CyberGhost vs NordVPN in 2023

When it comes to choosing between CyberGhost and NordVPN, many users may find themselves at a crossroads. The two services boast loyal user bases and both are well-equipped for any task, making them interesting one-on-one contenders. However, I’m here to settle the CyberGhost vs NordVPN showdown once and for all.

I’ll be examining critical factors like safety, speed, ease of use, and price to determine which VPN comes out on top. If you’re in a rush, I’ve provided a side-by-side comparison table below to lay out the differences between CyberGhost and NordVPN.

Don’t settle for second-best when it comes to your VPN needs; read on to find out which provider reigns supreme.

CyberGhost vs NordVPN: specifications

While NordVPN may come with a slightly higher price tag than CyberGhost, it includes a more robust tool package. NordVPN offers a wider range of security and privacy features, as well as unrivaled speeds to stream foreign content with ease. That being said, CyberGhost also has some unique features that could appeal to prospective users and make it stand out from NordVPN.

⭐ Our rating	9.6 ⭐	8.9 ⭐
💸 Current offer	Get NordVPN 68% OFF!	Get CyberGhost VPN 84% OFF!
💰 Price starts from	$3.49/month	$2.03/month
💳 Money-back guarantee	30 days	45 days
📖 No-logs policy	Independently-audited	Independently-audited
🎮 Simultaneous connections	6	7
🌐 Servers	5800+ servers in 60+ countries	9360+ servers in 100+ countries
🔒 VPN protocols	NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
🍿 Streaming	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more
🖥️ Platforms	All major OS, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Kodi, routers, firewall, NAS, Roku	All major OS, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, routers, Kodi, browsers

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Why choose NordVPN?

Choosing NordVPN is always a smart call. Among loads of benefits, here are a few that stand out the most.

• Trustworthy protector. NordVPN places a strong focus on keeping both you and your digital data safe. It offers an independently audited no-log policy, dependable kill switch and leak protection measures, unbreakable traffic encryption, and secure RAM-only servers.
• Top-class performance. Due to the proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol, NordVPN is basically the Usain Bolt of VPNs. No other service comes even close to the speeds and stability of this provider’s connections. That being said, NordVPN is a perfect choice for anyone doing any network-intensive tasks.
• No content out of reach. Watching your favorite streaming service’s geo-blocked foreign libraries has never been easier thanks to the SmartPlay feature and Smart DNS implementation. NordVPN easily unlocks the likes of Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and many more.

Why choose CyberGhost?

CyberGhost has some solid aces up its sleeves as well. This service might complete your winning hand if you focus on the following reasons.

• Cost-effective. CyberGhost is one of the cheapest VPN providers out there. Yet, it still offers one of the best bang for the buck. This service is jam-packed with all of the essentials you’d expect from a top VPN contender for any daily task.
• Huge Global coverage. At the moment, CyberGhost can easily brag as one of the biggest VPN networks on the market with 9150+ servers globally. This is almost double the server count you can find in NordVPN’s offerings.
• Simultaneous connections. You get 7 simultaneous device connections with CyberGhost instead of 6 with NordVPN. It ain’t much, but it’s still one more protected device for no additional cost.

NordVPN vs CyberGhost: pricing

Pricing often plays a huge part in choosing various subscriptions for a lot of people. When it comes to VPN pricing options, both NordVPN and CyberGhost provide a range of plans from short-term to lengthier subscriptions. Also, you can use several popular payment methods, including cryptocurrencies.

Neither of the providers offers a free version, but you can try out NordVPN’s services through a free trial. You can download the app via the Google Play Store but use it on any device after signing up. After the trial period, you can continue risk-free for a whole month using a money-back guarantee.

In contrast, the CyberGhost trials are spread all over the place depending on the platform of interest. PC and Mac devices get 24 hours, Android owners can play around for 3 days through Google Play, and iOS users receive a 7-day trial on the Apple App Store. If you feel like there’s more to explore with CyberGhost after your free trial, you can take advantage of the money-back guarantee to further test the service for another 45 days.

Finally, if the price is your deciding factor, CyberGhost proves to be a fairly cheaper option for longer subscriptions than NordVPN. However, if you’re settling for a short investment, NordVPN will provide you way better package experience for basically the same cost.

Winner:

Visit CyberGhost

NordVPN pricing

NordVPN presents different subscription models for various customer needs. If you’re after the baseline VPN package, the Standard plan covers everything you’ll ever need. You can subscribe to NordVPN for either monthly, annual, or two-year terms.

• $12.99/month for the monthly plan
• $4.59/month for the annual plan
• $3.49/month for the two-year plan

Other NordVPN offerings are essentially package deals including other Nord Security products for the ultimate all-around virtual protection suite. The following side-by-side comparison shows more differences between available options.

Moving above the Standard subscription, the Plus plan includes NordPass as well as Data Breach Scanner. Going one step higher, the Complete plan adds NordLocker on top of everything you already get with the cheaper options.

If you’re interested in what NordVPN has to offer, you can simply try out the service for 7 days free of charge. After that, you can continue further with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Better off, you can get a discount of up to 68% if you snatch a NordVPN coupon code.

Paying for the service is no hassle either since NordVPN accepts credit or debit cards, Google Pay, Apple Pay, ACH Transfer, AmazonPay, Direct Debit, cryptocurrencies, and even cash at specific retail stores.

CyberGhost pricing

Subscribing to CyberGhost is fairly simple as it’s separated into just 3 time-based options:

• $12.99/month when paying monthly
• $6.99/month for the 6-month plan
• $2.03/month for the two-year plan

At no surprise, the longest subscription yields the best value. Going straight to the CyberGhost coupon page should give you a 84% discount with 3 extra months.

CyberGhost also offers some useful bonus features, including:

• Dedicated IP address. A static IP server that’s entirely yours.
• CyberGhost ID Guard. A free breach monitor in case your data gets leaked online.
• Privacy Guard. This feature is practically a tracker blocker at no extra cost.
• CyberGhost Security Suite. An antivirus and anti-malware solution by CyberGhost.

Payment options are available through a credit card and PayPal, as well as AmazonPay and Bitcoin. If you opt for a 6-month or a 2-year plan, you’re also eligible for a 45-day money-back warranty.

Speed comparison

If you’re looking for the fastest VPN available, look no further than NordVPN. While CyberGhost is a decent option, it can’t match the lightning-fast speeds of its competitor. Our VPN speed test data reveals that there is a significant difference in average speeds between the two, with NordVPN often clocking in at two to three times faster (more details in the table below).

NordVPN vs CyberGhost: 14-Day Speed Average

So why is CyberGhost lagging behind? The issue lies in the tunneling protocols. NordVPN took the extra step to create NordLynx, a next-generation tunneling protocol that’s not only faster but also more secure than any other option out there. CyberGhost, on the other hand, primarily relies on the WireGuard protocol, which also delivers both great speeds and stable connections.

In the end, what matters most is speed, and in that regard, NordVPN comes out on top. While CyberGhost has its strengths, it can’t match the swiftness of its competitor.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

NordVPN vs CyberGhost: which is more secure?

NordVPN and CyberGhost are two highly recognized VPNs known for their impressive security bundles. Both services utilize strong AES-256 encryption and come equipped with a kill switch and leak protection to safeguard against unwanted data spills.

In terms of privacy policies, both NordVPN and CyberGhost exhibit a commendable dedication to keeping customer information confidential and secure. However, NordVPN offers more security features, including obfuscated servers and Double VPN, making it the better option for optimal digital protection.

Overall, both NordVPN and CyberGhost are excellent VPN services with reliable security measures in place. However, NordVPN offers more comprehensive security features, making it the better choice for individuals seeking top-notch protection.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Privacy

As VPNs are privacy tools in the first place, data protection is of utmost importance when prioritizing confidentiality. As a matter of fact, the VPN provider’s legal jurisdiction plays a big part in that too. NordVPN is based in Panama, while CyberGhost operates in Romania. These countries are known to be privacy-friendly countries and are out of reach for the Fourteen Eyes Alliance.

On the other hand, NordVPN has the upper hand when it comes to potential data collection. Or lack thereof, to be precise. All of their servers use RAM-only technology, which essentially means that no data can be stored long-term even if they wanted to. Once your connection is off, any data is gone immediately.

CyberGhost, however, uses regular server hardware. Of course, Romania has no data retention laws, so your data shouldn’t see the light of day. In a real-world scenario, it’s still a generally safer choice to go the extra mile and have a warranty only RAM servers provide.

As a cherry on top, both VPNs support cryptocurrency payments, which ensure no traces even for the purchase of the services.

Logging

There’s no worse enemy to your online privacy than data logging. “Logging”, in this regard, refers to the data collection of any user actions and activities. Both NordVPN and CyberGhost offer strict no-logs policies, with independent audits verifying their commitment to such claims.

CyberGhost’s first independent audit was done by Deloitte in 2022. As a bonus, it also issues official Transparency Reports every three months, which is a nice touch of clarity in the eyes of your customers.

Conversely, NordVPN has undergone three independent audits to date, with the latest one conducted by Deloitte at the end of 2022. Official transparency reports are nowhere to be seen though, but NordVPN does its part by frequently updating its blog with news, reports, and updates.

Server locations

The overall VPN performance is heavily dependent on the scale of its server fleet. For example, a large network with hundreds of servers to choose from minimizes the risk of overcrowding. Equally important is the extent of global coverage, as it directly impacts the availability of foreign content that a user can access.

Both NordVPN and CyberGhost control extensive server flotillas across multiple countries, but there are some key differences between them. NordVPN operates over 5500 physical servers in 60+ countries. While that is commendable, it’s nowhere close to CyberGhost’s 9150+ servers in 91+ countries, which is one of the biggest VPN networks on the whole market.

But the story doesn’t end here. All NordVPN servers are RAM-only to prevent data storage on hard drives. On the other end of the stick, CyberGhost offers NoSpy servers, which are owned and managed exclusively by the company. This is no replacement for RAM servers, but it still assures that no third parties have access to the servers you’re using.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Features comparison

At first glance, NordVPN and CyberGhost seem to be pretty much in the same league. They both offer everything you need for safe internet browsing, smooth video streaming, and getting around online censorship. But they also come with loads of other cool stuff that can sway your choice either way.

Smart DNS

Smart DNS is a great way to unlock the full potential of your devices that are not compatible with VPNs directly. It works by changing your DNS requests, effectively bypassing geo-blocks on devices without VPN installation. While both providers offer this solution, there are a couple of notable nitpicks.

CyberGhost requires users to manually enable Smart DNS via their Account Dashboard and configure it on different devices. This is especially helpful if you want to unlock Netflix content on Apple TV, Roku, or a gaming console.

NordVPN has its own tricks as well. Smart DNS itself works in a similar manner as the competitors offering, but there’s a little extra. NordVPN’s SmartPlay is a built-in feature that basically combines Smart DNS and VPN into one. It automatically switches DNS servers without requiring any additional setup and is available straight away for PC, smartphone, or tablet users out of the box.

Of course, it’s important to note that Smart DNS is not a replacement for a proper VPN connection as it doesn’t encrypt your traffic.

Ad & malware blocker

Using a VPN connection can only do so much if you’re sailing uncharted waters. As the internet is full of hidden trackers, irritating ads, or malicious viruses, a secure VPN must be equipped to deal with them too. Ad and malware blockers do just that.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature goes beyond blocking ads and scans for malware, even when not connected to the VPN. It also provides warnings about risky websites before users enter them, and is available on multiple platforms, including Windows and Mac devices. iOS, Android, and browser extensions are equipped with the “Lite” version.

On the other hand, CyberGhost offers Content Blocker, which focuses on blocking malicious DNS domains used for ads, trackers, and malware. However, Content Blocker only works with WireGuard, requiring users to switch to that tunneling protocol for this feature to work.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a common feature among top VPN services that allows users to customize their secure connection. In concept, it lets you either forward the traffic of specific applications or exclude particular apps from the VPN connection. However, there are some differences between the two contenders here.

In NordVPN’s case, you can both route and exclude apps of your choice from the VPN. This feature is only available to Windows, Android, and Android TV users. As for the CyberGhost camp, the standard split tunneling feature is only available for Windows and Android devices.

Specialized servers

Specializing particular servers is a practice widely used by a lot of VPN providers and the two we’re looking into here are no exception.

NordVPN provides a surprisingly wide range of dedicated servers, including:

• Double VPN. Perfect for ultimate untraceability. Using these will encrypt your data twice, as your internet traffic is passed through two VPN servers.
• Dedicated IP. Choosing to use one means you’re the only one holding keys to the specific IP address.
• Obfuscated. These servers are the most hidden and stealthy. They mask VPN traces in your internet traffic from Deep Packet Inspection or restrictive firewalls.
• P2P. The best option for file-sharing with optimized torrenting speeds.
• Onion over VPN. These servers incorporate the Tor network for added anonymity at the cost of your connection speeds.

On the other side of the coin, we have CyberGhost with a few offerings as well, including:

• Torrenting. Designed to provide fast and efficient P2P file-sharing.
• Streaming-optimized. The go-to choice for geo-block bypassing and a smooth video streaming experience.
• Gaming. Dedicated servers for online gaming, prioritizing low ping to eliminate lag and deliver better and safer connections for gaming.

Both NordVPN and CyberGhost understand the importance of specialty servers in catering to the unique needs of their users, providing enhanced performance, security, and convenience for specific online activities.

Other features

NordVPN and CyberGhost are both feature-rich VPNs, each with its own strengths. NordVPN offers extra features such as Invisibility on LAN and the newly introduced Meshnet. CyberGhost has some extras as well, including Smart Rules for customization of VPN behavior in specific situations and App Rules for an automatic startup with certain applications.

Netflix and other streaming platforms

If this head-to-head looks like a close call to you, that’s because it almost is. Almost. NordVPN is still better for Netflix and other services because it’s the best VPN for streaming overall. The biggest advantage that NordVPN has is sheer speed – you’ll be able to stream in UHD (4K) from far more locations.

Speaking of geo-unblocking, NordVPN offers not only American Netflix, but libraries in Canada, UK, Japan, and many more locations. It also unlocks other streaming platforms, such as Disney+, BBC iPlayer, or Hulu.

Having said that, CyberGhost is not that far behind, as the comparison table indicates. It has specialized servers for streaming that you can find in the menu. This service also unblocks multiple Netflix libraries and other streaming platforms. However, you may experience slower speeds, especially when connecting from another continent.

Both VPNs have apps for Android TV, Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick. Better yet, enabling the Smart DNS feature will also unlock your Kodi, Apple TV, and Roku. It allows you to unblock streaming on a wide range of other devices, starting with smart TVs and ending with game consoles.

After all, the two competitors can boast top-notch connection quality and lag-free streaming, thanks to the inclusion of advanced tunneling protocols like NordLynx and WireGuard. However, when it comes to overall performance, NordVPN outshines the competition, making it the de facto choice between the two.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Device compatibility

Both NordVPN and CyberGhost are highly compatible, offering easy-to-use apps for major operating systems, VPN add-ons for browsers, and support for manual VPN configuration on routers. They also extend their compatibility through the use of Smart DNS, making them versatile options for securing your online activities.

The differentiating factor is that NordVPN allows for 6 simultaneous connections, while CyberGhost takes the lead with 7, giving it a slight, but insignificant edge in this aspect.

Desktop applications

As NordVPN’s desktop application evolved over the years, one of the greatest features it implemented and perfected was the world map. It’s extremely easy to use and helps a lot, especially with countries that have multiple connection points, such as USA, UK, or Canada. If geography is not your cup of tea, however, you can still use the search bar on the left to search for specific regions.

Diving deeper into settings and customization, you’ll find a lot of them neatly separated and always a click away on the left bar. There you’ll find tabs for Meshnet, Threat Protection, Dark Web Monitor, or the settings. The overall look of the interface is fairly clean and shouldn’t take a while to get used to even for the first-time users.

On the flip side, CyberGhost sticks to a more simplistic look, even closely resembling a Windows settings design. Of course, the sleek and minimalistic layout is beginner-friendly, especially after recent updates, which removed a lot of the clutter. Now all of the most used tabs are neatly shelved under the search bar, leaving the left column mostly for application settings.

As for Linux users? Well, a GUI for Linux is not included in any of the apps we’re looking into today, so the command prompt is still the way to go.

Mobile applications

Moving on to the smartphone domain, NordVPN stays true to its desktop design choice bringing the world map to the small screens. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle, you also have the option to use a traditional menu that lists all countries in alphabetical order.

This menu can also be used to access specialty servers or search for specific ones. In addition, features such as Meshnet, split tunneling, and Threat Protection Lite are organized in separate tabs below for easy access.

CyberGhost’s mobile apps continue the trend set by the desktop counterpart. However, the Android app additionally includes split tunneling, Port Randomization, and Data Compression. Unfortunately, the iOS clients get the short end of the stick with a limited feature package and a missing split tunneling option.

Torrenting

Torrenting is a practical form of sharing files between devices. Unfortunately, due to the nature and freedom of peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing, it’s restricted in numerous regions. The VPNs we’re looking into are a great way to sidestep said restrictions as both offer specialized servers for P2P connections.

NordVPN doesn’t limit your torrenting escapades on any level. In fact, you can do it on any available server on the VPN network, but it does offer dedicated P2P servers for the best experience. On top of that, you get free reins of a SOCKS5 proxy and split tunneling, but you’ll be missing out on port forwarding capabilities.

CyberGhost does its fair share with specialized torrenting servers but doesn’t bring more to the table as it’s also missing port forwarding. While it does have split tunneling on Windows in addition to a SOCKS5 proxy, this is enough to be mentioned among the best torrenting services. Unfortunately, not enough to dethrone NordVPN and its unmatched download and upload speeds.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

China

China and its Great Firewall are notorious around the world. Piercing the virtual blockades on certain websites or social networks effectively requires some powerful digital equipment. And as the table above shows, there isn’t that much competition in this round.

NordVPN has specialized Obfuscated servers for use in China and other countries that restrict internet access. It makes your traffic look like it’s coming not from a VPN. If that’s not enough, Onion over VPN feature is your second-best bet to jump the Chinese firewall at a little sacrifice of your connection speed. Such connections are harder to track or block by the government.

CyberGhost VPN is far from the worst option for China too. It allows you to connect using a random port, which also helps when the traffic is restricted to HTTP and HTTPS. However, according to user experiences, CyberGhost might not work in China most of the time.

All in all, if you want a reliable service that works constantly, NordVPN for China would be the most dependable pick.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

Customer support

Last but not least comes customer support. Both services have excellent 24/7 live chat and extensive knowledgebases. Customer support representatives were polite and helpful each time I contacted them. However, hearing the voice on the phone line is not an option for either of them, but that’s no foul in my book. To sum up, this round of CyberGhost vs NordVPN is a tie.

NordVPN vs CyberGhost – which is better?

As this NordVPN vs CyberGhost comparison has shown, the latter is no match for our #1-ranked provider. Does that mean that CyberGhost is bad? Not at all – it’s one of the best VPNs that can surely find its user.

NordVPN is superior in almost every category. It provides excellent security and privacy, lightning-fast connections, and great streaming options. What’s more, it’s P2P-friendly and works well in China.

Nonetheless, CyberGhost came fairly close to NordVPN in almost every category. This service is especially great for those trying to save a few bucks without skipping out on a great security suite and solid feature package.

To find out more about the winner, read our NordVPN review. And if you’re thinking about its competitor, head straight to CyberGhost VPN review. These articles should answer all the questions that you may still have after reading this comparison.

Winner:

Visit NordVPN

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FAQ

Is NordVPN better than CyberGhost?

Yes, NordVPN is ultimately better than CyberGhost. During our tests, we found that CyberGhost gets really close to NordVPN in many aspects, but almost always falls short in one way or another. Overall, NordVPN provides faster speeds, a more robust feature package, and a better streaming experience.

Is CyberGhost the best VPN?

CyberGhost is not the best available VPN. Even though it incorporates great tools and even better prices, it doesn’t come close to the best VPN providers on the market. In that regard, we can definitely recommend one of the best services out there and our most trusted provider – NordVPN.

Is CyberGhost faster than NordVPN?

No, NordVPN is much faster than CyberGhost. This is true thanks to the proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol. However, CyberGhost is equipped with WireGuard, which doesn’t fall far behind. To see the latest results, be sure to check our VPN speed test for the most up-to-date numbers.

Does NordVPN unblock Netflix?

Yes, NordVPN unlocks numerous global Netflix libraries. In fact, NordVPN is among the top Netflix VPNs mostly because of its stellar connection speeds and great geo-unblocking capabilities. Using NordVPN will unlock the US, Canada, the UK, Japan, and many more Netflix regions.

Who owns CyberGhost?

CyberGhost is owned and operated by Kape Technologies. You can also find the likes of Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN, and Zenmate under the same umbrella.

Is CyberGhost fast?

Yes, CyberGhost provides fast VPN connections. The connection speeds of this service are more than exceptional, thanks to the implementation of the modern WireGuard tunneling protocol. This is a common feature among all the fastest VPNs, which greatly improves both speed and security of your VPN connections.

Is NordVPN worth the money?

NordVPN is absolutely worth the money. It has plenty of servers around the globe, top-grade encryption, secure tunneling protocols, strong security features, and works well at getting around geo-restrictions. You can also try NordVPN risk-free with a 30-day money-back warranty.