Head to head · Updated August 13, 2026
CyberGhost vs Proton VPN
Proton VPN takes it by 20 points, 90.0 against 70.0. That margin is worth reading past — CyberGhost wins 1 of the seven criteria outright.
CyberGhost
70.0The longest refund window in the market attached to a mid-tier privacy posture.
- From
- $2.19/mo
- Based in
- Romania
- Devices
- 7
- Audits
- 1
We earn nothing from CyberGhost. This link is included because the ranking says it belongs here.
Proton VPN
90.0The best-documented security stack in this dataset, and the only free tier we consider safe to recommend.
- From
- $4.49/mo
- Based in
- Switzerland
- Devices
- 10
- Audits
- 2
We earn a commission if you subscribe through this link. It does not change Proton VPN’s score.
Criterion by criterion
CyberGhost wins 1, Proton VPN wins 5, 1 tied. Each row shows the raw score out of ten and the weighted contribution to the total.
| Criterion | Weight | CyberGhost | Proton VPN | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent audit | 20 | 6/10 (12.0) | 10/10 (20.0) | Proton VPN |
| Jurisdiction and ownership | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Protocol and crypto stack | 15 | 9/10 (13.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Tied |
| Leak protection | 15 | 7/10 (10.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Transparency | 15 | 5/10 (7.5) | 9/10 (13.5) | Proton VPN |
| Price and refund terms | 10 | 9/10 (9.0) | 7/10 (7.0) | CyberGhost |
| Platform coverage | 10 | 7/10 (7.0) | 9/10 (9.0) | Proton VPN |
| Total | 100 | 70.0 | 90.0 | Proton VPN |
Where each one actually wins
CyberGhost is ahead on
- Price and refund terms. $2.19/month effective on a 26-month term with a 45-day refund window, the longest here.
Proton VPN is ahead on
- Independent audit. Both the no-logs policy and the apps on every platform were audited by Securitum with public reports.
- Jurisdiction and ownership. Switzerland sits outside the Fourteen Eyes agreement, and the parent company is majority-owned by a non-profit foundation.
- Leak protection. Kill switch across all platforms, with a permanent mode on desktop that blocks traffic before the app starts.
- Transparency. Every client is open source with published audit reports; signup still requires an email address.
- Platform coverage. Native apps including Apple TV and Android TV, plus router support and 10 simultaneous devices.
Choose CyberGhost if
Readers who want a long, genuinely risk-free evaluation period.
Choose Proton VPN if
Readers who want auditable software and a free option to test before paying.
Reasons to pick neither
Skip CyberGhost if: You want auditable client software, or you are uncomfortable with three of this dataset’s providers sharing one owner.
Skip Proton VPN if: You want the cheapest possible long-term plan. Proton is priced as a security product, and the 2-year rate is still above the budget tier.
Questions
- Is CyberGhost or Proton VPN better?
- Proton VPN scores higher overall, 90.0 against 70.0, a gap of 20 points out of 100. The best-documented security stack in this dataset, and the only free tier we consider safe to recommend.
- Which is cheaper, CyberGhost or Proton VPN?
- CyberGhost, at $2.19/mo against $4.49/mo. Both rates require committing to the provider’s longest term; the monthly rates are considerably higher.
- Which one has been audited more recently?
- Proton VPN, most recently in 2024 against CyberGhost’s 2022.
- Does jurisdiction differ between them?
- Yes. CyberGhost operates from Romania and Proton VPN from Switzerland. Both sit in the same position relative to the Fourteen Eyes agreement.
Related comparisons
Comparison generated from the same dataset as the ranking. Emphasis criterion definitions are on the rubric page. Criterion labels: Independent audit, Jurisdiction and ownership, Protocol and crypto stack, Leak protection, Transparency, Price and refund terms, Platform coverage.