NordVPN vs. CyberGhost 2025: Nord Has the Advantage

NordVPN and CyberGhost are both fast and secure VPNs that allow you to create encrypted connections to the internet. If you’re working remotely, want to access streaming services, or simply need increased security, both CyberGhost and NordVPN can work well for you. 

But NordVPN offers more security options and additional features, while CyberGhost is more affordable, especially with multi-year contracts.

We'll compare NordVPN and CyberGhost so you can make an informed decision about your VPN subscription.

NordVPN vs. CyberGhost at a glance

• NordVPN: Best for extra security features
• CyberGhost: Best for a variety of devices

How do NordVPN and CyberGhost compare?

	Our Pick
Price	From $3.09/mo (billed every two years)	From $2.19/mo (billed every two years)
Max # of connected devices	10	7
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and more
# of servers	8,200+ servers in 120+ countries	Unlisted in 100 countries
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2/IPsec	OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

NordVPN pros and cons

NordVPN offers an easy-to-use interface, is dedicated to privacy with its audited no-logs policy, and has an extensive server network spanning countries worldwide. It offers just about everything you would expect from a VPN.  It also features unique capabilities, including Threat Protection, which helps protect your device from ads, trackers, and malicious sites.

Nord is one of the best VPN services on the market, but it offers numerous plans that can be confusing. It’s also on the pricier side of VPN services, but it offers more device connections, so it could be worth the cost. 

CyberGhost pros and cons

Although NordVPN has name recognition, CyberGhost is less expensive and uses the same VPN protocol. It also has a large server network across 100 countries, though it no longer lists the exact server count. Its servers include specialized options for streaming, torrenting, speed, and anonymity.  We did have some issues connecting with servers, though it proved to slow our internet speeds less than NordVPN.  

CyberGhost has a low starting price of $2.19/mo (billed every two years). It offers a free trial, and it has a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

NordVPN vs. CyberGhost: prices

		Our Pick
Price range	$3.09–$17.99/mo	$2.19–$12.99/mo
Best value plan	NordVPN Ultimate 2-year plan for $3.09/mo (billed every two years)	CyberGhost 2-year plan for $2.19/mo (billed every two years)
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 45 days
	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

Almost all VPNs break down their costs by month for a comparative view, but that discount typically only applies when you purchase the yearly or multi-year plan. If you prefer to pay month-to-month, the cost will be significantly higher.

CyberGhost plans

CyberGhost offers three straightforward payment options. The monthly plan is the highest at $12.99/mo. The six-month plan charges $41.94, which works out to about $6.99/mo (billed every six months). The highest plan is for two years and only costs $52.56, which works out to $2.19/mo (billed every two years).

CyberGhost offers free trials ranging from 24 hours to seven days for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN plans 

NordVPN is not so clean-cut when it comes to pricing structure. There are three categories for personal accounts, each with three pricing tiers. 

The least expensive monthly plan starts at $12.99/mo with basic features but goes up to $14.99/mo with the Ultimate plan if you want extra features like a password manager, cloud storage, file encryption, and more. The best value option is the Complete two-year plan, which costs $4.99/mo (billed every two years).

NordVPN doesn't offer a free trial, but it does provide a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN vs. CyberGhost: payment options

NordVPN definitely offers more payment options, but both VPNs accept major credit cards and cryptocurrencies. Although you may not think of payment options being a determining factor in choosing a VPN, paying with crypto can help keep you anonymous.

CyberGhost allows for Bitcoin payments, while NordVPN also accepts Bitcoin and a few other types of cryptocurrency. If you’re looking for genuine anonymity, this may be for you.

NordVPN payment options

• Credit or debit cards
• PayPal
  
• Google Pay
  
• CoinGate (cryptocurrency)

CyberGhost payment options

• Credit cards
• PayPal
• Amazon Pay
• BitPay

Which VPN is faster?

During in-house testing, we check to see how much the VPN impacts our speed performance. We expect some speed loss because VPNs route your internet traffic through encrypted tunnels, so a decrease of less than 18% is ideal. 

NordVPN vs. CyberGhost download speeds

U.S. server location	Our Pick
Average speed change	5.80% decrease	28.12% decrease
Learn more	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

Honestly, you can't go wrong with either NordVPN or CyberGhost when it comes to speed. However, NordVPN had the edge with almost every server location.

NordVPN outperformed CyberGhost, but all the speed drops listed should be fairly insignificant for your online activities. You should always expect slower speeds when connecting to servers that are further from your physical location. We were pleasantly surprised to see that even an Australian server didn't significantly reduce our speed with either VPN.

Which VPN is more secure?

Feature	Our Pick
Number of servers	8,200+ servers in 120+ countries	Unlisted in 100 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	Panama	Romania
Encryption	AES-256-GCM	AES-256
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2/IPsec	OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2
Kill switch
Split tunneling		Yes — Android only
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

If you’re looking for extra features, such as a password manager or an ad blocker, or if you’re interested in split tunneling for multiple devices, NordVPN has the advantage over CyberGhost. NordVPN comes with Threat Protection, a tool that blocks ads, trackers, and malware. Its higher tiers come with extras like NordPass password manager, file encryption, and more. 

Both VPNs offer device optimization tools and utilize strong and secure protocols. We were happy to see both adhere to a no-logs policy when it comes to data. Because both products participate in third-party audits, we can trust that the published policies and procedures of each are valid and trustworthy.

We were surprised that CyberGhost did not offer split-tunneling capabilities, except for Android devices. Split tunneling allows you to route some of your internet traffic through one VPN server (or no VPN at all) while your other traffic goes through another. This is useful for apps and websites that won’t work with VPNs, or if you want to work in multiple regions at once.

As for what works, both VPNs claim to be compatible with streaming services. Streaming services — especially Netflix — can be tricky. Netflix is diligent about updating its VPN trackers to prevent you from accessing regional catalogs. We aren’t sure why Netflix is so adamant about blocking VPNs, but VPN providers are constantly updating their services to stay ahead.

NordVPN does not actually have Netflix on its list of supported streaming services, most likely due to Netflix's blocks. However, we found that Nord unblocks Netflix in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, so it never hurts to try.

NordVPN vs. CyberGhost: compatibility and customer support

Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Routers
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Yes — Chrome, Firefox, Edge
24/7 customer support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

Although CyberGhost has fewer features than NordVPN, it offers a vast selection of servers to choose from. CyberGhost likes to categorize its features into different lists to help you decide which is best for what you’re doing. In the image below, you can see that CyberGhost has a list of dedicated servers for online protection. This makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for quickly.

NordVPN’s dashboard is useful for navigating both the VPN as well as additional features. All services are listed in the left-hand menu, and reminders for increased security are available on the main page. Because NordVPN offers so many features within its subscriptions, it’s nice to see a clean and organized dashboard.

Customer support is pretty similar between these two services. They both have helpful online guides. They also both have 24/7 live chat support. CyberGhost offers a 45-day trial period and a free trial, which is the primary difference between the two services. Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll receive excellent customer service.

NordVPN vs. CyberGhost alternatives

NordVPN and CyberGhost are two of the best VPNs on the market, but that doesn't mean they're the only VPNs available. Here's how NordVPN compares to other top-performing VPN providers:

FAQs

Is NordVPN or CyberGhost better?

With its extensive list of additional security features, transparency about server locations, and overall performance during repeated in-house testing, we believe NordVPN is the superior VPN service. 

With the addition of a password manager, an ad blocker, and the ability to reliably unblock streaming services, NordVPN edges out CyberGhost.