Proton VPN vs. CyberGhost: Which VPN Is Better?

Which VPN is better, Proton VPN or CyberGhost? This is one of the closest races we’ve scored. The easy answer for most is Proton VPN because it has a free plan with unlimited data, a cheaper month-to-month rate, a bigger server network, and coverage for more devices. CyberGhost also makes a strong case, with faster speeds, prices that never creep up, and some of the best-designed apps we’ve used.

But you can read that anywhere. We actually tested both of these providers, and here’s how it nets out.

Overall, our research gives Proton VPN the nod in scoring, coming in at 87/100 to CyberGhost’s 85/100. For more, check out our Proton VPN and CyberGhost reviews. For the true head-to-head comparison, here’s how these two top-notch VPNs compare.

Proton VPN vs. CyberGhost at a glance

Pricing: Proton VPN by a nose

This one is closer than you might think. Proton VPN wins on flexibility. It has a free plan with unlimited data, so you can try it before you pay anything, and its month-to-month rate is cheaper than CyberGhost’s. Proton is up-front about renewal, too, showing exactly what you’ll pay right in your account, though you will see a price hike once your intro discount ends.

CyberGhost wins if you’re ready to commit. Its two-year deal is a steal, and every plan includes every feature. The bigger story is consistency. Our CyberGhost reviewer has used the service for seven years and has never seen a price hike, paying the same monthly rate in 2026 that they paid when they signed up in 2019.

Here are the renewal rates you can expect if you commit to either of them.

Speed and performance: CyberGhost pulls ahead

CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested, and it beat Proton VPN almost across the board. Both added very little lag on nearby servers, which keeps gaming and video calls smooth.

The big difference is uploads. CyberGhost barely touched our upload speeds, while Proton cut them by about two-thirds. In daily use, CyberGhost was the one we never noticed, while Proton had the occasional laggy call. Here’s the speed breakdown so you can see why.

A quick note on distant servers: On a far-off server, CyberGhost held up better, too, with faster downloads and noticeably less lag than Proton.

What does that mean for you? If speed is your top priority, whether you’re gaming, uploading big files, or connecting overseas, CyberGhost is the better pick. Proton’s speeds are still solid for everyday browsing and streaming.

Features: Proton VPN builds for privacy; CyberGhost perfects the VPN

Proton VPN and CyberGhost have a lot of overlap. Both block ads and malware, offer a kill switch and multiple protocols, flag servers built for streaming and torrenting, and help you get around age-verification and regional blocks.

Where they split is the philosophy. Proton goes deep on privacy, with Secure Core, Tor over VPN, port forwarding, dark web monitoring, open-source apps, and free access to Proton Pass, Mail, Calendar, and Drive. CyberGhost stays focused on making the VPN itself easy and fast, with every feature on every plan. That includes gaming servers, extra-private NoSpy servers, and Privacy Guard, which tightens the privacy settings on your computer and browsers. It also works with more devices than almost any VPN, from Roku and smart TVs to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, though it only covers seven at once. One knock against CyberGhost: on computers, split tunneling only works for websites, not apps.

The unique offerings won’t change how either VPN protects you day to day. If you want a broader privacy toolkit, go Proton. If you want a fast, no-nonsense VPN that works on just about anything, go CyberGhost.

Security and privacy: It’s a tie

Let’s be clear: Both Proton VPN and CyberGhost are safe choices, and both earned the same security score from us. Each uses AES-256 encryption and has a no-logs policy verified by independent audits.

Proton VPN’s strength is a record of saying no in court. It has denied every one of the 458 requests it’s received for identifying user information, including 121 legally binding orders in 2021. It’s based in Switzerland, outside the Five Eyes alliance, and was the first VPN to make the code for all its major apps public.

CyberGhost’s strength is consistency. Our reviewer has relied on it every day for seven years without a hitch, and its no-logs promise is built into the hardware. It runs RAM-only servers that make keeping logs impossible, and Deloitte has confirmed its no-logs policy three times, most recently in 2025.

Apps: It’s a tie

Both apps earned a perfect score from us, and neither one bombards you with upsells. Proton VPN is built for explorers, with a clickable server map, live server load, and icons that flag which servers handle streaming, P2P, or Tor. Its one miss: no protocol explanations. CyberGhost is built for everyday ease. Everything is a click or two away. A bright yellow button and tray icon tell you at a glance when you’re protected, and you can sort servers by distance. Neither app shows a ping for every server, though CyberGhost does for its gaming servers.

Billing and cancellation: CyberGhost by a hair

Good news: Both providers made getting our money back easy. CyberGhost gets the slight edge for 24/7 live chat, a dedicated cancel button right on your subscription page, and a longer 45-day refund window on plans of six months or more. Our refund was underway in less than five minutes.

Proton doesn’t offer live chat, but it answered our refund form within an hour, and canceling simply drops your account to the free plan, so you’re never left without a VPN. Check out the step-by-step breakdown for cancellation below.

Yes, Proton VPN wins overall, but only by two points: 87/100 to 85/100. Proton came out ahead on price, servers, and devices, while CyberGhost won on speed and billing, and the two tied on security and apps. This is about as close as a head-to-head gets, so the right pick comes down to what matters most to you.

CyberGhost is a strong pick if speed is your top priority, you want a price that never creeps up, or you need a VPN on your game console or smart TV. For everyone else, Proton VPN gives you a bigger network, more devices, and a free plan to try first.

Proton VPN vs. CyberGhost: FAQ