CyberGhost vs. Private Internet Access (PIA): which one wins?

If you’re in the process of choosing a VPN between CyberGhost and Private Internet Access (PIA), you want to see how these two services look side-by-side. To help you pick between two providers, I dedicated several weeks to extensive testing.

I joined the Cybernews research team to test each VPN. Our findings provided the basis for a CyberGhost vs PIA comparison based on performance, speeds, features, and value.

In this article, I share our in-house testing results and insights on CyberGhost and PIA, based on hands-on experience. Keep reading to find out which VPN is the better choice.

CyberGhost vs. Private Internet Access (PIA)

CyberGhost VPN provides you with a feature-rich suite, excellent speeds, and more functional apps than PIA. CyberGhost also ranks among the best VPNs, making it a stronger option. However, PIA can be a good option for users who have many devices to secure and require only the basics from a VPN. While CyberGhost is slightly more expensive, you can find discount coupons below for more savings.

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access VPN
⭐ Rating:	4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
🥇 Overall rank:	#5 out of #41	#14 out of #41
🖥️ Servers:	9,800+ servers in 100 countries	35,000+ servers in 90 countries
📖 No logs policy:	Independently-audited	No logs
💵 Price:	From $1.75/month	From $1.75/month
🔥 Coupons:	CyberGhost VPN coupon 87% OFF	PIA coupon 85% OFF
🔒 VPN protocols:	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP)	Wireguard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
🍿 Streaming services:	Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+	Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu, BBC iPlayer
🖥️ Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS
📥 Simultaneous connections:	7	Unlimited
💁🏻 Support:	24/7 live chat, Knowledge base, FAQs	Knowledge base, FAQs, tickets/email, 24/7 live chat

Recent Updates

Key differences between CyberGhost and PIA

Both CyberGhost and PIA are solid VPN services. However, they have some differences that not only set them apart but also make them suitable options for different types of users.

Choose CyberGhost if:

• You prioritize privacy-focused jurisdiction. CyberGhost is based in privacy-friendly Romania, while PIA is based in the US, a member of the Five Eyes alliance.
• You want specialized servers. CyberGhost offers specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, as well as NoSpy servers for extra security.
• You want a comprehensive security suite. CyberGhost offers quite a few security-oriented features, including NoSpy servers, smart rules, dedicated IP, and ad and tracker blocker.

Choose PIA if:

• You need basic security. PIA is a great choice for users who only require basic security, as it doesn’t offer many advanced features.
• You want to secure many devices. Unlike CyberGhost, PIA doesn’t limit device connections, so you can protect all your devices with a single account.
• You appreciate professional customer support. PIA’s customer support is qualified, while its agents are polite and professional.

Speed, performance, and streaming

Below, I compare CyberGhost and PIA based on their speed, performance and streaming capabilities.

Speed comparison: PIA vs CyberGhost VPN

Speed comparison in the US, the UK, and Canada shows that CyberGhost is faster than Private Internet Access. We measured the speed of the WireGuard protocol – the fastest protocol currently available on the market. It has shown that CyberGhost is speedier than Private Internet Access, but its speed drops in servers that are further away from the testing location. So, you'll have better speeds if you pick servers near you.

• Baseline: 940Mbps download speed/940Mbps upload speed

Country	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access
Local	741Mbps/291Mbps	568Mbps/145Mbps
The US	594Mbps/167Mbps	434Mbps/168Mbps
The UK	856Mbps/491Mbps	507Mbps/501Mbps
Australia	601Mbps/78Mbps	405Mbps/83Mbps
Japan	476Mbps/77Mbps	302Mbps/72Mbps

Our speed tests showed that CyberGhost is the faster VPN. It consistently outpaced PIA across most regions. CyberGhost retained significantly higher download speeds locally and in distant locations like Japan. Upload speeds show an even sharper divide, especially on nearby servers, where CyberGhost nearly doubles PIA’s local performance.

The UK is the only region where PIA briefly caught up with CyberGhost in upload speeds, but still fell short in download speed. Across the US, Australia, and Japan, CyberGhost maintains stronger, more stable performance.

Torrenting

CyberGhost VPN and Private Internet Access are good VPNs for torrenting, and both can be an excellent fit for this purpose.

CyberGhost is an outstanding provider for torrenting because it gives relevant protection and offers servers specialized for P2P file sharing. For example, when we tried downloading a Linux installation image, download speed in the UK server was 9.3 Mb/s and 6.5 Mb/s in the US server, which is an average performance.

Private Internet Access works with all torrenting clients too. Additionally, its servers support P2P file sharing. The good news is that the SOCKS5 proxy and the Shadowsocks option reroute your internet traffic for even more protection (or to protect only your torrent client, for example).

When we tested PIA’s torrenting download speeds, we constantly got 10-15 Mb/s, which is a great speed. This alone was achieved without the need to connect to servers for P2P support.

CyberGhost’s downloading servers work with P2P clients like uTorrent, and servers are located in countries where torrenting isn’t restricted. So, you get the best possible download speeds, and you can filter out servers with high traffic. Such a possibility allows you to maintain the maximal capabilities of a server for downloading.

Netflix and streaming performance

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access (PIA)
Netflix	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
BBC iPlayer	✅ Yes	❌ No
YouTube	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Hulu	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

CyberGhost stands a head higher than Private Internet Access when accessing foreign content on Netflix and other streaming platforms.

I tried unblocking the Netflix US library with CyberGhost, and the VPN helped us do that faultlessly. The good news is that I unblocked Netflix on the first try, but the bad news is that the site was a little bit slow, and it took a couple of minutes for the search to load.

When I tested Private Internet Access, it unblocked Netflix US library error-free. However, when I tried accessing the UK servers, PIA left me empty-handed – it didn’t work. The same happened with BBC iPlayer.

Then, I hopped on testing other platforms, and again – CyberGhost VPN had no problem streaming HBO Max, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. BBC iPlayer even demonstrated faster speeds than Netflix itself.

Similarly to Netflix, Private Internet Access struggled with some streaming services here too. It didn’t work with BBC iPlayer. So, depending on what foreign content you want to access, PIA can be a great option for US libraries. Unfortunately, it’s not as suitable for UK content.

Plans and pricing

Pricing plans of both providers are where you have to weigh their security and features to pick a more suitable VPN provider because CyberGhost VPN and Private Internet Access offer very comparable prices. The deal here is simple – you pay less for a longer period. Let’s look at what both VPNs cost.

The longest yet cheapest subscription that CyberGhost offers is a 2-year plan, which costs $1.75/month. PIA’s 2-year plan too costs $1.75/month. So, the difference here is basically non-existent.

You can also look into some intermediate plans. For example, both providers offer 6-month and 1-month packages. However, here’s where the prices start to get different. CyberGhost VPN offers a 6-month package for $6.99/month, while PIA package costs $7.50/month.

That being so, you should consider your needs for VPN – if you’re looking for a cheaper option or a more secure VPN with a better feature suite. CyberGhost offers cheaper long-term subscription plans with more features. Meanwhile, PIA has more limited features for a similar or even higher price.

Finally, if you’re only looking for a short-term subscription, PIA and CyberGhost have 1-month plans. For the shortest plan with PIA you’ll pay – $11.99/month, while with CyberGhost – $12.99/month.

There are plenty of options for you to pick the best pricing plan, but overall, CyberGhost offers better value for its plans. For a 2-year subscription, you would only pay $2.03/month and get a more comprehensive security suite compared to PIA.

Server locations

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access
Servers	Undisclosed number of servers	Undisclosed number of servers
Countries	100	90
Virtual locations	Yes	Yes
Specialty servers	Yes	No

While a massive server count is not the most crucial element when talking VPN, it indeed matters. Neither PIA nor CyberGhost discloses their current server count. CyberGhost covers 100 countries, which is more than PIA’s 90 country coverage.

Next, both providers’ server fleets consist of some virtual servers. However, it’s only a handful of servers, so it shouldn’t be a massive concern.

Specialty servers are where CyberGhost gets to dim PIA’s light because CyberGhost offers dedicated servers for gaming, torrenting, and streaming. You can do all those things at fast speeds and avoid buffering or lagging while streaming your favorite shows.

Features overview

In the table below, I compiled a side-by-side comparison of CyberGhost and Private Internet Access features.

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access
Split tunneling	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Specialized servers	✅ Yes	❌ No
Dedicated IP	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Ad blocker	❌ No	✅ Yes
Kill switch	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Private Browser	✅ Yes	❌ No
Port forwarding	❌ No	✅ Yes

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a useful feature that allows choosing which apps or websites you want to run through a VPN. Basically, it provides more freedom in configuring your VPN services and using it how you prefer.

With Private Internet Access, you can easily select which apps or websites you want to secure or not. So you won’t be restricted if you want to access the bank safely, but continue streaming a local Netflix content.

PIA split tunneling feature is available on all main desktop apps – Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s not accessible on mobile devices, but there’s an exception on Android, and you can enable this feature under "Per App Settings”.

While PIA made split tunneling available on desktop and mobile, CyberGhost VPN only supports this feature on Android. This future is functional and fulfills its duty, but CyberGhost is an inflexible choice for desktop and iOS users. While CyberGhost plans to add split tunneling to additional devices, iOS and desktop users will still have to wait.

Kill switch

Kill switch function detects an interruption in your VPN connection and prevents your device from reverting to an unsecured Internet connection. CyberGhost VPN supports kill switch for iOS and Android smartphones, also for Mac and Windows operating systems.

The same applies to Private Internet Access VPN – you can make use of the kill switch function on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.

Dedicated IP

With CyberGhost, you can get a dedicated IP for an extra buck. After purchasing, you receive a unique IP address assigned specifically for you. So, no one else can use your dedicated IP – only you. In addition, it’s excellent for users who need a consistent IP address for streaming or seeding torrent files.

If you choose PIA VPN, you also have an available dedicated IP feature. All you need to do is pick a suitable plan and choose a dedicated IP add-on. It’ll also cost you a few extra dollars, but you’ll be able to access a static IP address that no one else can use.

Specialized servers

CyberGhost offers dedicated servers for torrenting, streaming, and gaming. It’s a great additional feature if you want to perform one of those things at great speeds. In addition, you can access NoSpy servers that include more privacy measures and offer extended bandwidth at faster speeds.

CyberGhost’s NoSpy data center is built in Romania, the headquarters. It’s a great location because no third party or other facility owners can access or control your data.

Unfortunately, Private Internet Access VPN doesn’t offer dedicated gaming, streaming, or torrenting servers. Its speeds aren’t excellent, but you can still get a decent streaming or gaming experience.

Ad blocker

An ad blocker is an excellent feature that Private Internet Access has built into its infrastructure. An ad-blocking feature MACE is available on all PIA apps and can block ads online and at the DNS level. So, with PIA, you can forget all the intrusive disruptions and enjoy the browsing experience ad-free.

Unlike the Private Internet Access, CyberGhost VPN doesn’t have an ad blocker, so you might encounter some ads while using this VPN. However, you can download its Private Browser and enjoy a seamless browsing experience without any data tracking or annoying ads.

Private Browser

Although CyberGhost VPN doesn’t have a built-in adblocker, it offers a Private Browser to surf the net without any ads or possible digital surveillance. Such a solution disables any kind of data tracking and keeps you anonymous while browsing.

Consequently, this browser will help you browse faster because it eliminates ads, interstitials, and trackers that tend to add extra baggage to your loading, download, or upload speeds.

While Private Internet Access offers an ad blocker to eliminate all the annoying ads, unfortunately, it doesn’t include more functionality for browsing anonymously, as does CyberGhost.

Private Internet Access (PIA) vs CyberGhost VPN: which is more secure?

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access
Encryption	AES-256	AES-128 or AES-256
Hash	SHA-256	SHA1 and SHA2
RAM servers	Yes	Yes
Outside 14 Eyes alliance?	Yes	No, belongs to 5 Eyes alliance
No-logs policy	Audited	Audited
Kill switch	Yes	Yes
Ad blocker	No	Yes
DNS leak protection	Yes	No

Whether you choose CyberGhost VPN or Private Internet Access as your provider for a secure browsing, you can be sure that both offer high-level security. For example, both VPNs encrypt your online traffic with a top-notch AES-256 cipher, offer a kill switch function, and run on RAM-only servers. However, there are details you should know.

CyberGhost VPN encrypts the traffic with AES-256-GCM. GCM is more secure at performance cost, and the 256-bit key provides higher security but a slow connection.

But when you use PIA’s OpenVPN protocol, you have to choose a level of encryption. Otherwise, it’ll be set automatically on AES-128-GCM. According to Private Internet Access, GCM offers higher security at performance cost, and 128-bit key is a faster yet less secure connection.

Both encryptions are resistant to brute-force attacks, and we recommend staying with the most robust AES-256 encryption. However you should identify whether you prioritize security or faster speeds.

Regarding authentication methods, CyberGhost VPN uses a more secure SHA-256 hashing algorithm. Meanwhile, PIA has SHA1 and SHA2, which are slightly outdated and more prone to vulnerabilities than SHA-256. So, CyberGhost gains a point over the opponent for a better authentication method.

Let’s take a deeper look at both providers’ infrastructure, privacy, and logging particularities, as there are certainly things you must know while choosing from CyberGhost VPN and Private Internet Access.

Infrastructure

Both companies run on RAM-only servers, and it’s a plus for VPN providers. Such servers give an extra point for secure infrastructure because they do not have any hard discs where your data could be logged or stored.

Whenever RAM-only servers reboot, all data disappears, so no pesky parties can have access to your information.

Privacy

Private Internet Access uses two popular protocols – WireGuard and OpenVPN. Although it uses an industry-standard WireGuard protocol, this VPN isn’t the fastest provider on the market. However, these protocols are unavailable on iOS. Instead, you can use IKEv2/IPsec, which in this case, offers equally strong privacy measures.

CyberGhost VPN secures your privacy by offering more protocols. It provides conventional protocols, so in addition to WireGuard, you can use IKEv2 and OpenVPN.

Logging

CyberGhost VPN is based in Romania and is a safe location for a VPN company. Romania isn’t a member of 5-Eyes, 9-Eyes, or 14-Eyes surveillance alliances, so your data is secure with the VPN in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction.

However, Private Internet Access is a different case. It’s located in the United States. It’s not a privacy-friendly jurisdiction because it’s a member of a 5-Eyes alliance.

For example, Private Internet Access VPN claims not to collect any of your activity logs. However, it has a history of a vague privacy policy. Right now, we can see that the company made some clarifications in its privacy policy and claims not to collect any of your user IP, DNS queries, or connection timestamps.

PIA gathers only vital information for setting up your account. It retains general location information for paying sales tax in the United States; however, it applies only to users that choose non-anonymous payment methods.

Both companies have been independently audited by Deloitte in 2022, which is great proof that you can maintain security and anonymity with both providers.

Platforms, interface and ease of use

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access
Supported OS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
Other software and devices	Smart TV, Apple TV, Android TVs, Fire TV Stick, router	SmartTV
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox	Chrome, Firefox, Opera
Simultaneous connections	7	Unlimited

Both providers support the major operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. However, there are differences in how compatible providers are with other devices.

For example, CyberGhost VPN is compatible with more software and devices than PIA. Private Internet Access has a SmartDNS function, allowing you to stream without buffering or lag on your SmartTV. With the same function you can integrate CyberGhost VPN to your smart devices or game consoles with the same function.

The main difference is in simultaneous connections. However, you can connect Unlimited connections to a Private Internet Access account. Meanwhile, CyberGhost has 7 connections.

Desktop apps

If you’re new to the VPN world, then CyberGhost VPN has one of the best navigation for new users. Windows and macOS have similar user-friendly interfaces, so you’ll have an easy experience navigating the system.

The macOS version is slightly more polished than Windows, although both interfaces look almost identical. On macOS, CyberGhost allows unblocking malicious websites and apps – just like on Windows. You can also start a data compression to reduce download size, which is an awesome feature if you have some data caps.

However, the macOS app could improve its kill switch function. The app might show that your VPN connection has been restored, while your Internet connection is down.

Private Internet Access also has a slick interface. However, its Windows app could use some improvements. Although you can see your connection speed or snooze the VPN for some time, you can experience some bugs, like freezing.

macOS worked like a charm and didn’t have any bugs, and consequently, the navigation experience was much better.

But when it comes to design, you can see that the interface is very compact and appears as if it's developed for mobile. However, the user experience is still great.

Mobile apps

When looking at CyberGhost mobile apps, it’s the same case here – iOS and Android apps look identical. Both interfaces are very minimalistic and easy to use. CyberGhost VPN’s mobile apps generally work and look better than their desktop counterparts.

You can choose between OpenVPN and WireGuard tunneling protocols if you're an Android user. While on iOS, you can pick from WireGuard and IKEv2. In this case, iOS users might experience better speeds.

Private Internet Access also developed mobile apps that mirror desktop apps. It maintains the same functionality: rearranging your connection options, snoozing the VPN, or checking connection information.

However, the Settings menu is different on mobile. Compared to desktop apps, you might see some features are renamed or completely simplified. For example, split tunneling is available only for apps, not websites on Android.

Customer support

	CyberGhost VPN	Private Internet Access
24/7 live chat	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Email	✅ Yes	❌ No
Articles and guides	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Phone line	❌ No	❌ No
FAQs	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Both companies offer great customer support. Private Internet Access allows access to a community, where some of your FAQs can be answered. In addition, you can go through their articles and guides in case you don’t have an urgent question.

For urgent matters, Private Internet Access offers an option of submitting a ticket or reaching the agent through a 24/7 live chat. However, there’s no option of a phone line or email support.

Meanwhile, CyberGhost VPN offers a similar customer service: you can browse their guides, and how-tos, submit a ticket or request, and access an agent 24/7 on a live chat or via email. Same as the opponent, it doesn’t offer a phone line to call.

Private Internet Access (PIA) vs CyberGhost VPN – which one wins?

Although the competition was very fierce, CyberGhost VPN is the winner. It’s a better VPN for streaming and bypassing geo-restrictions across various streaming platforms. Also, it has a better security suite and offers more value for a similar price.

​While CyberGhost won in this comparison, PIA remains a good option for some users. It offers basic protection, so you get what you need without the overwhelming number of features.

Feature	CyberGhost	PIA	Verdict
Pricing	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	Despite similar pricing, CyberGhost offers better value compared to PIA.
Speed	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	CyberGhost delivers faster speeds overall, maintaining higher performance across locations, while PIA offers average speeds.
Privacy	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	Both providers excel with audited no-logs policies and strong encryption. Yet, PIA is based in the US, a Five Eyes alliance member, while CyberGhost benefits from a more privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
Features	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	CyberGhost offers a broader feature set, including dedicated IP and No-Spy servers, while PIA ensures basic protection.
Streaming	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆	CyberGhost is far superior for streaming and reliably unblocking major platforms, while PIA struggles accessing some services, including Netflix.
Torrenting	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	Both VPNs perform equally well for torrenting, offering strong security, stable speeds, and full P2P support across their server networks.
Support	5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★	4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆	CyberGhost provides more comprehensive support with 24/7 live chat and faster responses, while PIA relies on 24/7 live chat.

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