⚡ Quick Verdict:
- Pricing: Surfshark starts at $1.99/month on the 24-month plan. CyberGhost starts at $2.03/month on its 2-year plan.
- Best for: Surfshark suits households covering all your devices. CyberGhost suits streaming fans who want servers optimized per platform.
- Key difference: Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections. CyberGhost caps you at up to seven devices per account.
- Our pick: Surfshark, rated 4.4 against 4.3, because unlimited connections and a lower entry price beat a bigger server network for most homes.
The cheaper VPN here is not the weaker one.
Surfshark VPN and CyberGhost both sell for around two dollars a month.
But price is the smallest difference between them.
One lets you protect unlimited devices on a single subscription.
The other runs a far bigger server network built around streaming.
Here is how the two VPN services actually compare in 2026.
Overview
This SurfsharkVPN vs CyberGhost comparison covers pricing, server locations, streaming, and security features.
We read the published specs, pricing pages, and privacy policies for both VPN providers.
Our writers also spent hands-on time inside each VPN app.
Those notes appear in the “What Our Team Noticed” sections below.
By the end you will know which VPN service fits your setup.
What is Surfshark?
Surfshark is a VPN service that encrypts your internet connection and hides your real IP address.
The VPN company is based in the Netherlands.
That country has privacy-friendly data retention laws but sits inside the Nine Eyes alliance.
Surfshark runs over 3200 servers in 100 countries.
All your internet traffic passes through an encrypted tunnel, which is the base layer of online privacy.
Its headline feature is unlimited simultaneous connections on one account.
You get desktop apps, mobile apps, and browser extensions for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux.
Here is the platform in motion.
🏆 Winner: Surfshark
One Surfshark subscription covers every phone, laptop, and TV you own. CleanWeb strips ads and trackers. The no logs policy has been audited by Deloitte.
Surfshark Pricing
Surfshark pricing rewards long commitments. Here is what each term costs.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Months +3 Extra | $1.99/month | Families covering all your devices |
| 12 Months +3 Extra | $3.19/month | Yearly users who want flexibility |
| 1 Month | $15.45/month | Short trips and one-off testing |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: Yes. Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial on Android and iOS.
Money-back guarantee: A 30 day money back guarantee applies to every paid term.
📌 Note: Students registered with Student Beans get 15% off a Surfshark subscription. A dedicated IP address costs extra on top of any plan.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our CSV lists the monthly plan at $15.45 and the 24-month plan at $1.99. Surfshark’s own tier pages quote $15.95 for the One plan and around $2.19 on a two-year term. We use the CSV figures throughout this article. Check the checkout page before you pay, since prices rise at renewal.
Key Benefits of Surfshark
Here is what you actually get for the money:
- Unlimited Devices: One account covers phones, laptops, routers, and Apple TV. No other budget VPN provider matches unlimited connections this cheaply.
- Audited No Logs Policy: Deloitte and Cure53 have both reviewed Surfshark security claims. Surfshark’s privacy policy says it does not store browsing history, session data, or network traffic.
- CleanWeb: This ad and malware blocker strips ads and trackers while you browse. It runs inside the Surfshark app and browser extensions.
- MultiHop: Routes your VPN traffic through multiple servers for a second layer of cover. Dynamic MultiHop lets you build custom pairings.
- Alternative ID: Creates a fake name, email, and virtual phone number for signups. Your real details never reach the form.
- Camouflage Mode: Disguises VPN traffic as ordinary web traffic. Useful where obfuscated servers are the only way through.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer tested Surfshark across a phone, a laptop, and a smart TV. Here is what stood out from that hands-on time:
Surfshark Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on one account
- No logs policy audited by Deloitte and Cure53
- WireGuard delivers high download speeds in published speed tests
- Alternative ID and CleanWeb are included at no extra cost
❌ Cons
- Connection times are inconsistent on some Surfshark servers
- The one-month term costs $15.45, which is steep
- Netherlands base sits inside the Nine Eyes alliance
What is CyberGhost?
CyberGhost is a VPN service built around streaming access.
Robert Knapp founded it in Romania in 2011.
Romania sits outside the 14-Eyes alliance and has no mandatory data retention law.
CyberGhost runs a huge server network of more than 9,200 servers across 126 locations in 100 countries.
CyberGhost’s servers include NoSpy hardware the company owns outright.
CyberGhost’s apps cover far more living-room hardware than most rivals.
Kape Technologies bought the company in 2017.
That places CyberGhost beside Private Internet Access under one owner.
The walkthrough below shows the app in daily use.
🥈 Runner Up: CyberGhost
Servers optimized for Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video sit in their own tab. RAM only servers wipe on reboot. The 45 day money back guarantee is unusually long.
CyberGhost Pricing
CyberGhost sells three terms. The gap between them is wide.
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.99/month | Travellers testing the VPN app briefly |
| 6 Months | $6.99/month | Medium-term users wanting flexibility |
| 2 Years + 4 Month | $2.03/month | Committed users chasing the lowest rate |
Pricing verified September 2026.
Free trial: No open trial. The 45 day money back guarantee covers the longer terms instead.
Money-back guarantee: 45 days on the 6-month and 2-year plans. The one-month plan gets 14 days.
📌 Note: The two-year plan includes two free months. You can pay by Bitcoin, credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay. A dedicated IP costs an extra $5 billed monthly.
⚠️ Pricing conflict flagged: Our CSV lists the monthly term at $12.99. Some sourced figures round it to $13 and quote the six-month term as $41.94 billed upfront. The CSV numbers are used in every table here. Watch for CyberGhost VPN deals around Black Friday, when the rate often drops further.
Key Benefits of CyberGhost
Here is what the CyberGhost app gives you:
- Streaming Optimized Servers: A dedicated tab lists servers optimized for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer. Each one is retested so it keeps working.
- Global Servers: Over 9,200 CyberGhost servers cover 126 server locations. Virtual locations CyberGhost adds fill in regions with little infrastructure.
- RAM Only Servers: Data wipes on every reboot. NoSpy servers are owned and run by CyberGhost directly.
- Smart Rules: The CyberGhost app can automatically connect when you open a streaming app or join open WiFi.
- Smart DNS Feature: Smart DNS unblocks streaming sites on devices that cannot run VPN apps, like older smart TVs.
- 45 Day Money Back Guarantee: Longer than almost anything else in the VPN industry. Plenty of time to test the service properly.
What Our Team Noticed
Our writer ran CyberGhost’s client across desktop and mobile apps for daily streaming. Here is what came out of that:
CyberGhost Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Over 9,200 servers in 126 locations across 100 countries
- Streaming servers labelled by platform inside the app
- 45 day money back guarantee on longer plans
- RAM only servers plus two Deloitte no-logs audits
❌ Cons
- Average speed loss near 30%, worse on distant servers
- Apps have been reported as buggy on some platforms
- Knowledge base lacks depth for less experienced users
Feature Comparison
Both VPN services cover the standard VPN features. The differences show up in the details.
Here are ten areas that decide which one belongs on your devices.
| Feature | Surfshark | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $1.99/month | $2.03/month |
| Simultaneous Connections | Unlimited | Up to seven devices |
| Server Count | 3200+ in 100 countries | 9,200+ in 100 countries |
| Streaming Optimized Servers | ❌ | ✅ |
| MultiHop / Double VPN | ✅ | ❌ |
| Split Tunneling Feature | ✅ Whitelister | ✅ Windows and Android |
| Ad and Malware Blocker | ✅ CleanWeb | ✅ Content Blocker |
| Smart DNS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Money-Back Window | 30 days | 45 days |
| Best For | Households with many devices | Streaming across regions |
1. Server Network and Server Locations
Surfshark: Over 3200 Surfshark servers sit in 100 countries. Surfshark’s servers cover most routes you will need, and hopping between multiple servers is quick. MultiHop can chain two VPN servers together. Some entries are virtual servers rather than physical hardware.
CyberGhost: More than 9,200 global servers across 126 server locations. Nearly three times the fleet. Every time you connect, your real IP address hides behind the VPN server’s shared IP address.
2. Streaming Performance
Surfshark: Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ without a dedicated streaming tab. You pick any location and it usually works. There is no smart DNS feature for devices that cannot run VPN apps.
CyberGhost: Streaming is the strongest part of the product. Servers optimized for over 15 Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Paramount Plus sit in their own sidebar tab. Streaming sites load in a few seconds without buffering.
⚠️ Warning: Streaming platforms rotate their blocklists constantly. Neither VPN provider guarantees permanent access to any single service.
3. Speed, Protocols and Gaming
Surfshark: Published speed tests put it among the faster VPN providers on WireGuard. Download speeds hold up well and upload speeds are passable. Both VPN protocols are available, and the OpenVPN protocol is there for VPN configuration on a router.
CyberGhost: Average speed loss runs near 30%. WireGuard has hit 760 Mbps in testing, but connection speeds on distant servers can fall by as much as 60%. Gaming servers cut ping and blunt DDoS attacks.
Live sport gets its own treatment on the CyberGhost side.
4. Device Limits and Platform Coverage
Surfshark: Unlimited device connections, full stop. Surfshark’s Windows app, the Mac app, iOS app, Android app, Linux builds, and browser extensions all cover multiple devices for one price. This is the single biggest reason to pick it.
CyberGhost: Seven simultaneous device connections per account. The apps reach further though. CyberGhost’s Windows app leads a line-up that covers smart TVs, Apple TV, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV, and CyberGhost’s mobile apps mirror the same layout.
5. Kill Switch and Leak Protection
Surfshark: The kill switch blocks your internet connection the moment the VPN tunnel drops. A built-in checker tests for DNS leaks so you can confirm nothing escapes.
CyberGhost: An automatic kill switch does the same job. All DNS queries route through CyberGhost’s own resolvers, and the security updater keeps the VPN app patched.
6. No Logs Policy and Independent Audits
Surfshark: Deloitte audited the no logs policy and Cure53 reviewed the infrastructure. Surfshark’s privacy policy rules out storing browsing history, session details, or network traffic. IP addresses are held for a maximum of 15 minutes after a session ends.
CyberGhost: Deloitte has verified CyberGhost’s privacy claims twice, in 2022 and January 2024. No connection logs are kept. Transparency reports and a bug bounty programme back it up.
⚠️ Warning: CyberGhost’s parent company Kape Technologies also owns Private Internet Access. If corporate ownership matters to you, read up before subscribing.
7. Ad, Tracker and Malware Blocking
Surfshark: CleanWeb blocks ads and trackers while you are connected. The paid tiers add antivirus, webcam protection, and a private search tool that keeps your web traffic out of ad profiles.
The search tool sits alongside it in the same security suite.
CyberGhost: CyberGhost’s malicious URL filter stops dangerous domains before they load. It blocks trackers and intrusive ads too, and toggles on with one click in the CyberGhost app.
8. Dedicated IP and Split Tunneling
Surfshark: A dedicated IP address gives you the same IP address on every session, which cuts captchas on banking sites. Static IP addresses suit banking. An IP rotator feature does the opposite, swapping your virtual IP address periodically without dropping the VPN connection. Whitelister handles the split tunneling feature.
CyberGhost: Dedicated IP costs $5 extra per month and stays consistent across sessions. Split tunneling is limited to the Windows and Android apps. There is no equivalent to IP rotation here.
9. Extra Privacy Tools
Surfshark: Alternative ID builds a throwaway persona, complete with a spare email address, for signups you do not trust. Surfshark Alert watches for breaches tied to your accounts. A built-in checker shows which IP address a site sees.
The IP checker is the quickest way to confirm the tunnel is live.
CyberGhost: Fewer extras. Smart Rules automation, NoSpy servers, and a random port option to slip past hotel and campus network blocks. No identity tools of any kind.
10. Pricing & Cost
The long-term rates are almost identical. The short-term rates are not.
| Term | Surfshark | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $15.45/month | $12.99/month |
| 6 Months | Not offered | $6.99/month |
| 12 Months | $3.19/month (+3 extra) | Not offered |
| 2 Years | $1.99/month (+3 extra) | $2.03/month (+4 months) |
| Refund Window | 30 days | 45 days |
Surfshark: Cheapest at the two-year mark and the only one with unlimited connections at that price. The monthly rate of $15.45 is the worst deal in this comparison, so avoid it unless you only need a week of cover.
CyberGhost: Better if you want a middle option. The six-month term at $6.99 fills a gap Surfshark leaves open, and the 45-day refund window makes the two-year commitment less risky.
Different Scenarios
| If You Need… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cover for a whole household | Surfshark | Unlimited connections, no device count |
| Regional streaming libraries | CyberGhost | Servers labelled per platform |
| A throwaway online identity | Surfshark | Alternative ID is built in |
| VPN on a smart TV without apps | CyberGhost | Smart DNS covers those devices |
| The longest refund window | CyberGhost | 45 days versus 30 |
| Double-hop routing | Surfshark | MultiHop chains two servers |
💰 Your Budget
At two years the two prices are four cents apart. Pick on features, not cost, unless you want a six-month term.
🔌 Your Devices
Count the screens in your home first. Past seven, Surfshark is the only sensible answer.
📺 Your Streaming Habits
Casual viewers are fine on either. If you hop between Netflix regions weekly, CyberGhost saves guesswork.
🎓 Your Experience Level
Both apps connect in one tap. CyberGhost holds your hand more with labelled server categories.
🆓 Free Trials and Refunds
Surfshark gives Android and iOS users seven free days up front. CyberGhost gives you 45 days to change your mind instead.
🛟 Support Options
CyberGhost runs 24/7 live chat plus email, and agents are described as quick and friendly. Its knowledge base is the weak link.
Switching Guide
Already paying for one? Here is what changes if you move.
🔄 Switching from Surfshark to CyberGhost?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Three times the servers and 126 server locations
- Streaming and gaming servers labelled by platform
- A 45 day refund window and smart DNS for TVs
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Unlimited devices, capped at seven
- MultiHop, Camouflage Mode, and obfuscated servers
- Alternative ID and the antivirus bundle
📋 How to switch:
- Cancel auto-renewal inside your Surfshark account page
- Buy a CyberGhost term and note the 45-day deadline
- Install the apps, then remove Surfshark from each device
🔄 Switching from CyberGhost to Surfshark?
✅ What you’ll gain:
- Unlimited simultaneous connections on one account
- MultiHop, Camouflage Mode, and the IP rotator
- Alternative ID plus stronger reported speeds
❌ What you’ll lose:
- Streaming optimized servers sorted by platform
- Smart DNS, NoSpy servers, and Smart Rules automation
- Fifteen extra days of refund cover
📋 How to switch:
- Request a refund if you are inside the 45-day window
- Install Surfshark on your main mobile device first
- Add every remaining device, since there is no cap
What Our Review Didn’t Cover
We focused on home and single-user setups. We did not test router firmware, business licensing, or heavy torrenting loads. Our figures reflect the September 2026 apps and pricing pages, so both may shift. Speed results depend on your own internet connection and distance to the server, so treat any published number as a guide rather than a promise.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| 💰 Pricing | Surfshark |
| 🌍 Server Network | CyberGhost |
| 📺 Streaming | CyberGhost |
| ⚡ Speed | Surfshark |
| 📱 Device Coverage | Surfshark |
| 🔐 Privacy Tools | Surfshark |
| 🛟 Support & Refunds | CyberGhost |
| 🏆 Overall Winner | Surfshark |
🏆 WINNER: SURFSHARK
Surfshark wins 4 of 7 categories.
Best for: Households with many devices, privacy tool users, budget buyers on long terms
Both are a good VPN by any fair measure, and both protect your online traffic better than most VPN providers at this price. They simply chase different buyers. Surfshark sells breadth of coverage. CyberGhost sells depth of server network.
Our final verdict CyberGhost earns is a strong second place. It is the better pick if your main reason for buying is unblocking regional streaming services, or if you want the extra fifteen days of refund cover.
For everyone else, Surfshark takes it. One subscription covers the whole house, the privacy toolkit is deeper, and the entry price is the lowest of the two.
More of Surfshark Compared
Here is how it lines up against the other names VPN users shortlist:
Surfshark vs NordVPN
Surfshark wins on: Unlimited connections against a six-device cap, a lower two-year rate, Alternative ID with no NordVPN equivalent
NordVPN wins on: More servers, slightly quicker long-haul routes, a longer audit history
Surfshark vs ExpressVPN
Surfshark wins on: Roughly a fifth of the yearly cost, no device ceiling, CleanWeb bundled free
ExpressVPN wins on: A more consistent premium VPN experience, British Virgin Islands base, better router firmware
Surfshark vs Proton VPN
Surfshark wins on: Cheaper long terms, Alternative ID and antivirus in the bundle, wider streaming success
Proton VPN wins on: A usable free tier, Swiss jurisdiction outside Nine Eyes, open-source apps
Surfshark vs Private Internet Access
Surfshark wins on: Cleaner apps for beginners, MultiHop routing, breach alerts and identity tools
Private Internet Access wins on: Deeper manual settings, court-tested no-logs record, cheaper dedicated IP add-on
More of CyberGhost Compared
And how the Romanian provider fares against its closest rivals:
CyberGhost vs NordVPN
CyberGhost wins on: A far larger fleet at 9,200 servers, clearer streaming labels, 45 days to claim a refund
NordVPN wins on: Faster distant connections, double VPN routing, a broader security bundle
CyberGhost vs ExpressVPN
CyberGhost wins on: Roughly a quarter of the price, three times the server count, a longer refund window
ExpressVPN wins on: Steadier speeds continent to continent, stronger app polish, better performance in censored regions
CyberGhost vs Private Internet Access
CyberGhost wins on: Simpler interface for newcomers, streaming servers sorted by platform, NoSpy hardware it owns outright
Private Internet Access wins on: Unlimited devices, granular encryption controls, cheaper entry pricing
CyberGhost vs PureVPN
CyberGhost wins on: Better app design, two Deloitte audits on record, more reliable streaming access
PureVPN wins on: Ten device slots, port forwarding support, occasional lifetime-style deals
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surfshark VPN trustworthy?
Yes. Deloitte and Cure53 have both audited the no-logs claims. The company keeps IP addresses for only 15 minutes after a session ends, and stores no browsing history.
How much is Surfshark VPN per month?
The 24-month plan works out at $1.99 per month. Twelve months costs $3.19 per month. Paying month to month costs $15.45, which is far worse value.
What are the disadvantages of CyberGhost VPN?
Speeds drop around 30% on average and much further on distant servers. The apps can be buggy, the help articles lack depth, and you are capped at seven devices.
Is CyberGhost better than NordVPN?
It has more servers and clearer streaming labels. NordVPN is faster and has more advanced security features. Beginners and streaming fans usually prefer the Romanian option.
Is Surfshark the cheapest VPN?
Close to it. At $1.99 per month on a two-year term it undercuts most rivals, and unlimited devices make the per-device cost the lowest here.
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