ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN: why one scores higher and the other costs less
ExpressVPN scores 4.77 and CyberGhost VPN 4.18 out of 10. ExpressVPN leads overall; the table shows where each one is stronger.
ExpressVPN vs CyberGhost VPN
| What we compare | ExpressVPN | CyberGhost VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4.77 (better) | 4.18 |
| Privacy and jurisdiction | 5.7 (better) | 5.0 |
| Security and protocols | 5.7 (better) | 5.0 |
| Price and fair terms | 3.1 | 3.6 (better) |
| Censorship bypass | 1.9 (better) | 0.0 |
| Network and streaming | 4.6 | 6.2 (better) |
| Platforms and support | 7.1 (better) | 5.2 |
| Cheapest price, € a month | €2.57 | €1.71 (better) |
| Renewal vs first term | 2.8× | 2.2× (better) |
| Refund window, days | 30 | 45 (better) |
| Independent no-logs audit | Yes (better) | — |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| WireGuard | Yes | Yes |
| Obfuscation | Yes (better) | — |
| Crypto payments | Yes (better) | — |
| Jurisdiction | BVI (outside 14 Eyes) | Romania (outside 14 Eyes) |
| Platforms supported | 12 | 12 |
ExpressVPN scores 4.77 out of 10 on VPNRadarLab against CyberGhost's 4.18, taking four of six scored areas thanks to an independent audit, RAM-only servers and its own protocol. CyberGhost takes the two areas where money and disclosure matter: it costs less, renews more gently and publishes details ExpressVPN keeps quiet. Neither carries a red flag.
What ExpressVPN's audit, RAM-only servers and Lightway add
The privacy lead comes from one verifiable fact: an outside firm checked ExpressVPN's no-logs claims, while CyberGhost publishes no independent no-logs audit of its own. CyberGhost's offset is a transparency report and a leaner policy. ExpressVPN's own text admits it stores the date of each successful connection and traffic totals per account; CyberGhost lists neither session times nor bandwidth. Neither logs connection IPs, and neither publishes a warrant canary.
ExpressVPN makes two separate claims here: its policy says it is subject to British Virgin Islands law and will fight demands, and that it keeps no logs that could connect activity to a user. CyberGhost, registered in Bucharest, says it discloses data when a court order requires it. Both sit outside the 5, 9 and 14 Eyes alliances. ExpressVPN also leads on security: TrustedServer runs its fleet purely from memory, and Lightway gives it a fast protocol alongside WireGuard, while CyberGhost's credit is an ISO 27001 certificate renewed yearly, with no proprietary protocol and no published RAM-only fleet. More on the audit trail in how ExpressVPN's checks work.
Getting through networks that block VPNs
If your network throttles or blocks tunnels, CyberGhost gives you nothing to work with: it lists no stealth or obfuscation mode. ExpressVPN can disguise Lightway traffic so it looks less like a VPN, which is the sole reason its bypass score is above zero. Neither publishes support for the newer proxy protocols, so both stay weak against serious filtering.
Same platforms, different app features
Both apps cover 12 platforms, phones through routers to game consoles. Inside them the gap opens: ExpressVPN offers split tunnelling, so your banking app skips the tunnel, and Threat Manager blocks ad and malware domains; CyberGhost publishes neither. CyberGhost caps simultaneous devices at 7 against ExpressVPN's 10 to 14 depending on tier. Its browser extension works as a proxy only, while ExpressVPN ships Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions.
Network size and torrenting: where CyberGhost publishes more
CyberGhost states 9,600 servers across 100 countries, runs dedicated P2P servers and even gaming servers. ExpressVPN covers more countries, 113, with 10 Gbps ports (40 Gbps on some), but says nothing about server counts or torrenting policy, and that silence costs it the network score.
Plan prices and what you pay at renewal
| Plan | First term | Per month | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN Basic | 28 months, $83.72 | $2.99 | $99.95 a year |
| ExpressVPN Advanced | 28 months, $125.72 | $4.49 | $119.95 a year |
| ExpressVPN Pro | 28 months, $209.72 | $7.49 | $199.95 a year |
| CyberGhost, 2y+2m | 26 months, $51.74 | $1.99 | $51.74 a year |
| CyberGhost, 6 months | $41.94 | ~$6.99 | same price |
| CyberGhost, monthly | $12.99 | $12.99 | same price |
The intro rates flatter both. The damage lands at renewal: ExpressVPN Basic jumps 2.79 times its first-term rate to $99.95 a year, nearly double CyberGhost's $51.74, whose own jump is 2.17 times. ExpressVPN's upper tiers bundle ExpressKeys, an eSIM with 3 GB and identity protection; Pro includes a dedicated IP that Basic and Advanced sell separately. CyberGhost folds ID Guard and NoSpy servers into multi-year plans and charges $5 monthly extra for a dedicated IP.
Refunds, payment and paying with Bitcoin
ExpressVPN refunds first purchases within 30 days but excludes renewals and redeemed codes, and routes app store sales through Apple or Google. CyberGhost gives 45 days on plans of six months or longer and 14 days on the monthly one; the details are on its refund page. To keep your card out of the transaction, pay ExpressVPN in Bitcoin, which also disables auto-renewal. BitPay appears in CyberGhost's privacy policy but is not offered at checkout. Both accept cards and PayPal and renew automatically unless you intervene.
Questions about ExpressVPN and CyberGhost
Is ExpressVPN faster than CyberGhost?
VPNRadarLab runs no speed or streaming tests; both vendors claim fast networks, and we do not repeat their numbers as facts.
Does CyberGhost share data with ExpressVPN's parent company?
Both belong to Kape Technologies. CyberGhost's policy lists the group among data recipients; ExpressVPN's lists payment, fraud-check, support and analytics vendors instead.
Which one is better for torrenting and streaming?
Torrents: CyberGhost, because it allows them on dedicated P2P servers while ExpressVPN's stance is unpublished. CyberGhost advertises streaming-optimised servers, ExpressVPN offers the MediaStreamer smart DNS, and neither names a streaming service.
Which one to choose
Pick CyberGhost if the lowest bill and a decent refund window win the argument and you will re-evaluate after the first term. Pick ExpressVPN if an audited no-logs policy, obfuscation or split tunnelling matter more than the price gap. For a household with more than seven devices on one subscription, CyberGhost is the wrong pick, since its limit is 7.