ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Which VPN is Better in 2022?
ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are both prominent names in the marketplace of VPNs. As such, determining the better choice among the two is a difficult task for many.
Both services qualify as the best anonymous VPNs, based in super privacy-friendly nations with zero-logs policies audited by renowned auditing firms.
On the one hand, ExpressVPN offers fast speed and handy security features. On the other hand, CyberGhost offers a generous money-back offer of 45 days.
ExpressVPN’s dedicated router app makes your life easy by providing you convenient solution to configure the VPN on your router. Similarly, CyberGhost offers 7 simultaneous connections so you can cover all your devices with a single subscription plan.
So if both of these VPNs are so great, which one should you go for? To ease this decision-making process, I have conducted an in-depth analysis of the two. Check out this Cyberghost vs ExpressVPN comparison for more information.
Both these services offer some of the safest VPN services available on the market today. What ultimately tilts the balance in ExpressVPN’s favor is the fact that it performs slightly better than CyberGhost in all categories covered in our comparison. Best option at $6.67/mo for 1-Year + 3 Months Free (49% OFF).ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Highlights
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost |
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For more information, visit our detailed guides on ExpressVPN and CyberGhost!
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Features
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Simultaneous Connections | 5 | 7 |
| Operating System Apps | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV/Firestick, some routers | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire TV |
| Manual Install Devices | Some Routers, Set-Top Boxes | Routers, TVs, and more |
| Split Tunneling | Yes | Yes |
| Free Extras | Media Streamer Smart DNS, browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari | Wi-Fi Protection, DNS and IP leak protection |
ExpressVPN offers more features in comparison with CyberGhost. However, in terms of operating system apps, both Express and CyberGhost offer good compatibility. You can download apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and even Fire TVs.
At the same time, there are browser extensions available for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Express gains an edge over CyberGhost though, thanks to their router support for Apple TVs.
Upon comparing with other providers, ExpressVPN stands out as the only provider that offers a dedicated app that allows users to configure ExpressVPN on Tomato and DD-WRT routers.
For those who are not that tech-savvy, you even have preconfigured routers available. This allows for instant VPN setup and connections across all devices.
As far as features are concerned, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are equally matched opponents. They use Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, and all other technologies that are now industry standard.
For simultaneous connections, CyberGhost gains an edge by supporting 7 multiple device connections, whereas ExpressVPN allows 5 multi-logins on a single subscription.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Pricing and Discounts
If we talk about the overall pricing and structure, CyberGhost tends to be a much cheaper option than ExpressVPN. It offers plans of four varied durations.
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Special offer | 49% Off on a 1-Year Plan | 82% Off on a 3-Year Plan |
| Highest price per month | $12.95 | $12.99 |
| Lowest price per month | $6.67 | $2.29 |
| One-Year Price | $99.95 | $51.48 |
As far as money backs are concerned, ExpressVPN offers a 30-days refund guarantee. Conversely, CyberGhost goes the extra mile to offer a 45-day refund.
ExpressVPN is one of the pricey VPNs in the market. And as evident, CyberGhost beats ExpressVPN in the pricing domain.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Speed
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Speed Loss | 9.4% | 14.5% |
To get a better idea about the performance of each provider, I conducted an in-depth speed analysis for both providers by testing 5 different servers.
These servers were based inthe USA, UK, France, Australia, and Canada and were tested on a 100 Mbps connection to get the best results.
In my tests, ExpressVPN speed managed to deliver an average of 90.6 Mbps in downloads, indicating a speed loss of 9.4%.
CyberGhost touched a lower tangent, with a 5.1% difference in speed loss at %14.5, recording an average speed of 85.5 Mbps in downloads.
Here are the speed test results for all the 5 locations:
Test 1: USA
ExpressVPN
CyberGhost
Test 2: UK
ExpressVPN
CyberGhost
Test 3: Canada
ExpressVPN
CyberGhost
Test 4: Australia
ExpressVPN
CyberGhost
Test 5: France
ExpressVPN
CyberGhost
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Servers and Performance
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Server Countries | 94+ | 88 |
| Total Number of Servers | 3000+ | 6000+ |
In terms of server count, CyberGhost comes out as victorious. It offers a huge listing of 6000+ servers in over 88 countries and 115 locations around the world.
This gives CyberGhost an edge over other providers, as it gains the reputation of hosting the largest number of servers available in the VPN industry.
ExpressVPN, on the other hand, does not even come close to the server count. They offer 3000+ servers but support more countries/locations.
These 3000+ servers are distributed across 94+ countries and 160 locations around the world. This means you have more accessibility in cities/towns.
Of course, it is worth noting that ExpressVPN uses “virtual locations” as well. From a total of 160, the BVI-based provider offers virtual servers in 47 locations.
I think it is safe to say that both VPNs give head-to-head competition to each other, making a tie in this category.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Security Features
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| VPN Protocols | IKEv2, OpenVPN, Lightway | L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard |
| OpenVPN Data Encryption | AES-256-CBC | AES-256 |
| OpenVPN Control Channel Encryption | RSA-4096 | RSA-4096 |
| Cloaking Technology | Cipher Block Chaining | None |
| App Security | Kill Switch/Split Tunneling/IP-DNS-WebRTC Leak Protection | Kill Switch/Split Tunneling/IP-DNS-WebRTC Leak Protection |
| DNS Status | Private DNS | Private DNS |
ExpressVPN offers support for three popular protocols. This includes the IKEv2, OpenVPN, and Lightway, which is ExpressVPN’s custom-made protocol to give users their freedom of choice.
As default, ExpressVPN implements the OpenVPN protocol on all devices, with the exception of iOS devices that use the IKEv2 protocol for faster speeds and security.
For encryption, the provider utilizes AES-256-CBC ciphers with HMAC SHA-256 data authentication on the data channel, which is quite impressive and highly secure.
Meanwhile, it deploys the AES-256-GCM ciphers with RSA-4096 handshake and HMAC SHA-256 data authentication for the control channel.
CyberGhost, on the other hand, supports protocols that include L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard. By default, their macOS and Windows apps use IKEv2.
Android apps use the OpenVPN protocol and iOS apps use the IKEv2 protocol too. However, you can shift to OpenVPN whenever needed.
For encryption, CyberGhost uses AES-256-CBC cipher with SHA-256 hash authentication on the data channel and RSA-4096 key encryption and SHA384 hash authentication on the control channel.
Leak Tests
To get a clear picture of the security offered, it is necessary to assess both providers on leak-related issues. For this, I conducted a test by using 6 different tools:
WebRTC and HTTP Request Leaks:
DNS Leaks:
IPv4/IPv6 and Torrent IP Leaks:
Unsurprisingly, both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost aced the tests and did not reveal any crucial personally identifiable information, like your WebRTC/DNS/IP address.
CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN: Privacy Features
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Headquarters | British Virgin Islands | Romania |
| Connection Logs | None | None |
| Activity Logs | None | None |
| Sign Up Information | Email Address | Email Address |
| Anonymous Payment Methods | Bitcoin | Bitcoin |
After assessing the privacy, both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost manage to do quite well. Their headquarters are located away from the invasive eyes of the 5/9/14 Alliances.
As a result, users need not worry about mandatory mass surveillance and data retention laws, which mostly get netizens paranoid about sharing their information online.
As far as logging is concerned, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are both logless services. ExpressVPN has even been put to the test after the Turkish authorities seized its servers.
You can also verify their no logs policy through the successful audits completed. ExpressVPN privacy log has been audited by PwC and F-Secure, whereas CyberGhost was audited by QSCert.
However, it has been over a decade now since CyberGhost’s independent audit of 2012. The provider doesn’t have anything recent to show for their no-logs policy.
So I think ExpressVPN is the safe choice to go for as the provider has been audited in the November 2021 – December 2021 period.
CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN: Configurations
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Address Allocation | Shared | Shared/Static |
| Static IPs | None | 5 Locations |
| DDoS Protection | Yes | Yes |
| NAT Firewall | Yes | Yes |
Where ExpressVPN utilizes a shared network infrastructure, CyberGhost offers support for both shared/dedicated IPs. As a result, it gains the upper hand over ExpressVPN.
As of recently, you can get static IPs in 5 locations from CyberGhost in the US, Germany, France, the UK, and Canada.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Setup and Interface
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Automatic Setup Wizard | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Main Location Selection | List-based | List-based |
| Extra Settings Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Friendly | Yes | Yes |
Just like other services, ExpressVPN offers automatic setup wizards for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. Best part of all; their apps are quite intuitive and easy to use.
For desktops, the provider has recently introduced a new design. In comparison to before, the app is now more compact and minimalistic overall.
The main menu has a simple connect button and a locations bar that presents all servers in a list-based format for easy selection and connectivity.
Meanwhile, mobile apps adopt the same appearance and consistency in the user interface. You can even enjoy using them on larger screens like Android/Apple TVs and Fire TVs.
As compared to ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s desktop applications boast a more broad interface. Surprisingly, this does not compromise the app’s user-friendliness.
In fact, the CG8 client has undergone a significant change in accessibility and aesthetics. It looks beautiful for a VPN client and tends to be incredibly easy to navigate.
The mobile apps are equally impressive and boast the same dark and yellow design. They give users the ability to let the app choose a nearby server based on distance and load.
You can also select servers that have been optimized for torrenting and streaming or for accessing different platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Unblocking Capabilities
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Netflix | Yes | Yes |
| Hulu | Yes | Yes |
| Sky Go | Yes | No |
| Amazon Prime | Yes | Yes |
| BBC iPlayer | Yes | Yes |
| ABS | Yes | No |
| CBS | Yes | Yes |
| NBC | Yes | Yes |
| ITV | Yes | Yes |
| Channel 4 | Yes | Yes |
In terms of unblocking, both CyberGhost and ExpressVPN manage to do quite well. Albeit, there were a few services that CyberGhost was unable to bypass geo-restrictions.
Nevertheless, both providers successfully unblocked Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Voot, Hotstar, Disney Plus, and other famous streaming platforms.
Where ExpressVPN requires connecting to random servers for unblocking, CyberGhost actually offers a “navigation bar” that allows you to search for specific servers.
For instance, if you want to access the US version of Netflix, simply type in “Netflix” in the search bar, and you will receive a list of all the native servers available for the platform.
I was quite impressed with the performance offered by both providers, despite the VPN ban. Not to mention, I received amazing speeds even when streaming in 4K!
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Do they actually work in China?
Chinese residents and expats are constantly looking for VPN services that successfully work in bypassing the “Great Firewall” in China.
Sadly, CyberGhost offered no support to users in the country. They lack the availability of a Chinese mirror website and do not offer Chinese servers either.
As such, it becomes impossible for users in China to download and install their apps. Whereas for ExpressVPN, the provider doesn’t offer Chinese servers but the VPN works in China via its obfuscation technology that transforms all VPN traffic into regular HTTPS by routing it through port 443.
Although both VPNs are good at unblocking blocked services while streaming and while in heavily restricted regions, ExpressVPN wins in this category by blocking more platforms and its availability in China.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: Customer Service
| ExpressVPN | CyberGhost | |
| Video Guides | Yes | Yes |
| Searchable Knowledge Base | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | No | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Average Email Response Time | 33 Minutes | 1 Hour |
| Ticket Support | Yes | Yes |
| Live Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
Both (ExpressVPN Vs CyberGhost) offer support via live chat, email, and a ticket system. This allows users to receive instant support whenever required.
While both VPNs have live chat support, ExpressVPN’s live chat support is available 24/7. On the other hand, CyberGhost’s live chat is only available during certain hours.
Also, Email/ticket support did take some time with CyberGhost (averaging at 1 hour per reply), whereas ExpressVPN cut it shorter (averaging at 33 minutes).
I conducted these tests by sending each VPN three questions via email. Among them, two were general queries and two were a little more technical. See the statistics below:
ExpressVPN
| Question | Initial Response Time | Number of Emails | Question Answered |
| Can ExpressVPN be traced? | 15 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
| Does ExpressVPN store Logs? | 18 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
| How to Watch Netflix with ExpressVPN? | 55 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
| What features does ExpressVPN offer for torrenting? | 47 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
CyberGhost
| Question | Initial Response Time | Number of Emails | Question Answered |
| How does CyberGhost VPN Work? | 52 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
| Is CyberGhost VPN safe to use? | 59 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
| Can CyberGhost unblock Netflix? | 1 Hour, 2 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
| Does CyberGhost work with Hulu? | 48 Minutes | 1 | Yes |
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost: Which One is Best in 2022?
| Category | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost |
| Features | ✅ | ❌ |
| Pricing and Discounts | ❌ | ✅ |
| Speed | ✅ | ❌ |
| Servers and Performance | ✅ | ✅ |
| Security | ✅ | ✅ |
| Privacy | ✅ | ❌ |
| Configuration | ✅ | ✅ |
| Setup and Interface | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unblocking Capabilities | ✅ | ❌ |
| Customer Service | ✅ | ❌ |
As evident from the above-mentioned table, ExpressVPN weighs more when we compare these two amazing providers.
The Winner
In this ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost comparison guide, after assessing both providers on several VPN-related aspects, it becomes clear that ExpressVPN is the better option, despite its higher subscription pricing.
It offers a larger network of servers, successfully bypasses the GFW in China, provides unmatched Netflix unblocking capabilities, and has zero leak issues.
We focused on 10 primary categories for measuring the performance of both top-tier VPNs.
While both providers had a tie in 4 categories, namely Servers and Performance, Security, Configuration, and Setup and Interface, ExpressVPN slammed down CyberGhost in 5 categories, namely Features, Speed, Privacy, Unblocking Capabilities, and Customer Support.
However, CyberGhost was able to surpass ExpressVPN in one category, which was Pricing and Discounts.
FAQs: ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost
Is CyberGhost VPN better than ExpressVPN?
Based on my test in this ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost comparison guide, ExpressVPN is the clear winner. The provider is far more faster than CyberGhost, achieving an average download speed of 90.5 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.
What considerations should I make while deciding between ExpressVPN and CyberGhost?
When choosing a VPN, pay close attention to the number of servers, the overall speed in different regions, the unblocking capability for major streaming platforms, simultaneous connections, customer support, and pricing.
Some VPNs out there can give you an amazing experience while browsing the internet, while others will slow down your internet speed.
If you’re choosing between ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, I would recommend signing up for ExpressVPN since it offers better quality and value than its counterpart.
Is ExpressVPN the best VPN?
ExpressVPN is at the top of our rating due to its blazing fast speed, strong security, and its jurisdiction in a privacy-friendly region, the British Virgin Islands.
The service boasts a massive network of 3000+ servers in 94+ countries, covering 160 locations that can easily unblock geo-blocks on the internet of all nature.
Is CyberGhost good for streaming?
CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs to use for bypassing geo-restrictions on popular streaming platforms. The VPN works 100% on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more with no issues.
Can I trust ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN is a trustworthy, safe, and capable VPN service. It encrypts the traffic with the military-grade 256-bit encryption method and uses TrustedServer Technology, meaning all its servers run on the RAM infrastructure.
Moreover, the VPN has a strict no-logs policy which has been independently audited by one of the leading auditing firms, PwC.
Also, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has flexible data retention laws and the region is not a part of the Five, Nine, or Fourteen Eyes Alliance.
