CyberGhost vs. PrivateVPN – At a Glance
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a reasonably-priced VPN provider, offering comprehensive native app support, an impressive global server network, and reliable access to geo-controlled content.
The provider also offers comprehensive online security and privacy, as well as fast connection speeds.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN offers reliable online protection. However, it comes up short in a few important service categories.
While the provider delivers fast, well-protected connections, it comes up lacking in the global server coverage and app support areas.
How to Choose a VPN
Just like any important buying decision, you should carefully research and consider what a VPN provider offers before laying down your hard-earned cash.
I’ll be taking a close look at two VPN providers, PrivateVPN and CyberGhost. I’ll consider how well both VPNs perform in each service category, and then declare a winner in that category. At the end of the article, I’ll tally up the individual scores and declare an overall victor.
By the end of this article, you’ll have plenty of information to make an informed decision about which VPN is the best one for your unique needs.
CyberGhost vs. PrivateVPN – Features
In this section, I’ll cover the features you should always carefully consider before buying a VPN subscription.
Connection Speeds
If you stream videos, game online, or download and share large files, a fast connection is your friend.
I perform VPN connection speed tests on a regular basis. Here’s how it works:
- Tests are performed on a North America-based Windows server with a gigabit Ethernet connection.
- I connect to VPN servers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Hong Kong, at three different times of day over the course of three days.
- I use the Windows version of the providers’ apps for testing, and the app is configured to connect using the Wireguard protocol when available.
- I run the Speedtest app after connecting to each VPN server location, exiting the Speedtest app following each speed test.
Both providers delivered fast speeds. However, one provider left no doubt about who the speed champion was.
CyberGhost delivered blazingly-fast download speeds of 296.1 Mbps.
PrivateVPN’s download speeds were reasonably fast but were more than 4x slower than CyberGhost, coming in at 70.9 Mbps.
Depending on your usual connection speeds both providers’ connection speeds should easily handle streaming, online gaming, and any other demanding online activity.
Please note that your connection speeds will be different from what I saw, depending on your usual ISP connection speeds, your geographic location, and the location of the VPN server you connect to.
Average Connection Speed Winner: CyberGhost
| Provider | Avg. Connection Speed | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 70.9 Mbps | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 548.7 Mbps | Visit Site |
Pricing
Inflation is a big concern these days, as we’re being forced to pay more for everything. This means that many of us are looking to save a buck wherever we can. However, I warn you not to base your VPN buying decision solely on price.
While a VPN may offer its services for a low price, it may also skimp on features, throttle or otherwise limit your usage, or not offer support for popular devices. This means you should always carefully consider a provider’s true value.
A month of PrivateVPN will run you a bit less than the price of a soft drink at your favorite fast food joint.
CyberGhost’s monthly tariff is just a few pennies more than PrivateVPN.
PrivateVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, while CyberGhost gives you 45 days to make up your mind.
I never post the exact VPN pricing in my articles. This is because most VPNs change their pricing on a regular basis. Be sure to visit the VPN providers’ websites for their most current pricing.
Pricing Winner: PrivateVPN
| Provider | Money-Back Guarantee Period | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 30 Days | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 45 Days | Visit Site |
Privacy
If you go online without protecting yourself, you have definitely left behind evidence of your activities. And believe me, there are plenty of folks that would like to take a look where you’ve been online. This makes a VPN’s privacy features an important consideration.
Always consider the following when researching a VPN’s privacy protections:
- Is the provider located in a country that protects online privacy?
- Does the provider save user activity logs on its servers?
- Does the provider accept cryptocurrency?
Swedish VPN provider PrivateVPN also doesn’t collect or save user traffic data or browsing activity. The provider also accepts cryptocurrency as a private subscription payment option.
Romanian provider CyberGhost also saves no logs of user activity and Bitcoin is a private payment option here.
Privacy Winner: Tied
| Provider | Privacy Ranking | Site |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Security
As I mentioned in the previous section, there are plenty of folks online that would love to monitor your online time. This makes a VPN provider’s connection protection an important consideration.
CyberGhost keeps its customers’ online access undercover with military-grade encryption, kill switch protection, DNS leak prevention, and IPv6 leak prevention. Wireguard, OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec protocols are all available. Blocking of ads, malicious websites, and online tracking is also available.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN also uses military-grade encryption. OpenVPN over UDP/TCP, L2TP/IPSec, L3TP, IPSec, PPTP, and IKEv2 connection protocols are all present and accounted for. The provider also offers kill switch protection, as well as a “Stealth VPN” feature that disguises your VPN traffic as normal browsing activity.
Security Winner: It’s a tie.
| Provider | Overall Security Score | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 5.0 | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 5.0 | Visit Site |
Simultaneous Connections
I’d venture to say that most of us use more than one connected device on a daily basis. This means a VPN provider’s simultaneous connections allowance is an important consideration.
Users can connect up to 10 devices at once to PrivateVPN servers.
CyberGhost allows up to seven simultaneous connections on a single set of login credentials,
Simultaneous Connections Winner: PrivateVPN
| Provider | Simultaneous Connections Allowed | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 10 | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 7 | Visit Site |
Streaming Support
How many streaming services do you subscribe to? If you’re like me, too many. Am I right? Many popular streaming services make their content available only in certain countries. This means that if you aren’t using a VPN you’re not getting all that you could be out of your streaming subscriptions.
A VPN temporarily assigns a new IP address to your connected device. This makes it appear as if you are connecting to the internet from another part of the world, opening access to content that might normally be unavailable in your current location.
CyberGhost provides access to numerous streaming providers. The provider also offers streaming-optimized servers that provide one-click access to content from many of those services, including Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, ESPN+, and numerous others.
PrivateVPN also delivers access to a good number of streaming services, including Netflix US, Netflix UK, Hulu, Disney+, and more.
Streaming Support Winner: CyberGhost
| Provider | # of U.S. Streaming Services VPN Unblocks | # of International Services VPN Unblocks | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 9+ | 5+ | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 10+ | 8+ | Visit Site |
BitTorrent Support
Sharing files via BitTorrent is an excellent way to share files and documents with other internet users. While file sharing is legal in most countries, it is illegal to share copyrighted materials, including movies, music, and games.
This means the entertainment industry puts pressure on ISPd to prevent the sharing of files. This means many ISPs will throttle or block your internet connection if they detect that you’re sharing files, even if the files are being shared legally.
A VPN encrypts your internet connection and temporarily assigns a new IP address to your connected device. This prevents anyone from monitoring what you’re doing online or seeing your real IP address.
While PrivateVPN allows BitTorrenting activity on its network, it suggests that P2P users connect to its servers that are located in Sweden.
CyberGhost allows P2P activity on its servers in 30+ countries. The provider’s app indicates the countries where P2P activity is allowed. The servers in these locations are optimized for file sharing and downloading.
BitTorrenting Winner: CyberGhost
| Provider | # of Countries Where VPN Allows BitTorrents | Link |
| PrivateVPN | All of them | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 30+ countries | Visit Site |
Global Server Coverage
The larger a VPN’s global server network, the better your ability to access geo-fenced content located in other countries, so look for a provider that has servers stationed in countries around the globe. Also, look for VPN providers with multiple servers located in each country, as that helps prevent a single server from being hit with too many users at once.
PrivateVPN has 200+ servers located in 63+ countries.
CyberGhost has 9,000+ servers placed in 90+ countries.
Global Server Coverage Winner: CyberGhost
| Provider | Server Count | Countries | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 200+ | 63+ | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 9,000+ | 90+ | Visit Site |
Multi-Platform Support
It’s a world of connected devices out there, making a VPN provider’s native app support an important factor to consider.
CyberGhost offers native app support for Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, Linux, Amazon Fire, and Windows devices. Browser extensions are available for Firefox and Chrome browsers. Support is also available for routers. (Pre-configured routers are available through Flashrouters.com.)
PrivateVPN’s device support is quite lacking. The provider offers native app support for only the iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows device platforms and completely lacks browser support. The provider can also be manually set up on Linux devices and select routers.
Multi-Platform Support Winner: CyberGhost
| Provider | Platforms Supported | Browser Extensions? | Router Support? |
Link |
| PrivateVPN | 4 | No | Yes – Manual setup. | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 7 | Yes (Chrome, Opera) | Yes – Manual setup. Flashrouter options available. | Visit Site |
Customer Support
You’ll find that both VPN services are easy to use and reliable. However, you may still have an occasional question.
PrivateVPN offers a live messaging option (not 24/7), email support, and a non-searchable FAQ support section.
CyberGhost support options include a 24/7 live chat option, a support request form, and a searchable knowledge base.
Customer Support Winner: CyberGhost
| Provider | Customer Support Rating | Link |
| PrivateVPN | 4.0 | Visit Site |
| CyberGhost | 5.0 | Visit Site |
And The Winner Is…
While both PrivateVPN and CyberGhost offer comprehensive VPN services, I have to name an overall winner.
CyberGhost is the big winner this time around, thanks to the provider’s performance in the Connection Speeds, Streaming Support, BitTorrent Support, Global Server Coverage, Multi-Platform Support, and Customer Support departments.
Meanwhile, PrivateVPN was victorious in the Pricing and Simultaneous Connections arenas.
It was a tie when it came to Privacy and Security.
For more information or to purchase a subscription, visit CyberGhost.
