Everything you need to know in the UK

We hesitated when we saw how cute the CyberGhost VPN’s (virtual private network) mascot was — it sometimes feels like companies who put so much time into adorableness are trying to distract you from the truth. But we ended up being pleasantly surprised, even though we fumbled using the service at first.

CyberGhost VPN’s complex design meant this was one of the least intuitive VPNs we’ve navigated. It took us a few extra minutes to be comfortable with the interface. We were also disappointed that CyberGhost VPN does not work in China, so for anyone trying to find a VPN that works while you are travelling within China, this VPN is an automatic veto.

Lots of locations for VPN use.
Credit: CYberghost VPN

What are CyberGhost VPN’s best features?

The streaming capabilities, which we’ll get to later, and the dedicated IP address (for an added fee) option were our favourite features. A dedicated IP address is a feature that allows one to access IP-restricted networks. Doing so allows this VPN to use a token-based system for its dedicated IP addresses. So when you connect to a server, the IP address itself isn’t tied to your VPN account. This is sharply different from my Surfshark experience where my IP address stayed the same a few times upon disconnecting and reconnecting to the same server. CyberGhost VPN won’t expose your identity by leading your IP address or DNA requests.

What protocols does CyberGhost VPN support?

The perk of being able to choose which protocol you use while using CyberGhost depends on your needs and the device you’re using. But what is it? A VPN protocol is a guideline that is used to arrange the connection between the VPN client and the VPN server. Whatever protocol your VPN employs will determine how your data travels between your computer and the VPN server. Currently, CyberGhost supports the following protocols:

• OpenVPN (YDP QNS TCO): Most popular across VPNs

• IKEv2: Most stable

• Wireguard: Newest and said to outperform OpenVPN and IKEv2

• Tunneling Protocol: Paired with IPSec it can offer extra security

A con is that on our first day using CyberGhost, we kept getting a roadblock whenever we wanted to change servers. We would get the following annoying pop-up.

The annoying pop-up we kept getting from CyberGhost.
Credit: Emily Lu Gao

How much does CyberGhost VPN cost?

The price is another reason why this VPN is great for beginners. In fact, CyberGhost VPN stood out to us because its quality is a bargain.

These are the current pricing plans to consider:

• Monthly: £10.89/month

• 6-month: £4.79/month (billed £28.74 annually)

• 2-year (+2 months free): £1.63/month (billed £42.38 every 2 years)

• Platforms: Windows, Android, Android TV, MacOS, iOS, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, FireTV

• Number of synchronous users per account: Seven

The two-year and one-year plans each came with a 45-day money-back guarantee. Meanwhile, the one-month plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee. All CyberGhost billing plans include a whopping 7,200 VPN servers, seven simultaneous connections, 24/7 live support, and are applicable for a myriad of device types from Chrome and Firefox to Mac and Android.

Are there any streaming-friendly features?

It isn’t just Netflix that you can access. A long list of streaming sites are all at your fingertips. When we tried accessing Hulu, it would not work until we tried streaming Hulu on a few different servers. This could be a one-off glitch, but still good to note.

Other than that minor speed bump, we argue that streaming is CyberGhost’s best attribute.

Is CyberGhost VPN torrenting friendly?

Torrenting, a popular file-sharing protocol, is often conflated with illegal pirating. It allows vast numbers of users to connect and share content without having to rely on a single source for downloads. CyberGhost VPN is great for torrenting and allows you to torrent on up to seven devices. This is due to features like:

• Kill-Switch

• DNS Leak Protection (route your website queries through a private server instead of your ISP’s servers)

• IPv6 Protection (ensure the VPN doesn’t leak your device’s IPv6 address v.s. IPv4)

Aesthetically, we like that on the left-hand side of the desktop and laptop layout of CyberGhost VPN the servers are organised by “best for streaming,” which we found helpful.

What’s the connection speed like?

Unfortunately, we wished CyberGhost was faster. We found the speed to be comparable to the speed the testing computer normally runs on without any VPN. The computer runs at 45.83 Mbps without CyberGhost VPN and with the program, it only differs by 3.72 Mbps.

If anything, now we know the regular internet is outstandingly slow.

Regular server results.

Credit: Emily Lu Gao

Speeds using German server.

Credit: Emily Lu Gao

Can you trust CyberGhost?

When it comes down to it, VPNs will claim to protect you, but let’s dig deeper. On the CyberGhost VPN website, we found it comforting to see that this company openly shares transparency reports. This matters because users are able to see requests a VPN provider is getting from government agencies. Trust can also be relied on if a VPN company discloses who the creators are.

Can you rely on CyberGhost VPN’s customer support?

CyberGhost offers 24/7 live support, which we greatly appreciated. Additionally, we liked that there is also a form to submit a request for help. When we filed a request, they were prompt in getting back to us. There was no “ghosting” (pun intended), which we have experienced in some programs’ request form where our questions have just fallen into an abyss.

Is CyberGhost VPN worth it?

CyberGhost VPN can keep up with the heavy hitter VPNs available on the market. It stands out in the sea of VPNs with a reputable in-house support team and private servers for security maximalists.

On the one hand, CyberGhost is a great introduction to VPNs even if the interface isn’t to your personal liking. On the other hand, it is not a VPN geared towards more well-seasoned VPN users due to its low-grade web anonymity.

If you want amped-up privacy, it can get expensive to add the NoSpy server access and/or a dedicated IP to your plan. But, for the average consumer, it covers its bases and then some.

Credit: CyberGhost VPN