Best server network

4.6

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On CyberGhost's website

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CyberGhost

• Cheaper than ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark
• Optimized servers for regional streaming
• No split tunneling feature

Best for multiple devices

4.1

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On PureVPN's website

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PureVPN

• Affordable plans
• Works with popular streaming services
• Drastically lower internet speeds

Both PureVPN and CyberGhost have been around for a long time. PureVPN was founded in 2006, and CyberGhost just five years later. These are two of the best virtual private networks (VPNs), offering vast server networks, expansive security features like audited no-logs policy and AES-256 encryption, and user-friendly interfaces.

Read on to learn whether CyberGhost or PureVPN is better suited for you based on price, features, customer support, and more.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN at a glance

CyberGhost and PureVPN both offer top-of-the-line VPN services at an affordable price. They prioritize privacy and security while offering a range of features. When comparing the two, CyberGhost has a larger server fleet, with 7,000-plus servers, while PureVPN allows for more simultaneous connections (10 in total).

• CyberGhost: Best server network
• PureVPN: Best for multiple devices

How do CyberGhost and PureVPN compare?

	CyberGhost	PureVPN
Price	$2.03–$12.99/mo	$1.97-$20.45/mo
Max # of connected devices	7	10
24/7 customer support
Compatibility	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV Stick, smart devices, gaming consoles	Windows, macOS, Linux Chromebook, Android, iOS, smart devices, gaming consoles
# of servers	7,000+ servers in 90+ countries	6,500+ VPN servers in 70+ countries
VPN protocol	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2
No-logs policy
Unblocks Netflix?
Learn more	Get CyberGhost Read CyberGhost Review	Get PureVPN Read PureVPN Review

CyberGhost is a popular and affordable VPN service with over 7,000 servers in 90-plus countries. It prioritizes user privacy with a strict no-logs policy and uses strong AES 256-bit encryption. Its plans start at $2.03/mo, and it provides a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.

PureVPN is another popular VPN, coming in at $1.97/mo for its basic plan. It has over 6,500 servers in 70-plus countries and is based in the British Virgin Islands for enhanced privacy. PureVPN has a strict no-logs policy, robust encryption, and an "Always On" audit policy. It offers a 31-day money-back guarantee for new users.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: prices

CyberGhost and PureVPN offer various pricing commitments, from monthly to yearly plans. We like that CyberGhost allows you to try its VPN on a free trial, even though the trial is limited. CyberGhost only offers a 24-hour free trial for Windows and macOS, a three-day free trial for Android, and a seven-day free trial for iOS.

PureVPN takes a different approach with its trial. You pay $0.99 to access all of its premium features and devices for a seven-day trial. You must cancel your trial before being charged for a subscription.

For the best value, CyberGhost offers a 2 Years + 4 Months plan for $2.03/mo, billed at $56.94 once for the first two years and every year after. There's no difference between the CyberGhost plans as far as what features you receive.

PureVPN comes with three different tiers: Standard, Plus, and Max. PureVPN’s best value plan is the Max 2-Year + 5 Months for $3.29/mo, billed at $107.95 for the first 27 months, then $89.95 every 12 months. All Max plans comes with a VPN, password manager, file encryption, and personal privacy manager. While the Standard 2-Year plan is only $1.97/mo, it comes with only the VPN. 

Both providers offer money-back guarantees, with CyberGhost offering 45 days and PureVPN offering 31 days.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: features

CyberGhost and PureVPN offer servers in many countries, but CyberGhost has a larger network. CyberGhost has over 7,000 servers in 90-plus countries, while PureVPN has 6,500-plus servers in 78 countries. CyberGhost also offers servers that are optimized for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and other purposes.

Both services have strict no-logs policies. CyberGhost's policy was audited by Deloitte, while PureVPN has an "Always On" audit policy and collaborated with Altius IT for its initial audit. CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania, while PureVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. Both operate outside the jurisdiction of the 14 Eyes alliances.

Both VPNs use AES 256-bit encryption. CyberGhost supports OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols, while PureVPN offers OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPSEC. As far as security features, both have automatic kill switches, although only PureVPN offers split tunneling on all its devices. Based on our testing, CyberGhost and PureVPN both offer WebRTC and DNS leak protection to keep your data safe.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: streaming support

During our testing, we had some success with CyberGhost while streaming. We like that it offers streaming-optimized servers for streaming services like Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more. However, CyberGhost was unable to load Netflix on some servers, or we experienced dial-up equivalent speeds while streaming.

On the other hand, we were able to use Netflix while connected to PureVPN servers worldwide. We also didn’t experience any lag or buffering while streaming.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: internet speeds

We tested CyberGhost VPN and PureVPN to see how they affect connection speeds. We conducted the tests on a 2018, 15-inch MacBook Pro and an iPhone 12 Pro. By comparing the download and upload speeds with and without VPN enabled, we learned how each VPN performs while connected to servers worldwide.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN speed test results

In terms of speed, CyberGhost provided faster download speeds across all the servers. CyberGhost had faster upload speeds in the U.S. and Canada, while PureVPN had faster upload speeds in the U.K. and Australia.

During the speed tests, latency was also evaluated for both PureVPN and CyberGhost VPN. Latency refers to the delay or lag experienced when data travels from your device to the VPN server and back. When using a VPN, we generally expect the latency to be slightly higher than a direct connection.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN latency comparison

Based on the latency comparison, CyberGhost either had lower latency results or was not far behind PureVPN.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: compatibility and ease of use

CyberGhost and PureVPN offer broad compatibility across operating systems, mobile apps, and even routers, smart devices, browser extensions, and more.

PureVPN is easy to install and use, with clear instructions and a user-friendly interface. Server selection is straightforward, and performance information is easily understandable. We encountered no difficulties with settings or functionality.

When we tried to sign up for CyberGhost’s free trial, the web VPN client glitched on our 2018 MacBook Pro. Luckily, we were able to sign up and use the mobile version on our iPhone 12 Pro. During testing, we found that navigation on the mobile version is easy to understand.

One thing we noted is that CyberGhost displays speeds in KB and Mb instead of Mbps, requiring manual conversion for comparison with internet speed tests. This felt unnecessary, and we thought it took away from the overall experience.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: customer service

CyberGhost offers various customer support options. Its 24/7 live chat quickly connects you to an agent who responds professionally and promptly to your issues. It also has a customer support portal with helpful guides, FAQs, and tutorials covering various topics suitable for new VPN users.

PureVPN offers the same customer support options as CyberGhost, except for its 24/7 live customer support. With PureVPN, live chat first connects you to a bot to quickly resolve your issue. If you need more help, you are then transferred to a human. Both the CyberGhost and the PureVPN live agents were quick to respond and helpful.

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: payment options

When it comes to payment options, PureVPN offers more diversity. They accept multiple cryptocurrencies, debit and credit cards, and other modern payment methods. CyberGhost, on the other hand, only accepts Bitcoin and credit cards, which may be limited for some users.

CyberGhost payment options

CyberGhost accepts the following payment options:

• All major credit cards (but no debit cards)
• bitcoin
• Amazon Pay
• PayPal

PureVPN payment options

• Most major debit and credit cards (excluding Discover)
• CoinGate (bitcoin, litecoin, and ether)
• Google Pay
• PayPal
• Paymentwall

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN FAQs

CyberGhost vs. PureVPN: Which is better?

CyberGhost and PureVPN are two well-known and respected VPN providers. It was a close race, but CyberGhost outperforms PureVPN with its server network. It offers over 7,000 servers in 91 countries, as well as servers optimized for streaming, torrenting, and more. It also offers the best value plan and performed great during our speed tests.

If you’re looking for more device support, PureVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. Both providers offer affordable subscription plans, with PureVPN being more budget-friendly if you opt for its most basic long-term plan.

4.6

Save 84% on 2 years + 4 months free

Learn More

On CyberGhost's website

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CyberGhost

• Cheaper than ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark
• Optimized servers for regional streaming
• No split tunneling feature

Author Details

Cheyenne Lightfoot

About the Author

Cheyenne Lightfoot is a freelance content writer specializing in the intersection between identity and access management and user privacy. As an account executive, she has helped small-to-medium-sized businesses prevent data breaches, safeguard sensitive information, and achieve compliance with passwordless multi-factor authentication software.