CyberGhost VPN Review: Complete Beginner’s Guide

Founded in 2011, CyberGhost is a Romanian-based firm offering one of the best VPN services available. The company has a strong focus on value pricing models, server selection, and user-friendly operation with outstanding complimentary features.

With more than 3,600 servers in its network, spanned across more than 58-countries, CyberGhost allows for the connection of up to 7-devices on one account, with the VPN supporting desktop and mobile devices for Android and Apple.

If you are running your business using a high-risk strategy like open-access public Wi-Fi, then you are asking for trouble. However, using a VPN helps you mitigate these risks by securing your communications.

In this review, we’ll be looking at the features and functionality of CyberGhost. Whether you’re looking at a VPN for website access, for avoiding geotargeting, or for browsing, this review will give you the information you need to make an informed purchase decision.

Visit CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN at a Glance

Company	CyberGhost
Jurisdiction	Romania
Locations	58 Countries
Free Trial	Yes
Log Files	No
Torrenting	Yes
Streaming	Yes

Why You Need A VPN

A decade or so ago, VPNs were an obscure technology that no-one really understood the importance of for browsing or downloading online. It wasn’t until the recent privacy breaches of companies, and the advent of hackers stealing people’s personal information from open Wi-Fi networks, that people started to wake up to the importance of using a VPN.

Today a VPN is an essential tool for surfing the web. Without it, you may as well be walking down the street naked with a bulls eye on your chest. Internet security and privacy is a growing concern among people who use the internet daily. Securing your data is vital if you want to go online, and surfing without a VPN covering your I.P. could land you in big trouble.

A VPN bounces your I.P. address around a group of servers, continually changing the I.P. so that the site does not get a lock on your location. Using a VPN helps to prevent you from becoming a victim of cybercrime, and ensures that you can enjoy a risk-free internet experience.

Website Feel and Transparency

Before signing up for a CyberGhost account, take your time to have a look around their website. While the site itself won’t provide you with any protection, it’s a useful way of getting to know the company and its history, to give you a feel of their values.

Great companies build outstanding products, and the site is an example of another user-friendly experience on offer from the company. It’s easy to navigate the platform to find the relevant information you need, and the “Server Overview,” provides you with a real-time view of the active servers currently online.

The website has all its subscription packages on display, allowing users to compare pricing and features in each of the Free, Premium, and Premium Plus versions of the VPN subscription.

We appreciate that CyberGhost is open with their publicly transparent report page outlining any malicious activity on their servers. It also lists law enforcement notices, as well as DMCA and government requests.

User Interface and Features

After downloading and installing your CyberGhost VPN, you’ll notice how the interface is well-thought out, offering users smooth navigation. The user-friendly interface makes installation a snap, and connecting the client to a new I.P. address is a simple process.

• Some of the features and functionality of CyberGhost include;
• The ability to unblock streaming websites.
• Protection for your Wi-Fi or internet connection.
• Download torrents and browse anonymously.

Server Range and Locations

CyberGhost runs a server network in 58 countries all over the world, with locations in Northern America and Northern Europe providing the bulk of the operations. CyberGhost does run services in the Southern hemisphere, with servers in South Africa, South America, and Australia.

Within your settings, you can select servers and view their information to see if they allow for specific tasks, such as browsing, P2P, or streaming.

CyberGhost is rapidly expanding its network throughout the world, adding new locations all the time.

Account Set Up

Setting up a CyberGhost account involves a quick and efficient onboarding process. You decide on the subscription package you want and make your purchase. On the following screen, your download begins automatically.

CyberGhost email you the login information, and after installing the software, you enter your details, and the system pulls you through to your dashboard. The system creates a password automatically, and its best to change this as soon as possible.

CyberGhost also sends you a special key to help you access your account, be sure to store it in a secure folder.

Streaming – Does CyberGhost Work with Netflix?

Netflix is approaching 150-million global users, making it one of the most popular forms of online entertainment in many countries around the world. People living outside of the U.S. that want to each geoblocked content on Netflix, require a VPN to disguise their I.P.

CyberGhost has dedicated servers that specialize in streaming Netflix, and you can access these servers by clicking on the “for streaming” tab in the interface. However, when we logged on to the server, it would not let us access the site. Strangely, we found that logging onto a U.S. server solves this problem, and we were able to watch U.S. Netflix content without any issues.

All of the CyberGhost subscription plans come with unlimited bandwidth, which reduces issues with buffering while streaming. The app also features an ad-blocker that stops any pop-ups and mid-roll ads.

CyberGhost VPN also allows access to Hulu, HBO GO, and BBC iPlayer, enabling users to overcome geoblocks.

CyberGhost Speeds

One of the biggest gripes about using a VPN is a drop in download speed. A VPN forces your connection through a tunnel that slows it down somewhat. Depending on the strength of the VPN network, you could experience reductions of speed that are more than 90-percent from some server locations.

When logging into your CyberGhost account, we recommend you test the speed of the servers in Northern America and Europe first. Open SpeedTest.net and run a speed test on each of the server locations. We found that we received around a 5 to a 10-percent drop in our download speeds for North America and Europe, and the results for South-east Asia servers were poor.

It’s for this reason that its best to connect to a server near your current location. The further the data has to travel from the server to your computer, the slower your speed. Having a lightning-fast connection also helps to mitigate some of the drop-offs in download speed, but you will never be able to achieve the same download speeds through a VPN as you would with your standard connection.

If you want to view geoblocked content, then you’ll need to connect to the server in the country of the content source. For example, if you wish to log into the U.S. Netflix, then you will need to log into a North American server for access to the content.

Australian users will benefit from using CyberGhost VPN to view U.S. content, as we measured speeds of over 10-Mbps download and 0.77-Mbps upload, with a ping of 22 ms. That’s a fast connection speed for the other side of the planet!

Is CyberGhost Good for Torrenting?

Unlike other VPN providers that ban torrent downloads, CyberGhost offer access to dedicated servers for downloading torrents in many different countries. The app also lets you view how many other CyberGhost clients are using the same server.

CyberGhost offers port forwarding so you can upload your files, and the stability and speed of the app provide a smooth, buffer-free download of your favorite torrents.

Security – Is CyberGhost Safe?

The industry-leading security features available in the CyberGhost VPN app include a no logs policy, 256-bit military-grade encryption, and an internet kill-switch. To crack the encryption on offer from CyberGhost VPN, hackers would need 50-supercomputers checking billions of AES keys every second, and it would still take billions of years for the hackers to crack the encryption.

After the acquisition of CyberGhost by Kape Technologies, people began to question CyberGhosts integrity for keeping their data safe.

The Israeli firm, Kape Technologies has the previous accusation of hiding malware in its software bundles which is defintely a cause for concern. However, CyberGhost is yet to experience any security breaches, and their customers generally leave excellent reviews online. The level of their reputation in the marketplace as one of the best VPNs is enough to convince us that they are a trustworthy VPN provider.

Does CyberGhost Keep Logs?

One of the essential functions of a VPN provider is that they keep your online search history private. Some VPNs claim that they do not track the sites you visit and the content you download. However, in reality, they do keep logs of sessions and will give you information to authorities if subpoenaed.

CyberGhost has its head office in Romania, which is not a signatory to the “14-Eyes Alliance.” Therefore, they have no regulatory duty to keep any logs of your online activity for law enforcement purposes.

Does CyberGhost Have a Malware and Adblocker?

Log into your CyberGhost account and click on the “connection features” tab. The software presents you with options to turn on your adware and malware blocker to prevent ads from popping up while you’re browsing the internet.

CyberGhost also has an anti-malware feature that scans all sites you visit for malware infections that may hijack your browser. This feature allows CyberGhost to block you from accessing these unsecured sites before hackers can steal your data.

No-Spy Servers

If you’re frequently downloading torrents, the CyberGhost offers a No-spy” premium package that allows you to connect directly to a dedicated data center managed by CyberGhost employees.

The no-spy servers feature top-quality hardware, more bandwidth, and dedicated uplinks, for enhanced speeds. The additional protection keeps you even safer while carrying out risky activities like downloading torrent files.

Price and Value for Money

After reviewing the features and functionality of CyberGhost, it’s time to analyze their subscription offerings and see if they offer a value-for-money service.

Does CyberGhost Have a Free Version?

CyberGhost offers new users a free trial of their VPN for 24-hours. Considering most other companies providing VPN products have either a 3 or 7-day free trial, we think that 24-hours is a bit short.

However, it’s a smart marketing strategy on the part of CyberGhost. By giving their prospective customers the idea that they have a limitation on their trial, they are more likely to implement it and give it a try sooner than if they have a week to use it in their browsing activity.

After using CyberGhost for a few hours, you’ll be in a position to decide whether or not the software works for you. You have a full day to test the steaming, unblocking, and Torrenting functionality and the chances are that you’ll want a subscription af6ter you try it out for the first time.

CyberGhost’s Refund Policy

CyberGhost backs its reputation as one of the best VPNs available, with a 45-day money-back guarantee. If CyberGhost does not meet your expectations, then you have the option to cancel and receive a refund. However, it’s important to note that if you do ask for a refund, it may take 7 to 10-working days before the money shows in your bank account.

CyberGhost backs all of its plans with a no-questions-asked, 45-day money-back guarantee. If for any reason the service doesn’t match your needs, you can request a refund through its live chat service during this period.

Is CyberGhost Compatible with My Device?

CyberGhost will work with any desktop or mobile device. The software is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices, and it also works with Amazon’s Fire T.V. Stick, and it features browser extensions for Firefox and Chrome as well.

CyberGhost also has installation guides on their site which provide you with information on setting up your VPN on routers, as well as other operating systems like Chrome O.S., Linux, Synology NAS, Raspberry Pi, and VU+ Solo 2.

CyberGhost also allows you to connect up to 7-devices to your account, making it one of the more generous service providers available.

Special Safety Features with CyberGhost

The team at CyberGhost do everything they can to ensure that you remain as safe and secure as possible while browsing and downloading content. Here are a few of the additional safety features of the software that make it stand out from its competitors.

Automated HTTPS Redirect and Online Tracking Blocker

The automatic HTTPS redirect allows your device to connect to the most secure version of each site you browse. This feature enables you to avoid unsafe sites with malware and phishing scams waiting to infect your browser.

Most websites have tracking cookies that install into your browser when visiting their site. These cookies track your movements around the web and report them back to the source site. CyberGhost automatically scans sites for these tracking cookies, blocking them from installing in your browser while alerting you to the threat.

CyberGhost Customer Service

It may be an industry-wide trend, but it seems like CyberGhosts customer service is on par with most other providers – in the sense that it is less than stellar. The app offers a live-chat with support consultants who try to help walk you through fixing any problems you have with the product.

However, if you’re calling for slow speeds, it feels like they are more concerned with customer retention than with solving your problem. We tried reaching out to the support desk and received an online support chat with a consultant when we couldn’t log into the U.S. Netflix site.

However, the consultant seemed confused about what we were trying to do and kept replying with general information on CyberGhosts functions and features that made it feel like we were talking to a chatbot.

We think that you may have better luck finding a solution to your problem on the FAQ page, rather than reaching out to a support consultant.

User Experience

CyberGhost offers a balanced approach to its user interface that makes the software easy to navigate for beginners. At the same time, the advanced features on offer will satisfy the needs of expert VPN users as well.

The clean layout on offer through the interface is user-friendly, and it’s no hassle to find and configure your connection settings. We like the “Smart Rules Window,” where you have the opportunity to customize your level of protection by setting rules for your connection, such as auto-connect on startup.

When connecting to CyberGhost, you have the option of manually selecting your server, or you can let the system pick the server that’s offering the best connection speeds for your location. The default on the software is to look for the closest server, so if you want to view geoblocked content, then you’ll need to choose your server before connecting.

We decided to make a list of the pros and cons of using CyberGhost; here are our results.

Pros

• OpenVPN, PPTP, and L2TP-IPSec protocols.
• Internet kill switch available.
• Unlimited bandwidth and high speeds.
• More than 3,600-servers on the global network.
• 45-day money-back guarantee.
• I.P. and DNS leak protection.
• Compatible with mobile devices and routers.
• No logs policy and 256-bit, military-grade encryption.
• Connect up to 7-devices on one account.

Cons:

• Support is weak, but this seems to be the same for most VPN providers.
• The monthly plan is higher than most other top-drawer VPN providers.

Subscription Costs

CyberGhost is a premium VPN on offer at premium prices. This VPN is one of the best products in the market, and they are not afraid to charge for their services. CyberGhost offers its subscription packages in three tiers.

• 3 Years – $2.75 per month.
• 1 Year – $5.99 per month.
• 1 Month – $12.99 per month.
• Free trial – 24-hours.

It’s important to note that if you select the annual and quarterly plans, then the company will deduct the full amount from your credit card or payment service to unlock your account. People that sign up for the monthly account should be aware that CyberGhost automatically renews the payment at the end of the billing period.

You can pay for your subscription using MasterCard, Visa, Amex, PayPal, or Bitcoin- making it one of the few VPNs that takes payment through cryptocurrency. Paying with bitcoin is also the best option for privacy, as CyberGhost does not store any of your payment details, such as your credit card number.

Wrapping Up the Review – Is CyberGhost Worth It?

After testing out the service extensively, we are confident about recommending this piece of software to you. The VPN has all of the features you would expect from a premium brand product and more.

With a no-logs policy and 256-bit encryption, CyberGhost will keep you safe while you download Torrents, stream movies, or carrying out day to day browsing activities.

The subscription fee is in line with other top VPN providers, and we recommend going for the 3-year subscription. The 3-year deal offers the best value for your money, and at less than 10-cents a day, it represents good value for money.

CyberGhost performed better than we expected it to – especially in the speed department. We were expecting a significant drop in download speeds when using the software. However, we were pleased to find that in some cases, the program showed no signs of slow-down. This speed is something we have never experienced with any other VPN, and it’s the stand-out feature of using this software.

The customer support was the biggest let-down for us, and we still can’t get over the fact that CyberGhost may be using chatbots instead of real people for managing their support chat online.

The software is easy to install and ready to run in a few minutes after your purchase, and it’s easy to navigate for beginners to VPN services. We would put CyberGhost in the same category as NordVPN and Private Internet Access, as one of the leading VPN products available.

Visit CyberGhost