ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are among the most popular VPNs out there, and unsurprisingly we get asked a lot – which one is better? Or more specifically, users send us what they need a VPN for and then ask us which of the two will do those things better. In this piece, we try to answer that question…
Comparing the features…
Let’s delve into details, shall we?
Servers & Locations
Both CyberGhost and ExpressVPN have a ton of servers, with CyberGhost taking the crown with almost 500 servers more. But, it’s worth adding that ExpressVPN took the extra mile to place its servers in more locations, covering over 90 countries. That feat alone makes it one of the best (if not the best) VPNs in the world. As such, it can work even in countries with strong censorship regulations like — more on that in a minute. So despite boasting a bigger network, we can’t say CyberGhost gets the job done for everyone — but it’s a rock-solid choice, nonetheless.
Platforms
With CyberGhost and ExpressVPN, all your devices are covered; in addition to Mac OS, Windows, iOS and Android — both services will also work on routers, while providing browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Safari. What makes a difference is the number of simultaneous connections; whereas CyberGhost lets you connect up to 7 devices at once, with ExpressVPN you’re “stuck” with 5 devices. The good thing is that one of those devices could be your home/office router that could cover the entire network. Nevertheless, this round goes to CyberGhost.
Speed
It is not easy to pick a winner when you’re comparing the top-tier service providers. But since we aim to pick a winner in every category, we have to say something. Simply put – we prefer ExpressVPN. It was not only faster in most of our tests, but its speed tends to be more consistent than the one CyberGhost provides. That being said, we have to add that CyberGhost is still fast — it’s just that it is hard to win the race against a well rounded product as ExpressVPN.
Security & Privacy
Both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost use AES 256-CBC military-grade encryption to keep your data secure as it flows from your device(s) to the internet (and the other way round). Also, both services offer DNS and IPv6 leak protections, split tunneling and have a built-in kill switch. When it comes to privacy, again we have to give our vote to ExpressVPN since it is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. In contrast, CyberGhost is based in Romania, which means it is obliged to store and share the data it collects with EU authorities (when they require them to do so). Then again, CyberGhost collects the minimal amount of information that could hardly be used to identify any single individual.
Ease of Use & Support
A good VPN service is easy to use and we’re glad to report that we had no problems with neither ExpressVPN nor CyberGhost. Their apps are as straightforward as possible, letting you connect in just a few steps — i.e. select the server, click connect and you’re good to go, with the app routing traffic through secure servers in the background. However, if you do stumble on a problem, you will want to chat with a real person rather than going through online resources; and again, both services will have you covered with their 24/7 access to live-chat agents. So, it’s a draw in this round.
Streaming & Torrenting
You can enjoy Netflix and access other services such as Hulu, HBO and Amazon Prime with either ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. The former works better for BBC iPlayer and — perhaps more important — for watching sports and streams of live events. When it comes to torrenting, however, you can’t miss with any of the two — not only will both get the job done, but will also offer rock-solid speeds (download AND upload).
Bypassing censorship
ExpressVPN is able to bypass geoblocks to access websites all over the web, even in countries like China and Iran. The company emphasizes that its VPN lets users unblock services like Facebook, Twitter, Skype, YouTube and Gmail — so you don’t have to lose your connections and access to popular web services while traveling to countries that want to prevent you from doing so. On the other hand, CyberGhost will also work in some countries with strong censorship laws, but not in China.
Pricing
ExpressVPN dubs its service as a premium offering, thus it is more expensive; ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a free trial and is rather offering a 30-day no-questions-asked money-back guarantee, instead. In comparison, you can test out CyberGhost for free for 24 hours while its money-back guarantee lasts for the full 45 days. Both services accept various payment options, including credit cards, PayPal and even select cryptocurrencies — namely Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.
Which VPN is better?
First, you should determine your needs. If you work or frequently travel to China or some other high censorship country, there are no doubts you should get ExpressVPN. If, however, you live in the West and seldom travel to such places, CyberGhost is an equally solid option.
Personally, we prefer ExpressVPN and are willing to pay the premium knowing that we’ll be covered no matter where we happen to be. It ticks all the right boxes and will keep you well protected throughout the globe. So yes – we recommend ExpressVPN over CyberGhost.
Comparison
