CyberGhost vs IPVanish VPN 2024

Akash Deep

Cybersecurity Researcher

CyberGhost and IPVanish are two VPNs that have been around for a while. They're both well-established brands with loyal followings, but they approach online privacy and security in different ways. CyberGhost is about simplicity and ease of use, while IPVanish offers a bit more customization for tech-savvy users.

I wanted to know which VPN is the better choice for most people, so I put them through a series of head-to-head tests together with my team. We compared their speeds, streaming performance, torrenting capabilities, security features, and more. I also delved deep into their privacy policies and looked at their track records to see how they handle user data.

After weeks of testing, I can say that CyberGhost is the superior VPN. It's faster, more reliable, and offers better value for your money. Its user-friendly apps make it a great choice if you’re new to VPNs, but it also has plenty of advanced features for experienced users. While IPVanish is a solid VPN with robust security, its US jurisdiction and past logging controversy might give you pause if privacy is your top priority.

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Streaming — Both VPNs Perform Well, But CyberGhost Takes the Lead

CyberGhost and IPVanish are both excellent VPNs for streaming. My international team and I tested each one with a variety of platforms, and we found you can count on either one to safely access platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, BBC iPlayer, and more from anywhere.

CyberGhost has a slight advantage thanks to its streaming-optimized servers. These are regularly tested to ensure they can reliably work with popular streaming platforms. We tested several of these specialized servers (including Max, Disney+, Netflix, and Hotstar), and they all worked as intended. From the UK, I watched BBC iPlayer completely lag-free.

Its BBC iPlayer server could access the platform right away

Another advantage of CyberGhost is its ability to consistently access a wider range of Netflix libraries in HD from anywhere. IPVanish, in comparison, struggled with some of these less popular regions.

That's not to say IPVanish isn't a strong contender. Even without dedicated streaming servers, it performed well in our tests. My US colleague had no problems accessing Netflix US, Hulu, Max, and Disney+ in great quality. Similarly, my colleagues in Japan and Canada and I (in the UK) could watch Netflix with no buffering.

I never experienced any connectivity issues while streaming

However, we did run into some issues with a few services. For example, my teammate in Ireland couldn’t access RTÉ Player with IPVanish. It also didn’t work with Amazon Prime Video US in our tests. CyberGhost had no problem with either platform.

Also, CyberGhost offers Smart DNS to stream content on the big screen — IPVanish lacks a similar offering.

Winner

CyberGhost and IPVanish are both fantastic options for streaming. However, CyberGhost has a slight advantage due to its specialized streaming servers, which offer reliable HD access to a broad range of content from anywhere.

Server Network — CyberGhost Has a Larger Network

Both CyberGhost and IPVanish offer excellent global coverage. However, CyberGhost takes the lead with servers in 100 countries, compared to IPVanish's presence in 135 countries. It also offers a higher overall server count.

This more extensive network means you're more likely to find a server in a less popular region. For example, CyberGhost even has virtual servers for restrictive countries like Russia, China, and Iran, which IPVanish doesn't offer. These virtual servers provide IP addresses from those countries without risking your privacy by physically locating servers there.

That said, you won't have to worry about overcrowded servers with either VPN. Both providers offer plenty of options to ensure a smooth and stable connection, no matter where you're located.

Winner

CyberGhost comes out on top with a larger global server network — it covers more countries than IPVanish. It also offers virtual servers in locations where IPVanish doesn't have a presence.

Speed — CyberGhost Offers Faster Connections

CyberGhost and IPVanish both deliver fast and stable connections. However, in my tests from the UK, CyberGhost consistently outperformed IPVanish. I used WireGuard to test both VPNs since it gave me the fastest speeds.

My base connection speed without a VPN was 219.66 Mbps download and 26.10 Mbps upload. Here's how each VPN performed:

As you can see, CyberGhost had a smaller impact on my base connection speeds across all server locations tested. CyberGhost only reduced my download speed by 6% on nearby UK servers, while IPVanish caused a slightly higher 13% drop.

The minor drop in speed wasn't noticeable at all

The speed differences became even more noticeable when connecting to distant servers. CyberGhost's US server decreased my download speed by 17%, while IPVanish's US server led to a more significant 29% reduction. Similarly, CyberGhost's Japan server resulted in a 39% drop, while IPVanish's caused a 44% decrease.

Upload speeds were less affected overall, but CyberGhost still held an advantage in most cases.

Winner

While both VPNs offer fast speeds suitable for most online activities, CyberGhost is the clear winner in this category. Its ability to maintain higher speeds across various server locations makes it a better choice for speed-critical tasks like streaming, gaming, and downloading large files.

Gaming — CyberGhost Is a Better Choice For Gaming

Both CyberGhost and IPVanish are good for gaming. My starting ping without a VPN in the UK was 9 ms, which is excellent for online gaming. For context, a good ping for gaming is typically considered to be under 100 ms.

CyberGhost offers dedicated gaming servers, making it easy to find the right connection for your needs. These servers are specifically designed to provide the best possible connection for gaming, with low latency and minimal packet loss.

On nearby UK servers, CyberGhost’s gaming server gave me a ping of 10 ms, while IPVanish was slightly higher at 12 ms. I played several fast-paced games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, and Apex Legends on these nearby servers, and the experience was smooth and responsive with both VPNs.

I played PUBG using CyberGhost's Manchester server

When I used CyberGhost's optimized server in the US, my ping was 92 ms. While this is higher than ideal for competitive gaming, the game was still playable with only occasional slowdowns. In contrast, IPVanish's LA server gave me a ping of 129 ms, which made the game feel sluggish and almost unplayable at times.

However, it’s worth noting that very few VPNs offer low enough ping on long-distance servers, so I wasn’t surprised in either case. For the best gaming experience, you should always try to connect to a server close to your location or the game server.

Both VPNs also performed well for cloud gaming, letting me play titles on platforms like Google Stadia, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Cloud Gaming without lag.

Winner

CyberGhost wins thanks to its gaming-optimized servers. These servers offer lower latency and better stability, making them a better option for lag-free gaming.

Torrenting — Both VPNs Are Good For Torrenting

When it comes to torrenting, CyberGhost and IPVanish are evenly matched. Both VPNs fully support P2P file sharing on their servers and come equipped with essential security features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Plus, they both have audited no-logs policies, ensuring your torrenting activity stays private.

I used each VPN to download a 4 GB copyright-free video file from a popular torrent site. With CyberGhost, the download was complete in just over 3 minutes. IPVanish was just as speedy, finishing the download in around 3 and a half minutes.

CyberGhost offers dedicated P2P servers that are optimized for fast and secure torrenting. This takes the guesswork out of finding the best server for your needs. IPVanish, on the other hand, offers a SOCKS5 proxy. This can be configured in your torrent client for potentially faster speeds, but your connection won’t be encrypted.

Ultimately, both VPNs are excellent choices for torrenting. CyberGhost is a great option if you prefer the simplicity of optimized servers. But if you're tech-savvy and want the option of using a proxy, IPVanish is equally capable.

Note that while torrenting is legal, downloading copyrighted content isn't. To avoid breaking any laws, always check if the file you want to download is copyright-free or in the public domain. We don't condone copyright infringement.

Winner - draw

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CyberGhost and IPVanish are both winners in the torrenting category. They offer fast speeds, robust security, and extra features to enhance your torrenting experience. Whichever you choose, you can torrent with confidence.

Security — IPVanish’s Customization Steals the Win

CyberGhost and IPVanish both offer strong security features to keep your online activities safe and private. Both VPNs use military-grade AES-256 encryption. This is the same level of encryption used by banks and government agencies, so you can trust that your data is secure.

However, the most significant difference here is the level of customization available. CyberGhost’s security features are largely built-in with minimal adjustment, while IPVanish offers much more flexibility.

I like how it explains what each setting does

Take, for example, the use of OpenVPN by both VPNs. With IPVanish, you can choose between different ports when using OpenVPN, and you can scramble your OpenVPN traffic for added obfuscation. This can help you use the VPN on restrictive networks that attempt to block VPN traffic. However, the only option you have to customize OpenVPN with CyberGhost is to use the experimental driver.

If you're more technically-minded, you'll appreciate all of IPVanish's settings

In addition, both VPNs offer a kill switch, which automatically disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection drops. This ensures that your actual IP address is never exposed. I tested both VPNs for leaks, including IP, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, and neither VPN had any issues.

You also get split tunneling with both VPNs, which lets you choose which apps use the VPN tunnel and which use your regular connection. This is useful if you want to improve speeds for certain apps while still protecting the rest of your data. However, IPVanish offers split tunneling on every device, while CyberGhost’s feature doesn’t extend to Apple devices.

Both VPNs protect you against ads, trackers, and malware. CyberGhost calls this feature Block Content, while IPVanish refers to it as Threat Protection.

Winner

While both VPNs offer a solid set of security features, IPVanish's extra customization options give it a slight advantage, especially if you’re an advanced user.

Privacy — CyberGhost Offers Stronger Privacy Guarantees

IPVanish and CyberGhost both offer a lot in the way of privacy protection. However, there are some differences between the two VPN providers that are worth noting.

Both VPNs maintain strict no-logs policies, meaning they do not collect or store any data that could be used to identify you or your online activity. This commitment to privacy is essential for VPN providers, as it ensures that your data cannot be accessed by third parties, even if requested by authorities.

IPVanish is based in the United States, which is a member of the Five Eyes Alliance. This jurisdiction may raise concerns for some users, as the US government has been known to engage in surveillance activities and request data from companies. However, IPVanish has taken steps to mitigate these concerns by owning and operating all of its servers, reducing the risk of third-party interference.

In 2016, IPVanish faced criticism for providing user logs to authorities, even when it claimed to have a no-logs policy. But since then, the company has changed ownership and underwent an independent audit by Leviathan Security Group in 2022, which verified its no-logs claims to be true. Additionally, IPVanish plans to shift its entire infrastructure to RAM-only servers.

In an effort to combat censorship, IPVanish is currently providing journalists with a free 3-month subscription to its VPN service.

CyberGhost, on the other hand, is headquartered in Romania, a country known for its strong privacy laws. This jurisdiction provides an added layer of protection for users, as the Romanian government is less likely to request user data from VPN providers. Plus, VPN providers are not obligated by law to store user data.

It also offers NoSpy servers, which are independently operated and located in Romania. These servers provide an extra level of security, and only CyberGhost staff can access them.

The company has undergone two independent audits by Deloitte, confirming its no-logging policy. CyberGhost also accepts Bitcoin for added payment anonymity and releases quarterly transparency reports, demonstrating their commitment to transparency. Moreover, CyberGhost already uses RAM-only servers, ensuring that no user data is stored on their servers.

Winner

CyberGhost emerges as the winner in this privacy comparison. Its Romanian jurisdiction, use of RAM-only servers, and regular transparency reports demonstrate a strong commitment to user privacy.

Works in China — Neither VPN Works in China

Both CyberGhost and IPVanish struggle to work reliably in China due to the country's strict internet system, often referred to as the Great Firewall (GFW).

CyberGhost does not offer obfuscation, which is essential for it to work in China. A support agent confirmed that the VPN may not work properly there due to the ever-changing internet landscape.

IPVanish does offer obfuscation, but it doesn't work reliably in China, either. You will likely experience difficulty connecting or maintaining a stable connection while there.

If you need a dependable VPN for China, I recommend checking out our roundup of the best VPNs for China.

Note that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China. There haven't been any publicly reported cases of a tourist getting penalized for using one there, but you should still be aware of the country's laws. The team and I don't condone using a VPN illegally.

Winner - draw

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Both VPNs struggle to work in China consistently. If accessing the internet securely in China is a priority, it's best to consider alternative VPN providers that have a proven track record of success in working in this country.

Installation and Ease of Use — CyberGhost Steals the Win

Installing CyberGhost and IPVanish on my Windows computer, smartphone, and other devices was a breeze. I had each VPN up and running on my laptop in under 5 minutes. The process was just as quick and easy on my Android phone and iPad. You can find their user-friendly apps for all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Fire TV.

IPVanish even offers an app for Apple TV, which is a nice bonus if you want to protect your streaming device. Unfortunately, CyberGhost doesn't have an Apple TV app at the moment. But it does offer browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, which IPVanish doesn’t.

Once you have the VPNs installed, you'll find that both offer features that make it easy to find the best server for your needs. IPVanish has a cool world map that lets you connect to a location with a single click. The server list displays the load and ping for each server, which is really helpful when choosing the best connection.

The app also displays the number of servers available in each country

CyberGhost takes a different approach by offering servers optimized for specific activities. So, if you want to play games, stream, or torrent, you can click on the appropriate tab, and CyberGhost will show you the best servers for that purpose. It's a great way to take the guesswork out of choosing a server.

You can add a server to favorites for easy access in the future

Overall, I was impressed with how easy it was to install and use both CyberGhost and IPVanish. However, CyberGhost steals the win here because it’s far more beginner-friendly. If you’ve never used a VPN before, it won’t take you long to figure out how CyberGhost works. However, I can see how the amount of information that IPVanish provides about each server could be intimidating if you’re less experienced.

Winner

Although both CyberGhost and IPVanish offer user-friendly experiences, CyberGhost comes out slightly ahead in terms of ease of use. Its activity-optimized servers make it simple to find the best connection for your needs, whether you're gaming, streaming, or torrenting.

Reliability and Support — Both VPNs Offer Reliable Support

When you run into issues or have questions while using IPVanish or CyberGhost, both VPNs offer excellent customer support to help you out.

I wanted to inquire about IPVanish's renewal price, so I contacted support using its 24/7 live chat. In under a minute, I was connected to a friendly and knowledgeable agent. They quickly shared the renewal price page with me and clearly explained the pricing details.

IPVanish also offers email support, but you may not get your answers right away. Phone support is also an option, which is only available in select regions like the US, the UK, and Australia. Their support page is full of helpful content if you prefer to find answers on your own.

CyberGhost also provides 24/7 live chat support, and I was connected to an agent in less than 30 seconds. They offer support in English, Romanian, German, and French. When I had a question about using CyberGhost with my Xbox, the agent provided clear, step-by-step instructions that got me up and running in no time. Email support is also available if you prefer that instead.

CyberGhost's Help Center is also packed with useful information, including detailed setup guides for various devices.

Winner - draw

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In the customer support category, IPVanish and CyberGhost are evenly matched. Both VPNs offer responsive 24/7 live chat, email support, and extensive online resources. While IPVanish provides phone support in select countries, CyberGhost's multilingual support caters to a global audience.

Tips on Choosing Between CyberGhost and IPVanish

When choosing between CyberGhost and IPVanish, it's essential to consider your specific needs and priorities. Here are some key factors to help you make an informed decision:

• Streaming capabilities. Choose a VPN that works with popular streaming sites. This makes it possible to safely access global content from anywhere.
• Server distribution. Consider each VPN's server network and whether they have servers in your desired locations. A larger server network may provide more connection options but also pay attention to the specific countries and cities covered to ensure the VPN meets your needs.
• Security features. Look for a VPN that offers robust security features, such as strong encryption, a kill switch, and protection against leaks. If you're an advanced user, consider the level of customization available, such as the ability to change encryption protocols, use custom ports, etc.
• Privacy practices. Choose a provider that maintains a strict no-logs policy and operates under a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. Consider each VPN's location and whether they have a proven track record of protecting user privacy.
• Ease of use. Select a VPN with user-friendly apps that are easy to navigate, even for beginners. Look for features like one-click connection options, intuitive interfaces, and the ability to find and connect to servers quickly.
• Customer support. Opt for a VPN that provides reliable customer support through your preferred channels, such as live chat, email, or phone. Consider each provider's response times, the quality of their assistance, and the availability of helpful resources like knowledge bases and setup guides.
• Value for money. Evaluate the cost of each VPN and determine which one offers the best value for your money. Keep in mind that long-term subscriptions often come with significant discounts, so consider your commitment level when making your choice.

CyberGhost vs IPVanish — Reddit Opinions

To get a sense of what real users think about CyberGhost and IPVanish, I explored various Reddit discussions on these VPNs.

Redditors generally have a positive view of CyberGhost. They praise its user-friendly apps, wide server network, and ability to access content from anywhere in good quality. The 45-day money-back guarantee is also frequently highlighted as a major advantage.

Some concerns are raised about CyberGhost's parent company, Kape Technologies, which was formerly known as Crossrider and associated with adware. However, the malware distribution was carried out by third-party developers misusing Crossrider's platform. Crossrider shut down its ad platforms in 2016 before acquiring CyberGhost VPN in 2017 and rebranding to Kape Technologies in 2018. So, there’s no reason not to trust CyberGhost.

IPVanish receives more mixed reviews. Some users appreciate its simple interface, fast speeds, and device compatibility. However, IPVanish's reputation has been tarnished by past incidents where the company provided user logs to authorities despite claiming a no-logs policy.