CyberGhost vs NordVPN: 2024 December comparison

If you have tried searching for the best VPNs in 2023, then you know CyberGhost and NordVPN are consistently among the top 5 recommended solutions. What’s not always clear is what distinguishes these two VPNs. Why should you choose one over the other?

So, we thought we should do a comprehensive NordVPN vs CyberGhost comparison to determine which is better.

In this post, we will go through all the important features of a VPN and see how the two VPNs stack up against each other. Which is faster, which is more secure, and which has more features? We will also be exploring what other people are saying about their experience using each VPN to eliminate personal preference bias.

We will declare the winner for each category and by the end of this post, you will have the perfect idea of which VPN between the two suits your specific needs.

CyberGhost vs. NordVPN – key features compared

Interface Overview

We won’t talk much about the installation process because it’s pretty straightforward. First, you pick a pricing plan that works for you. A download link will be sent to your email once the purchase is confirmed. Or, you can just download the app from the VPN’s official site.

Once the app is downloaded, follow the on-screen installation instructions to complete the setup process.

When it comes to the user interface, both CyberGhost and NordVPN have done a great job of making their VPNs user-friendly. Everything is well labeled so you always know where to click to get what you want.

For instance, when you first launch CyberGhost it opens up the Quick Connect interface that helps you connect to the nearest and fastest server.

If you want to connect to a specific server location or access additional CyberGhost features, there is an expand arrow that will open up two new panes. A middle pane with the complete list of servers and a pane on the left with extra CyberGhost features like specialized servers, privacy settings, and smart rules.

NordVPN has a similar layout, but it’s more compact. When you launch the app you can see everything at first glance.

In the middle, you have a quick connect window with a drop-down arrow that lets you access specialized servers and a list of all servers. On the right, you have a map view of the server locations. And on the left, you have a small pane with icons leading to additional NordVPN features such as a Threat monitor, Dark web protection, and VPN settings.

Both VPNs come with dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, and the Amazon Fire Stick. You will have no trouble using the apps.

NordVPN and CyberGhost have set up their applications such that even a complete beginner can operate the VPN by simply following their intuition.

CyberGhost vs NordVPN speed

Using a VPN will always affect your connection speeds due to encryption and also because your internet traffic now has to pass through the VPN servers before reaching its destination. The further away a VPN server is from you, the more the drop in your internet speeds.

Server load will also affect your speed. The more people that are connected to one server the higher the competition for bandwidth and the slower your connection speeds.

The goal is to find a VPN that has the lowest speed drop percentage.

And while both CyberGhost and NordVPN are great choices when it comes to speeds, one has a significantly higher drop rate than the other one. Yes, we did a speed test.

First, we tested our speeds before connecting to a VPN to establish the baseline speed, and then we tested the speeds after connecting to the VPN. The tests were done using the recommended servers for both VPNs, and servers in the US and UK.

These were the results.

Internet speed before connecting to a VPN – 35 Mbps download, 28 Mbps upload.

NordVPN vs CyberGhost US server speeds

NordVPN vs CyberGhost UK server speeds

Remember, this is not a direct representation of how the two VPNs will affect your connection speeds. It all depends on the server location and server load.

However, the results should give you a good idea of which VPN offers better speed performance.

In all our tests, NordVPN had the least effect on the internet speed, registering a 35% average decline in speed while CyberGhost resulted in a 68% average drop in speed.

If you have fast internet speeds, it won’t matter which VPN you use, you will still enjoy fast connections suitable for streaming, gaming, and use by multiple people. But if your baseline speed is already below average, like mine, NordVPN will be the better choice because it does not lead to significant drops that could ruin your streaming or gaming experience.

Comparison of features

Now let's dive into the set of features that each VPN packs as we try to determine how the VPNs differ and which one comes out on top.

Server locations

CyberGhost has 10200+ servers in 100 countries. That’s significantly more than any other VPN in the market. The good thing about this is you are likely to find a server that is close to you for increased connection speeds.

This is especially true if you are in the Asia Pacific region, Middle East, or Africa since the VPN has a bigger presence in these regions.

In Europe and the Americas, the VPNs are evenly matched in terms of server distribution.

NordVPN comes with 5900+ servers distributed across 60 countries.

Dedicated IP address

Both VPNs have dedicated IP addresses but it comes as an add-on. You need to pay extra for it. A dedicated IP address comes with additional benefits which include improved speed, security, and reliability.

A dedicated IP address is more efficient in unblocking streaming services and other websites. Since you are the only one using the address you don’t have to worry about it being blocked. You can even use it to access your online financial accounts without worrying it will get flagged as suspicious activity.

CyberGhost has dedicated IP addresses for 9 different countries which include the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Singapore, Japan, and Australia.

NordVPN dedicated IP addresses are available for 7 different countries which include the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Japan.

NordVPN dedicated IP costs $4.19 per month while CyberGhost costs $4 per month.

Web filters

Both CyberGhost and NordVPN come with web filters that help block malicious websites, prevent web tracking and also block intrusive and malicious adware.

However, NordVPN’s Threat Monitor goes the extra step to detect and block infected files before you can install them. It won’t replace a dedicated Antivirus solution though.

While testing the VPNs we noticed that CyberGhost’s ad blocker didn’t effectively block all the ads.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a handy feature that allows you to use VPN connections selectively on specific apps by choosing apps that you don’t want to connect to the VPN. For instance, you can configure The feature is only available on NordVPN.

On CyberGhost you only get Smart rules which only works for websites. You can’t use it to make exceptions for specific apps like NordVPN does.

Dark web monitor

Both VPNs have a dark web monitor to notify you if any personal information such as your email, passwords, or contacts has been involved in a data breach and exposed on the dark web.

CyberGhost beats NordVPN here in that the feature is available on all their pricing plans.

On NordVPN you only get dark web monitoring on the Plus and Complete packages. On the upside, these plans also come with a cross-platform password manager to justify their higher cost.

CyberGhost has more servers and covers more regions with its dedicated IP addresses but NordVPN packs more extra features.

Compatibility with various online services

Before you purchase a VPN you need to ensure it supports various use cases such as streaming, torrenting, and it can unblock geo-blocked websites. We tested both NordVPN and CyberGhost to see whether they can bypass popular online services without getting detected and blocked.

Online games

Online games such as Valorant, Fortnite, or even Candy crush are great ways to pass time but they also come with a risk. They expose your real IP address which malicious users can use to track you or execute a DDoS attack.

Any VPN can mask your IP address and encrypt your traffic but can it guarantee lag-free gaming? We tested both CyberGhost and NordVPN on Valorant to find out.

CyberGhost comes with specialized gaming servers so you already know where to look to find the perfect server. NordVPN, on the other hand, doesn’t feature dedicated gaming servers, but we didn’t experience any problem gaming with the normal servers.

Here are some tips for optimum gaming performance when using a VPN. First, ensure that the VPN server you connect to is located near your game server. This minimizes the distance that your data has to travel which effectively provides low ping. Next, make sure the connection protocol is set to WireGuard since it offers the best speeds.

We also used both VPNs to access FanDuel which is only available in limited states in the US and they both worked perfectly.

Torrenting

Torrenting reveals your IP address to the public exposing you to various forms of cyber-attacks. It can also lead to internet throttling by your ISP and issues with copyright police if a file you downloaded on a torrenting site is pirated.

A VPN protects you by hiding your real IP address and encrypting your data so that neither your ISP nor online spies can see what you are doing online.

Both CyberGhost and NordVPN come with dedicated P2P servers that are optimized for fast torrent downloads. They also have kill switches that will disconnect your internet if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly to prevent your real IP address and unencrypted data from leaking.

But NordVPN does not stop there. It has another kill switch that you can configure to close a specific application instead of disconnecting your internet. You can have it automatically close your BitTorrent client if the VPN disconnects.

Moreover, NordVPN supports split tunneling. You can configure it to only protect your Torrent downloads while you browse normally on other apps.

Both CyberGhost and NordVPN have SOCKS5 proxy that you can utilize to get better download speeds. Note, SOCKS5 hides your real IP address but it doesn’t encrypt your data.

Streaming

You can’t go wrong with either CyberGhost or NordVPN when it comes to streaming. They both offer great speed performance to ensure buffer-free streaming even in full HD. They are also both great at bypassing the VPN Ban used by popular streaming services.

Additionally, they offer Smart DNS to use in unblocking streaming services on devices like Smart TVs and consoles that don’t natively support VPN use.

We tested the two VPNs by using them to unblock Netflix.

CyberGhost has specialized servers which means you don’t have to test multiple servers to find one that can successfully unlock different content libraries.

But as was the case with gaming, we didn’t struggle to find a working NordVPN server. The first US server we selected worked in unblocking not just Netflix but also Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.

The same was true with BBC iPlayer. We didn’t have to test multiple UK servers to find one that worked.

Although there is also one minor detail that we discovered that would have probably gone unnoticed if we weren’t comparing the two VPNs back to back. When using CyberGhost there is a small delay before the video starts streaming and it took a bit longer to get to full HD than when using NordVPN.

Both VPNs are great for streaming, torrenting, and unblocking geo-blocked websites and entertainment content. However, NordVPN outmatches CyberGhost in terms of speeds meaning it will be the better bet in all categories.

CyberGhost vs NordVPN: which is more secure?

In terms of general security, there isn’t much to distinguish CyberGhost and NordVPN. They both use the AES-256 cipher for encryption which is impossible to crack.

However, NordVPN packs some extra security features that make all the difference. Double VPN and Onion over VPN. As the name suggests Double VPN encrypts your internet traffic twice and is perfect for journalists, whistleblowers, or anybody whose anonymity is a matter of life and death.

Onion over VPN affords you the benefit of Tor anonymity coupled with VPN security without having to download a Tor browser separately.

NordVPN also comes with obfuscated servers that disguise VPN traffic to look like normal traffic. This makes it the perfect VPN to use in countries like China with internet censorship.

Privacy

CyberGhost and NordVPN are based in Romania and Panama respectively, which are privacy-conscious countries with no mandatory data retention laws.

And to ensure that you remain completely anonymous the two VPNs do not store information that can be used to identify you like your real IP address or connection time stamps.

In the past, NordVPN has always been our top choice for privacy because their no-log policy is audited by a third-party (PwC).

However, CyberGhost has stepped up its game and its zero-logs policy has been validated by a third-party (Deloitte) as well.

I tested both VPNs for DNS, IP, and WebRTC leaks and they all passed. Make sure that the kill switch is enabled so that in case the VPN disconnects unexpectedly it can kill the internet so that unencrypted data from your apps cannot leak.

Both VPNs are fully committed to providing you with complete anonymity while online. However, NordVPN outmatches CyberGhost when it comes to extra security features.

VPN plans and pricing

Both NordVPN and CyberGhost are available in 3 plans although they are packaged differently.

Plan	CyberGhost	NordVPN
1-Month plan	$12.99/month	Standard - $4.59/month, Plus - $13.99/month, Complete - $14.99/month
6-Month plan	$6.99/month	N/A
1-Year plan	N/A	Standard - $4.59, Plus - $5.49, Complete - $7.49
2-Year plan	Best Value $2.19/month	Best Value Standard - $2.99, Plus - $3.89, Complete - $5.89
	Check Pricing	Check Pricing

As you will notice, the longer the plan, the more money you save. NordVPN is cheaper in the short term, but in the long term, CyberGhost is cheaper. That said, the difference is insignificant, especially when you consider all the extra benefits you get with NordVPN.

The most important question when it comes to price should be whether you are getting value for your money.

CyberGhost supports up to 7 simultaneous connections with a single subscription while NordVPN supports 6 devices. The good news is that you can protect unlimited devices by configuring the VPN on your router. This only counts as a single connection.

But the best part is that both VPNs come with a money-back guarantee meaning you can request a refund if the VPN does not meet your expectations. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee while CyberGhost has 15 days for their monthly plan and 45 days for their other plans.

Customer support

Both NordVPN and CyberGhost have very helpful support that is available through 24/7 live chat. They will respond to your query in minutes. You can also contact them via email but the response is not as fast. We had to wait for more than 5 hours to hear back.

When the live chat support can’t solve your issue, a ticket is created and you are contacted via email. In this case, the response will be more prompt than if you contact them directly via email.

Both VPNs have also done a fantastic job in creating user guides and solutions you can leverage to solve various issues without needing to contact support. Like, say you want to learn how to configure Smart DNS on your smart TV or how to install and use the VPN on Linux OS.

CyberGhost vs NordVPN - Reddit users' recommendations

Still not sure what to pick? See what other users are saying about the two VPNs.

NordVPN – the good and the bad

A comment from a NordVPN user of over two years. The VPN works great on their laptop running Linux CLI and Android tablet and phone. They also use the VPN for streaming through Fire TV. Their only problem was when they had to reconnect servers after getting detected by their streaming service.

This other user has also been using the platform for over a year now and their only issue is connection drops on phone prompting server change.

Now, if there is one thing I’ve come to love about NordVPN is their commitment to user satisfaction. I can bet you that all the issues raised above have already been fixed with new updates to the VPN.

CyberGhost – the good and the bad

One user praised CyberGhost for its massive server list and WireGuard implementation. And while the requested third-party audit has been done, this VPN still misses both multi-hop and split tunneling for apps.

After using CyberGhost for two years, this user has started experiencing issues on his iPhone, and customer support has not been very helpful.

NordVPN vs CyberGhost – which one is the winner?

By now you already have an idea of which VPN wins this battle. Sure, CyberGhost will get the job done in terms of secure browsing, unlocking streaming services, and accessing geo-restricted content at an affordable price. However, NordVPN is the winner because it can also achieve all this and more. It offers better security, it has more features, and it has the best connection speeds.

It might be more expensive than CyberGhost but you get value for your money.

Still, I think the independent audit is a major step for CyberGhost that could signify bigger things to come in 2023. We will be following up with all the key developments from both NordVPN and CyberGhost and we will keep you updated if anything happens to tip the scale.

Category	CyberGhost	NordVPN
Speed	✖️	✔️
Features	✖️	✔️
Protection	✖️	✔️
Streaming	✔️	✔️
Torrenting	✖️	✔️
Pricing	✔️	✖️
Platforms	✔️	✔️
Ease of use	✔️	✔️
Customer support	✔️	✔️

FAQ