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NordVPN vs CyberGhost VPN vs HMA VPN 2023

Table of Contents
    Rated: 9.4/10
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    Rated: 9.7/10
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    Rated: 7.0/10
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    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Catherine Ablett
    Catherine Ablett

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    At first glance, there is little to choose between these three providers. However, after digging slightly deeper you find that only NordVPN originates in a reasonably VPN-friendly country, being based in Panama. Cyberghost has recently been acquired by an Israeli company, and HMA originates in the UK. NordVPN and Cyberghost offer a similar number of simultaneous connections with NordVPN offering 6, one more than Cyberghost; HMA falls behind in this respect only offering 2 simultaneous connections for its users. While all have good coverage, it is HMA that comes out on top with the greater number of countries with connections and the greater number of servers overall. When it comes to customer service, however, NordVPN is the only one that offers 24/7 live support. Cyberghost does have a live option but only during set hours. In terms of ways to pay, NordVPN again comes out on top, offering payment through gift cards, as well as debit and credit cards, and Bitcoins. The real difference, however, is in terms of speed, reliability, and ease of use, all areas where NordVPN comes out on top.

    Rating

    Features 9.4/10
    Pricing 7.5/10
    Ease of Use 10.0/10
    Reliability & Support 10.0/10
    Features 9.7/10
    Pricing 9.7/10
    Ease of Use 9.9/10
    Reliability & Support 9.8/10
    Features 7.0/10
    Pricing 7.0/10
    Ease of Use 7.0/10
    Reliability & Support 6.6/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Angela Jovanoska
    Angela Jovanoska

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    9.8/10

    On the surface, NordVPN looks like a really impressive service. It claims to have a huge global server network, the ability to unblock tons of streaming platforms, and iron-clad security and privacy features. Plus, you can get it all for just $3.19/month. That all sounds great, but is there a catch? To find out, I did an in-depth analysis of NordVPN. I tested its speeds and how well it performs...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    2
    210493Lu
    10.0/10
    The Best of The Best

    I simply tested all VPNs looking for cutting-edge online security, I tested the most expensive and the...  most talked about virtual anonymity, none made me as happy as NordVPN, it stands out for several reasons that the much more expensive ones it doesn't have, its double encryption, dedicated IPs, onion VPN, makes NordVPN unique, with almost 6,000 servers around the world and 12 million customers like me, you can see that NordVPN is not playing games with its customers and their online security , it always innovates to keep you more secure day after day, for a fair price in the long term and without sacrificing the speed of your connection, recently Nord is developing a new VPN protocol, Nordlynx a version still under construction derived from the Wireguard protocol, if you want to have a VPN of last security that think how it will make you more secure in the next month NordVPN is the right choice, I am completely thankful for being a customer and for finding what to me is the perfect VPN.More

    Latest negative user review
    D
    Dax
    6.0/10
    Average service, some nice features, rubbish support

    Basic features work really well. Basically. I liked the feature that when Nord crashes (as it seems to...  do monthly) it will shut other apps so they aren't exposed. My subscription is based in Australia. Found downloads peak at about 1-1.5Mb/s, which is ok as long as you aren't playing online games. Don't go for the frills (though hard not to when they gamify them). I canceled my subscription because I added the Kill switch and then MFA. Nek Minnit I can't even log in. No way to remove the Kill switch without logging in. Uninstalled, reinstalled no joy. Went to the help page, and it redirected me to up my subscription as the only solution. No chatbot where I am. and I don't have an email app so couldn't email help. After a couple of hours of mucking around. Gave up and went to a competitor. Note: if I hadn't played with the security settings, I would still be with Nord. But if I can't log in, it's a dead service to me.More

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    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    9.4/10

    CyberGhost is one of the most affordable VPNs on the market — you can get a subscription for as low as $2.03/month. I sometimes assume that price indicates quality, but with VPNs, I've been proven wrong before. So I wanted to see whether CyberGhost can really deliver at such a low price. I did a deep dive into CyberGhost’s privacy policy and security measures to determine whether it’s secu...

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    Latest positive user review
    R
    Raemond Thompson
    10.0/10
    Simple To Use

    Great interface and is very intuitive. Many locations with reasonably fast speeds. There are a lot of ... essential features I like as well. Wireguard, Wifi Protect, Etc. I took out the 2-year plan at a fair discount so I can say that, given the price, it's a decent balance of quantity and quality.More

    Latest negative user review
    S
    Sami Paananen
    2.0/10
    Pretty good

    CyberGhost does not connect automatically in pc when I connect online. Why? And on my phone (Android)...  it sometimes gets stuck, it does not open the app when vpn is working. I have to connect the VPN in my phone settings first. That is pretty annoying.More

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    7.0/10

    HMA (formerly HideMyAss) is a relatively cheap VPN that claims to offer more server locations than anyone else. However, it has faced some serious controversies in the past. Is it a VPN that can keep you safe and anonymous online? To find out, I performed extensive tests on all its features and explored its updated privacy policy. I also checked out several connection issues customers have rep...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    P
    Paulo
    10.0/10
    Excellent value for money!

    First, it's a full VPN. Very intuitive and easy app. Lots of connection options and without much loss ... of speed. The official website has the payment method in my local currency, with a localized value and thus leaving a fair value through the VPN. Thank VPNMentor for the product recommendation and targeted discount.More

    Latest negative user review
    K
    Kaan
    2.0/10
    Terrible Support

    I had a return request. because my ISP blocked their servers and I contacted their support team. My ti... ckets have not been answered for 14 days. I do not recommend them with this terrible support and no wireguard support. 1/10More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 6 devices
    Starting price $2.03/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 45 Days
    Number of devices per license 7 devices
    Starting price $2.99/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    All three VPNs are great choices for various internet activity, and all come with affordable prices. NordVPN takes the lead in balancing between solid performance, superb security, excellent privacy, and fast speeds. CyberGhost may be cheaper, but NordVPN is offering some amazing deals right now.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    All three VPNs allow torrenting on selected servers. Unlike HMA, CyberGhost and NordVPN offer specific torrenting mode within their apps. However, NordVPN is a wiser choice in terms of privacy and security.

    Best VPN for Windows

    HMA offers a simple app for Windows, but it’s limited compared to those provided by CyberGhost and NordVPN. All three Windows apps come with a kill switch. CyberGhost’s Windows app is more user-friendly and visually appealing. On the other hand, NordVPN’s Windows app offers simplicity, ease of use, and more advanced features than CyberGhost and HMA combined.

    Best VPN for Android

    While all three VPNs offer user-friendly apps for Android users, NordVPN’s Android application is more feature-packed than those offered by CyberGhost and HMA. In addition, unlike CyberGhost and HMA, NordVPN has an automatic kill switch and a special Double VPN feature for better security and privacy.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Despite the recent update to their Mac app, HMA is still limited and pricy compared to CyberGhost and NordVPN’s Mac apps. CyberGhost offers an exquisite Mac client with several options, but with a limited number of protocols. On the other hand, NordVPN provides a budget-friendly, full-featured application for Mac users.

    Best VPN for iOS

    NordVPN’s iOS software client certainly towers over those offered by CyberGhost and HMA, even though all three iOS clients are appealing and user-friendly. Both NordVPN and CyberGhost offer built-in kill switches, but HMA doesn’t. NordVPN and CyberGhost also offer more organized and specific modes for streaming and anonymous browsing. In addition, NordVPN offers Double VPN, Tor over VPN, and P2P.

    Best VPN for USA

    NordVPN has 1,900+ servers in the US, which is way more than HMA (190+ servers) or CyberGhost (500+ servers). All three VPNs can bypass US geo-restrictions and you can use them to stream Netflix US and HBO. In addition, NordVPN can help you unblock anti-VPN services like Amazon Prime.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    While all three companies have many merits, NordVPN definitely comes out ahead. It is the most reliable for working in China, although Cyberghost also works for Netflix users. All 3 work on multiple platforms. NordVPN and HMA both offer 30-day money-back guarantees, while CyberGhost offers 45 days. All provide DNS leak protection and keep no logs (to be specific HMA does keep logs, but only for diagnostic purposes). In addition, NordVPN and Cyberghost also provide kill switches, but again NordVPN is always just one step ahead especially in terms of speed, services, and security. Combined with its user-friendly approach, it is a definite winner.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with NordVPN
    Go with CyberGhost VPN
    Go with HMA VPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is NordVPN better than CyberGhost VPN and HMA VPN?

    Yes, NordVPN is better overall than CyberGhost VPN and HMA VPN. It has 5939 servers in 60 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.99 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between NordVPN, CyberGhost VPN and HMA VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then NordVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests.

    Is NordVPN faster than CyberGhost VPN and HMA VPN?

    Yes, NordVPN is faster than CyberGhost VPN and HMA VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free.. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do NordVPN, CyberGhost VPN or HMA VPN offer any deals?

    NordVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and HMA VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We rank vendors based on rigorous testing and research, but also take into account your feedback and our commercial agreements with providers. This page contains affiliate links.

    About the Author

    Catherine is an advocate of net neutrality.