Surfshark vs. CyberGhost 2025: Stealthy Web Surfing Beats Phantom Speeds

CyberGhost is a good choice if you're looking for a virtual private network (VPN) that works well for streaming, thanks to its streaming-optimized servers. But we think Surfshark is the better VPN overall.

Surfshark is the perfect fit if you require a VPN provider with extra privacy and security through features like double VPN servers, an ad and tracker blocker, and strong AES-256-GCM encryption, all at an affordable price.

In this review, we'll delve into Surfshark and CyberGhost's features, speed test results, streaming capabilities, and pricing information, so you can make an informed decision about the best VPN for your needs.

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost at a glance

• Surfshark: Best for private and secure browsing
• CyberGhost: Best for streaming

How do Surfshark and CyberGhost compare?

	Our Pick
Price	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	Starts at $2.19/mo (billed every two years)
Max # of connected devices	Unlimited	7
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox
# of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	Unlisted in 100 countries
VPN protocol	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

Surfshark pros and cons

Although both VPN services are compatible with many platforms, Surfshark supports an unlimited number of simultaneous connections, whereas CyberGhost supports a maximum of 7. Surfshark is a great value because it offers numerous security features beyond the standard kill switch. You'll get double VPN servers for an extra layer of privacy, rotating IP to keep your IP address changing constantly, and NoBorders mode, which provides a list of servers that work better if there are network restrictions.  

The base Surfshark VPN plan also includes CleanWeb, a top-tested ad blocker, as well as identity masking tools. Mid-tier plans offer advanced software with antivirus protection and data leak monitoring. 

CyberGhost pros and cons

If you're looking for servers tailored to specific needs, CyberGhost has got you covered. It offers servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. It also offers NoSpy servers, which were built inside CyberGhost's headquarters. They're owned and managed by the CyberGhost team to provide the ultimate privacy to your VPN experience. 

Speaking of privacy, CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania, which is outside of the Five Eyes alliance. It also regularly gets its no-logs policy audited by third parties.

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost: Which is the better value?

	Our Pick
Price range	$1.99–$20.65/mo	$2.19–$12.99/mo
Best value plan	24-month Surfshark Starter plan for $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	2-year plan for $1.99/mo (billed every two years)
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30 days	Yes — 45 days
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

Surfshark’s plans range anywhere from $1.99–$20.65/mo. Its best deal, the 24-month plan, only costs $1.99/mo (billed every two years) and sometimes comes with extra free months. Surfshark offers a terrific deal if you’re looking for an affordable VPN because it's cheapest plan includes a solid ad blocker called CleanWeb, which we've independently tested. 

Depending on your term length, CyberGhost costs anywhere from $2.19–$12.99/mo. The best possible deal is the two-year plan, which costs just $2.19/mo (billed every two years) and can also come with extra months for free. This makes CyberGhost an affordable option for those who want to save money on a VPN by paying over an extended period of time.

Additionally, CyberGhost and Surfshark offer money-back guarantees, so you can try their services risk-free without worrying about a no-refund policy. CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, while Surfshark only offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Payment options

Surfshark and CyberGhost offer similar payment options. Both allow you to pay with credit cards, payment processors, and cryptocurrency. 

Surfshark payment options

• Credit or debit card
• Google Pay
• Amazon Pay
• PayPal
• Cryptocurrency via CoinGate

CyberGhost payment options

• Credit card
• PayPal
• Amazon Pay
• bitcoin via BitPay

Which VPN is faster?

We independently tested CyberGhost and Surfshark's internet speeds by connecting to their servers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia. This speed test assessment helped us determine their capabilities for heavy bandwidth activities, such as streaming, torrenting, and gaming. 

The percentages in the table below indicate the impact on our internet speeds when each VPN is connected to a U.S. server.

U.S. server location	Our Pick
Average speed loss	21.49% increase	28.12% decrease
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

CyberGhost decreased our download speeds significantly compared to Surfshark. During testing, we look for speed loss of less than 18%, and unfortunately, CyberGhost failed to meet this benchmark. We expect some degree of slowdown because VPNs route internet traffic through encrypted tunnels, and it's a pleasant surprise when the VPN provider actually improves our download speeds. 

The most recent round of testing showed excellent performance from Surfshark, making it the more reliable choice when it comes to streaming and gaming.

Which VPN is more secure?

Feature	Our Pick
Number of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	Unlisted in 100 countries
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs
VPN headquarters	Netherlands	Romania
Encryption	AES 256-GCM	AES-256
VPN protocol	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN
Kill switch
Split tunneling
DNS leak protection
Ad blocker
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

Surfshark and CyberGhost have largely similar security offerings. Both services use at least AES-256 encryption, which would take millions of years to break, to keep your data secure. Both also offer the same VPN protocols (WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN), which all provide varying degrees of security and speed. 

Both VPNs also have features to block ads, trackers, and malware. Surfshark’s blocker is called CleanWeb, while CyberGhost’s is called Content Blocker.

However, Surfshark offers stronger encryption because it uses the AES-256-GCM algorithm. This algorithm is faster than AES 256-bit encryption, which CyberGhost employs.  

Surfshark offers a double VPN feature called Dynamic MultiHop, which allows you to route traffic through multiple VPN server locations. CyberGhost doesn't have a double VPN feature.

CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania, so it's not part of the intelligence-sharing agreement required of Eyes Alliance countries. Surfshark is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is a member of the Nine Eyes alliance.

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost: compatibility and customer support

	Our Pick
Windows
macOS
Android
iOS
Linux
Router
Smart devices
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Chrome, Firefox
24/7 support
Customer support options	Live chat, email, online guides	Live chat, email, online guides
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

CyberGhost has a very simple interface that lets you enable or disable its VPN with just one click of its “on and off” button. Plus, it offers to connect to the best available server location for you. It also offers optimized servers for streaming and gaming.

However, it was less intuitive than Surfshark when it came to finding VPN settings and other features. Surfshark had a panel on its left-hand side that took you directly to its VPN, alerts, antivirus, and search features, as well as general settings.

As far as customer support is concerned, Surfshark and CyberGhost have knowledge bases with online guides, email support, and 24/7 live chat. We tested both live chat options by asking simple questions. CyberGhost connected us to a live agent within seconds, while Surfshark took around 20 seconds to connect us to a live agent.

Even though CyberGhost was extra fast in connecting us to a live agent, Surfshark offered top-tier customer service with its friendly reps, who provided detailed answers to our questions. While chatting with Surfshark customer support, we even asked if they had any servers in China, and (to our surprise) we were offered a discount just for asking questions.

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost alternatives

Surfshark and CyberGhost are among our top recommendations for VPN providers. We think NordVPN is the best overall VPN based on its consistent performance during in-house testing, good price point, and advanced security perks. Here's a snapshot of how Surfshark compares to other top VPN services:

FAQs

CyberGhost vs. Surfshark: which is better?

Ultimately, Surfshark is the better VPN option for most users, thanks to its robust features that enhance privacy and security, a user-friendly interface, top-notch customer support, support for an unlimited number of devices, and a wide range of payment options. 

It's a solid provider for a wider range of internet users.