NordVPN vs. CyberGhost 2024: Nord Has the Advantage

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 do NordVPN and CyberGhost compare?

	Our Pick
Price	From $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	From $2.03/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	6,800+ servers in 111 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 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 $2.03/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	$2.99–$17.99/mo	$2.03–$6.99/mo
Best value plan	NordVPN Ultimate 2-year plan for $2.99/mo (billed every two years)	CyberGhost 2-year plan for $2.03/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 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 $2.03/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 $4.89/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

Server location		Our Pick
US	44.72% faster	48% slower
CA	41.30% faster	79% slower
UK	31.47% faster	42% slower
AU	12.21% faster	33% slower
	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 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?

Feature	Our Pick
Number of servers	6,800+ servers in 111 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, 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

Platform	Our Pick
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Hulu
BBC iPlayer
Disney+
HBO Max
	Get NordVPN Read NordVPN Review	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review

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.

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 has a massive list 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 servers dedicated to 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 the services are listed in the left-hand menu, and there are reminders for increased security on the main page. Because NordVPN has so many offerings wrapped into 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 has a longer trial period of 45 days and a free trial, which is the only real difference between the two services. Whichever you choose, you’ll receive excellent customer service.

FAQs

Is NordVPN or CyberGhost better?

CyberGhost is strong, fast, and significantly less expensive than NordVPN. However, with the expansive list of additional features as well as encrypted storage, NordVPN wins out. 

With the addition of a password manager, an ad blocker, as well as the tendency to work most of the time when unblocking streaming services, NordVPN edges out CyberGhost just a little. If you want a solid VPN without a lot of additional features for a reasonable price, CyberGhost is still a strong and reliable VPN.

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 are some other VPN services that we can vouch for:

Price	$1.99–$17.95/mo	Free–$9.99/mo	$2.03–$11.99/mo
Free version
Max # of connected devices	Unlimited	10	Unlimited
# of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries	9,100+ servers in 112 countries	Unlisted in 91 countries
VPN protocol	Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2	WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth	WireGuard, OpenVPN
Encryption	AES-128-GCM	AES 256-bit or ChaCha20	AES-128-GCM
No-logs policy	No logs	No logs	No logs
Headquarters	The Netherlands	Switzerland	United States
Netflix access
Learn more	Get Surfshark	Get Proton VPN	Get Private Internet Access