If you look for any of the best VPN services, then CyberGhost and NordVPN are usually always towards the top. We’re talking about two excellent VPNs that have far too many high-end features to list.
Both VPNs have unlimited bandwidth, ease of use, and capabilities to meet any and all needs, with features like robust double encryption, Netflix unblocking, and the ability to cope with harsh censorship such as China’s Great Firewall.
But, what if we make them go head-to-head against one another to find out the best amongst the two?
Well, in this VPN comparison, that’s exactly what we did. We discussed the differences and similarities between CyberGhost and NordVPN after rigorous testing.
So, which is the superior option? Let’s have a look.
CyberGhost vs. NordVPN – Summed up
Let’s be clear. Both NordVPN and CyberGhost have their own metrics where they stand out. However, if before we go deep into the CyberGhost VPN vs. NordVPN fight, here is a quick summary of the two:
| CyberGhost | NordVPN |
| 7700+ servers in 90+ countries | 5600+ servers in 59 countries |
| Offers dedicated modes for various activities, like streaming, torrenting, and browsing. | Offers a map-based interface with apps for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and more. |
| Unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Hotstar, etc. | Unblocks Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ABC, NBC, Disney Plus, HBO Max, etc. |
| Protocols include IKEv2, WireGuard, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) | Protocols include IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN, and NordLynx |
| Seven simultaneous connections | Six simultaneous connections |
| Costs $2.29/month (3 years plan + 3 months free) | Costs $3.49/month (2 years plan) |
CyberGhost vs NordVPN: Which one is the fastest?
We tested our upload, download, and ping speeds with each VPN during our tests to see how much each VPN affected our Internet speed.
With our base speed of 100 Mbps and our testing method set in the following way: download speed/upload speed, we tested all the protocols offered by both VPNs and compared them with each other:
| Protocols | NordVPN | CyberGhost |
| Nordlynx/WireGuard | 87/76 | 72/65 |
| IKEv2 | 85/66 | 60/46 |
| OpenVPN (UDP) | 82/45 | 67/48 |
| OpenVPN (TCP) | 76/24 | 20/5 |
In terms of architecture, NordVPN’s NordLynx is very similar to CyberGhost’s WireGuard. However, NordLynx is clearly faster, according to the data.
Because IKEv2 is a standard protocol, NordVPN and CyberGhost are on equal footing in this fight. However, NordVPN’s download speed drop is 15%, which is a fantastic result. CyberGhost slows down your download speed by 40%.
TCP is always slower than UDP when using OpenVPN. Only NordVPN was able to connect using OpenVPN TCP mode. What was unexpected was CyberGhost’s absence from the race. In TCP mode, it refused to connect, returning the DNS PROBE FINISHED NXDOMAIN error.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
Features comparison
Both VPN services have plenty to offer in terms of features. So, to test which is better in the NordVPN vs. CyberGhost comparison when it comes to features, here is what we dug out:
Special servers
Both services offer dedicated servers for specific activities.
CyberGhost provides gaming, streaming, and torrenting servers. Streaming servers unblock media streaming services, gaming servers have the minimum latency, and torrenting servers facilitate peer-to-peer connections, as their names suggest.
There is a separate category for NoSPY servers, but these are not included in the standard membership and must be purchased separately.
NordVPN does not categorize its servers according to their entertainment value. They do, however, have specialty servers:
Double VPN – a configuration that combines two different VPN servers, allowing your connection to traverse via two intermediates before arriving at its final destination.
Onion over VPN is a system that makes use of the Tor network. Before reaching the desired destination, it bypasses your connection through a VPN server and numerous encrypted and random nodes.
Obfuscated – a configuration that encrypts your OpenVPN traffic to blend it in with conventional browsing. This helps you avoid being flagged for using a VPN in a banned country.
P2P – These servers will be configured to take advantage of the fastest bandwidth while also allowing P2P traffic connections. You can torrent on just about any server, but if P2P traffic is identified, you’ll be classified to this category automatically.
As you can see, NordVPN’s specialty servers are more versatile than CyberGhost, And so, the winner is clear.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
Dedicated IP
Both services offer dedicated IP alternatives. So, for an extra $5/month, you can receive a dedicated IP address in the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, or the United States using CyberGhost.
NordVPN, on the other hand, is a little more expensive – $5.83 per month. The same five countries are available, however instead of Canada, the Netherlands is available.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Web filters
Web filters are in place on both services to reduce tracking and ad display. CyberSec is NordVPN’s version, and it uses their own DNS servers to screen blacklisted hostnames. Pages that have been identified as having malware or spyware are prohibited.
DNS filtering is used by CyberGhost to filter out search results, however they name it Ad blocker. They do, however, feature two ad-block toggles.
Additional toggles are available for harmful websites and trackers. During testing, even though all these toggles were turned on, some ads remained unblocked.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
Exclusive features
To unblock geographically restricted websites, NordVPN utilizes proprietary technologies like SmartPlay. Additional functions such as connection pausing and dark web monitoring have also been incorporated.
CyberGhost, on the other hand, only has its Smart Rules, which can also be customized on NordVPN.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
CyberGhost vs NordVPN: Which is more secure?
We found no leaks or issues with either NordVPN or CyberGhost in terms of security. They both use the AES-256-CBC cipher, which makes their encryption impenetrable even by powerful computers.
But, their hashing functions differ: NordVPN uses the more powerful SHA-512 hash function, whereas CyberGhost uses SHA-256.
Other than that, let’s take their security metric-by-metric to know the better option in the NordVPN vs. CyberGhost VPN security review:
Transparency
NordVPN has passed many audits, with PwC affirming their logging policy. They also took help of the VerSprite agency to run penetration tests on their apps in order to identify any potential flaws.
CyberGhost has previously submitted their service for independent audits, but none have been conducted recently. However, every three months, the corporation issues a transparency report that includes police demands, malware warnings, and DMCA complaints.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Logging
The privacy policies of both VPN companies are fairly similar. Both vow that they won’t keep track of your information and will treat your personal information with the utmost care. The difference, of course, is that NordVPN’s assurances were audited by third-party auditors.
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
DNS/IP leak protection
As for leaks, both VPNs ensure to not leak your native IP address while connected. However, we confirmed that by putting both the VPNs to test:
NordVPN DNS leaks result
We connected NordVPN to its Australian server from the United States and it did not leak our IP address at all. Just check out the screenshot below for confirmation:
CyberGhost DNS leaks result
As for CyberGhost, the DNS leak protection was equally robust. We connected to this VPN’s UK server and you can see the results below:
Final Result: It’s a Tie!
Which one is better for streaming?
Although CyberGhost has dedicated streaming servers, that does not mean it is the frontrunner in this race.
CyberGhost claims to work just fine with Netflix. You can connect to either the US or UK Netflix servers using the CyberGhost VPN app. However, we were still restricted by Netflix after connecting to CyberGhost’s US Netflix server.
CyberGhost doesn’t really appear to be a reliable VPN to use with Netflix when the specialized Netflix server is banned, according to our testing. Furthermore, we discovered that it did not work with BBC iPlayer and that it was prohibited by the servers we tested.
Next up was NordVPN, which has always had good Netflix compatibility. NordVPN was able to unblock Netflix without any issues.
This VPN unblocks all major Netflix territories around the world, including US Netflix, UK, Korea, Canada, Italy, Australia, Germany, and many more.
Other streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu also work nicely with it. If you’re looking for a Netflix-compatible VPN, NordVPN is one of the best options.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
Torrenting Comparison
P2P connections are supported by NordVPN and CyberGhost’s dedicated servers.
Most regions have P2P servers alongside conventional ones with NordVPN, so you’ll have lots of alternatives if you want to pick the one that’s nearest to you.
On regular servers, torrent connections are also possible. You will be reconnected to a P2P-compatible server as soon as the torrent traffic is recognised.
Torrenting servers have their own tab in CyberGhost, where you can filter them based on their distance from your location. Because it’s really simple to use, most users will be able to navigate the app rather quickly.
During our tests, however, we saw that the speeds rarely exceeded 30 Mbps. Our best bet is that they must be using throttling techniques to conserve their server’s bandwidth capacity.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
Pricing Plans Comparison
Both VPNs offer competitive pricing. Let’s look at the plans of both NordVPN and CyberGhost below:
| Subscription Plans | NordVPN | CyberGhost |
| Monthly | $12.99 | $11.99 |
| 1-year plan | $4.99/month | $3.95/month |
| 2-year plan | $3.49/month | $3.15/month |
| 3-year plan | – | $2.29/month |
In all honesty, CyberGhost really is cheaper than NordVPN. However, its cheapest plan comes with a bond of 3 years. But, if you really do subscribe to it, you get 3 months free along with a 3 year contract.
While with NordVPN, you do have a less longer commitment and a better service. But, if you’re tight on budget, then we guess we all know who’s the hero.
Final Result: CyberGhost is the Winner!
Server Locations Overview
| Servers | CyberGhost | NordVPN |
| Number of servers | 7700+ Servers | 5,600+ Servers |
| Server locations | 90+ Countries | 59 Countries |
| Obfuscation | Offered | Offered |
| Virtual servers | Offered | Offered |
As you can see, CyberGhost offers a more extensive server network than NordVPN. However, both of them come with obfuscation technology and virtual servers on their networks.
Final Result: CyberGhost is the Winner!
Platform Compatibility & Interface Comparison
| CyberGhost | NordVPN | |
| OS supported | Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, and Android | Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, and Android |
| Other devices and operating systems | Manual setup only | Fire TV devices, Kodi, and Android TVs |
| Browser extensions | Chrome | Chrome and Firefox |
| Simultaneous connections | Seven | Six |
In terms of compatibility, CyberGhost and NordVPN are available in a variety of forms and on multiple devices. As a result, you can utilize both services regardless of which devices you possess.
Desktop
NordVPN’s Windows and Mac versions are both functional and sleek. They allow you to connect using a map, presets, or a country list, making your VPN experience simple.
Clients for CyberGhost are well-designed and intuitive, but they might use more refinement in several areas.
Despite the fact that both providers’ Linux versions aren’t particularly impressive, NordVPN offers significantly better support for a wider range of Linux systems. While CyberGhost’s official website lacked up-to-date directions and settings.
Mobile
Because NordVPN’s desktop clients were so outstanding, their mobile counterparts are just as good. They’re even pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on Android, with features like split tunneling and a configurable kill switch.
Meanwhile, CyberGhost offers a basic version that lacks a kill switch toggle which NordVPN was able to include in their iOS app as well.
Overall, the CyberGhost and NordVPN apps offer two distinct flavors: one contains a map, while the other is more minimalistic. However, CyberGhost’s mobile clients are lacking some key capabilities that may be game changers.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
Customer support
It’s the difference between resolving your concerns today and in a week if you have good customer service. Let’s take a look at how NordVPN and CyberGhost handle user requests.
- The support staff of NordVPN and CyberGhost can be contacted via live chat. In both cases, we were able to speak with a live person right away.
- Both staff were really educated and open. We received our responses in a matter of minutes.
- Customer assistance is exclusively available in English for both providers.
- Both sites have extensive knowledge bases, including several FAQs and setup/troubleshooting tutorials.
- The knowledge base of CyberGhost contains some out-of-date information, which can be confusing to new users.
We granted NordVPN the win based on these results and the fact that their website provides the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Final Result: NordVPN is the Winner!
NordVPN vs. CyberGhost – which one takes the lead?
So, to sum up this CyberGhost vs. NordVPN comparison, here’s a quick rundown.
Both NordVPN and CyberGhost provide excellent VPN services. However, it is clear that NordVPN is a larger firm. This is why everything appears to be more streamlined and perfect.
Still, deciding between the two is a difficult undertaking, especially when your own preferences are factored in.
We tested both VPNs on over nine metrics including security features, streaming, servers, speeds, and more. With the most wins, NordVPN took the lead and crowned itself the better option amongst the two.
FAQs
Is CyberGhost VPN safe?
Yes, CyberGhost is a safe VPN service with robust encryption protocols including WireGuard and OpenVPN.
Is Cyberghost cheaper than NordVPN?
Yes, CyberGhost does come at a cheaper price than NordVPN, but then it lacks in its service too among the two options.
To read more about NordVPN, check out our NordVPN Review.