).

So it’s a handy feature to look up which apps are out of date. But you’ll still need to find, download and install the patches yourself.

Conclusion

CyberGhost Security Suite is sold at a very competitive price. And the Privacy Guard and Security Updater are valuable features. But the antivirus software isn’t good enough to compete with the best antivirus for Windows 11.

We are big fans of CyberGhost VPN. But for our security, we’ll stick to Norton.

CyberGhost VPN for Windows review (2023)

CyberGhost VPN for Windows review (2024)

CyberGhost is one of the best affordable VPNs for Windows. It’s fast, secure, private, allows torrenting, and works with every streaming service. It’s a great VPN.

Design

CyberGhost’s design is functional and effective. We don’t think it can match the beauty of NordVPN’s world map. But both VPN services are equal when it comes to their intuitive interfaces.

You’ll understand the layout of CyberGhost within seconds and will be able to secure and optimize your privacy moments later.

Features

CyberGhost’s app for Windows is the most advanced one. We’ll list the various features below, with a short description. For more details on each, visit the “features” section of this review.

  • Servers in 90+ countries. 53 Countries have physical servers, and 37 countries have virtual servers.
  • Servers with dedicated IP addresses: Pay extra to receive a static IP address that is exclusive to you.
  • Servers optimized for gaming: High-speed servers with a low low ping for lag-free gaming.
  • Servers optimized for torrenting: High-speed servers for peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading.
  • Servers optimized for streaming: High-speed servers that regularly update their IP address to avoid being blocked.
  • Block content: Block DNS domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. This only blocks dangerous ads, not all ads.
  • Prevent DNS leaks: Use CyberGhost’s nameservers to stay safe from DNS leaks.
  • Automatic kill switch: Block your internet traffic when the VPN connection fails. 
  • Connect on launch: Automatically start a VPN connection when launching CyberGhost.
  • Delay connect on launch: Delay the automatic VPN connection by a few seconds, which is needed on some systems.
  • Launch an app: Automatically launch an app when a VPN connection is established.
  • Wi-Fi protection: Choose whether to automatically start a VPN connection when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network.
  • Exceptions (split tunneling): Choose websites that connect directly to the internet, rather than through the VPN tunnel.
  • App rules: Choose apps that automatically start a VPN connection when opened.

There are also a few extra settings hidden in the menu:

  • App launch: Automatically launch CyberGhost when you turn on your device.
  • VPN protocol: Choose whether to use WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 or whether to let CyberGhost decide.
  • MTU size: Decrease the maximum transmission unit (MTU) to reduce the network delay, which often solves speed issues.
  • Use TCP instead of UDP: When using the OpenVPN protocol, the TCP version increases reliability at the cost of speed.
  • Use a random port to connect: Automatically test a wide range of ports on OpenVPN, to avoid restrictions on some public Wi-Fi networks.
  • Disable IPv6 connections on the VPN: Disable all income and outgoing IPv6 connections, that aren’t routed over the VPN.

We believe that CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for Windows.

CyberGhost VPN for Mac review (2023)

CyberGhost VPN for Mac review (2024)

CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for Mac. Although it misses the OpenVPN protocol and Split Tunnel feature, which are both available on Windows, it is an excellent VPN service. It’s fast, secure, private, allows torrenting, and works with every streaming service.

Design

As on Windows, CyberGhost’s design for Mac is functional and effective. We prefer the world map view from NordVPN for its looks. But CyberGhost’s interface is just as intuitive and easy to use. So we really can’t fault the design.

Features

CyberGhost for Mac has fewer features than its brother for Windows. But it’s still a very complete VPN service. We’ll list the various features below, with a short description. For more details on each, visit this review’s “features” section.

  • Servers in 90+ countries. 53 Countries have physical servers, and 37 countries have virtual servers.
  • Servers with dedicated IP addresses: Pay extra to receive a static IP address exclusive to you.
  • Servers optimized for torrenting: High-speed servers for peer-to-peer (P2P) downloading.
  • Servers optimized for streaming: High-speed servers regularly update their IP address to avoid being blocked.
  • Block content: Block DNS domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. This only blocks dangerous ads, not all ads.
  • Auto-connect on startup: Automatically start a VPN connection when launching CyberGhost.
  • Auto app launch: Automatically launch an app when a VPN connection is established.
  • Wi-Fi rules: Choose whether to automatically start a VPN connection when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network.
  • Automatic kill switch: Block your internet traffic when the VPN connection fails. On Mac, you can’t turn this feature off.

There are also a few extra settings hidden in the menu:

  • Run at startup: Automatically launch CyberGhost when you turn on your device.
  • VPN protocol: Choose whether to use WireGuard, IKEv2 or whether to let CyberGhost decide. OpenVPN is not available on Mac.
  • MTU size: Decrease the maximum transmission unit (MTU) to reduce the network delay, which often solves speed issues.

Not available on Mac

CyberGhost for Mac doesn’t feature the split tunnel and OpenVPN protocol.

Still, we believe that CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for Mac.

CyberGhost VPN for Android review (2023)

CyberGhost VPN for Android review (2024)

CyberGhost for Android is excellent. Its design is intuitive and functional, and it’s surprisingly advanced for a mobile VPN. Amongst others, it includes access to the streaming servers, static IP address, split tunnel, kill switch, and automated Wi-Fi protection rules. It’s a great VPN.

Design

CyberGhost for Android is both beautiful and intuitive. Even the most novice users can secure their connection within seconds. On the main dashboard, you’ll only find three options:

  • Start the VPN connection
  • Select a VPN server
  • Customize the VPN connection in the settings

To keep things simple, the advanced features are located in the settings.

Features

CyberGhost for Android is a very complete VPN app. We’ll list the features below with a short description. For more details on each, visit this review’s “features” section.

  • Servers in 90+ countries. 53 Countries have physical servers, and 37 countries have virtual servers.
  • Servers optimized for streaming: High-speed servers that regularly update their IP address to avoid being blocked.
  • Favorite servers: See a list of the servers that you marked as your favorites, which can be standard, streaming, and dedicated IP servers.

To keep the mobile apps as uncluttered as possible, CyberGhost has hidden most features in the settings menu:

  • Connection checker: Let CyberGhost analyze your internet connection and check whether it can connect to the VPN servers.
  • Dedicated IP: If you bought the optional dedicated IP token, you can add it here to browse via your static IP address.
  • VPN protocol: Choose whether to use OpenVPN, WireGuard or whether to let CyberGhost decide.
  • Use a random port: Automatically test a wide range of ports on OpenVPN to avoid restrictions on some public Wi-Fi networks.
  • Content blocker: Block DNS domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. This is similar to an online antivirus scanner.
  • App split tunnel: Choose apps that connect directly to the internet rather than through the VPN tunnel.
  • Wi-Fi protection: Choose whether to start a VPN connection automatically when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network.
  • Automatic kill switch: Block your internet traffic when the VPN connection fails. On Android, you can’t turn this feature off.

We believe that the CyberGhost app is one of the best VPNs for Android.

CyberGhost VPN for iOS review (2023)

CyberGhost VPN for iOS review (2024)

CyberGhost for iOS is a straightforward app. It has fewer features than the other apps, but the key elements are present: Access to the streaming servers, static IP address, kill switch, and automated Wi-Fi protection rules. As a result, it’s a solid VPN.

Design

CyberGhost for iOS is both beautiful and intuitive. Even the most novice users can secure their connection within seconds. On the main dashboard, you’ll only find three options:

  • Start the VPN connection
  • Select a VPN server
  • Customize the VPN connection in the settings

To keep things simple, the advanced features are located in the settings.

Features

CyberGhost for iOS is far less feature-rich than the Windows, Mac, and Android apps. But that is pretty standard among security and privacy products. We’ll list the features below with a short description. For more details on each, visit this review’s “features” section.

  • Servers in 90+ countries. 53 Countries have physical servers, and 37 countries have virtual servers.
  • Servers optimized for streaming: High-speed servers regularly update their IP address to avoid being blocked.
  • Favorite servers: See a list of the servers that you marked as your favorites, which can be standard, streaming, and dedicated IP servers.

To keep the mobile apps as uncluttered as possible, CyberGhost has hidden most features in the settings menu:

  • VPN protocol: Choose whether to use WireGuard, IKEv2 or whether to let CyberGhost decide.
  • Dedicated IP: If you bought the optional dedicated IP token, you can add it here to browse via your static IP address.
  • Connection checker: Let CyberGhost analyze your internet connection and whether it can connect to the VPN servers.
  • MTU size: Decrease the maximum transmission unit (MTU) to reduce the network delay, which often solves speed issues.
  • Wi-Fi auto-protect: Choose whether to automatically start a VPN connection when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network.
  • Automatic kill switch: Block your internet traffic when the VPN connection fails. On iOS, you can’t turn this feature off.

We believe that the CyberGhost VPN app is one of the best VPNs for iOS.

CyberGhost VPN on other devices

CyberGhost supports a wide range of devices. It has an app for Linux, free browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, an app for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV, Smart DNS settings for smart TVs and game consoles, and can even be installed on your router.

CyberGhost VPN for Linux

From the download hub in your CyberGhost account, you can download the app for Linux. Before downloading, you’ll be requested to select your distribution. The following ones are supported: Ubuntu (16.04, 18.04, 20.04), Fedora (29, 30, 31, 32), Mint 20, CentOS 7, PopOS and Kali.

CyberGhost VPN’s browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox

If you only want to protect the traffic that flows through your web browser, CyberGhost’s free browser extensions are a great solution.

Although they don’t have a kill switch and can only access 8 servers in 4 countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and the United States), they are completely free. So you don’t even need a subscription to use them.

But keep in mind that they function like proxy servers. They protect the traffic that flows through your browser but nothing else. The other apps on your device access the web outside the VPN tunnel. So they are unencrypted, and your originating IP address is visible.

Therefore, browser extensions are not a good solution for people downloading torrents, which is done via separate apps.

CyberGhost VPN for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV

CyberGhost has built a dedicated app for Android TV and Amazon Fire TV. It looks and works like a basic version of the regular VPN app and serves its purpose perfectly.

CyberGhost VPN for other smart TVs, Playstation and Xbox

On other smart TVs and game consoles, for which CyberGhost doesn’t have an app, you can use the Smart DNS feature. This won’t encrypt your internet traffic, but it can unblock streaming services abroad.

The setup is simple: Log into your CyberGhost account online, select the DNS number for the streaming service you want to unlock, and copy it into your device. That’s all.

CyberGhost offers Smart DNS numbers in Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. So you will be able to watch Netflix shows from those countries.

CyberGhost VPN for Routers

The easiest way to protect all your IoT devices in your home or business is to install CyberGhost on your router. The easiest way to do this is by buying a router from FlashRouters, which comes pre-configured.

Alternatively, you can also attempt to configure your own router. Luckily, CyberGhost has extensive guides on how to install the VPN on a router.

CyberGhost VPN customer support

CyberGhost uses ZenDesk to provide 24/7 email and chat support. You can connect to their support team in the bottom right corner of your screen at my.cyberghostvpn.com. The support team is friendly and knowledgeable and should have no problem resolving any issues you might encounter.

CyberGhost VPN TrustPilot reviews

There are more than 15.000 reviews about CyberGhost on TrustPilot. The average rating of these reviews is an impressive 4.6 out of 5.0.

Among the positive CyberGhost reviews on TrustPilot, you’ll read about:

  • The fast and reliable download speeds.
  • The trust in the no logging policy.
  • The friendly and effective customer support team.
  • The easy installation process.

Among the negative CyberGhost reviews on TrustPilot, you’ll read about:

  • The slow download speeds.
  • The poor streaming of Formula 1.

Overall, most CyberGhost users seem to have had a great experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions about CyberGhost VPN.

What is CyberGhost VPN?

CyberGhost VPN is one of the leading VPN providers. It helps users restore their online privacy and security with easy-to-use and beautifully-designed apps.

Is CyberGhost VPN free?

CyberGhost VPN is not for free. It is a paid VPN service that starts at $ 2.19 per month if you sign-up for a two-year contract.

Is CyberGhost VPN safe?

CyberGhost VPN is incredibly safe. It uses excellent privacy technology, like AES-256 encryption and the OpenVPN protocol, and regularly goes through independent security audits.

Is CyberGhost VPN worth it?

Yes, CyberGhost VPN is worth it. Compared to its premium rivals, like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, it’s significantly cheaper while offering the same protection.

How to use CyberGhost VPN?

CyberGhost VPN is very simple to use. Pay for the service, download the app, and click connect. That is all it takes to restore your privacy online.

How does CyberGhost VPN work?

CyberGhost VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address, which makes you anonymous online. It does this by routing your data through a VPN server before it reaches the web.

On how many devices can you install CyberGhost VPN?

You can install CyberGhost VPN on 7 devices at the same time. And if you install CyberGhost on your router, you can protect an unlimited number of devices as long as they access the internet via the router.

How much is CyberGhost VPN per month?

CyberGhost VPN costs $ 2.19 per month in a two-year contract, $ 6.99 per month in a 6-months contract, and $ 12.99 per month in a one-month contract.

Does CyberGhost VPN slow down internet speed?

Yes. Like every VPN, CyberGhost slows down your internet speed. However, when we connected to a local server via the IKEv2 protocol, that slowdown was less than 5%.

Does CyberGhost VPN sell your data?

No, CyberGhost VPN does not track what you do online. Therefore, it also has no data to sell.

Author: Tibor Moes

Author: Tibor Moes

Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab

Tibor has tested 39 antivirus programs and 30 VPN services, and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.

He uses Norton to protect his devices, CyberGhost for his privacy, and Dashlane for his passwords.

You can find him on LinkedIn or contact him here.