Surfshark vs. CyberGhost 2024: Stealthy Web Surfing Beats Phantom Speeds

Surfshark is the perfect fit if you require a virtual private network (VPN) with extra privacy and security through features like double VPN servers, an ad and tracker blocker, and strong AES-256-GCM encryption.

On the other hand, CyberGhost is a good choice if you're looking for a VPN provider that works well for streaming, thanks to its streaming-optimized servers.

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

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost at a glance

Surfshark and CyberGhost both have a lot to offer: low pricing, multi-device support, a wide range of compatibility with various platforms, 24/7 live chat support, secure VPN protocols, and a vetted no-logs policy. However, there are some key differences between them.

• 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 $2.03/mo (billed every two years)
Max # of connected devices	Unlimited	7
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and more	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and more
# 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 unlimited simultaneous connections, while CyberGhost supports only a maximum of seven. This might be a better value if you're looking to cover multiple devices. 

Surfshark is a great value because it offers plenty of security features beyond your 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.  

CyberGhost pros and cons

If you're seeking servers for specific needs, CyberGhost has 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 Eyes alliances. It also regularly gets its no-logs policy audited by third parties.

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost: prices

		Our Pick
Price range	$1.99–$17.95/mo	$2.03–$6.99/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–$17.95/mo. Its best deal, the 24-month plan, only costs $1.99/mo (billed every two years) and sometimes comes with extra free months. Even though Surfshark's lowest monthly price is slightly more expensive than CyberGhost, it's still a terrific deal if you’re looking for an affordable VPN.

Depending on your term length, CyberGhost costs anywhere from $2.03–$6.99/mo. The best possible deal is the two-year plan, which costs just $2.03/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 how much each VPN impacted our internet speeds while connected to a specific server location.

Server location		Our Pick
US	4% slower	48% slower
CA	9% slower	79% slower
UK	9% slower	42% slower
AU	34% slower	83% slower
	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

CyberGhost decreased our download speeds significantly compared to Surfshark. With Surfshark, our download speeds dropped less than 10% with every server but Australia. 

On the other hand, CyberGhost had some pretty steep declines from the beginning. Our U.S. to U.S. connection decreased our speed by almost 50%. And both Canada and Australia dropped our speed by about 80%. We didn't notice any lag while streaming, but the speed differences are worth noting. 

Typically, your internet speeds should drop the farther your VPN servers are from your physical location. It was nice to see Surfshark didn't drop off our speed too much while connected to an Australian server, while our CyberGhost speed dropped greatly.

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 protocol (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 just AES 256-bit encryption, which is what CyberGhost employs.  

Surfshark has a double VPN feature called Dynamic MultiHop, which lets you route traffic through more than one VPN server location. 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.

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, including 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.

FAQs

CyberGhost vs. Surfshark: which is better?

CyberGhost impressed us with its customer support, budget-friendly pricing, and straightforward interface. However, Surfshark's interface is more intuitive, offers more features, and maintained faster download speeds. 

Ultimately, Surfshark is the better VPN option for most, thanks to its robust features for added privacy and security, user-friendly interface, top-notch customer support, unlimited device support, and wide range of payment options. It's a solid provider for a wider range of internet users.

Surfshark vs. CyberGhost alternatives

Surfshark and CyberGhost are two of the best VPNs, but do they offer all the features you're looking for? If not, consider the following services: