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

CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are two suppliers with a few of the largest server networks in VPNs immediately. CyberGhost VPN has quick servers unfold throughout 100 international locations. In the meantime, ExpressVPN has a slight edge with servers from 105 international locations.

Whereas each provide 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 precise selection for you and your group.

• CyberGhost VPN: Finest for people and small groups searching for optimized servers for streaming, gaming and torrenting.
• ExpressVPN: Finest for many companies that desire 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 Finest? (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’d have most well-liked having an annual plan, as this provides a great 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 utility that doesn’t require any fee or bank card information. Whereas the trial may very well be longer, CyberGhost is without doubt 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 permit customers entry to the free trial through their cell app.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full CyberGhost VPN overview.

ExpressVPN pricing

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

I’m pleased 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, nevertheless it solely expenses you till after the trial interval lapses.

If you wish to be taught extra, learn our full ExpressVPN overview.

CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN: Characteristic comparability

Safety protocols and encryption

Winner: Tie

Each CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN carry a powerful 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 consists of OpenVPN and its proprietary Lightway protocol. Per ExpressVPN, its Lightway protocol is constructed for each pace and safety.

SEE: Is a VPN Actually Price 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 when it comes to safety protocols.

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

For this spherical, CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN every get a degree. Whichever VPN you select, you’ll be pleased to know that you just’re going to be set on the VPN safety protocol and encryption division.

VPN server community and areas

Winner: ExpressVPN

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

SEE: 4 Completely different Forms of VPNs & When to Use Them (TechRepublic)

Checking ExpressVPN’s official server listing, I truly counted 106 areas in ExpressVPN’s nation listing, regardless of its promoting that it has servers in 105 international locations. After all, this listing is topic to vary or may very well 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 numerous 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 international locations or areas.

Third-party audits and monitor information

Winner: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN will get the win in the case of impartial third-party audits. As of 2024, it has revealed a complete of 18 impartial audits testing varied features of its VPN. To this point, 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 performed by KPMG and revealed 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 impartial companies.

On the flipside, CyberGhost VPN has accomplished two audits, with the most up-to-date audit revealed in Could 2024. This was performed by Deloitte and appeared into CyberGhost VPN’s “server community and administration techniques.”

Whereas I’m pleased CyberGhost VPN doesn’t skimp on impartial testing, I do assume 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 straight” as a means to make sure that the “audit outcomes will not be taken out of context or misunderstood.”

Though I perceive how audit stories might be taken out of context, I feel publishing audit outcomes — good or unhealthy — reveals greater credibility and provides extra worth to end-users. To be clear, CyberGhost says the complete Deloitte report is offered through CyberGhost VPN accounts.

SEE: 5 Finest 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 possibly can go to its full suite of audits.

With its extra clear strategy and enormous 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 essential VPN service, I felt CyberGhost added extra significant options to its shopper in comparison with ExpressVPN.

A noteworthy function 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 commonest use circumstances of VPN software program.

To me, this protects end-users a ton of time searching for one of the best suited server for his or her wants. As well as, CyberGhost additionally has its “Sensible Guidelines” panel, which permits customers to set automated actions inside the VPN primarily based on configured prompts.

An instance of that is having your CyberGhost VPN shopper routinely hook up with a selected server upon launch or setting the app to routinely launch a particular utility as soon as CyberGhost establishes a connection.

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

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

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

Efficiency and pace

Winner: ExpressVPN

For VPN pace and efficiency, ExpressVPN is my selection. Whereas each VPNs supplied quick speeds, I discovered ExpressVPN to show extra constant speeds, significantly with regard to hurry take a look at 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 equivalent to Docs and Drive and streaming 1080p video content material now and again.

SEE: The right way to 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 take a look at 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. As a rule, VPNs garnered extra favorable pace take a look at scores for downloads solely, not uploads. This was truly 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 provide quick VPN efficiency on the entire, I discover ExpressVPN to be the higher decide in the case of consistency and general pace take a look at 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 provide intuitive desktop functions with well-designed person interfaces — albeit with key variations of their design selections.

ExpressVPN makes use of a contemporary and minimalist design, making for a clear and seamless VPN shopper 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 also be cleanly organized, with menus being positioned proper the place I anticipated them to be.

However, CyberGhost VPN employs a darker theme with the same give attention to neat group. A spotlight for me is its handy categorization of its optimized servers, which helps scale back the time wanted to seek for the right server in a given state of affairs.

Like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s utility is pretty simple to grasp 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 gadget connections

Winner: Tie

By way of simultaneous gadget connections, I name it a tie. CyberGhost VPN presently permits for a most of seven simultaneous gadget connections. In the meantime, ExpressVPN lets customers join as much as a most of eight gadget connections on the similar time.

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

Both means, I hope each VPNs think about both growing their gadget restrict and even pushing their respective providers to help limitless simultaneous connections.

CyberGhost VPN professionals and cons

Execs

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

Cons

• No annual subscription.
• Impartial audits may very well be extra accessible.

ExpressVPN professionals and cons

Execs

• Geographically numerous 105-country server suite.
• 18 revealed third-party safety audits thus far.
• Nicely-designed and easy-to-use desktop utility.
• Spectacular obtain and add pace take a look at outcomes.

Cons

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

Ought to your group use CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN?

Total, I discover ExpressVPN to be the higher selection for many companies or organizations. It brings top-tier encryption and persistently quick VPN speeds, features a geographically numerous server community throughout 105 international locations and has proven a powerful dedication to impartial 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 helpful for companies that will have much less tech-savvy staff and desire a VPN resolution that may accommodate all varieties of customers.

However, CyberGhost VPN is an effective selection for companies that desire a extra inexpensive different to ExpressVPN. With its extra inexpensive six-month and two-year plans, CyberGhost can provide a equally intuitive person interface with comparable VPN speeds.

CyberGhost can also be a great decide for companies or groups searching for VPN servers which might be particularly optimized for duties equivalent to streaming, gaming or torrenting. CyberGhost VPN’s handy categorization of its optimized servers is a particular plus for a lot of these 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 all the things from their safety protocols to pricing. Specifically, I took into consideration 5 essential pillars, every having corresponding weights:

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

I additionally appeared into precise person 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 means of 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.