If you’re working remotely, want to access streaming, or are simply looking for increased security, CyberGhost and NordVPN will both work well for you. NordVPN has more security features, whereas CyberGhost is much less expensive.
If your main concern is a virtual private network (VPN) without a lot of extras, CyberGhost is definitely a win. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive security suite, NordVPN is a tried-and-true option. We’ll go over how NordVPN and CyberGhost compare so you can make a well-informed decision on your VPN subscription.
NordVPN vs. CyberGhost at a glance
NordVPN and CyberGhost are both fast and secure VPNs that allow you to create encrypted connections to the internet. NordVPN has more security options and additional features, but CyberGhost is less expensive, especially with multi-year contracts.
NordVPN: Best for extra security features
CyberGhost: Best for a variety of devices
How we test and rate VPNs
We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.
Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.
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 with countries from around the world. It offers just about everything you would expect from a VPN. It also comes with unique features like Threat Protection, which can protect your device from ads, trackers, and malicious sites.
Nord is one of the best VPN services on the market but it has lots of pricing and plans that can get confusing. It’s also on the pricier side of VPN services, but its offers more device connections so it could be the 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
Almost all VPNs like to break down their cost by month for a comparative view, but that discount typically only applies if you purchase the yearly or multi-year price. If you want to pay month-to-month, that cost will be much higher.
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).
NordVPN is not so clean-cut when it comes to pricing structure. There are three categories for personal accounts, and each category has 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).
CyberGhost has free trials from 24 hours to seven days available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN doesn’t offer any free trials, but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN vs. CyberGhost: payment options
NordVPN definitely offers more payment options, but both VPNs offer major credit card and cryptocurrency payments. 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, whereas NordVPN allows for bitcoin payments as well as 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?
People like fast internet. You’re far less likely to continue to use a VPN if it slows down your internet speed, so we test speeds to make sure each product is useable.
And remember, if you’re out using public Wi-Fi, you should always use some kind of encryption, such as a VPN, to protect against hackers and identity thieves.
NordVPN vs. CyberGhost download speeds
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 on your online activities. You should always expect slower speeds when connecting to servers that are further from your physical location. We were presently surprised to see that even an Australian server didn’t drop our speed too much with either VPN.
Which VPN is more secure?
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, which is a tool for blocking ads, trackers, and malware. Its higher tiers come with extras like NordPass password manager, file encryption, and more.
Both VPNs have device optimization tools and use strong and safe 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 there were no split tunneling capabilities with CyberGhost, other than 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.
NordVPN’s additional features such as Meshnet are useful for creating a trusted network between devices no matter where they’re located. Additionally, the password manager feature is useful if you want to share passwords between those connected devices.
NordVPN vs. CyberGhost: streaming support
As far as what works, both VPNs claim to work 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 VPNs are constantly updating to stay ahead.
NordVPN actually doesn’t have Netflix on its list of supported streaming services, most likely due to Netflix’s blocks. However, we found that Nord unblocked Netflix in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, so it never hurts to try.
