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ExpressVPN is my go-to recommendation for new VPN users.
Plus, ExpressVPN can unblock virtually every streaming platform out there.
ExpressVPN is second only toNordVPNwhile CyberGhost comes in at #6 as a more budget-friendly option.
Today, I’ll find out if ExpressVPN’s higher ranking justifies its steep price tag.
you could check out our full reviews ofExpressVPNandCyberGhostfor a more in-depth look at each service.
My comparison is broken into bite-size categories.
If theres one thats of particular interest, feel free to jump straight there via the nav bar.
Otherwise, keep scrolling to get into the nitty-gritty.
Its shortest plan is also its priciest and sets you back $12.95 for just one month.
The biggest saving comes with CyberGhost’s two-year subscription which includes an extra four months free.
This works out at $2.03 a month.
If you’d like to add a dedicated IP address, this costs an extra $2.50 a month.
With CyberGhost, youre essentially paying 43% less for an extra 13 months of coverage.
CyberGhost also has one of thebest free trials.
Its core codebase is open sourcein fact, its code was independently audited in 2021 and 2022.
With ExpressVPN, you’re protected with industry-standard 256-bit AES encryption which is effectively impenetrable.
It’s estimated that even the most sophisticated supercomputers would take millions of years to crack it.
Despite all the positives, ExpressVPN’s split tunneling feature wasfound to be leaking some DNS requests.
The fact that this affected Windows app versions for nearly two years before it was identified is particularly concerning.
CyberGhost also offers the OpenVPN protocol with 256-bit AES encryption as well as the lightweight WireGuard alternative.
Plus, just like OpenVPN, WireGuard is free and open source.
Again, I conducted several leak tests and CyberGhost passed each one with flying colors.
ExpressVPN operates a no-logs policy and doesn’t keep any identifying user logs.
This means that information (such as your IP address and browsing history) stays private.
Keen to prove its privacy credentials, ExpressVPN underwent 12 third-party audits between 2022 and 2023.
This includes audits of the Lightway protocol, privacy policy, and apps.
ExpressVPN even introduced a biannual transparency report, the first of which was published in February, 2024.
ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has also been independently audited by PwC, KPMG, and Cure53.
CyberGhost was possibly the first VPN to publish a transparency report back in 2011.
In recent years, these reports have been released on a quarterly basis, providing even greater transparency.
CyberGhost doesn’t even keep connection logs such as timestamps.
Of the two VPNs, it’s CyberGhost that comes out on top in terms of speed.
So, while performance is a handy comparative statistic, you should weigh up other contributing factors.
Not all VPNs are made equal when it comes to unblocking, however.
Some are unable to keep up with the constant IP address blacklisting carried out by streaming platforms.
ExpressVPN is one of the beststreaming VPNsin the business.
CyberGhost is also a very capable unblocker and had no trouble with any of these major streaming platforms.
Although it failed to unblock the Australian streaming service 10Play, it did work with 9Now.
What’s more, I like the fact that it has dedicated streaming servers for specific streaming platforms.
The good news is that both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost have apps that are very easy to use.
The fact that there are also brief explanations of the various features makes ExpressVPN a particularly beginner-friendly option.
CyberGhost also has a great on/off switch.
Most people probably won’t mind this but power users may be underwhelmed.
The options you do have can be switched up via toggle buttons or checkboxes.
This means offering free features and optional paid add-ons.
Despite ExpressVPN’s steeper pricing, it doesn’t come with quite as many extras as some rivals.
This includes ExpressVPN Keys, a built-inpassword manager.
As you’d expect from a security-conscious VPN, ExpressVPN Keys offers strong security with zero-knowledge encryption.
Another key feature offered by ExpressVPN is Advanced Protection.
Advanced Protection is available across ExpressVPN’s desktop and mobile apps.
Finally, there’s Aircove, a router preconfigured with ExpressVPN.
Priced at $189.90, it’s a useful way to secure all of the devices in your home.
It also offers a Windows Security Suite including an antivirus tool and security updater.
Unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost also has servers specifically optimized for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
On the other hand, ExpressVPN allows up to eight simultaneous connections per account, one more than CyberGhost.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost: Which is better
Overall, it’s ExpressVPN that comes out on top.
Theres something to be said for the product CyberGhost is putting out for the price.
If you don’t mind splashing out for a premium product, I recommend ExpressVPN.
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