CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN (2024): Which VPN Is Better?

CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are two suppliers with among the largest server networks in VPNs at the moment. CyberGhost VPN has quick servers unfold throughout 100 nations. In the meantime, ExpressVPN has a slight edge with servers from 105 nations.

Whereas each supply wholesome server suites, they’ve key variations that set them aside. On this article, we discover whether or not CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN is the suitable alternative for you and your group.

• CyberGhost VPN: Greatest for people and small groups in search of optimized servers for streaming, gaming and torrenting.
• ExpressVPN: Greatest for many companies that need a no-nonsense VPN with quick speeds and a user-friendly interface.

CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN: Comparability

CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN: Pricing

Each CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN categorize their subscription choices in line with contract size.

SEE: NordVPN vs ExpressVPN: Which VPN Is Greatest? (TechRepublic)

I actually respect this in comparison with different VPN suppliers that categorize paid plans relying on the included options. With each VPNs, you get the identical options throughout the assorted subscription choices.

CyberGhost VPN pricing

CyberGhost has three plans: a month-to-month, six-month and two-year subscription. It’s one of many few VPNs with out an annual subscription possibility. Personally, I might have most well-liked having an annual plan, as this provides a superb mixture of a decrease month-to-month payment and an affordable time dedication.

• 1 month: $12.99 monthly.
• 6 months: $6.99 monthly.
• 2 years: $2.19 monthly.

Regardless of this, CyberGhost has a handy 24-hour free trial for its desktop VPN software that doesn’t require any fee or bank card data. Whereas the trial might be longer, CyberGhost is likely one of the few distributors that has a full desktop free trial with no strings connected.

Different VPNs will both require you to enter your bank card particulars or solely enable customers entry to the free trial through their cell app.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full CyberGhost VPN evaluation.

ExpressVPN pricing

Like CyberGhost, we get three paid plans for ExpressVPN which can be divided relying on the contract size. We get a one-month, a six-month and an annual subscription with ExpressVPN.

I’m completely satisfied that we get an annual subscription this time round, in contrast to with CyberGhost. Nevertheless, I do want ExpressVPN additionally supplied a longer-term, two or three-year plan contract that permits for a decrease month-to-month payment.

• 1 month: $12.95 monthly.
• 6 months: $9.99 monthly.
• 1 yr: $8.32 monthly.

ExpressVPN has a seven-day free trial that’s solely accessible through its Android or iOS cell app. Sadly, ExpressVPN requires fee particulars to entry the trial, but it surely solely fees you till after the trial interval lapses.

If you wish to study extra, learn our full ExpressVPN evaluation.

CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN: Function comparability

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

Each CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN carry a robust mixture of safety and speed-focused safety protocols that’ll work nice for many customers.

CyberGhost VPN comes with OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2 VPN protocols. In the meantime, ExpressVPN contains OpenVPN and its proprietary Lightway protocol. Per ExpressVPN, its Lightway protocol is constructed for each pace and safety.

SEE: Is a VPN Actually Value It in 2024? (TechRepublic)

All in all, with the 2 VPNs having protocols like OpenVPN for safety and WireGuard/Lightway for pace, most companies may have all they want by way of safety protocols.

Looking at encryption, each VPNs use the AES-256 encryption algorithm — extensively thought of one of the crucial uncrackable encryption protocols up to now. To color an image, AES-256 is utilized by United States authorities companies and banking establishments to safe their information towards prying eyes.

For this spherical, CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN every get some extent. Whichever VPN you select, you’ll be completely satisfied to know that you simply’re going to be set on the VPN safety protocol and encryption division.

VPN server community and areas

Winner: ExpressVPN

This can be a powerful one — however I give the slight edge to ExpressVPN. As of July 2024, ExpressVPN has the extra geographically various server community, with server areas spanning 105 nations, whereas CyberGhost VPN has server areas in an equally strong 100 nations.

SEE: 4 Totally different Kinds of VPNs & When to Use Them (TechRepublic)

Checking ExpressVPN’s official server checklist, I really counted 106 areas in ExpressVPN’s nation checklist, regardless of its promoting that it has servers in 105 nations. In fact, this checklist is topic to vary or might be a clerical error on my half.

In any case, ExpressVPN will get the win right here for its barely extra in depth server suite. Since a VPN is primarily used to unblock geo-restricted content material, having a extra various server community is a should, and ExpressVPN gives that in spades.

Under is a desk displaying the geographic unfold between each VPNs’ server areas:

To CyberGhost VPN’s credit score, it has a equally spectacular 100-country server fleet that reportedly has round 11,000+ servers. However, ExpressVPN reportedly has round 3,000+ servers.

Whereas one might argue that CyberGhost has a greater server community due to the sheer variety of servers it has, I personally discover extra worth in having extra server nations or areas.

Third-party audits and observe data

Winner: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN will get the win with regards to unbiased third-party audits. As of 2024, it has printed a complete of 18 unbiased audits testing numerous features of its VPN. Up to now, that is the biggest portfolio of audits I’ve seen from a VPN firm.

ExpressVPN’s most up-to-date audit was on its Privateness Coverage, which was carried out by KPMG and printed in Could 2024. As a VPN supplier, it began present process and publishing safety audits in 2018 — having core options like its no-logs coverage, browser extension and desktop apps examined by unbiased corporations.

On the flipside, CyberGhost VPN has accomplished two audits, with the latest audit printed in Could 2024. This was carried out by Deloitte and regarded into CyberGhost VPN’s “server community and administration methods.”

Whereas I’m completely satisfied CyberGhost VPN doesn’t skimp on unbiased testing, I do suppose it might enhance general transparency with its audit outcomes. In its press launch on the Could 2024 audit, CyberGhost mentioned “excerpts from the report can’t be shared immediately” as a manner to make sure that the “audit outcomes aren’t taken out of context or misunderstood.”

Though I perceive how audit studies may be taken out of context, I believe publishing audit outcomes — good or unhealthy — reveals increased credibility and provides extra worth to end-users. To be clear, CyberGhost says the total Deloitte report is on the market through CyberGhost VPN accounts.

SEE: 5 Greatest VPNs for Journey in 2024 (TechRepublic)

In distinction, ExpressVPN’s audits are accessible to each the general public and lively ExpressVPN customers. For these , you’ll be able to go to its full suite of audits.

With its extra clear strategy and huge assortment of third-party audits, ExpressVPN will get the benefit on this spherical of our match-up.

Standout options

Winner: CyberGhost VPN

For standout options, my vote goes to CyberGhost VPN. On high of its predominant VPN service, I felt CyberGhost added extra significant options to its consumer in comparison with ExpressVPN.

A noteworthy characteristic for me is CyberGhost VPN’s sensible categorization of its optimized servers. Specifically, CyberGhost divides its server suite into servers optimized for streaming, gaming and torrenting — three of the most typical use circumstances of VPN software program.

To me, this protects end-users a ton of time in search of the most effective suited server for his or her wants. As well as, CyberGhost additionally has its “Good Guidelines” panel, which allows customers to set automated actions throughout the VPN primarily based on configured prompts.

An instance of that is having your CyberGhost VPN consumer routinely connect with a specific server upon launch or setting the app to routinely launch a particular software as soon as CyberGhost establishes a connection.

Personally, these user-centric options enable CyberGhost VPN to supply a personalised VPN expertise that helps elevate its already strong service.

That’s to not say that ExpressVPN doesn’t have its personal spotlight options. It contains its Risk Supervisor characteristic, which blocks trackers and malware, and bundles a devoted password supervisor for each ExpressVPN subscription.

Whereas these are helpful characteristic additions in their very own proper, I nonetheless suppose CyberGhost’s VPN-focused characteristic set is the higher select of the 2.

Efficiency and pace

Winner: ExpressVPN

For VPN pace and efficiency, ExpressVPN is my alternative. Whereas each VPNs supplied quick speeds, I discovered ExpressVPN to show extra constant speeds, significantly with regard to hurry check outcomes.

For context, I examined each ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN’s efficiency by doing my common workflow of duties as a author. This concerned having a number of browser tabs open for analysis, attending on-line video conferences, utilizing Google apps comparable to Docs and Drive and streaming 1080p video content material now and again.

SEE: Begin a Profession in Cybersecurity (TechRepublic Premium)

In real-world use, I received quick speeds from each CyberGhost and ExpressVPN. I didn’t encounter any noticeable drops in pace or efficiency with each VPNs in comparison with my web service supplier’s efficiency.

The place ExpressVPN received the benefit over CyberGhost was with pace testing. Per the pace check outcomes, ExpressVPN garnered very constant scores — recording solely a 25.6% drop in downloads and a 28% lower in uploads in comparison with my ISP.

I particularly discovered it spectacular how ExpressVPN received related outcomes for each downloads and uploads. Most of the time, VPNs garnered extra favorable pace check scores for downloads solely, not uploads. This was really the case with CyberGhost VPN, the place it recorded solely a 7.5% drop in obtain speeds however had a large drop for uploads with a 48.21% change, in comparison with my ISP.

Whereas each VPNs supply quick VPN efficiency on the entire, I discover ExpressVPN to be the higher decide with regards to consistency and general pace check efficiency.

Ease of use and design

Winner: Tie

In the case of ease of use and in-app expertise, each CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN rating excessive marks. I’ve it as a tie as each VPNs supply intuitive desktop purposes with well-designed consumer interfaces — albeit with key variations of their design decisions.

ExpressVPN makes use of a contemporary and minimalist design, making for a clear and seamless VPN consumer that doesn’t have a lot litter. It makes use of a light-themed design aesthetic for its desktop app, offering a UI that’s simple on the eyes and nice to make use of. The app itself can be cleanly organized, with menus being positioned proper the place I anticipated them to be.

However, CyberGhost VPN employs a darker theme with an identical deal with neat group. A spotlight for me is its handy categorization of its optimized servers, which helps cut back the time wanted to seek for the right server in a given scenario.

Like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s software is pretty simple to know and doesn’t really feel too technical or intimidating to make use of.

No matter which VPN you select, I really feel each CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN present a high-quality VPN interface that’s well-designed and straightforward to make use of.

Simultaneous machine connections

Winner: Tie

When it comes to simultaneous machine connections, I name it a tie. CyberGhost VPN presently permits for a most of seven simultaneous machine connections. In the meantime, ExpressVPN lets customers join as much as a most of eight machine connections on the identical time.

Whereas ExpressVPN technically has a one-device benefit over CyberGhost, I believe we’re getting nearly an identical performance with each suppliers, given the very minimal distinction.

Both manner, I hope each VPNs think about both rising their machine restrict and even pushing their respective providers to help limitless simultaneous connections.

CyberGhost VPN execs and cons

Execs

• Easy accessibility to optimized servers for streaming, torrenting and gaming.
• Configurable automations through Good Guidelines panel.
• Extra inexpensive 6-month and 2-year subscriptions.
• 24-hour free trial; no fee particulars required.

Cons

• No annual subscription.
• Impartial audits might be extra accessible.

ExpressVPN execs and cons

Execs

• Geographically various 105-country server suite.
• 18 printed third-party safety audits thus far.
• Nicely-designed and easy-to-use desktop software.
• Spectacular obtain and add pace check outcomes.

Cons

• No 2- or 3-year subscription possibility.
• Costlier.
• Free trial requires fee info.

Ought to your group use CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN?

Total, I discover ExpressVPN to be the higher alternative for many companies or organizations. It brings top-tier encryption and constantly quick VPN speeds, features a geographically various server community throughout 105 nations and has proven a robust dedication to unbiased testing with its spectacular 18-audit portfolio.

A standout for me is ExpressVPN’s minimalist and user-friendly VPN interface. I discover it actually helps present a no-nonsense, user-friendly and polished VPN expertise that simply works. This may be useful for companies that will have much less tech-savvy staff and need a VPN answer that may accommodate all varieties of customers.

However, CyberGhost VPN is an effective alternative for companies that need a extra inexpensive various to ExpressVPN. With its extra inexpensive six-month and two-year plans, CyberGhost can supply a equally intuitive consumer interface with comparable VPN speeds.

CyberGhost can be a superb decide for companies or groups in search of VPN servers which can be particularly optimized for duties comparable to streaming, gaming or torrenting. CyberGhost VPN’s handy categorization of its optimized servers is a particular plus for these kinds of customers.

Methodology

My comparability of CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN concerned an in-depth evaluation of each VPN’s options, real-world efficiency and worth.

To judge every VPN, each providers had been scored on every thing from their safety protocols to pricing. Specifically, I took under consideration 5 predominant pillars, every having corresponding weights:

• Pricing (20%).
• Core VPN options (30%).
• Ease of use (15%).
• Buyer help (30%).
• Knowledgeable evaluation (5%).

I additionally regarded into precise consumer suggestions and different respected critiques to spherical out my remaining suggestions for each CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN.

For pace and efficiency, I examined each VPNs on my private Home windows pc and ran them by Ookla’s public Speedtest. Lastly, I thought of which varieties of companies or particular person customers would greatest profit from both CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN.