Cyberghost vs Surfshark: thorough comparison in 2023

Do you want to be sure that your information and web traffic remain safe while you surf the web? Then VPN (Virtual Private Network) services should be on your radar. These encrypted tunnels have several uses, such as allowing access to inaccessible material, evading censorship, and more. However, knowing which VPN service to choose might take a lot of work, given the abundance of options.

Here, we'll contrast the two market leaders, Surfshark and CyberGhost, side by side. We'll determine who offers the finest services by testing them and evaluating their performance across several key metrics in our CyberGhost vs Surfshark comparison. We'll show you which VPN is better and help make your decision-making easier!

Which VPN is the winner?

Here’s a rundown of the key differences between the subjects of this comparison.

• For safe VPN connection, Surfshark has a fully protected interface and various privacy options.
• Surfshark VPN provides better customer service and keeps updating the information on all portals.
• CyberGhost VPN is super affordable, although Surfshark is very reasonable.
• Surfshark VPN is the best regarding server specifications, connections, and download and upload speeds.

Winner

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CyberGhost vs Surfshark: a general comparison

Surfshark VPN is a solid option if you want a reliable and well-performing provider to protect your privacy. The service boasts an impressive server network, cutting-edge technologies, and a wide variety of excellent security features. You can even use the service to secure an unlimited number of devices.

On the other hand, CyberGhost VPN, one of the most reliable and reasonably-priced VPN services, deserves serious consideration. It's a trustworthy VPN service, using only the most advanced encryption methods. Additionally, it is based in Romania and keeps no user records, a fact confirmed by an independent audit.

Servers and performance

CyberGhost has over 9299 servers across 91 different countries. Wow, that's a wide variety of possibilities! This is an excellent perk if you prioritize access to loads of different IP addresses and a variety of foreign content.

On the flip side, the 3200+ servers available from Surfshark in 100+ countries are astounding. The abundance of country options stems from the fact that some servers are virtual. Additionally, connection performance is excellent, thanks to the inclusion of WireGuard and other efficiency-improving technologies.

Winner

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Server specifications

CyberGhost and Surfshark, two popular VPN services, provide robust security and privacy protections. Romania, where CyberGhost VPN has its headquarters, has no legislation requiring keeping user data.

However, the Dutch-based VPN service Surfshark exclusively uses RAM-based servers, and all of its data is deleted before each software update. Furthermore, you can get beyond restrictive firewalls and censorship using Surfshark VPN NoBorders and Camouflage modes. Also, unlike CyberGhost VPN, which is exclusively encrypts using AES (save for the Password Manager), Surfshark VPN encrypts transactions with both symmetric (AES) and asymmetric (RSA) keys.

Regarding split tunneling, CyberGhost VPN only supports Android. Conversely, Surfshark VPN grants this feature to Windows devices, too. Next, both Surfshark VPN and CyberGhost VPN provide a kill switch option, but Surfshark VPN supports more platforms. When considering privacy, Surfshark VPN looks to be the clear victor.

Winner

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Download Speed

Surfshark delivers impressive download speed. Typically upload speeds are more relevant for torrenting and rarely matter in other use cases. The Surfshark VPN standard speed is 373 Mbps and CyberGhost VPN comes close with an average of 355 Mbps. So, When it comes to speed, Surfshark is ahead of CyberGhost.

Upload Speed

You can see in the upload speed table below that Surfshark VPN and CyberGhost VPN are close rivals. However, there are some critical differences. If you look closely at the upload speed, CyberGhost dominates among the selected countries.

VPN plans and pricing

As is standard in the industry, both CyberGhost and Surfshark give excellent discounts for longer subscriptions. However, CyberGhost's two-year plan is cheaper than Surfshark, despite their monthly subscriptions being comparable in price.

Additionally, the two providers offer optional bonus security features for customers looking for more than just VPN protection. To be precise, Surfshark offers antivirus protection and enhanced privacy measures with its Surfshark One package. Meanwhile, CyberGhost customers can unlock a Security Suite for Windows.

Another crucial difference is the duration of the money-back guarantee. Surfshark customers can claim a refund within 30 days of starting a subscription. On the flip side, CyberGhost users have a more extended period (45 days), thus further cementing the provider’s claim as the more budget-friendly option.

Winner

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VPN streaming performance

When using a VPN for streaming, the servers' speed is paramount. Fortunately, Surfshark and CyberGhost have fast connections, meaning you won’t encounter extended loading times and stuttering issues. Some streaming devices won't operate with a VPN, so ensuring your TV supports them is important.

Content fans may use both VPN services to unlock their favorite streaming sites like Netflix and Disney Plus.

However, a slight edge goes to Surfshark because it offers specialized streaming servers for specific services, e.g., Netflix, HBO Max, and more. And it also allows unlimited simultaneous connections and works on multiple browser extensions. CyberGhost only allows 7 connections at a time and only works on Chrome and Firefox.

Winner

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Torrenting

Both CyberGhost and Surfshark are good VPN alternatives when it comes to torrenting. CyberGhost offers torrenting-optimized P2P servers and groups in a separate list. However, CyberGhost's torrenting speeds were ordinary, with no more than 40 Mbps (5 MB/s).

However, Surfshark stands out as a premium VPN service due to its superior performance while downloading torrents. This VPN service allows P2P file sharing across all of its servers and provides dedicated P2P servers to maximize download speeds. Surfshark's torrenting performance averages 28 MB/s, which is much faster than CyberGhost.

Winner

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VPN interface and setup

Are you torn between CyberGhost vs Surfshark for a VPN? We’ve got your back! Both VPN services have a solid reputation for ease of use, so let's compare them in depth to find the best one.

To begin, it takes some effort to see CyberGhost's server list. To see the entire list of servers, you must first fully launch the client and then maximize the window. However, Surfshark's server list is more visible and straightforward to access.

CyberGhost is superior in that it allows users to choose individual servers. Their software accurately categorizes the many different types of dedicated servers they provide. Conversely, Surfshark's location-based servers might be restrictive for certain users. There are no dedicated streaming servers available, either.

So, now you know how CyberGhost VPN differs from Surfshark. Your individual requirements and priorities must be taken into account. This comparison, however, should help you make a more educated decision.

Desktop App Review

CyberGhost VPN and Surfshark VPN offer desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.

Both these VPN services use encryption to protect your web traffic and allow you to bypass online restrictions and geo-blocked content. Surfshark's sleek and modern desktop app design makes it super competitive. The app is also well-organized, with options for quick connect, server selection, and settings all displayed clearly on the main screen. However, the CyberGhost VPN app has a simpler interface than the Surfshark VPN.

Mobile App Review

CyberGhost and Surfshark are popular VPN options offering mobile apps for Android and iOS devices. The mobile apps are almost identical to their desktop counterparts, making it easy to switch between devices with minimal effort and confusion.

With Surfshark, the app is split into four essential parts – VPN, Locations, One, and Settings. As the name suggests, the primary window is for enabling the VPN tunnel. The second one allows you to pick your desired location if quick connect is insufficient. Finally, One is for customizing Surfshark One features, while the settings menu is for playing with all other options.

CyberGhost takes a slightly different approach and keeps the main window completely uncluttered. All you'll see is information about the VPN tunnel and the cogwheel button for altering settings.

Winner

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Customer support quality

CyberGhost and Surfshark include helpful and easy-to-access customer service features, including a live chat feature and a FAQ section. When we directly compared the two, however, we found that the Surfshark live support representative was more informed and detailed in their replies.

They were super quick to respond to our concerns and clear in their explanations, and they even made sure we didn't have any more problems. In contrast, the CyberGhost representative stopped the conversation before we could read the reply.

Some of the data provided on CyberGhost's Help pages are not up-to-date, as our CyberGhost vs Surfshark comparison showed. For example, CyberGhost's server locations are incorrectly represented as 6,000 servers in 88 countries; in reality, they have 9299+ servers in 91 countries. Because of this, it's clear that updating and correcting materials is crucial.

Both VPN companies only provide support in English; however, Surfshark's knowledge base seemed more up-to-date and intuitive. Both help centers were helpful. However, CyberGhost was more out of date. Surfshark came out on top because of its cutting-edge knowledge base and kind, competent live support agent.

Winner

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Final Thoughts - which VPN wins?

CyberGhost and Surfshark are top-notch services, as shown in our comparison. We discovered that the difference was negligible in some areas, but a clear victor emerged in others, such as privacy.

Our CyberGhost vs Surfshark comparison shows that the latter is the better VPN. There's a solid reason it's considered one of the top services available. CyberGhost VPN is still a good option, but it can't match the features of the latest Surfshark version.

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