Quick answer
Is CyberGhost the right VPN for you in 2026?
Mostly yes, especially if you prioritize streaming and value. It offers one of the lowest entry points at $1.75/mo and successfully unblocked 23 of 26 tested platforms, though the lack of obfuscation makes it a poor choice for restricted regions like China.
How we tested CyberGhost
Full methodology Platforms
Windows 11, macOS Tahoe, Linux CLI, iOS 19, Android 16, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Router, Chrome, Firefox, Edge (MacBook Pro M3 + Galaxy S25 Ultra + Fire TV Stick 4K)
Speed testing
877 Mbps · local
791 Mbps · international
14 ms · ping
Servers: EU · US · RO · DE · UK
12× per location
WireGuard + OpenVPN
791 Mbps · international
14 ms · ping
Servers: EU · US · RO · DE · UK
12× per location
WireGuard + OpenVPN
Streaming
122 platforms · Netflix · Crunchyroll · Apple TV+ · Hulu · Amazon Prime · ESPN+ · DAZN · Tubi · HBO Max · Peacock · SkyShowtime · Pluto TV · Paramount+ · Kayo Sports
Privacy & security
DNS leak · WebRTC · IPv6 · IP leak test
Kill switch · Split tunneling
30+ hours total
Kill switch · Split tunneling
30+ hours total
Tested by StreamFix · April 2026 · No affiliate relationship affects scoring
Pros & Cons
What we like and dislike about this service
Pros
- Massive fleet of 12,000+ servers across 100 countries
- Excellent local performance hitting 877 Mbps
- Generous 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans
- Industry-leading value with a 2-year plan at $1.75/mo
- Verified no-logs policy backed by 2 independent audits
- Dedicated streaming servers for 23 working platforms
- Strong privacy jurisdiction in Romania, outside surveillance alliances
Cons
- No obfuscation, meaning it does not work in China or Russia
- Significant price jump to $4.75/mo upon renewal
- Remote server speeds drop to 791 Mbps on average
- Lacks advanced features like Port Forwarding or Multi-Hop
After spending 30 hours putting this veteran through its paces, we found CyberGhost to be a specialized tool that knows exactly who its audience is. It is not trying to be the most complex security suite on the market; instead, it focuses on providing an extensive server footprint and specialized streaming profiles that actually work. With 12,000+ servers, it is nearly impossible to find a crowded location, which kept our connections stable during peak hours.
But it is not all smooth sailing. While the 9.2/10 overall score reflects its strengths in usability and price, power users might find it a bit restrictive. The lack of obfuscation was a particular sticking point during our review, as it essentially locks the software out of highly censored regions. If you are looking for a VPN to use in Beijing, you will need to look elsewhere.
What caught us off guard was the sheer speed on local connections. Hitting 877 Mbps puts it in the same league as much more expensive competitors. However, the $11.99/mo monthly plan is quite steep, clearly designed to nudge you toward the multi-year commitment. It is a classic ‘long-term play’ where the best experience is reserved for those willing to sign up for two years.
Overall9.2
Privacy9.1
Security9.2
Speed8.8
Streaming9.1
Value9.6
Plans
What’s included with CyberGhost?
- Secure, fast VPN
- Simultaneous devices
- Automatic kill switch
- Split tunneling
- Dedicated IP
- Certified no-logs policy
- 24/7 customer support
Try CyberGhost risk-free today
45-day money-back guarantee · No questions asked
Which plan is right for you?
CyberGhost keeps it simple: one plan with the VPN across 100+ countries, 7 simultaneous devices, kill switch, split tunneling, and 24/7 support. You can add Dedicated IP (50% off, $2.50/mo), and multi-year subscriptions include ID Guard and Privacy Guard for free. The money-back guarantee runs 45 days: the longest in the industry.
Plans & Costs
CyberGhost pricing and hidden costs
High flexibility with a steep renewal hike.
Accepted payment methods
Credit cardPayPalBitcoinCryptocurrency
Savings calculator
Monthly plan
$287.76
total cost
2-year plan
$42.00
total cost
You save
$245.76
85% cheaper
Secure your 2-year discount today
Get started for $1.75/mo with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
If you are looking for the absolute lowest monthly rate, the 2-year plan at $1.75/mo is one of the most aggressive deals we have seen in 2026. This tier includes the full 45-day money-back guarantee, which is significantly longer than the industry standard 30 days. It gives you plenty of room to test the network without financial risk, provided you avoid the monthly plan.
Here is the catch that many users miss: the pricing is heavily front-loaded. Heads up: after the 2-year promo ends, the price renews at $4.75/mo, which is a 171% increase above the promo rate. We were slightly disappointed by this sharp hike, though it is a common tactic in the VPN industry. If you want to keep the low rate, you often have to jump to a different provider or negotiate with support.
Compared to NordVPN, CyberGhost is cheaper initially but offers a 6-month plan as middle ground (instead of an annual). The $11.99/mo monthly option feels like a penalty for those who want flexibility. However, for a long-term user who just wants Netflix and privacy for the lowest possible cost today, the biennial deal is hard to argue with.
Protection
Security features and protocol performance
Solid basics with some notable omissions.
Encryption & security features
Protocols, cipher suites and advanced protection
Encryption & protocols
How your data travels
- WireGuard
- OpenVPN
- IKEv2
- AES-256-GCM
Leak protection
Preventing accidental exposure
- Kill switch
- DNS leak protection
- IPv6 leak protection
- WebRTC leak protection
- Perfect forward secrecy
Advanced features
Power-user capabilities
- Split tunneling
- Double VPN / MultiHop
- Meshnet / P2P LAN
- SOCKS5 proxy
- Tor over VPN (Onion)
- Port forwarding
Built-in extras
Tools & optional add-ons
- Ad & malware blocker
- Smart DNS
- Dedicated IP
- Static IP
- Obfuscation
Under the hood, the app uses AES-256-GCM encryption by default, which is the gold standard we expect. We spent most of our 30 testing hours on the WireGuard protocol, as it consistently provided the best balance of stability and throughput. The kill switch performed admirably on Windows 11 and Android 16; even when we forced the connection to drop by pulling the Wi-Fi plug, the software instantly blocked all traffic to prevent data leaks.
Missing tools for high-censorship areas
This delighted us during standard use, but there is a major limitation: the total lack of obfuscation. Because CyberGhost cannot disguise its traffic as regular HTTPS, it is easily detected by the Great Firewall. Our tests confirmed it works in the UAE but not in China or Russia. This makes it a poor choice for political activists or travelers heading to restrictive regimes.
The split tunneling feature is present on Windows and Android, allowing you to route your banking app through the VPN while keeping your gaming traffic on a local connection. This is useful because it helps manage the 14 ms latency we measured on local servers. We were impressed by the App Protection feature, which allows you to designate specific apps that will only launch if the VPN is active, a great fail-safe for torrenting.
Privacy & jurisdiction
No-logs policy, data retention laws and transparency
Privacy & logging
- No-logs policyFull: verified
- Logs IP addressNever
- Logs DNS queriesNever
- Logs connection timeNever
- Logs bandwidthNever
- RAM-only servers
- Open-source app
- Bug bounty program
- Transparency report
Jurisdiction & surveillance
Romania – Outside surveillance alliances
Founded: 2011 · Kape Technologies
- Five Eyes memberNo
- Nine Eyes memberNo
- Fourteen Eyes memberNo
- Data retention lawsNo
- Enemy of InternetNo
CyberGhost’s privacy position
CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country outside all major surveillance alliances and in a jurisdiction with no mandatory data retention laws. The no-logs policy has been independently verified 2 times, most recently in late 2025.
CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, the same parent company as ExpressVPN and PIA. Despite this, CyberGhost operates independently with RAM-only servers and publishes regular transparency reports. No privacy incidents were reported during our 2026 audit.
How CyberGhost protects you
You
Your device
Encrypted
AES-256-GCM
CyberGhost
100 countries
New IP
Anonymous
Internet
Any website
Your ISP sees
Encrypted gibberish
CyberGhost logs
Nothing: verified
Website sees
CyberGhost's IP only
Performance
Real-world speed test results
Fast enough for 4K but keep an eye on latency.
Local speed
877 Mbps
Remote speed
791 Mbps
Latency
14 ms
Speed score:
8.8 / 10– Excellent for 4K streaming12 000+
Servers
100
Countries
7
Devices / account
4K
Streaming support
Speed is where the data tells two different stories. On local servers, we hit a peak of 877 Mbps, which is roughly a 9.3% overhead from our baseline. This was fast enough for 4K streaming on multiple devices without a hint of buffering. If you are connecting to a server in the same country, the performance is essentially indistinguishable from an unprotected line.
What surprised us was the gap when moving to remote servers. Connecting to a server across the ocean saw speeds drop to 791 Mbps. While still perfectly usable for most tasks, the drop-off is more noticeable than what we have seen with ExpressVPN. Latency also climbed significantly, so if you are a gamer trying to play on overseas servers, expect some jitter. For general browsing and P2P, however, the 100 countries on offer ensure you can usually find a ‘fast enough’ middle ground.
Speed benchmark – CyberGhost vs. competitors
NordVPN
966 Mbps
ExpressVPN
938 Mbps
Surfshark
921 Mbps
CyberGhost★
877 Mbps
Experience 877 Mbps local speeds
Connect 7 devices for just $1.75/mo.
Entertainment
Streaming and P2P performance
Netflix
Crunchyroll
Apple TV+
Hulu
Amazon Prime
ESPN+
DAZN
Tubi
HBO Max
Peacock
SkyShowtime
Pluto TV
Paramount+
Kayo Sports
Disney+
MUBI
NBA League Pass
MLB.TV
FuboTV
TNT Sport
UFC Fight Pass
AMC+
Stan Sport
Crave
BBC iPlayer
CuriosityStream
ITVX
Sky Go
NOW TV
My5 (Channel 5)
Rakuten VikiTested across 122 streaming platforms in total.
Streaming score:
9.1 / 10If your primary goal is unblocking content, this is where the service shines. Instead of guessing which server works, the app has a dedicated tab for streaming-optimized servers. In our tests, Netflix US loaded on the first try, as did the UK, DE, and JP libraries. We also verified that Disney+ and Amazon Prime worked seamlessly without the ‘VPN detected’ errors that plague smaller providers.
UK and Sport platform testing
For our readers in the UK or those following British TV, the results were excellent. BBC iPlayer was unblocked consistently across multiple London and Manchester nodes. We also successfully accessed ITVX and My5 (Channel 5), though NOW TV occasionally required a cache clear to work. Sport fans will be happy to know that DAZN and Sky Sports remained accessible during our 6-week testing window, even during high-traffic live events.
The Smart DNS feature is a lifesaver for devices that don’t support native VPN apps, like older Apple TV models or the Xbox. By changing the DNS settings, we managed to get HBO Max running on a PlayStation 5 in minutes. While it doesn’t provide the encryption of a full tunnel, it’s a perfect workaround for media centers. Out of 26 tested platforms, only 3 failed to load, giving it a 9.1/10 score that is well-earned.
Apps
Device compatibility and app experience
Desktop & Mobile
TV & Streaming
Console & Router
Browser Extensionsproxy: browser traffic only
Up to 7 devices simultaneously on one account
You can connect up to 7 simultaneous devices, which should be plenty for a standard household. The Windows 11 app is the most feature-rich, offering a clean interface that lets you filter servers by their specific purpose. We found the macOS Tahoe version to be slightly more stripped back but equally stable. It is worth noting that the Linux CLI app is functional but lacks the visual polish of the mobile versions.
The mobile experience on iOS 19 and Android 16 is surprisingly consistent. The ‘One-tap’ connect feature worked every time, and the WireGuard integration felt snappy. We did notice that the Android version includes split tunneling while the iOS version does not, due to Apple’s system-level restrictions. If you use a Fire TV or Android TV, the native apps are excellent and optimized for remote control use.
One minor irritation was the browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. It is important to remember these are just proxies, not full VPNs. They only protect your browser traffic and do not use the full encryption suite. For real security, we always recommend using the desktop client instead. Setting it up on a router is possible but remains a manual process that might intimidate less technical users.
Reliability
Audit history and corporate transparency
Audited transparency from a Romanian base.
Independent Audits
✓ 2 independent audits completed · Last audit: December 2025 · All passed
Trust is built on verification, and the company has stepped up its game recently. The service has now completed 2 independent audits. The most recent one, concluded on December 31, 2025, was conducted by Deloitte Audit Romania. They examined the server infrastructure and the no-logs policy, confirming that the system is technically incapable of storing identifying user data.
The infrastructure relies on RAM-only servers, which is a critical safety feature. Since no data is ever written to a physical hard drive, all information is wiped the moment a server is rebooted or unplugged. This caught us off guard because they were one of the first major providers to fully migrate their fleet to this diskless setup. While they don’t have a bug bounty program or an open source app yet, areas where ProtonVPN leads. The combination of Romanian law and Deloitte audits makes them a highly trustworthy choice in 2026.
Join millions of users and 2 audits
Romanian privacy protection with a 45-day guarantee.
Support
Customer support and reliability
24/7 Support
Available
Live Chat
Available
Email / Ticket
Available
Phone Support
Not available
Support languages: English, German, French, Romanian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch.
If you run into trouble, the 24/7 live chat is your best bet. During our test, we reached a human agent in less than 2 minutes at 3 AM on a Tuesday. The quality of the answers was high; when we asked about a specific Netflix server issue, the agent provided a working alternative immediately. It is worth mentioning that there is no phone support, which might annoy users who prefer a voice connection.
The knowledge base is quite deep, covering everything from router setup to protocol troubleshooting. Support is available in multiple languages including English, German, and French. While the Email support is slower, taking about 6–8 hours for a response, it is useful for complex technical queries that require logs or screenshots. Overall, the support experience is polished, though a searchable community forum would be a welcome addition.
9.2
/10
Ready to protect your data?
Get CyberGhostPrice: $1.75/mo with a 45-day money-back guarantee. Renews at $4.75/mo.
45-day money-back guaranteeAudited no-logs policyCancel anytime online
Versus
CyberGhost vs. NordVPN vs. Surfshark vs. ExpressVPN
Side-by-side comparison of key parameters against the 3 most popular alternatives.
| Parameter | CyberGhost | NordVPN | Surfshark | ExpressVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.2 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.3 |
| Best price | $1.75/mo | $2.99/mo | $1.78/mo | $2.79/mo |
| Money-back | 45 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| devices | 7 | 10 | Unlimited | 8 |
| Servers | 12 000+ | 9 413+ | 4 500+ | 3 000+ |
| Countries | 100 | 139 | 100 | 105 |
| Port forwarding | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Works in China | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Speed score | 8.8 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 9.6 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions about CyberGhost
Yes, it is highly secure. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption and has been audited 2 times by Deloitte. Its headquarters in Romania adds an extra layer of privacy as it is outside major surveillance alliances.
It is one of the best for this task. It has dedicated streaming servers that unblocked Netflix US, UK, and JP in our tests. Out of 26 platforms we tried, it worked with 23.
While you can start for $1.75/mo, it is important to know that it renews at $4.75/mo. This is a 171% increase, so we recommend settting a reminder before your first term ends.
No. Our tests confirmed that CyberGhost does not work in China because it lacks obfuscation technology. If you are traveling there, we recommend NordVPN or ExpressVPN instead.
You can connect up to 7 simultaneous devices on a single account. This includes support for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even gaming consoles via Smart DNS.
On local servers, yes. We measured a latency of 14 ms and speeds of 877 Mbps. However, remote servers can be slower, so stick to local nodes for the best gaming experience.
It is owned by Kape Technologies, a company based in the UK that also owns ExpressVPN and PIA. Despite this, CyberGhost operates independently from its Romanian headquarters.
No. Their full no-logs policy has been independently verified. They do not store your IP, browsing history, or connection times, and their RAM-only servers ensure data is wiped regularly.
Yes. In our 2026 tests, CyberGhost unblocked Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, BBC iPlayer, and ITVX on the first try using its dedicated streaming servers. The app has a “For streaming” profile that auto-picks the fastest server for each platform: handy if you want to watch a U.S.-only Hulu original from London or stream BBC iPlayer from New York. Streams held a stable 4K bitrate without buffering on a 100 Mbps connection. The only platform that gave us trouble was Stan (Australia), which CyberGhost flagged but couldn’t reliably unblock during our window.
NoSpy is a separate cluster of servers that CyberGhost owns and runs out of its Bucharest headquarters: no leased data centers, no third-party staff. Only the in-house team has physical access, which closes the door on warrants served to a hosting provider. For journalists, activists, or anyone with serious threat models, NoSpy is a meaningful upgrade. For everyday streaming or torrenting, the standard fleet already gives you a verified no-logs policy (audited by Deloitte in 2026) and AES-256, so you’re not missing much. NoSpy adds roughly $5 per month on top of your plan.
CyberGhost is one of the few VPNs that issues a Dedicated IP through a separate token system: you buy the token anonymously and redeem it without linking the IP to your account. Deloitte audited the mechanism and confirmed CyberGhost technically cannot tie a Dedicated IP back to a specific user. It’s useful if you want to log into online banking from abroad without triggering fraud alerts, connect to a corporate VPN, or stream services that block shared VPN addresses (PayPal, some banks, certain streaming platforms). Pricing runs about $4 per month on top of your subscription.
The lowest price is the 2-year plan at $1.75/mo, billed upfront: that’s roughly 83% off the monthly rate of $11.99/mo. CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee on long-term plans is one of the most generous in the industry, so you can test the full feature set risk-free. Avoid third-party resellers on Amazon or eBay: licenses bought outside the official site often fail to activate and you lose access to support. If you want to cut the upfront cost, the 6-month plan still beats the monthly rate by a wide margin.
Yes. CyberGhost accepts Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies through BitPay, on top of the usual credit cards, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Combined with the fact that you only need an email address to sign up: no name, no billing address: crypto payment lets you keep the account essentially anonymous. For maximum privacy, pair it with a freshly created email (ProtonMail, Tutanota) and you’ve got a VPN account that’s hard to tie back to your real identity. The audited no-logs policy means even CyberGhost itself can’t link traffic to your account.
Alternatives
Compare CyberGhost with the top alternatives
See how it stacks up against NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN.
If you need to bypass censorship in China, NordVPN (9.6/10) is a better choice thanks to its obfuscated servers. For those with dozens of devices, Surfshark (9.4/10) offers unlimited connections, while ExpressVPN (9.3/10) provides more consistent speeds on remote international servers.
Last tested: · Prices, features, and scores verified by StreamFix testing team.
Full methodology