⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: PureVPN starts at $2.15/per month. CyberGhost starts at $2.03/month on its longest plan.
- Best for: PureVPN suits people who want a password manager, dark web monitoring, and a dedicated IP in one security suite. CyberGhost suits streaming.
- Key difference: CyberGhost builds streaming optimized servers into the app. PureVPN bundles identity tools around the virtual private network instead.
- Our pick: CyberGhost, based on its huge server network and the 45 day money back guarantee on longer plans.
Both of these VPN providers are old enough to have a reputation problem.
PureVPN handed logs to the FBI in 2017. CyberGhost got bought by Kape Technologies the same year.
Both then spent years rebuilding trust through independent audits.
So the real question is not which one is safer.
It is which one does the job you actually need.
Overview
This PureVPN vs CyberGhost comparison covers pricing, speed, streaming, and security features.
It also covers app quality across desktop and mobile apps.
Our writers have hands-on time with both, and those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections.
Everything else comes from published documentation, pricing pages, and third-party speed tests.
What is PureVPN?
PureVPN is a virtual private network that started back in 2007.
It routes your internet traffic through encrypted VPN servers so your real IP address stays hidden.
The company runs over 6,500 servers across more than 140 countries.
That server list mixes physical servers with virtual servers in harder-to-host regions.
PureVPN is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, not mainland China or Hong Kong.
What sets it apart is the bundle around the VPN service itself.
You get a password manager, dark web monitoring, and data broker removal alongside the tunnel.
PureVPN
One account covers ten simultaneous connections. Add-ons include a dedicated IP and port forwarding. KPMG audits the no-logs policy without warning.
PureVPN Pricing
Here is what a PureVPN subscription costs across the three tiers.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $2.15/per month | Core VPN protection on a budget |
| Plus | $3.15/per month | Adding password manager and identity tools |
| Max | $3.55/per month | Full security suite with monitoring |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: A seven-day trial is available for $0.99. There is no free tier.
Money-back guarantee: 31 days on standard purchases.
📌 Note: Add-ons are billed separately. A dedicated IP runs $2.49 per month and port forwarding runs $1.49 per month. PureVPN accepts payments by credit card, PayPal, and Bitcoin, though some landing pages hide the crypto option.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Public sources list PureVPN’s month-to-month plan near $12.95 and its Standard tier near $10.95, with renewals climbing after year one. Our figures above come from the current CSV price sheet. Confirm the renewal rate on the checkout page before you purchase PureVPN.
Key Benefits of PureVPN
Here is what you actually get for the money:
- Ten simultaneous connections: One login covers ten devices. That beats what most VPN providers allow at this price.
- Surprise audits by KPMG: The always-on audit lets KPMG check the no-logs claim unannounced. Altius IT has also reviewed the privacy policy.
- Quantum-resistant servers: Some PureVPN servers use encryption keys generated through a verifiable quantum process.
- Split tunneling: Choose which apps ride the VPN tunnel and which use your normal internet connection.
- Dedicated IP and port forwarding: Paid add-ons give you the same IP address every session, useful for work networks.
- P2P-friendly servers: Dedicated torrent servers are available in several countries.
- Transparency report: PureVPN publishes how many government information requests it receives.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer paid for a PureVPN subscription and used it daily across Windows, Android, and browser extensions. Here is what stood out:
PureVPN Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Ten device connections on a single account
- Independently audited by KPMG with surprise checks
- Password manager and dark web monitoring bundled in
- 24/7 live chat plus in-app support ticket submission
❌ Cons
- Speeds swing hard on distant servers
- Interface pushes upsell ads for paid add-ons
- Refund requests draw mixed feedback from users
What is CyberGhost?
CyberGhost is a VPN service built in Romania by Robert Knapp in 2011.
It encrypts your online traffic and hides your browsing history from your ISP.
The company runs a huge server network of over 9,200 global servers.
Those CyberGhost servers sit in 126 locations across 100 countries.
Romania sits outside the 14-Eyes alliance and has no mandatory data retention law.
The whole product is organised around streaming rather than raw speed.
Kape Technologies acquired CyberGhost in 2017, putting it beside Private Internet Access and ExpressVPN.
🏆 Winner: CyberGhost
Servers optimized for Netflix and BBC iPlayer sit in their own sidebar tab. Deloitte has audited the no-logs policy twice.
CyberGhost Pricing
CyberGhost charges a lot month-to-month and very little long-term.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.99/month | Short trips and one-off testing |
| 6 Months | $6.99/month | Medium commitment with flexibility |
| 2 Years + 4 Month | $2.03/month | Best value for committed users |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: No permanent free tier. The refund window acts as the trial.
Money-back guarantee: 45 days on the longer plans, 14 days on the one-month plan.
📌 Note: The two-year plan includes two free months. Dedicated IPs cost an extra $5 billed monthly. Payment works through Bitcoin, credit card, PayPal, and Google Pay.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Some sources quote $13 monthly, $42 per six months, and $57 for the first 28 months. Our table uses the current CSV figures. CyberGhost VPN deals also shift during Black Friday, so the checkout price may be lower than either set.
Key Benefits of CyberGhost
Here is where CyberGhost earns its rating:
- Streaming optimized servers: Separate entries exist for over 15 Netflix libraries, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer. Pick one and it loads in a few seconds.
- RAM only servers: Data wipes on every reboot, so nothing survives a restart.
- NoSpy servers: CyberGhost owns and operates this subset directly instead of renting rack space.
- 45 day money back guarantee: Longer than almost anything else in the VPN industry.
- Smart Rules automation: Set the CyberGhost app to automatically connect when you open a streaming app or join open WiFi.
- Smart DNS feature: Works on a smart TV or console that cannot run a VPN app directly.
- Bug bounty programme: Researchers get paid for reporting vulnerabilities.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer ran CyberGhost’s client on a laptop, phone, and Amazon Fire TV for daily streaming. Here is what stood out:
CyberGhost Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Over 9,200 servers in 126 locations across 100 countries
- Labelled streaming servers for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video
- 45 day money back guarantee on longer plans
- No-logs policy audited by Deloitte in 2022 and 2024
❌ Cons
- Average speed loss near 30%, worse over long distances
- Apps have been reported as buggy, especially on mobile
- Knowledge base articles lack depth for beginners
Feature Comparison
Here is where the two VPN services actually diverge. We compared ten areas that change which one you should buy.
| Feature | PureVPN | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $2.15/per month | $2.03/month |
| Free Plan | ❌ ($0.99 seven-day trial) | ❌ |
| Server Count | 6,500+ in 140+ countries | 9,200+ in 100 countries |
| Streaming Optimized Servers | ❌ | ✅ |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 | 7 |
| Password Manager | ✅ | ❌ |
| Split Tunneling | ✅ | ✅ (Windows and Android) |
| Port Forwarding | ✅ (paid add-on) | ❌ |
| Smart DNS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Refund Window | 31 days | 45 days |
| Best For | Identity protection bundle | Streaming across regions |
1. Server Network and Server Locations
PureVPN: Around 6,500 PureVPN servers spread across more than 140 countries. That country count is the widest of the two. The server list mixes physical servers with virtual locations, so a PureVPN server labelled for a small country may physically sit elsewhere.
CyberGhost: Over 9,200 CyberGhost servers in 126 server locations across 100 countries. Fewer countries, far more machines per country. Virtual locations CyberGhost offers fill the gaps where hosting is difficult. CyberGhost’s servers each show their current load and IP addresses rotate per session.
⚠️ Warning: Raw server counts mean little on their own. What matters is whether there is a fast server near you, and both cover Europe and North America well.
2. Streaming and Unblocking
PureVPN: Reported to unblock Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video, with a dedicated Apple TV app. Unblocking Netflix works in most regions, but some users report failures on the French and German libraries. Results depend on the server and the VPN protocol you pick.
CyberGhost: Streaming is the headline act. A Streaming tab in the sidebar lists servers optimized for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Peacock, and regional streaming sites like DRTV and TV4Play. Those streaming platforms get retested and updated so the entries keep working.
Live sport gets its own set of servers too, which matters if your streaming service geo-blocks fixtures.
3. Speed and Connection Performance
PureVPN: Third-party speed tests are wildly inconsistent. One set recorded a 7.61% download drop and 3.51% upload drop with latency up 18.2%. Others recorded upload falling 11% on Windows and 48% on Mac, and drops near 99% on some international routes. WireGuard held roughly 67% of initial connection speeds on average.
CyberGhost: Average speed loss lands near 30%. Nearby servers barely register a change, while distant servers in Asia and Africa have shown up to 60% loss. WireGuard has been measured at 760 Mbps on a short hop, so the ceiling is high when the route is short.
⚠️ Warning: Neither is a gaming VPN first. PureVPN’s ping rises enough to hurt competitive play, and CyberGhost’s long-haul connection speeds fluctuate.
4. Kill Switch and Leak Prevention
PureVPN: The internet kill switch cuts all internet traffic the moment the tunnel drops. PureVPN’s kill switch pairs with IP leak prevention so your real IP address never surfaces mid-reconnect.
Leak prevention runs as a separate layer on top of that switch.
CyberGhost: An automatic kill switch blocks internet access if the VPN connection fails. It is on by default rather than buried in settings, which suits people who forget to check.
5. Privacy Policy and Audits
PureVPN: The 2017 FBI logging incident forced a rewrite of the policy. KPMG and Altius IT have both verified the no-logs claim since, and the always-on audit lets KPMG check without notice. DNS leak protection routes DNS queries through PureVPN’s own resolvers to stop DNS leaks.
CyberGhost: Deloitte audited CyberGhost’s privacy claims in 2022 and again in January 2024. No connection logs, no traffic logs, and RAM only servers that wipe on reboot. Transparency reports cover legal requests in detail.
⚠️ Warning: Kape Technologies owns CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. If concentrated ownership among VPN companies bothers you, factor that in.
6. Dedicated IP and Port Forwarding
PureVPN: A dedicated IP costs $2.49 per month and gives you the same IP address on every session. Port forwarding is a separate $1.49 per month add-on. That combination suits seedboxes, remote desktop, and work networks that whitelist by address.
CyberGhost: Dedicated IPs cost $5 billed monthly and are assigned through a token system, so CyberGhost never links the address to your account. There is no port forwarding option, though a random port assignment helps get around restrictive hotel networks.
7. Apps and Device Support
PureVPN: Desktop apps cover Windows and macOS, with mobile apps on Android and iOS plus browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. PureVPN’s Android app is the most feature-rich of the set. PureVPN offers a consistent layout across all of them, though PureVPN’s Windows app draws the most complaints, with reports of clunky behaviour and occasional crashes. Ten simultaneous connections is the highest device allowance here.
CyberGhost: CyberGhost’s Windows app, Mac app, iOS app, and Android app share one design, and CyberGhost’s apps extend to Linux, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and smart TVs. CyberGhost’s mobile apps default to WireGuard. Seven simultaneous device connections is the cap, and it counts registered devices rather than active sessions.
⚠️ Warning: CyberGhost’s device limit applies per registered device, so swapping hardware often eats slots faster than you expect.
8. Extra Security Tools
PureVPN: Higher tiers add a password manager to the account. That turns the subscription into a small security suite rather than a plain tunnel. It is the clearest reason to pick Plus or Max over Standard.
CyberGhost: No password manager. Instead you get a content blocker and CyberGhost’s malicious URL filter, which strips ads, trackers, and known bad domains. A security updater flags outdated software on your machine.
9. Identity Protection and Monitoring
PureVPN: Dark web monitoring scans breach dumps for your email and alerts you when something surfaces. This is the one area of PureVPN features that CyberGhost has no answer to.
Data broker removal runs alongside it, chasing your details off people-search sites.
CyberGhost: Nothing comparable. The CyberGhost VPN apps stay focused on the tunnel and leave identity monitoring to separate products. If you want that layer, you buy it elsewhere.
10. Pricing & Cost
Side by side, the entry prices are almost identical. What differs is what happens if you refuse to commit.
| Tier | PureVPN | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|
| Entry / longest plan | Standard — $2.15/per month | 2 Years + 4 Month — $2.03/month |
| Middle tier | Plus — $3.15/per month | 6 Months — $6.99/month |
| Top tier | Max — $3.55/per month | 1 Month — $12.99/month |
| Refund window | 31 days | 45 days (14 on monthly) |
PureVPN: The three tiers are feature ladders, not length ladders. Moving up buys you tools, not a discount. Add-ons push the real cost higher, so a Max plan with a dedicated IP and port forwarding lands near $7.53 per month.
CyberGhost: The tiers are pure commitment ladders. Same product at every price. Paying monthly costs six times the long plan rate, which is steep even by VPN industry standards.
💡 Pro Tip: Buy the long CyberGhost plan and use the 45 day money back guarantee as your trial. That is more testing time than PureVPN’s 31 days, and far cheaper than paying $12.99 for one month.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Region-hopping for streaming | CyberGhost | Labelled servers per platform |
| A password manager included | PureVPN | Bundled on Plus and Max |
| More than seven devices | PureVPN | Ten connections per account |
| Port forwarding | PureVPN | CyberGhost has none |
| The longest refund window | CyberGhost | 45 days versus 31 |
| TV and console coverage | CyberGhost | Smart DNS plus native TV apps |
💰 Your Budget
The cheapest entry points sit twelve cents apart. The gap opens later, when PureVPN charges for add-ons and CyberGhost charges for flexibility.
📺 Your Streaming Habits
If you switch between three or four regional streaming services weekly, CyberGhost saves you guesswork. If you only need one library, either works.
🔌 Your Devices
Count every phone, laptop, and mobile device in the house first. Ten slots beats seven for families, but only CyberGhost reaches a console through Smart DNS.
⚡ Your Speed Needs
Neither wins outright on download speeds. Both hold internet speeds well nearby and lose ground on long routes, so pick by server proximity.
🔐 Your Protocol Preference
Each VPN supports WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN UDP or TCP. If you need obscure VPN protocols on a router, check compatibility before buying.
🛟 Support Options
Both run 24/7 live chat. PureVPN customer support draws mixed feedback on refunds, while CyberGhost’s chat is praised but its knowledge base is thin.
Switching Guide
Already paying for one? Here is what changes when you move.
🔄 Switching from PureVPN to CyberGhost?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Streaming servers labelled per platform
- A 45-day refund window instead of 31
- Smart DNS and native TV apps
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Three device slots
- The bundled password manager
- Port forwarding and dark web monitoring
📋 How to switch:
- Move saved logins out of the password manager first
- Buy the long CyberGhost plan and install on your main device
- Cancel PureVPN inside the 31-day window if you are still eligible
🔄 Switching from CyberGhost to PureVPN?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Ten simultaneous connections
- Password manager and identity monitoring
- Port forwarding and wider country coverage
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Streaming-specific server labels
- Fourteen days of refund cushion
- Smart DNS for consoles and TVs
📋 How to switch:
- Note which streaming servers you rely on before cancelling
- Pick the PureVPN tier that carries the add-ons you need
- Reconnect each device and confirm VPN traffic routes correctly
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
This comparison focused on individual users and households. We did not evaluate PureVPN’s business plan, router firmware setups, or behaviour inside heavily censored networks. Speed figures come from published third-party testing rather than a single controlled lab, so your own results will vary by ISP and route. Anyone running either service at team scale should expect a different picture.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | CyberGhost |
| 🌍 Server Network | CyberGhost |
| 📺 Streaming | CyberGhost |
| ⚡ Speed Consistency | CyberGhost |
| 🔐 Security Extras | PureVPN |
| 📱 Device Allowance | PureVPN |
| 🛟 Refund Window | CyberGhost |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | CyberGhost |
🏆 WINNER: CYBERGHOST
CyberGhost wins 5 of 7 categories.
Best for: Regional streaming, TV and console coverage, low-commitment testing
These two are not really competing for the same buyer. CyberGhost sells access to content. PureVPN sells a security bundle that happens to include a tunnel.
Our final verdict CyberGhost earns comes down to consistency. More servers per country, clearer labelling, and a refund window that gives you six weeks to change your mind.
PureVPN is still the better buy for a specific group of VPN users. If you want ten devices, port forwarding, and identity monitoring in one bill, nothing here beats it.
More of PureVPN Compared
If CyberGhost is not the rival you were weighing, here are the other PureVPN alternatives worth a look:
PureVPN vs NordVPN
PureVPN wins on: Ten device slots versus six, a wider country list at 140+, and cheaper port forwarding as an add-on
NordVPN wins on: Faster long-distance routes, a double-hop option PureVPN lacks, and a threat-protection module that works with the tunnel off
PureVPN vs ExpressVPN
PureVPN wins on: Roughly a third of the monthly cost, four extra device connections, and bundled dark web monitoring
ExpressVPN wins on: More stable speeds on intercontinental hops, a router firmware build, and a longer audit history
PureVPN vs Surfshark
PureVPN wins on: Port forwarding availability, quantum-resistant server options, and surprise KPMG audits
Surfshark wins on: Unlimited device connections, cleaner apps with fewer upsell prompts, and a built-in ad blocker
PureVPN vs ProtonVPN
PureVPN wins on: Lower entry price, more countries covered, and an included password manager on higher tiers
ProtonVPN wins on: A usable free tier, open-source apps, and Swiss jurisdiction with no logging incident in its past
More of CyberGhost Compared
Here is how CyberGhost lines up against the rest of the field:
CyberGhost vs NordVPN
CyberGhost wins on: A larger fleet at 9,200+ machines, per-platform streaming labels, and a refund window three times longer
NordVPN wins on: Lower average speed loss, meshnet for private device links, and a more polished desktop interface
CyberGhost vs Private Internet Access
CyberGhost wins on: Beginner-friendly layout, ready-made streaming entries, and NoSpy hardware it owns outright
Private Internet Access wins on: Unlimited devices, deeper manual controls, and port forwarding that CyberGhost does not offer
CyberGhost vs Surfshark
CyberGhost wins on: More server locations, a longer refund period, and dedicated sports streaming servers
Surfshark wins on: No device cap at all, faster average throughput, and a lower monthly rate if you refuse a long contract
CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
CyberGhost wins on: Roughly a fifth of the long-plan cost, triple the server count, and clearer server load indicators
ExpressVPN wins on: Steadier performance on distant routes, router support, and better results in restrictive countries
Frequently Asked Questions
How trustworthy is PureVPN?
The no-logs policy has been verified by KPMG and Altius IT, with surprise audits allowed. The 2017 FBI logging case predates that policy rewrite.
Is PureVPN good for streaming?
It handles Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer in most regions. Some libraries, including French and German Netflix, have been reported as blocked. Results vary by server.
Can CyberGhost VPN be trusted?
Deloitte audited the no-logs policy in 2022 and 2024. Servers run RAM-only and Romania has no data retention mandate. Kape ownership remains the main objection.
What are the disadvantages of CyberGhost VPN?
Speed loss averages around 30% and worsens on distant routes. Apps have been reported as buggy, and the knowledge base is shallow for beginners.
How much does CyberGhost VPN cost per month?
The one-month plan is $12.99. Six months costs $6.99 monthly. The 2 Years + 4 Month plan drops to $2.03 monthly, which is the best value.
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