Affiliate disclosure: VPN Vetted is reader-supported. Some links below are marked “sponsored”: if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We recommend by published price, refund terms and audits, never by commission. CyberGhost is owned by Kape Technologies, which also owns ExpressVPN. Surfshark and NordVPN, the alternatives below, belong to the same group, Nord Security. We apply the same criteria to all of them.
Prices checked October 30, 2026, between 01:04 and 01:12 BRT, on the official US pages, in USD, before sales tax or VAT.
Verdict in 30 seconds
- Buy CyberGhost if you want one of the lowest long-term prices from a well-known provider and a 45-day money-back guarantee, longer than the 30 days NordVPN and Surfshark offer. The 2-year plan is $56.94 for the first 26 months, then $56.94 a year, with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Skip it if you need more than 7 devices at once (NordVPN allows 10, Surfshark unlimited), or if you want a provider that isn’t part of a large VPN group.
- Watch the monthly plan: it’s $12.99 a month and only has a 14-day refund window, not 45.
Our opinion: on published US prices, CyberGhost is a budget pick that’s cheap to keep, not just cheap to start. Its weak spot is the 7-device cap.
What CyberGhost offers in 2026
CyberGhost sells one VPN plan in three lengths, plus optional add-ons at checkout. The features below are the ones CyberGhost lists on its own US pages:
- VPN servers in 100 countries, with unlimited bandwidth
- AES 256-bit encryption, with OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols
- Automatic Kill Switch plus DNS and IP leak protection
- Split tunneling: pick which apps and websites go through the VPN
- Strict no-logs policy, and a server network it says runs on RAM-only infrastructure that wipes data on restart
- Up to 7 devices at once on one subscription
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and Linux; setup guides for VPN-compatible routers, select smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV; Chrome and Firefox proxy extensions
- 24/7 live chat and email support (the money-back page says in English, German, French and Romanian)
Add-ons (from the order page’s USD price data): a Dedicated IP (from $2.50 to $5 a month depending on plan length), the Windows Security Suite antivirus bundle, and a password manager. They’re optional.
CyberGhost pricing: intro vs renewal
CyberGhost’s US homepage states “All amounts shown are in US Dollars.” Here’s what it showed on October 30, 2026:
| Plan | Price shown | Billed | Renews at | Money-back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $12.99/month | $12.99 | $12.99 monthly | 14 days |
| 6 months | $6.99/month | $41.94 | $41.94 every 6 months | 45 days |
| 2 years + 2 months | $2.19/month | $56.94 for the first 26 months | $56.94 annually | 45 days |
The unusual part: on the 2-year plan, CyberGhost’s own wording is “Billed $56.94 for first 26 months, then autorenews at $56.94 annually.” In other words, the renewal is a 1-year term at the same $56.94, not a second 26-month block. Many VPNs renew far above their intro price. Here the yearly renewal is the same dollar amount as the intro bill, but it now buys 12 months instead of 26, so the effective monthly cost rises from $2.19 to about $4.75.
Intro plus one year of renewal (our arithmetic, before tax): $56.94 + $56.94 = $113.88 over 38 months, about $3.00 a month.
For comparison, on the same day (our arithmetic):
| Provider and plan | Intro bill | Renewal | Intro + 1 renewal year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhost (2y+2m) | $56.94 / 26 mo | $56.94/year | $113.88 / 38 mo | ~$3.00 |
| Surfshark Starter (2y) | $67.23 / 27 mo | $79/year | $146.23 / 39 mo | ~$3.75 |
| NordVPN Basic (2y) | $94.23 / 27 mo | $139.08/year | $233.31 / 39 mo | ~$5.98 |
CyberGhost’s terms add that plans renew automatically by default unless you cancel auto-renewal, and that it may change its fees. That’s normal for VPNs, so check the renewal price shown in your account before the date. Prices can also change during sales: both NordVPN and Surfshark carried Black Friday banners when we checked.
45-day money-back guarantee (14 days on monthly)
This is CyberGhost’s strongest selling point. Its money-back page and terms say:
- Plans of 6 months or longer: full refund if you cancel within 45 days.
- Monthly plan: refund window is 14 days.
- You request it from support by live chat or email. CyberGhost says the refund doesn’t depend on how much you used the VPN.
- Purchases through the App Store, Google Play or Amazon aren’t covered by CyberGhost directly. You request the refund from the store.
- After the window there’s no refund, but you keep access until the end of the paid period and the plan won’t renew.
There are also short free trials on some platforms: CyberGhost lists 24 hours on Windows and macOS, 3 days on Android and 7 days on iOS.
How to cancel
Cancel auto-renewal in your CyberGhost account (or in the app store, if you bought there). To get money back, contact support within 45 days (14 for monthly). If you’re in the EU, the terms also mention a 14-day statutory withdrawal right. Our tip: turn off auto-renewal right after you buy if you’re unsure; you keep access until the period ends.
Privacy, audits and ownership
We attribute every privacy claim to the company or auditor that made it. An audit is a snapshot of a period, not a lifetime guarantee.
- No-logs audit: CyberGhost says it completed its third independent audit by Deloitte Audit Romania under ISAE 3000 (Revised). The signed report is a limited assurance engagement as of October 31, 2025, dated December 2025. CyberGhost lists the scope as its VPN server network, configuration, change management, incident response and its Dedicated IP token system. Earlier Deloitte assessments were in 2022 and 2024. CyberGhost publishes the report PDF openly. We read the summary, and we note that limited assurance is a lighter level of assurance than “reasonable assurance.”
- Company and jurisdiction: The privacy policy (last updated March 18, 2024) says the service is owned and operated by CyberGhost S.R.L., registered in Romania (Bucharest). CyberGhost says Romania has no compulsory data-retention law, which is its own claim about its jurisdiction.
- Ownership: CyberGhost belongs to Kape Technologies. Kape’s site lists its acquisition of CyberGhost in March 2017 and of ExpressVPN in December 2021, and CyberGhost’s privacy policy names Kape Technologies PLC as its ultimate holding company. The policy also says personal data may be shared within the group for staff with cross-group roles, which you should know if group structure matters to you.
Our opinion: ownership by a larger group is common in this market. NordVPN and Surfshark share an owner too. What matters more is what the company publishes: CyberGhost has a named auditor, a dated scope and a public report, which is more than many budget VPNs offer.
Security on public Wi-Fi and everyday use
The core job of a VPN is encrypting your traffic on networks you don’t control, like hotels, airports, cafés and co-working spaces. CyberGhost covers the basics for that: AES 256-bit encryption, WireGuard, an automatic Kill Switch, and DNS and IP leak protection. Split tunneling lets you keep local apps, such as your bank app or a home printer, outside the VPN. Our best VPN for public Wi-Fi guide explains what to look for. These are features CyberGhost lists; we did not run our own leak or speed tests.
Using a VPN with online services: know the rules
Whether you can use a VPN depends on your country’s laws, and many online services set their own rules about VPN use in their terms. A provider’s marketing doesn’t change either. We did not evaluate CyberGhost for any use beyond privacy and security, and we don’t recommend using a VPN to break a law or a service’s terms.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low long-term cost: $56.94 for 26 months, then $56.94 a year
- 45-day money-back guarantee on 6-month and 2-year plans
- Third Deloitte audit with a publicly posted report
- Kill Switch, DNS/IP leak protection, WireGuard and split tunneling listed
- Apps for all major platforms, including Linux
Cons
- 7-device limit (NordVPN 10, Surfshark unlimited)
- Monthly plan: $12.99 and only a 14-day refund window
- App-store purchases must be refunded through the store
- Latest audit is limited assurance, as of a single date (October 31, 2025)
- Part of the Kape group, so not independent of ExpressVPN
Who should (and shouldn’t) buy CyberGhost
Buy CyberGhost if:
- You want a low price in year three, not just at signup
- You want the extra time a 45-day refund window gives you to decide
- You have up to 7 devices to protect
Skip CyberGhost if:
- Your household has more than 7 devices (look at Surfshark)
- You only need a VPN for a few weeks (the monthly plan is pricey and has a shorter refund window)
- You want a free plan (see our best free VPN guide)
CyberGhost alternatives
NordVPN (10 devices, newest audit)
NordVPN’s US pricing page lists Basic at $3.49 a month, $94.23 for the first 27 months, renewing at $139.08 a year, with 10 devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN says its sixth Deloitte no-logs assurance report was issued on December 12, 2025. It costs more than CyberGhost over time ($233.31 vs $113.88 for intro plus one year, our arithmetic), but gives you 3 more devices and extra security tiers. Read Is NordVPN worth it?
Surfshark (unlimited devices)
Surfshark’s US pricing page lists Starter at $2.49 a month, $67.23 for the first 27 months, and its terms list a $79 yearly renewal, with unlimited devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s the pick for large households. Surfshark and NordVPN are both owned by Nord Security. Our full Surfshark review is coming soon; meanwhile see NordVPN vs Surfshark and our best VPN for multiple devices.
Also see: our best cheap VPN roundup and our ExpressVPN review (also a Kape brand).
How we evaluated
We read CyberGhost’s official US homepage (prices in USD), order page, money-back guarantee page, terms, privacy policy and its 2025 privacy-audit page and report, and Kape’s “About us” page. We did the same for NordVPN and Surfshark pricing. We recorded the date and time of each check in BRT. We did not run our own speed, leak or hands-on tests, so nothing in this review is a test result. Audit scopes are as the companies and auditors describe them. Opinions are marked as opinions. This is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
Is CyberGhost worth it in 2026?
In our opinion, yes, if you have up to 7 devices and want a low long-term price. The 2-year plan is $56.94 for 26 months, then $56.94 a year, with a 45-day money-back guarantee (prices checked October 30, 2026).
How much does CyberGhost cost after renewal?
CyberGhost’s US homepage says the 2-year plan “autorenews at $56.94 annually,” the 6-month plan at $41.94 every 6 months, and the monthly plan at $12.99, before tax.
How many devices does CyberGhost allow?
Up to 7 devices at once on one subscription.
What is CyberGhost’s money-back guarantee?
45 days on plans of 6 months or longer, 14 days on the monthly plan. App Store, Google Play and Amazon purchases are refunded through the store.
Is CyberGhost safe?
CyberGhost lists AES 256-bit encryption, a Kill Switch, DNS/IP leak protection and RAM-only servers, and it has completed three Deloitte audits (2022, 2024 and 2025). The latest is limited assurance as of October 31, 2025. We report what the company and auditor say; we did not run our own tests.
Who owns CyberGhost?
Kape Technologies, which acquired CyberGhost in March 2017 and also owns ExpressVPN. CyberGhost S.R.L. is registered in Romania.
How do I cancel CyberGhost?
Turn off auto-renewal in your account (or the app store you bought from), and contact support by live chat or email within 45 days (14 for monthly) for a refund.
CyberGhost vs NordVPN vs Surfshark: quick take?
CyberGhost is the cheapest of the three over intro plus one renewal year ($113.88) and has the longest refund window of the three we compared (45 days against 30 for NordVPN and Surfshark), but allows 7 devices. NordVPN allows 10 and has the newest audit. Surfshark allows unlimited devices.
Verdict
CyberGhost is a solid budget VPN in 2026: $56.94 for 26 months, the same $56.94 a year after that, a 45-day refund window, and a third Deloitte audit. The trade-offs are the 7-device cap and a pricey monthly plan. If 7 devices is enough, it’s one of the cheapest well-known VPNs to keep. If you need more, Surfshark (unlimited) or NordVPN (10) cost more but cover more. Whatever you buy, put the renewal date in your calendar.
Sources (official pages, checked on October 30, 2026)
- CyberGhost, US homepage with plans in USD: https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/ (~01:04 BRT)
- CyberGhost, order page (plan and add-on price data): https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/order (~01:04 BRT)
- CyberGhost, money-back guarantee: https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/money-back-guarantee (~01:04 BRT)
- CyberGhost, terms (auto-renewal, refunds): https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/terms (~01:04 BRT)
- CyberGhost, privacy policy (updated March 18, 2024): https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/privacypolicy (~01:04 BRT)
- CyberGhost, 2025 privacy audit: https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/privacyhub/privacy-audit-2025/ (~01:14 BRT)
- Deloitte ISAE 3000 report (PDF): https://download.cyberghostvpn.com/press/documents/CON-003_CG_Report_ISAE_3000_(signed).pdf (~01:14 BRT)
- Kape Technologies, about us: https://www.kape.com/about-us/ (~01:08 BRT)
- NordVPN, pricing (US/USD): https://nordvpn.com/pricing/ (~01:11 BRT)
- NordVPN, sixth no-logs assurance: https://nordvpn.com/blog/nordvpn-no-logs-assurance-engagement-2025/ (~01:14 BRT)
- Surfshark, pricing (US/USD): https://surfshark.com/pricing (~01:04 BRT)
- Surfshark, renewal prices: https://surfshark.com/terms-of-service/pricing (~01:05 BRT)