CyberGhost vs. ExpressVPN 2025: Is ExpressVPN Worth The High Cost?

Between CyberGhost and ExpressVPN, ExpressVPN is the service that edges ahead. It provides extraordinary service with fast speeds, robust security features, and dedicated customer support. But don't sleep on CyberGhost either. It's a user-friendly service that offers a significantly lower starting cost and unique features, including specialty servers.

Learn more about how CyberGhost and ExpressVPN compare.

CyberGhost vs. ExpressVPN at a glance

• CyberGhost: Best for affordable privacy
• ExpressVPN: Best for top-notch service

How do CyberGhost and ExpressVPN compare?

		Our Pick
Price	From $2.19/mo (billed every two years)	From $4.99/mo (billed annually)
Max # of simultaneous connections	7	14
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
# of servers	Unlisted in 100 countries	Unlisted in 105 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

CyberGhost pros and cons

CyberGhost is a great choice if you're looking to secure your devices on a budget. Its lowest price is $2.19/mo (billed every two years) for a two-year plan, which often includes additional months at no extra cost. CyberGhost also boasts optimized servers for specific online activities, such as streaming and gaming. Although it's a budget VPN, CyberGhost doesn't skimp on privacy. Its headquarters are in privacy-friendly Romania, it routinely has its no-logs policy audited by third parties like Deloitte, and it offers physical NoSpy servers.

ExpressVPN pros and cons

ExpressVPN offers a proprietary VPN protocol called Lightway, which is designed to be fast without compromising security. Although ExpressVPN doesn't disclose its server count, it does offer servers in 105 countries. According to a customer service agent, each server location can have hundreds of servers. ExpressVPN also boasts features that extend beyond the VPN service. With a subscription, you'll get tools like ExpressVPN Keys, a password manager, and Threat Manager, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites.

Which VPN is the better value?

CyberGhost takes the win for its significantly lower starting price and longer money-back guarantee.

	Our Pick
Price range	$2.19–$12.99/mo	$3.49–$12.95/mo
Best value plan	Two-year plan for $2.19/mo (billed every two years)	Basic two-year plan for $3.49/mo (billed every two years)
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 45 days for annual plans, 14 days for monthly plans	Yes — 30 days
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

When it comes to the best long-term subscription plan, you can save money on a VPN with CyberGhost. However, ExpressVPN continually updates its offerings and has introduced a two-year plan for budget-conscious users.

CyberGhost has a longer money-back guarantee of 45 days, so long as you don’t opt for the monthly plan. The monthly plan has a 14-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is pretty standard for VPNs. 

CyberGhost vs. ExpressVPN: payment options

Payment options can be a concern for some people. Bitcoin payments are often preferred by those seeking to protect their privacy, as they typically do not require any identifying information. If you live abroad, you may want to use a different payment method than is traditionally used in places like the U.S. Here's a quick overview of what payment options each VPN offers.

CyberGhost payment options

• Credit and debit cards
• PayPal
  
• AmazonPay
• BitPay

ExpressVPN payment options

• Credit card
  
• PayPal
• bitcoin
• Paymentwall for international payment methods

Which VPN is faster?

ExpressVPN offers a faster, more reliable connection than CyberGhost.

U.S. server location		Our Pick
Average speed difference	28.12% decrease	6.08% decrease
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Using a VPN will slow down your internet connection, but it should have only a minimal impact on your speed, preventing your device from becoming unusable. However, VPNs can significantly reduce internet speeds, especially when selecting servers that are located far from your physical location. During testing, a decrease of under 18% is considered good.

CyberGhost significantly reduced our internet speeds, even with servers close to our location. On the other hand, ExpressVPN marginally dropped our speeds, and the in-house performance was reliable and consistent. 

Which VPN is more secure?

Both services are evenly matched in terms of features, but ExpressVPN outperforms CyberGhost with its additional features, which focus on speed and privacy.

		Our Pick
Number of servers	Unlisted in 100 countries	Unlisted in 105 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	Romania	British Virgin Islands
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256
VPN protocol	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Kill switch
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

CyberGhost and ExpressVPN share many similarities. Both are also based in data privacy-friendly countries outside of the Eyes Alliances. CyberGhost is based in Romania, while ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands.

One of the most notable differences is the VPN protocols. CyberGhost uses several common protocols, including WireGuard. However, ExpressVPN offers Lightway, a feature unique to its product. Lightway is designed to maintain high speeds while remaining reliable and secure.

ExpressVPN includes several features to make its price worthwhile. The Advanced and Pro plans include Advanced Protection, which can block ads, trackers, and malicious sites. There's also ExpressVPN Keys, which is ExpressVPN's built-in password manager that's been independently audited. You'll even be able to block adult websites as a parental control. 

CyberGhost's special features included specialized servers for online activities like streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It also includes a content blocker, which will protect your device from ads and trackers.

Which VPN has the better compatibility and customer service?

ExpressVPN has a more intuitive interface, and its customer support representatives provided a better experience compared to CyberGhost.

		Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome and Firefox	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi
Router
Smart devices
24/7 support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review	Get ExpressVPN Read ExpressVPN Review

Both CyberGhost and ExpressVPN offer excellent device compatibility, allowing you to easily connect to their services on various operating systems and devices, including smart TVs. We also found the interfaces for both providers to be user-friendly. 

However, the CyberGhost app wouldn't change screen sizes on a Chromebook. It occupied the entire screen, and there was no way to adjust the window size.

CyberGhost and ExpressVPN both offer the same customer service options: 24/7 live chat, email, and an online knowledge base. 

For our reviews, we tested each provider's live chat customer support option. ExpressVPN provided an overall pleasant experience, but we didn't have the same experience with CyberGhost. After 40 minutes of chatting, we didn't receive the answers we were looking for and found the overall service to be slow.

CyberGhost vs. ExpressVPN alternatives

CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are two services on opposite ends of the cost spectrum. If you want a better idea of what top VPN services you can purchase in between, take a look at our recommendations below:

FAQs

Is CyberGhost or ExpressVPN better?

ExpressVPN is the best VPN service of the two. Despite its higher subscription cost, it justifies its worth with the advanced Lightway protocol, which enables fast internet speeds and eliminates issues unblocking streaming content. ExpressVPN also impressed us with excellent customer support and a wide variety of payment options.

CyberGhost put up a strong fight with affordable prices and has the essential features for a VPN. However, it suffered from slower internet speeds, sometimes difficult usability, and a poor customer support experience compared to ExpressVPN.