Knowing that you need a VPN is a great start as you realize the value of your privacy and security. There are hundreds of VPNs in the market and finding the best VPN for your needs is not easy.
In this guide, we will look at ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost and compare their privacy, security, features, pricing, and overall performance. By the end of the guide, you should be able to make an informed decision on which of the two is the best fit for you.
Comparing ExpressVPN vs. CyberGhost VPN Features
ExpressVPN | CyberGhost VPN | |
Lowest Pricing | $8.32/month | $2.25/month |
Speeds | Typically less than 12% impact on download speed. | Typically less than 14% impact on download speed. |
Server Count | 3,000+ | 7,200+ |
Country Count | 94 | 91 |
Simultaneous Connections | 5 | 7 |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 14 – 45 days |
Encryption Standard | 256-bit AES | 256-bit AES |
Ease of Use | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Logging Policy | Strict no-logging | Strict no-logging |
ExpressVPN overview
ExpressVPN is a well-established VPN that has gained a positive reputation for being trustworthy and reliable. It is now arguably the biggest name in the VPN industry, thanks to its commendable performance in all crucial areas.
The VPN is designed to offer simplicity while at the same time providing advanced features to power users. It provides a simple interface with one-click connection support and a smart location suggestion. Users can then open more tabs to customize the VPN as needed.
ExpressVPN, based in the British Virgin Islands, promises not to keep any connection or usage logs. This means that your IP address, activities, and other details are never written to the hard disk, so you retain maximum anonymity. As a market leader, the VPN has even initiated a public audit, and PWC has verified all its privacy and security claims.
You can use ExpressVPN without worrying about your privacy and security. You will be able to connect to a network of 3,000+ VPN servers spread across 160 VPN server locations in 94 countries. All these servers are high speed, and they support functionalities such as streaming, torrenting, and circumventing censorships.
Streaming is one of the biggest reasons for choosing ExpressVPN but as you know, laws concerning the use of this software vary from country to country.
We do not encourage or condone the use of this program if it is in violation of these laws. The regulation about the use of VPN services varies per country; If the Law of your country forbids or limits its usage, don’t download. Any unlawful behaviour of this software is not permitted. You are solely responsible for any use of the service.
What about ExpressVPN support? If you experience any issue, you can get it sorted quickly with their 24/7 live chat support. There’s a ticketing system, as well as a knowledge base that provides FAQs, set up guides, and troubleshooting guides.
So where’s the catch? Well, ExpressVPN charges $12.95 a month or $8.32 a month if you go for a yearly subscription. The yearly cost is significantly higher than the market average and the service you get is utterly justified. You will be able to use your subscription on up to 5 devices, and you will also be eligible for a 100% money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost VPN overview
CyberGhost is a pioneer in the commercial VPN industry. The VPN has always been mentioned among the top VPN brands. It has gained lots of attention and expanded exponentially in the last few years after it was bought by Crossrider (now Kape technologies).
Although Crossrider didn’t have the best reputation, the company is now privacy-oriented, and the VPN has even enhanced its privacy and security commitments.
CyberGhost is based in Romania, which is a privacy-friendly country, and it keeps zero connection and usage logs. It also uses AES-256 encryption alongside other recommended standards, which means you don’t have to worry about your privacy and security (although the VPN is yet to undergo a public audit).
CyberGhost offers 7200+ VPN servers spread across 113 locations in 91 countries. The server number is more than double of ExpressVPN, and the overall network is one of the largest that you’ll come across. The VPN provides specialized servers that offer functionalities that include streaming, torrenting, dedicated IPs (bought as an addon), and gaming.
CyberGhost has many features and makes a significant difference with ExpressVPN by offering dedicated IPs, No Spy Servers, and an ad-blocker.
How much does CyberGhost cost? You can start at $12.99 / month, which is a little bit higher than ExpressVPN’s monthly price. However, you can reduce it to a mere $2.25 / month with a 2-year subscription. The VPN comes with a 14 to 45-day money-back guarantee, and in case of any trouble, there’s a 24/7 live chat support.
Best VPN Per Category
Category | Winner | Verdict |
Best VPN for Windows | Cyberghost provides more features in the Windows app, but ExpressVPN is better designed and easier to use. The ExpressVPN app is also much lighter in terms of resources, and it offers faster connections. | |
Best VPN for Mac | ExpressVPN offers a sleek macOS app that is also easy to use. The app provides a smooth experience and excellent speeds for streaming and is also compatible with more macOS versions. | |
Best VPN for Android | ExpressVPN convincingly wins this category as its app features a much better design and more features. The main screen is informational but not cluttered, and there’s also a kill switch that works well. | |
Best VPN for iOS | Both VPNs offer toned-down iOS apps, but ExpressVPN’s app is better designed and is more usable thanks to its Smart Connection and Recent Connection options. It also allows you to select a protocol and check for any IP address, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. | |
Best VPN for Browser | Both VPNs provide extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. However, ExpressVPN’s browser add ons are not independent of the desktop app. This means that you still need to start the app, something that reduces the ease of use. CyberGhost browser extensions are all built as a standalone and so can be used to connect to a server quickly and more easily. | |
Best VPN for Torrenting | The best VPN for torrenting is a toss-up between the two VPNs. ExpressVPN lets you torrent on any of their servers, while Cyberghost has servers optimized for torrenting. Cyberghost gets the nod here, but just by a fraction. | |
Best VPN Overall | ExpressVPN edges out Cyberghost in most sections, and it also does extremely well in the areas where Cyberghost shines more. |
Which is better, ExpressVPN or CyberGhost?
ExpressVPN comes out as the stronger candidate of the two. The VPN provides exceptional apps, excellent speeds, solid privacy and security, great streaming support, and lots of advanced functionalities. The only significant downside is that its lowest subscription plan is a bit expensive, but you will get value for your money.
Cyberghost VPN is also an excellent option if you are looking for a powerful VPN with advanced features. The VPN service doesn’t really have any major downsides in terms of performance or functionalities, and its longer-term plans offer incredible value. Depending on what you want to accomplish, there isn’t really a wrong choice here!