Surfshark vs. CyberGhost: Which VPN should you get?

Surfshark and CyberGhost are constantly ranked among the many prime VPNs. They’re high-value but comparatively inexpensive VPNs, which is why most customers love them. 

One distinctive factor about Surfshark is that there is not any cap on the variety of gadgets you’ll be able to join. It shares rather a lot with NordVPN, particularly from a safety perspective. However it’s not as streaming-centered as CyberGhost. Also, I had minor however persistent server connection points with the app, nevertheless it labored easily as soon as I linked.

So, which one must you select on your wants? Based mostly on my expertise with each providers, I can level you in the proper route.

Specs

You should purchase Surfshark if…

1. You need connection flexibility and pocket-friendly charges

A limitation with most VPNs, CyberGhost included, is that they limit connections to round 5 or ten gadgets at a time. That is not the case with Surfshark, which permits limitless connections with each plan you select. It is a great possibility if you’d like a VPN to cowl your total household, plus gadgets that you just use when touring away from dwelling. With CyberGhost, I generally should log off of two or extra gadgets to create extra slots for my testing companions when the utmost of seven gadgets is reached.

Overview: Surfshark

Surfshark is not that pricey both. It is probably the most inexpensive VPN providers for prolonged use, with Starter plans from as little as $1.99/month for 27 months. CyberGhost’s two-year plan is round $2.19 per thirty days, nevertheless it has the cheaper one-month plan of the 2.

2. You desire a VPN to bypass community restrictions and web censorship

Cannot open some domains from the varsity Wi-Fi or a stay-in lodge? Surfshark works higher with such sorts of community filters. When linked to the OpenVPN protocol (UDP or TCP), Camouflage Mode is immediately activated. It masks your IP handle and VPN use, making it simpler to get round these firewalls with out detection. Also, NoBorders Mode suggests dependable servers for restrictive locations like China, the place most VPNs do not work.

Nonetheless, I famous that CyberGhost has a bonus in the case of IP addresses. It provides servers in areas that are not VPN-friendly, like China, Iran, Russia, and Belarus. Meaning you get safe native servers when visiting these locations — topic to the situation that the VPN works. But when you are going to use Surfshark, you could have to search out servers in close by nations to securely browse with out being monitored. 

3. You desire a speedier VPN of the 2

Surfshark and CyberGhost aren’t the quickest VPNs, however they’re nonetheless above-average performers. That being stated, I’ve repeatedly famous in my velocity exams that Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol delivers extra environment friendly tunneling than CyberGhost’s. It is unimaginable to ensure comparable outcomes (a number of different elements, together with your location, can have an effect on efficiency), however you are higher off with Surfshark should you want even the slightest velocity benefit. 

4. You need superior safety (aside from some minor privateness points)

Each Surfshark and CyberGhost use strong encryption protocols and IP safety mechanisms. However Surfshark provides considerably extra settings to tailor safety and privateness. In contrast to CyberGhost, which solely has dynamic IPs, you’ll be able to select between static and rotational IP addresses. It is also potential to arrange an alternate on-line profile, so you will not expose delicate particulars like your e-mail or dwelling handle when signing up for much less vital providers on-line.

Once more, Surfshark’s Safety Suite (VPN plus antivirus) offers protection from real-time threats when downloading information and apps on PC and cellular gadgets (CyberGhost’s suite solely works on Home windows). A downside of Surfshark is that it is based mostly within the Netherlands, which is not pretty much as good for privateness as Romania for CyberGhost. In very excessive instances, the supplier will be compelled at hand over customers’ information to the Dutch authorities and its 14 Eyes Alliance companions. 

You should purchase CyberGhost if…

1. You desire a extra dependable VPN for media streaming and gaming

CyberGhost’s stronghold is its specialised servers. It provides streaming-ready servers for greater than eighty platforms worldwide, together with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney Plus, alongside low-ping servers for responsive gameplay. After all, Surfshark additionally has obfuscation to assist get round streaming georestrictions, however my expertise with CyberGhost was seamless and handy.

Overview: CyberGhost

The sensible DNS characteristic CyberGhost provides will be configured for US and UK streaming, whereas Surfshark’s software solely works with US streaming providers. Good DNS assist lets you entry and watch georestricted content material on streaming gadgets that do not natively assist VPN setup, like Samsung and LG TVs and consoles like Xbox and Nintendo Change. Nonetheless, it would not present encrypted connections like a VPN does. 

2. You desire a stress-free VPN app that’s handy for a newbie

CyberGhost apps are quite simple. The supplier maintains the identical minimalist really feel throughout the board, whether or not you put in it on a smartphone, PC, or sensible TV. I wager you’ll prefer it much more on Android and iPhone apps than Surfshark, one cause being it is extra light-weight and would not drain energy. Server choice is rather a lot simpler as a result of the listing reveals latency info on particular person servers, and the specialised servers are effectively labeled. 

Whereas my expertise organising each apps was fairly comparable, Surkshark took virtually a full minute to launch on Home windows and even longer to hook up with servers. It stored bouncing from one server to a different earlier than lastly selecting one. However with Cyberghost, issues had been principally easy. Even switching servers took roughly 5 seconds. Nonetheless, CyberGhost’s router setup is restricted to the OpenVPN protocol, whereas Surfshark additionally helps the trendy WireGuard protocol.

3. You need some hands-off VPN automation options

When utilizing dwelling, public, or workplace hotspots with none safety, you develop into a straightforward goal for cybercriminals. CyberGhost provides some cool settings to automate when and the way the VPN ought to join. Good Guidelines and WiFi Safety options can immediately launch the VPN or give reminders each time you wish to use an untrusted community. You can even set exemptions for dwelling networks the place encrypting connections is not essential.

Supplied you’ve got set the Most Transmission Unit (MTU) to computerized, CyberGhost adjusts information packet sizes relying on the energy of your web supply. This fragmentation helps to keep up regular connections even on sluggish networks. There’s additionally a built-in Connection Checker to assist diagnose whether or not your web is working correctly when troubleshooting connectivity issues.

4. You desire a stable VPN trial with a longstanding refund coverage

CyberGhost provides free trials on PCs and cellular gadgets, one thing that is not quite common with a lot of the large suppliers. Home windows and Mac customers can check the app totally free for as much as 24 hours (no bank card wanted), Android for 3 days, and iOS for as much as seven days. That is sufficient time to get a really feel of the premium service and determine if it is price shopping for. 

Together with that, the VPN has a 45-day money-back assure, which is greater than sufficient time to ask for a refund should you change your thoughts. Surfshark’s money-back assure, then again, lasts 30 days, and you may solely get a free trial on cellular (you have to buy via Google Play or the App Retailer).

The ultimate verdict

The extra sturdy and feature-rich of those two is Surfshark. In order for you one thing past only a primary VPN, like extremely configurable safety settings and travel-friendly options, it is the proper selection. However for novices who cherish simplicity and nice streaming assist, CyberGhost works proper out of the field, together with with smartphones. Pricewise, it would not make that a lot of a distinction which one you select as a result of each have economical prolonged subscriptions.

Does Surfshark cease viruses?

Sure, Surfshark Safety Suite (with antivirus bundle) can block threats like viruses, malware, and trojans. It scans system information and downloads, disabling any malicious applications and apps from executing. The software program additionally makes use of a database known as Cloud Shield to determine rising threats on the web and instantly updates safety to mitigate zero-day assaults. Nonetheless, it isn’t as superior as a standalone antivirus, and due to this fact is not efficient for some sorts of threats, like people who exploit human error.

Which VPN provides higher worth for cash between Surfshark and CyberGhost?

Surfshark has extra options and prices barely lower than CyberGhost. You possibly can concurrently join all of your gadgets, and it is even sooner by way of velocity efficiency. Subscribing month-to-month, nonetheless, is dear in comparison with CyberGhost. You get probably the most worth out of the VPN if you are going to buy one or two-year plans. 

Which one is nice for torrenting between CyberGhost and Surfshark?

Both can be utilized for torrenting since each have P2P-optimized servers. Surfshark offers extra useful options for torrenting, together with environment friendly tunneling speeds and privateness safety settings. Sadly, each VPN apps don’t assist port forwarding, citing safety causes. See the highest VPNs we suggest for torrenting with helpful options to optimize your peer-to-peer connections.

What are the disadvantages of CyberGhost?

CyberGhost helps as much as seven simultaneous connections per account, whereas most suppliers common ten or extra. Connections aren’t constant at peak hours and on some server areas. Generally it is sluggish and generally it is quick, making it not as dependable for high-bandwidth actions. Also, iOS and Mac customers might discover some important options lacking from the apps, for instance, cut up tunneling and the OpenVPN protocol. CyberGhost lacks obfuscation options, limiting its means to successfully entry some strict web sites that block VPN site visitors.

Options to contemplate