Surfshark vs CyberGhost: one clear winner in 2026
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Surfshark and CyberGhost are two of the most popular VPNs on the market. They are both known for their affordability and strong performance. While they share many similarities, each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
After thoroughly testing both services, I found Surfshark to be the better overall choice. It delivers faster speeds, more user-friendly features, and excellent performance for both streaming and torrenting – all at a budget-friendly price.
In this article, I compare Surfshark vs CyberGhost in detail. I evaluate them across key categories like security, pricing, speed, features, server availability, and customer support. Read on to find which VPN is the right fit for your needs.
Surfshark vs CyberGhost: overview
During our tests, both CyberGhost and Surfshark delivered solid performance. While both rank among the best VPN providers, each has its own strengths. For example, Surfshark offers robust security and many additional features, while CyberGhost offers specialized servers for gaming, streaming, and torrenting.
| Surfshark VPN | CyberGhost VPN | |
| ⭐ Rating: | ||
| 🥇 Overall rank: | #2 out of #41 | #5 out of #41 |
| 🖥️ Servers: | 4,500+ servers in 100 countries | 9,800+ servers in 100 countries |
| 📖 No logs policy: | No logs | Independently-audited |
| 💵 Price: | From $2.49/month | From $1.59/month |
| 🔥 Coupons: | Surfshark coupon 85% OFF | CyberGhost VPN coupon 88% OFF |
| 🔒 VPN protocols: | OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, Dausos | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) |
| 🍿 Streaming services: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more | Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ |
| 🖥️ Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| 📥 Simultaneous connections: | Unlimited | 7 |
| 💁🏻 Support: | Knowledge base, email, 24/7 live chat | 24/7 live chat, Knowledge base, FAQs |
Recent Updates
Key differences between Surfshark and CyberGhost
Surfshark and CyberGhost are top VPN providers offering affordable pricing, strong security, and fast speeds. However, there are key differences that make each of them special.
Choose Surfshark if:
- You’re on a budget. Surfshark pricing starts at $2.49/month, while CyberGhost is slightly more expensive, starting at $1.59/month. Plus, Surfshark offers unlimited connections, while CyberGhost limits them to 7.
- Fast speeds are essential to you. Surfshark showed better speeds across multiple locations in our tests. It also worked flawlessly for streaming and torrenting.
- You need good server coverage. Surfshark has better server coverage. While both providers cover 100 countries, CyberGhost doesn’t disclose the number of servers it has, which is disappointing. That said, Surfshark offers better specialty servers.
Choose CyberGhost if:
- You need a VPN mainly for streaming. Cyberghost has specialized servers for streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
- Privacy-focused jurisdiction is your priority. CyberGhost is based in privacy-friendly Romania, while Surfshark is based in the Netherlands, a member of the Nine Eyes alliance.
- You appreciate an extended money-back guarantee. CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is a generous offer compared to the industry standard of 30 days.
Speed, performance, and streaming
Speed comparison: is CyberGhost faster than Surfshark?
Together with the research team, I tested both providers' speeds across different locations. For consistency, I used the WireGuard protocol, which delivered the fastest and most stable results.
Surfshark came out on top in overall speed. I hardly even noticed the speed change compared to when browsing without a VPN.
- Baseline: 940Mbps download speed / 940Mbps upload speed
| Surfshark | CyberGhost | |
| Lithuania | 894Mbps / 568Mbps | 741Mbps / 290Mbps |
| The UK | 847Mbps / 482Mbps | 856Mbps / 491Mbps |
| The US | 780Mbps / 203Mbps | 593Mbps / 167Mbps |
| Australia | 223Mbps / 70Mbps | 382Mbps / 91Mbps |
| Japan | 574Mbps / 26Mbps | 301Mbps / 77Mbps |
CyberGhost wasn’t far behind, maintaining solid performance with only slightly lower speeds. The difference was barely noticeable in real-world use, like browsing or streaming.
Streaming performance
Streaming with both providers was smooth, but the experience felt different. Surfshark made it incredibly easy. I just selected a country, connected, and started streaming. The streaming speed was great, and I didn’t experience any buffering, slowdowns, or errors when streaming Netflix.
CyberGhost, on the other hand, uses streaming-optimized servers. While these work great, selecting the right one takes an extra step, which I personally found less convenient. That said, once connected, the performance was excellent. The streaming was smooth, with no lag or buffering.
Torrenting performance
Surfshark supports P2P traffic on all of its servers, which made torrenting incredibly convenient. During our tests, we experienced consistent speeds and no significant drop-offs, which makes downloading large files easy.
CyberGhost supports torrenting, but, just like with streaming, requires you to connect to a specialized server. This added step made the process a bit less seamless. Still, once connected, the speeds were good and the connection held steady. With the built-in kill switch, the experience felt safe and secure.
Surfshark vs CyberGhost price comparison
Both VPNs are among the most affordable options on the market. While Surfshark is cheaper overall, CyberGhost provides better rates for short-term subscriptions. That said, Surfshark includes unlimited simultaneous connections, which makes it a better deal for someone with multiple devices.
| Plan | Surfshark | CyberGhost VPN |
| 1 month | $16.45/month | $12.99/month |
| 6-month | –
| $6.99/month |
| 1-year | $3.39/month | – |
| 2-year | $2.49/month | $1.59/month |
| Current deal | Now up to 85% OFF Surfshark + 3 months FREE | Get 88% OFF CyberGhost + 2 months FREE |
Surfshark vs CyberGhost – server comparison
When it comes to VPN performance, server availability matters a lot. Too few servers means slower speeds, overcrowding, and a higher risk of IP addresses getting blacklisted by websites or streaming services.
| Servers | Countries | Virtual locations | Specialty servers | 10Gbps servers | |
| Surfshark | 4,500+ | 100 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Some |
| CyberGhost | Undisclosed number | 100 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Some |
Surfshark has over 4,500 servers in 100 countries. While it doesn’t match market leaders like NordVPN, which has over 9,500 servers in 149 countries, Surfshark maintains a well-optimized infrastructure. During my tests, I had zero issues with overloaded or blacklisted servers.
Surfshark also offers virtual servers. These servers make it appear that you’re browsing from one country, even though the physical server is located elsewhere. This is especially useful for accessing content in countries with privacy-unfriendly laws, like India.
CyberGhost has servers in 100 countries, just like Surfshark. However, it doesn’t disclose the total number of servers, which was disappointing to me personally. Still, during testing, CyberGhost performed well. I didn’t encounter any slowdowns or access issues.
Like Surfshark, CyberGhost offers virtual servers, letting you securely access content from anywhere, even in places with heavy restrictions.
Specialty servers
CyberGhost offers specialized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. Each type is optimized for performance. For example, streaming servers only allow streaming on them and support 10Gbps speeds for lag-free experience. Torrenting servers are tailored for fast and anonymous P2P file sharing, while gaming servers are built for low-latency performance. CyberGhost also offers NoSpy servers, which are fully operated by the company itself, so there is no third-party access. Plus, it offers dedicated IPs.
Surfshark claims that all of its servers are optimized for both streaming and gaming. It offers dedicated P2P servers for torrenting, along with obfuscated servers that hide VPN usage to bypass restrictions. Surfshark includes MultiHop servers, which route your connection through two different VPN servers for added encryption and privacy. Also, just like CyberGhost, it offers dedicated IPs.
On the other hand, CyberGhost provides a straightforward, easy-to-use app, but it lacks the depth of customization and advanced features I find in Surfshark. For someone who values simplicity, it's a great choice – especially with its dedicated streaming servers. However, Surfshark’s broader functionality and added tools give it the edge for those looking for more control over their online privacy.
| Surfshark | CyberGhost | |
| Streaming | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Torrenting | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Gaming | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| NoSpy servers | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Dedicated IP | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Obfuscated servers
Obfuscated servers mimic a regular internet connection and hide the fact that you’re using a VPN. This method is perfect for bypassing network or government restrictions.
I tested this feature with Surfshark when connecting to a network that blocks all VPNs, and it worked without a hitch. Honestly, I was impressed with how smooth the experience was.
Unfortunately, CyberGhost doesn’t offer any form of obfuscation. If you live in or travel to countries with heavy internet restrictions, that’s something you should keep in mind.
Surfshark and CyberGhost features compared
Surfshark and CyberGhost go beyond just being secure VPNs. They also double as powerful cybersecurity tools for all your devices. While they share many similar features, each offers something unique.
| Features | Surfshark | CyberGhost |
| Double VPN | ✅ Yes (MultiHop) | ✅ Yes |
| Static IP | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Dedicated IP | ✅ Yes (available as an add-on) | ✅ Yes (available as an add-on) |
| Tor over VPN | ❌ No
| ✅ Yes |
| Split tunneling | ✅ Yes (Bypasser) | ✅ Yes (Windows and Android only) |
| Stealth VPN | ✅ Yes (Camouflage mode) | ❌ No |
| Web filters | ✅ Yes (CleanWeb) | ✅ Yes |
| RAM-only servers | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Data breach monitoring | ✅ Yes (available as an add-on) | ✅ Yes (available via web) |
| Invisibility on LAN | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| GPS spoofer | ✅ Yes (available on browser extension) | ❌ No |
| Rotating IP | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Alternative ID | ✅ Yes (available as an add-on) | ❌ No |
| Search | ✅ Yes (available as an add-on) | ❌ No |
Split tunneling testing experience
Surfshark offers split tunneling on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. However, it works slightly differently across platforms. On iOS, for example, you can only exclude specific websites from the VPN tunnel, whereas on other operating systems, you can exclude apps too. The feature worked flawlessly during my tests and was especially useful for banking apps, which tend to flag logins from unfamiliar IP addresses.
What’s even better is Surfshark’s reverse bypasser, which is available on Windows and Android. Instead of choosing what to exclude, you can choose only the apps you want to include in the VPN tunnel. It’s a neat little addition that gives you more flexibility.
CyberGhost also offers split tunneling, but only on Windows and Android. There’s no built-in reverse mode, and while you can manually configure it by selecting all apps except the ones you want to route through the VPN, it’s far less convenient. I was a bit disappointed that this feature isn’t available on macOS or iOS. That said, it worked smoothly on Android and Windows.
RAM-only servers
Both Surfshark and CyberGhost only use RAM servers. That means no data is ever saved to a physical drive, and everything is deleted with each reboot. Even if someone accessed the server, there would be nothing to find. This setup adds a powerful extra layer of privacy and security.
Smart DNS test results
Smart DNS is great for unblocking streaming content on devices that don’t support VPN apps, such as smart TVs and game consoles.
Setting up this feature can be slightly complicated, but both VPNs offer comprehensive step-by-step guides on how to do so. I set up Smart DNS with Surfshark in under 5 minutes, and it worked right away. It was fast and easily unblocked Netflix.
CyberGhost was also fairly easy to configure. It successfully unblocked Netflix, but the streaming speeds were slightly slower than what I got with Surfshark.
Dedicated IP
A dedicated IP gives you a static IP address that only belongs to you. It’s perfect for avoiding CAPTCHAs and logging into banking sites.
Surfshark offers dedicated IPs in 11 countries for $3.75/month. Once I chose my IP location through the web dashboard, it showed up in the app automatically. The setup was seamless, and I had no issues using sensitive apps like online banking, which usually don’t work with regular VPN servers.
CyberGhost’s dedicated IP is cheaper at $2.50/month and supports 12 countries. However, the setup is more complicated. You need to download a token and manually activate it in the app. Plus, if you lose that token, you’re out of luck. CyberGhost can’t recover it, so you could end up paying for something you can’t even use.
Web filters
Both Surfshark and CyberGhost include web filters that block ads, trackers, and malicious sites. These features can help you improve browsing speeds, since less content has to be loaded.
Surfshark’s CleanWeb is a web filter that works on a DNS level. It performed impressively during tests, blocking 85 out of 100 ads and significantly speeding up page load times.
CyberGhost’s ad blocker also works at the DNS level, but it wasn’t quite as effective. It blocked basic ads well enough, but struggled with tracker-based content. On content-heavy sites, it also resulted in slightly slower loading times compared to Surfshark.
Security overview: Surfshark vs CyberGhost
Both Surfshark and CyberGhost offer strong security. In this table, you can see a summary of the key security features each provider offers and how they compare.
| Surfshark | CyberGhost | |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM, ChaCha20 | AES-256 |
| Hash | SHA-512 | SHA-256 |
| RAM servers | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Outside the Fourteen Eyes alliance | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Independent audits | Audited in December 2022 and June 2025 | Audited in January 2024 |
| Kill switch | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| DNS leak protection | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Surfshark and CyberGhost both offer advanced encryption and RAM-only servers. They both follow a strict no-logs policy and have been independently audited. Plus, both providers have a kill switch and DNS leak protection, which ensures that your connection is safe even if the connection drops.
Jurisdiction
Surfshark operates from the Netherlands, which is a part of the Nine Eyes alliance. While this might raise concerns for privacy-focused users, Surfshark operates under a strict no-logs policy, meaning it doesn’t monitor or store your online activity. So even if a data request were made, there’d be nothing useful to hand over.
CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country that is outside the Fourteen Eyes alliance. This makes it an excellent choice for privacy-focused users since CyberGhost is less likely to share data with the government. Romanian law doesn’t require data retention, which adds an extra layer of privacy by default.
Logging policies compared
Both Surfshark and CyberGhost enforce strict no-logs policies. Neither provider tracks, collects, or stores your browsing activity, connection logs, or usage data.
That said, both collect some basic personal information for account management. Surfshark collects your email address, subscription details, and partial payment information. It also uses cookies and collects diagnostic data to improve performance. However, none of this is linked to your account or browsing activity.
Surfshark respects your privacy, therefore we are committed to not process any information related to the online activity of our users.
CyberGhost has a similar approach. It asks for an email address, name, and payment details when you sign up. Like Surfshark, it gathers cookies and diagnostic data to improve its services. However, this information remains completely separate from your VPN usage.
When using the CyberGhost VPN, we have no idea about your traffic data such as browsing history, traffic destination, data content, and search preferences. These are NOT monitored, recorded, logged or stored by us.
Infrastructure and encryption
Both VPNs use AES-256 encryption, which is the current industry standard. This encryption method is highly secure and trusted by governments and cybersecurity experts.
Surfshark supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols, offering excellent performance and strong protection. It also features DNS leak protection, which ensures your connection is always safe. Plus, it offers obfuscation, which disguises your VPN traffic as regular internet activity. I found this feature especially handy for bypassing firewalls or restrictions in censored countries.
CyberGhost offers the same VPN protocols as Surfshark, ensuring fast speeds while maintaining maximum security. However, it lacks obfuscation, which could be limiting if you're connecting from a network or country that blocks VPNs. On the plus side, CyberGhost offers NoSpy servers. These servers are fully managed by the company, reducing the risk of third-party interference and adding a layer of privacy.
Kill switch
Both VPNs include a built-in kill switch, which blocks internet access if the VPN connection drops. This ensures your real IP address doesn’t get accidentally exposed.
Surfshark’s kill switch works across all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. When I used Surfshark on my macOS computer, the kill switch worked perfectly every time, cutting off the connection completely when the VPN disconnected.
CyberGhost also includes a kill switch. During our in-house tests, we simulated a situation where the VPN connection unexpectedly dropped and the kill switch functioned perfectly.
Independent audits
Surfshark’s no-logs policy was independently audited by Deloitte in December 2022 and the latest audit was conducted in 2025. Before that, Cure53 conducted a security audit and also reviewed Surfshark’s browser extension, finding no major issues.
CyberGhost completed its second no-logs audit in January 2024, conducted by Deloitte Romania. Although it hasn’t undergone other types of security audits, its commitment to regular audits shows its dedication to user privacy.
Video review
Check our video review of Surfshark vs CyberGhost. Here, we dive deeper into each feature, performance, and pricing.
Customer support
Reliable customer support is essential for any VPN, especially when setup gets tricky or unexpected issues come up. Fortunately, both Surfshark and CyberGhost offer strong support through multiple channels, ensuring you can get help quickly at any time.
| Surfshark | CyberGhost VPN | |
| 24/7 live chat | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Chatbot | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Phone line | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | |
| Guides | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Which one to choose in 2026: Surfshark or CyberGhost?
Based on my thorough research and comparison, Surfshark is the superior overall choice. It outperforms CyberGhost in nearly every category. Surfshark offers more affordable pricing than CyberGhost, especially with long-term subscriptions. At that lower price point, it delivers greater value by providing unlimited simultaneous connections and a wider range of features. On the other hand, CyberGhost didn’t fall far behind Surfshark in terms of speed. Also, it offers specialized servers that can be useful if you’re mainly planning to use a VPN for streaming or torrenting.
| Feature | Surfshark | CyberGhost | Verdict |
| Pricing | Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market, costing only $1.99/month. CyberGhost offers an accessible price, too, but it’s not as low as Surfshark’s. | ||
| Speed | During our tests, Surfshark was faster than CyberGhost. Even though CyberGhost demonstrated good speeds, it lacked consistency across the tested locations. | ||
| Privacy | Both providers excel in privacy with strong no-logs policies. | ||
| Features | Surfshark offers a richer feature set, including advanced tools and customization, while CyberGhost offers fewer extras. | ||
| Streaming | Surfshark easily unblocks major streaming platforms, while CyberGhost requires extra steps to select the right specialized server, making the process less smooth. | ||
| Torrenting | Surfshark supports P2P traffic, making torrenting very convenient, while CyberGhost requires selecting a specialized server, making the process less seamless. | ||
| Support | Both VPNs offer great customer support, including 4/7 live chat support and extensive knowledge bases. |
FAQ
Is CyberGhost better than Surfshark?
No, CyberGhost isn’t better than Surfshark. Surfshark is more affordable, offers more features, and showed better performance during our tests.
Which is better for streaming: CyberGhost or Surfshark?
Surfshark is better for streaming. It effortlessly bypasses geo-restrictions and offers excellent speeds for buffer-free streaming.
