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CyberGhost vs NordVPN Review

Cyebrghost vs Nordvpn

With widespread tracking, hacking, and restricted access to content, online security is more important than ever. Investing in a VPN can significantly improve your online security and enable you to access the internet without limitations. 

However, you can't just sign up for any VPN service; you need to pick one with a good reputation for providing excellent service. 

Both CyberGhost and NordVPN fit this bill. CyberGhost operates 7000 VPN servers in 112 locations across 90 countries. Because there are so many servers, you'll always be able to find one close to you. 

CyberGhost categorizes its servers based on what you want to do, which is one of the things that sets it apart from other VPNs. 

For example, you can choose from various servers if you're going to stream. Other servers are available if you want to download files or browse anonymously. This may not seem like a big deal, but having specialized servers can help you have a better time. 

NordVPN has over 5000 VPN servers in 59 different countries. Streaming, downloading, and internet security are all optimized on the company's servers. 

NordVPN is committed to offering the best and fastest VPN service possible. The company announced in 2021 that it would switch to diskless RAM servers, which are much faster. 

Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, and Linux apps are available for CyberGhost and NordVPN. In addition, these VPNs are available as Chrome and Firefox extensions. They're also compatible with routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.

Speed Test

One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a VPN service is speed. Some VPNs have the potential to slow down your internet connection. Fortunately, CyberGhost and NordVPN are both known for their lightning-fast connections. This means you won't have any problems with your favorite website's loading speed.

Many factors influence the speed of a VPN service, including the server and VPN protocol you select. We experimented with different servers using the WireGuard VPN protocols for this test.

In our tests, CyberGhost's average speed for nearby servers was 390Mbps. The internet speed dropped to around 50Mbps when using remote servers. For nearby servers, NordVPN, on the other hand, recorded an average speed of 410Mbps. NordVPN outperformed CyberGhost with an average speed of 120Mbps when switching to a remote server.

As a result, NordVPN comes out on top in terms of speed. CyberGhost, on the other hand, performs admirably.

Features

What do you get when you sign up for either CyberGhost or NordVPN? Here’s a complete list of the features that both VPN services provide.

CyberGhost

  • Unlimited bandwidth; no throttling
  • AES 256-bit Encryption
  • Supports up to 7 simultaneous connections
  • Up to 6788 servers across the world
  • Automatic Kill Switch
  • Ad Blocker
  • DNS & IP Leak Protection
  • Dedicated IPs
  • Multiple protocols; OpenVPN (TCP vs. UDP), IKEv2, WireGuard, L2TP/IPSec
  • No logging
  • Torrenting & P2P Supports
  • Access to geo-blocked content
  • Hide My Address
  • Split tunneling
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 45-day money-back guarantee

NordVPN

  • Unlimited bandwidth; no throttling
  • AES 256-bit encryption
  • Supports up to 6 simultaneous connections
  • No logging
  • DNS & IP Leak Protection
  • Cybersec (malware and phishing protection)
  • Ad Blocker
  • Over 5400 servers
  • Multiple protocols; NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec
  • Automatic Kill Switch
  • Access to geo-blocked content
  • Onion over VPN
  • Double IP Protection
  • Torrent & P2P Supports
  • Hide IP Address
  • Split tunneling
  • 24/7 customer support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Many of the features of CyberGhost and NordVPN are similar. NordVPN, on the other hand, has some features that CyberGhost does not, such as Cybersec, Onion over VPN, Double IP Protection, and more. As a result, NordVPN comes out on top in this category.

Reliability

People use VPNs for three main reasons: security, access to restricted content, and anonymity on the internet. In each case, dependability is critical. Your safety is jeopardized if your protection drops. You won't access restricted content if the server connection is lost. 

In terms of reliability, CyberGhost and NordVPN both get full marks. However, both VPNs' performance isn't awe-inspiring. In addition, when using distant servers, CyberGhost's network can be a little unreliable. 

However, you can easily avoid this by utilizing those in your immediate vicinity. Both options work well, whether you're using a VPN for streaming, browsing anonymously, or boosting your online security. 

CyberGhost was acquired a few years ago by Kape Technologies, a company that has been chastised for bundling adware into downloads. However, this has did not affect the VPN service's dependability. 

CyberGhost and NordVPN have never been the victims of a significant security breach, so they are considered trustworthy. However, it isn't easy to choose between CyberGhost and NordVPN regarding reliability. In this category, it's a tie.

Security

CyberGhost VPN and NordVPN have cutting-edge security features. Here’s what you stand to benefit from by signing up for these VPN platforms.

CyberGhost has the following security features:

  • AES-256-bit Encryption: This is the encryption standard in the VPN industry today. CyberGhost claims to use military-grade encryption.' Your internet service provider (ISP) or any third party cannot spy on your online activities if you use this type of encryption.
  • VPN Protocols: OpenVPN (TCP vs. UDP), IKEv2, WireGuard, and L2TP/IPSec are among the VPN protocols supported by CyberGhost. These are some of the industry's best protocols. WireGuard is one of the world's most lightweight and fast VPN protocols, and CyberGhost supports it.
  • DNS & IP Leak Protection: This feature ensures that you are entirely safe online and are not tracked.
  • Automatic Kill Switch: This is essential for every VPN service. It ensures that your security is never compromised, even for a split second.

Hide IP Address: When you use CyberGhost, your IP address is concealed and replaced with another one, so you can't be tracked.

The security features of NordVPN include:

  • AES-256-bit Encryption: NordVPN also uses AES 256-bit encryption. NordVPN also comes with SHA1 authentication and a 2,043-bit key exchange apart from this encryption standard.
  • VPN Protocols: Different VPN protocols are supported by NordVPN, including NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec. The WireGuard protocol underpins NordLynx. The company improved WireGuard's security flaws to make it more secure.
  • DNS & IP Leak Protection: This feature provides additional security to keep you completely safe online.
  • Automatic Kill Switch: This ensures that your security is never compromised, even if your VPN security is compromised.
  • CyberSec: This feature is unique to NordVPN. It provides malware and phishing protection.
  • Onion over VPN: This feature allows you to use NordVPN with the Onion network (Tor).
  • Hide IP Address: NordVPN masks your IP address by masking it with a different one. This ensures that you are not tracked and that your safety is guaranteed.

Double Protection: This unique feature allows you to route your internet traffic through multiple NordVPN servers.

CyberGhost includes all of the essential security features you'd expect from a VPN. NordVPN consists of all of these basic security features and a lot more. As a result, NordVPN emerges as the clear winner in this category.

Logging Policies

CyberGhost VPN adheres to a strict log-free policy. Because the company is based in Romania, it is not subject to any legal pressure to reverse its anti-logging stance. Unlike some VPN providers that claim to have a no-logging policy but store user data indefinitely, CyberGhost never stores data and does not login in real-time. 

Your IP address, the servers you use, the times you log in and log out, and other information are not kept on file by the company. NordVPN also adheres to a strict log-free policy. The Panama-based company keeps no information about its users or their online activities. 

Because there are no laws in Panama requiring companies to store user data, NordVPN is not legally obligated to do so and is not under government pressure. NordVPN is in the process of switching to diskless RAM servers. This demonstrates its commitment to its no-logs policy and providing users with a fast VPN connection. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers audits NordVPN every year to ensure that it maintains its no-logs policy. AV-Test audited CyberGhost in 2019 to see if it adhered to its no-logging policy. However, because the service is not audited annually, it is impossible to know if it adheres to its no-logs policy. 

A third-party audit is not included in CyberGhost's Transparency Report, released every three months. Without a doubt, CyberGhost and NordVPN both adhere to a strict no-logs policy. NordVPN, on the other hand, is transparent enough to opt for annual audits, making it the winner in this category.

Jurisdiction

CyberGhost's headquarters are in Romania. The country is an excellent location for a VPN service provider because it is not a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. 

CyberGhost's parent company, Kape Technologies, is based on the Isle of Man, but it is not a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, nor is it the location of CyberGhost's headquarters. To put it another way, CyberGhost can never be forced to hand over user information. 

The headquarters of NordVPN is located in Panama. However, it's worth noting that Panama isn't a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance, and its data retention laws aren't well-defined. 

This effectively ensures that NordVPN will not be forced to reveal any information about its users under any circumstances. 

It's difficult to say which company is the clear winner in terms of jurisdiction because both CyberGhost and NordVPN are based in countries where companies are not required to store or provide authorities with user data.

Streaming Capabilities (Netflix, Hulu, etc)

Both CyberGhost and NordVPN are excellent VPNs for accessing geo-restricted content and streaming services. You can unblock content from all major streaming platforms with CyberGhost and NordVPN, including Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, HBO Now, ESPN+, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many others. 

Unfortunately, some streaming platforms, such as Sky TV, do not support CyberGhost. NordVPN, on the other hand, can give you access to Sky TV and a lot more. 

Even when using servers far away from your location, NordVPN works perfectly for streaming. However, when using CyberGhost to stream, the video quality isn't always good when using distant servers. As a result, NordVPN comes out on top in this category.

Torrenting & File Sharing

Torrenting and peer-to-peer file sharing are both supported by CyberGhost. However, some CyberGhost servers have slow speeds that make torrenting and P2P file sharing difficult. Dedicated servers, on the other hand, provide significantly faster performance. 

These dedicated servers have the necessary security features and can handle most download and upload speeds. 

The only security flaw for users looking to use CyberGhost for torrenting and P2P file sharing is the lack of a SOCKS5 proxy, which is the only security flaw. On most of its servers, NordVPN allows torrenting and peer-to-peer file sharing. 

The company's servers include all necessary security features, including a SOCKS5 proxy. As a result, NordVPN is the clear winner in this category.

Pricing & Plans

CyberGhost and NordVPN have multiple pricing plans to suit different users.

CyberGhost Pricing:

  • 1 month - $12.99
  • 1 Year - $45 for the first year, and $90 annually

CyberGhost also offers CyberGhost VPN Extra, which includes antivirus, security updater, privacy guard, and a password manager, among other things. CyberGhost VPN Extra is $55 for the first year and $110 for the following year. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, and Bitcoin are among the payment methods accepted by CyberGhost.

NordVPN Pricing:

Nordvpn pricing plans
  • 1 month - $11.95
  • 1 year - $59.04
  • 2 years - $89.04

Regardless of which subscription plan you choose, you'll get all of NordVPN's standard features. Add-on features such as NordPass and NordLocker are available for $1.49 each. Debit/credit cards, cryptocurrencies, and Google Pay are all accepted by NordVPN. NordVPN is a little less expensive than CyberGhost. As a result, NordVPN is the clear winner in this category.

Refunds Policy

If you are unhappy with CyberGhost's service, you can get your money back within 45 days. The refund procedure is simple to follow. When you contact the company via its live chat service and request a refund, it is processed immediately and without question. 

If you have a CyberGhost monthly subscription, you have 14 days to decide to keep the service (not 45 days). 

The procedure for requesting a refund, on the other hand, is pretty much the same. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. The only stipulation is that you submit a refund request within 30 days of making a payment. 

Subscriptions purchased through third-party stores are not eligible for refunds from CyberGhost or NordVPN. Due to the similar refund policies of both companies, there is no clear winner in this category.

Value for Money

It can be challenging to tell if a VPN service is a good value for money because it is subjective - it depends on what you want to do with the VPN. 

Both CyberGhost and NordVPN provide excellent value for money if you wish to stream content, bypass ISP throttling, improve your online security, or browse the web anonymously. 

The main difference is that when you use servers far away from your location, CyberGhost's connection speeds aren't the best. 

It could be argued that NordVPN provides better value for money because you get better service for a fraction of the cost. As a result, NordVPN is the clear winner in this category.

Conclusion (Overall Winner)

In our opinion, NordVPN is the clear winner in this category. The new platform offers increased speed, more features, lower prices, and stream content, all welcome additions. 

CyberGhost is an excellent VPN platform in terms of performance. However, comparatively speaking, it is a distant second to NordVPN. 

A reliable virtual private network (VPN), such as NordVPN, is a must-have in today's digital age. 

Although the company enjoys a competitive advantage, it is constantly striving to improve the overall quality of its services.

The Future of Online Security
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By: Michael Miller
Michael is the CEO of VPN Online, one of the fastest-growing media companies in the cyber-security space. VPN Online was started in 2019 after Michael consulted with many Fortune 500 companies and saw the lack of understanding about cybersecurity many of their employees had.