CyberGhost and ExpressVPN stand as two formidable providers with expansive server networks in the world of VPNs today. CyberGhost VPN boasts rapid servers scattered over 100 nations, while ExpressVPN maintains a slight advantage with servers spanning 105 countries.
Despite both offering robust server selections, they possess distinct traits that distinguish them. Within this piece, we delve into whether CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN aligns better with your desires and the needs of your company.
- CyberGhost VPN: Ideal for individuals and small groups seeking optimized servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
- ExpressVPN: Perfect for most enterprises desiring a straightforward VPN with swift speeds and a user-friendly interface.
A Showdown: CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN
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Comparison of CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN Pricing
Both CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN sort their payment options based on contract duration.
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I admire this approach as opposed to how other VPN providers structure their paid packages around the features included. With both VPNs, you receive the same features irrespective of the subscription choice.
CyberGhost VPN costs
CyberGhost provides three schemes: a monthly plan, a six-month plan, and a two-year subscription. It stands out as one of the few VPNs lacking an annual subscription alternative. Personally, I would have liked to see an annual package included, as it offers a balance of a lower monthly charge and a reasonable time commitment.
- 1 month: $12.99 every month.
- 6 months: $6.99 per month.
- 2 years: $2.19 per month.
However, CyberGhost offers a handy 24-hour free trial for its desktop VPN app without requiring any payment information or credit card details. While the trial period could be extended, CyberGhost distinguishes itself as one of the limited vendors that present a complete desktop free trial devoid of any obligations.
Other VPN providers might necessitate entering credit card information or restrict access to the trial to their smartphone app.
To delve deeper, browse through our comprehensive CyberGhost VPN review.
ExpressVPN costs
Similar to CyberGhost, ExpressVPN offers three paid plans categorized by contract duration. These consist of a one-month, a six-month, and a yearly subscription with ExpressVPN.
I’m glad to see the yearly subscription included this time, unlike with CyberGhost. However, it would be beneficial if ExpressVPN also provided a lengthier contract plan of two or three years to enable a reduced monthly fee.
- 1 month: $12.95 monthly.
- 6 months: $9.99 every month.
- 1 year: $8.32 per month.
ExpressVPN presents a seven-day free trial accessible solely through its Android or iOS mobile app. Regrettably, ExpressVPN mandates payment details to access the trial, though charges are only applied after the trial period concludes.
If you want more details, read our complete ExpressVPN review.
Comparison of Features: CyberGhost VPN vs ExpressVPN
Security features and encryption
Winner: Tie
Both CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN offer a robust blend of security and speed-focused security protocols suitable for most users.
The security protocols in CyberGhost VPN encompass OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2 VPN protocols. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN integrates OpenVPN and its custom Lightway protocol, crafted for speed and security according to ExpressVPN.
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Overall, with both VPNs having security protocols like OpenVPN for security and WireGuard/Lightway for speed, most businesses will find comprehensive security protocol coverage.
Regarding encryption, both VPNs utilize the AES-256 encryption algorithm, renowned for being one of the most secure encryption schemes to date. AES-256 is widely employed by U.S. government agencies and financial institutions to safeguard data from prying eyes.
In this category, CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN each score a point. Whichever VPN you opt for, rest assured of robust security protocols and encryption.
VPN server network and locations
Winner: ExpressVPN
This is a tight competition, but I slightly favor ExpressVPN. As of July 2024, ExpressVPN boasts a more geographically diverse server network, with server locations spanning 105 countries, while CyberGhost VPN maintains server locations in a similarly strong 100 countries.
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Upon reviewing ExpressVPN’s official server list, I actually identified 106 locations in ExpressVPN’s country list, despite the claim of servers in 105 countries. Naturally, this list is subject to change or may be an error on my part.
Regardless, ExpressVPN claims victory here for its slightly broader server suite. Having a diverse server network is crucial for a VPN to unlock geo-restricted content, an advantage that ExpressVPN offers abundantly.
Below is a table displaying the geographic distribution between the server locations of both VPNs:
To CyberGhost VPN’s credit, it possesses an equally impressive server fleet across 100 countries, reportedly totaling over 11,000 servers. Conversely, ExpressVPN reportedly maintains around 3,000 servers.
While the argument could be made that CyberGhost boasts a superior server network due to the sheer number of servers, I personally value having more server countries or locations.
Independent audits and credibility
Winner: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN emerges victorious in terms of independent third-party audits. By 2024, it has conducted a total of 18 independent audits testing various facets of its VPN service. This represents the largest collection of audits from a VPN provider that I have encountered.
The most recent audit conducted on its Privacy Policy by KPMG and released in May 2024 demonstrates ExpressVPN’s commitment to stringent security standards. Since 2018, ExpressVPN has subjected its core features like no-logs policy, browser extension, and desktop apps to evaluation by independent firms.
CyberGhost VPN has wrapped up two audits, with the latest review released in May 2024. Deloitte carried out this investigation into CyberGhost VPN’s “server network and management systems.”
Although CyberGhost VPN invests in independent evaluations, I believe it could enhance transparency by sharing its audit findings more openly. In its official statement about the May 2024 audit, CyberGhost mentioned that direct excerpts from the report are not available to ensure that the results are not misinterpreted.
While recognizing the potential misinterpretations of audit reports, I advocate for the publication of audit results to demonstrate higher credibility and provide more value to users. CyberGhost clarifies that the complete Deloitte report is accessible through CyberGhost VPN accounts.
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In a different vein, ExpressVPN provides access to its audits for both the general public and active ExpressVPN subscribers. For those curious, you can explore its comprehensive range of audits.
ExpressVPN gains an edge in this comparison round due to its more transparent approach and extensive assortment of third-party audits.
Remarkable characteristics
Winner: CyberGhost VPN
When it comes to standout features, my preference leans towards CyberGhost VPN. In addition to its core VPN service, I found that CyberGhost integrated more significant features into its client in comparison to ExpressVPN.
An aspect that stood out for me is CyberGhost VPN’s smart organization of its specialized servers. Particularly, CyberGhost categorizes its server pool into servers tailored for streaming, gaming, and torrenting — three of the most common VPN software applications.
End-users can benefit significantly from this, as it saves them a lot of time searching for the most suitable server to meet their requirements. Furthermore, CyberGhost also boasts its “Smart Rules” dashboard, allowing users to create automated actions within the VPN based on preset triggers.
For instance, one can configure their CyberGhost VPN client to automatically link to a specific server upon startup or program the application to launch a particular app once a connection is established by CyberGhost.
From a user-centric perspective, these features enable CyberGhost VPN to offer a tailored VPN service that enhances its already robust offerings.
While ExpressVPN also has standout features like its Threat Manager, which prevents trackers and malware, and bundles a specific password manager with every subscription, I believe CyberGhost’s VPN-centric feature suite edges out as the preferred choice between the two.
Even though these are valuable additions in their own ways, I maintain that CyberGhost’s VPN-oriented feature set is the superior choice.
Speed and Performance
Champion: ExpressVPN
In terms of VPN pace and effectiveness, my preference lies with ExpressVPN. While both services provided rapid speeds, I observed ExpressVPN to consistently deliver more reliable speeds, especially in speed assessment outcomes.
For perspective, I evaluated the performance of both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN by carrying out my standard writing duties, which included conducting multiple browser tab researches.joining virtual video meetings, utilizing Google tools like Documents and Cloud and streaming HD video clips once in a while.
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During my practical use, both CyberGhost and ExpressVPN delivered rapid speeds. No noticeable slowdowns or fluctuations were experienced with either VPN in comparison to my internet provider’s services.
ExpressVPN stood out in speed assessments compared to CyberGhost. The speed test outcomes revealed that ExpressVPN achieved consistently high results, with only a 25.6% decline in downloads and a 28% reduction in uploads against my ISP.
What caught my attention was ExpressVPN’s balanced performance in downloads and uploads. Typically, VPNs tend to exhibit better speed scores for downloads alone, unlike in this case where CyberGhost VPN showed a mere 7.5% decrease in download speeds but a substantial 48.21% drop in uploads compared to my ISP.
Though both VPNs offer solid overall performance, ExpressVPN takes the lead in terms of consistency and general speed test results.
User-Friendliness and Appearance
Winner: Draw
Regarding user-friendliness and user experience within the applications, both CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN perform exceptionally well. I consider it a tie as both VPNs present user-friendly desktop interfaces with meticulously designed layouts, albeit with distinct design philosophies.
ExpressVPN opts for a contemporary and simplistic design, resulting in an uncluttered and seamless VPN client interface. Its desktop application adopts a light-themed design approach, offering a user-friendly UI that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. The application layout is well-structured, with menu items placed intuitively.
Contrastingly, CyberGhost VPN employs a darker theme with equal emphasis on well-organized structure. I appreciate its streamlined arrangement of optimized servers, reducing the time required to locate the right server for a specific scenario.
Similar to ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s application is relatively straightforward and does not pose a steep learning curve to users.
Irrespective of your choice between the two VPNs, both CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN offer a superior VPN interface that is elegantly designed and easy to navigate.
Concurrent Device Connections
Winner: Draw
In the context of simultaneous device connections, it’s a draw. CyberGhost VPN presently supports a maximum of seven concurrent device connections. In contrast, ExpressVPN allows users to connect up to eight devices simultaneously.
Despite ExpressVPN technically edging out CyberGhost by one device, the difference is negligibly small between the two providers.
Either way, it would be beneficial if both VPN services consider expanding their device limits or even extending support for unlimited simultaneous connections.
Pros and Cons of CyberGhost VPN
Advantages
- Convenient access to specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
- Customizable automations through the Smart Rules feature.
- More cost-effective 6-month and 2-year subscriptions.subscriptions.
- Enjoy a 24-hour trial without the need for payment details.
Downsides
- Lacks an annual subscription option.
- Potential for making independent audits more accessible.
Positive and Negative Aspects of ExpressVPN
Advantages
- Diverse server network covering 105 countries.
- 18 third-party security audits published.
- Well-crafted and user-friendly desktop application.
- Impressive speed test results for downloads and uploads.
Drawbacks
- Lacks a 2- or 3-year subscription choice.
- Higher priced.
- Free trial demands payment information.
Is CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN Ideal for Your Organization?
Overall, ExpressVPN emerges as the superior pick for most businesses or organizations. It provides top-notch encryption, consistently high VPN speeds, a globally diverse server network across 105 countries, and a strong commitment to independent testing with an impressive 18-audit portfolio.
An outstanding feature of ExpressVPN is its sleek and user-friendly VPN interface, offering a streamlined and polished VPN experience that caters to all users, particularly those less tech-savvy employees in businesses.
On the flip side, CyberGhost VPN presents a viable option for organizations seeking a more budget-friendly alternative to ExpressVPN. With cost-effective six-month and two-year plans, CyberGhost offers an intuitive user interface with similar VPN speeds.
CyberGhost is particularly suitable for businesses or teams needing VPN servers optimized for specific tasks like streaming, gaming, or torrenting. The categorized optimized servers in CyberGhost VPN cater well to these user requirements.
Approach
The evaluation of CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN involved a comprehensive analysis of their features, real-world performance, and value.
In assessing each VPN service, various factors such as security protocols, pricing, ease of use, customer support, and expert reviews were considered with corresponding importance weightings.
User feedback and reputable reviews were also taken into account to formulate the final recommendations for both CyberGhost VPN and ExpressVPN.
For speed and performance evaluation, tests were conducted on a personal Windows system using Ookla’s public Speedtest. Consideration was given to identify the most suitable business types or individual users to benefit from CyberGhost VPN or ExpressVPN.
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