Not everyone wants to pay premium prices for a VPN, and that’s exactly the space where Surfshark and CyberGhost have built their reputations. Both consistently undercut the industry’s big names while still delivering strong security and unlimited (or near-unlimited) device support. But “budget” doesn’t mean “identical” — these two take noticeably different approaches to the same problem.
We put both through real-world testing to see which one actually stretches your money further.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Choose Surfshark if: You want unlimited simultaneous devices, a cleaner app, and stronger all-around performance.
Choose CyberGhost if: You want dedicated streaming-optimized servers labeled by platform and the largest raw server count.
📊 At a Glance
| Feature | Surfshark | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2018 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Romania |
| Server count | 3,200+ in 100 countries | 11,500+ in 100 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited | 7 |
| Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Kill switch | Yes | Yes |
| No-logs audit | Independently audited, 2023 | Independently audited, 2022 |
| Standout extra | CleanWeb ad/tracker blocker, Nexus infrastructure | Streaming-labeled servers, NoSpy servers in Romania |
🚀 Speed & Performance
Surfshark’s rollout of its “Nexus” network — which routes traffic dynamically through multiple hops rather than static single-server connections — has noticeably tightened up its speed profile. In our tests, nearby-server connections retained around 85% of baseline speed, among the best results we’ve recorded from any budget provider.
CyberGhost performed well too, though slightly behind at around 76% retained throughput on comparable routes. Where CyberGhost pulls ahead is sheer server density: with over 11,500 servers, you’re statistically more likely to land on a lightly loaded one during peak hours, which can offset the raw speed gap in practice.
🔒 Security & Privacy
Both companies encrypt traffic with AES-256 and have passed independent no-logs audits, but there’s a meaningful difference in corporate structure worth knowing about.
CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, the same parent company behind ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. Some privacy advocates raise an eyebrow at a single parent company owning multiple “independent” VPN brands, though CyberGhost maintains its own separate audit trail and no-logs verification.
Surfshark operates independently, based in the Netherlands (a 9 Eyes country, though this hasn’t affected its audited no-logs track record). It also offers a “Dynamic MultiHop” feature that lets you route through two countries at once for an extra layer of obfuscation — a feature CyberGhost doesn’t match.
Shared security features
- Kill switch on all major platforms
- DNS and IP leak protection
- RAM-only server infrastructure
- Split tunneling
🎬 Streaming
CyberGhost takes a genuinely different approach here: instead of forcing you to guess which server unblocks which service, its app has dedicated, clearly labeled servers for Netflix US, Netflix UK, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and more. For streaming newcomers, this removes all the guesswork.
Surfshark takes the “any server should work” approach and, impressively, mostly delivers on it — you don’t need a dedicated Netflix server because most of its regular servers unblock it anyway.
| Platform | Surfshark | CyberGhost |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix (multi-region) | ✅ Reliable | ✅ Reliable (dedicated servers) |
| Disney+ | ✅ Reliable | ✅ Reliable (dedicated servers) |
| BBC iPlayer | ✅ Mostly reliable | ✅ Reliable (dedicated servers) |
| Amazon Prime Video | ✅ Reliable | ✅ Reliable |
💻 Apps & Device Support
This is arguably Surfshark’s single biggest advantage: unlimited simultaneous device connections, on one subscription. That means your entire household — phones, laptops, smart TVs, routers — can run Surfshark at once without upgrade tiers or add-on fees.
CyberGhost caps you at 7 devices, which is still generous compared to many premium competitors, but it’s a real ceiling if you’re covering a large family or a small office.
Interface-wise, both apps are approachable. Surfshark leans minimal and modern; CyberGhost leans informational, surfacing more stats and server details up front, including live ping and load percentage per server.
💰 Pricing
Both are aggressively priced compared to premium VPNs, and both run frequent long-term discounts that bring monthly costs down substantially. Surfshark’s unlimited-device policy effectively makes its per-device cost the lowest in the entire industry once you factor in a multi-device household. CyberGhost’s pricing is comparable on a per-account basis but becomes less competitive if you need more than 7 connections.
It’s worth noting that both providers follow the industry-standard pattern of front-loading discounts onto longer commitments — a one-month plan for either service costs noticeably more per month than a two-year plan. If you’re confident you’ll stick with a VPN long-term, locking in a multi-year plan during a sale period is where both brands deliver their best effective value. Shorter-term plans are better reserved for testing the waters before committing.
Refund policies also differ slightly: Surfshark offers a straightforward 30-day money-back guarantee across all its plans, while CyberGhost extends an unusually generous 45-day window on longer subscriptions, giving you extra breathing room to properly stress-test the service before the refund period closes.
🌍 Server Network & Global Reach
On paper, CyberGhost’s server count dwarfs Surfshark’s — over 11,500 versus roughly 3,200. In practice, both cover a similar spread of around 100 countries, so the real difference is density within popular locations rather than global reach. CyberGhost’s advantage shows up most clearly during high-traffic periods, like evenings in the US or UK, when having thousands of servers in a single country spreads user load more thinly and helps maintain speed.
Surfshark compensates for its smaller raw count with its Nexus network architecture, which treats the entire server fleet as one interconnected system rather than isolated endpoints. This lets Surfshark dynamically route your connection for better performance rather than relying purely on server count to avoid congestion.
📱 Mobile Apps & Extra Tools
Surfshark’s mobile apps carry over its desktop features nearly one-to-one, including Bypasser (its split-tunneling tool), CleanWeb, and Alert — a breach-monitoring feature that notifies you if your email shows up in a known data leak. It’s a genuinely useful bundle for a subscription that already undercuts most competitors on price.
CyberGhost’s mobile experience mirrors its desktop app’s data-forward philosophy, showing server load and ping directly in the location list so you can pick the best-performing option without guessing. Both apps support widgets and quick-connect shortcuts on modern versions of Android and iOS.
Beyond the VPN itself, Surfshark bundles in Surfshark One — an optional tier that adds antivirus, a private search engine, and the breach-alert tool mentioned above — while CyberGhost keeps its offering more tightly focused on the VPN experience itself, without bundled security suite add-ons.
🎧 Customer Support
Both providers offer 24/7 live chat, and both were quick to connect us with human agents in testing — typically under three minutes. CyberGhost’s support materials lean heavily on its streaming-server labeling system, so a large share of support interactions revolve around picking the right server for a specific platform, which the app mostly handles automatically anyway.
Surfshark’s support tends to be broader in scope, fielding more technical questions about multi-hop configuration and router setup, reflecting its slightly more power-user-friendly feature set.
🖥️ Router & Smart TV Support
Both services publish setup guides for major router firmware, letting you protect every device on your home network at once — useful for smart TVs, game consoles, and other devices that don’t support VPN apps natively. Surfshark additionally offers native apps for Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, while CyberGhost focuses its native app support more narrowly on major mobile and desktop platforms, leaning on router-level installation for smart TV coverage.
🙅 Who Should Skip Each One
If you specifically need more than 7 simultaneous connections without paying for multiple accounts, CyberGhost’s device cap will be a real limitation. On the other hand, if you want dedicated, clearly labeled servers for a very specific streaming platform without relying on the app to pick automatically, Surfshark’s “any server works” philosophy may feel slightly less reassuring, even though it performs well in practice.
🏆 Final Verdict
Both services prove that “budget VPN” doesn’t have to mean “compromised VPN.” The decision comes down to your household’s needs:
- Multi-device households should go with Surfshark — unlimited connections is a genuinely unique offer.
- Streaming-focused users who want zero guesswork will appreciate CyberGhost’s labeled, purpose-built servers.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which is faster, Surfshark or CyberGhost?
Surfshark posted higher average throughput in our latest round of testing, though CyberGhost’s larger server count can help during peak congestion.
Does either allow torrenting?
Yes, both support P2P traffic with dedicated or clearly marked torrent-friendly servers.
Is CyberGhost really owned by the same company as ExpressVPN?
Yes — both are owned by Kape Technologies, though each brand maintains separate infrastructure and independent audit reporting.
Can I really connect unlimited devices with Surfshark?
Yes, Surfshark places no cap on simultaneous connections per subscription, which is unusual in the industry.
Which one is better for a family?
Surfshark’s unlimited device policy makes it the more practical pick for larger households.
Do these VPNs work well outside their home regions, like Asia-Pacific?
Yes — both maintain solid server coverage across Asia-Pacific, though as with any region, actual speeds will vary depending on how far you’re routing from your physical location and how congested the specific server is at the time.