CyberGhost vs Proton VPN: price and which to choose
Quick verdict
Two low-risk ways to start: Proton VPN has a free plan (one device, no data limit), CyberGhost a 45-day money-back window on its longer plans. Proton adds port forwarding, a Swiss base, a 2026 audit, 10 devices and 6,015 US servers in 22 cities; CyberGhost lists 1,376 US servers in 11 cities and allows 7 devices.
Option A
$12.99/moCyberGhost VPN
Official price before tax: $12.99
Price checked
CyberGhost VPN price and plans
Option B
$9.99/moVPN Plus
Official price before tax: $9.99
Price checked
Also has a free plan: Proton Free
Proton VPN price and plansWe compare plans with a similar purpose, whose features may differ; prices before sales tax; prices for other plans and periods are in the reviews.
Feature comparison
| Criterion | CyberGhost VPN | Proton VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes (1 device) |
| Money-back | 45 days (monthly: 14) | 30 days |
| Port forwarding | Not listed | Yes (paid) |
| Devices | 7 | 10 |
| US coverage | 1,376 servers, 11 cities | 6,015 servers, 22 cities |
| Jurisdiction | Romania (EU) | Switzerland |
If you’re unsure about paying for a VPN, these are the two most forgiving options here — in different ways.
If you don’t want to read further
Free to start, port forwarding or Swiss jurisdiction — Proton VPN. A paid VPN with 45 days to get your money back — CyberGhost.
What really sets them apart
In each row, the last sentence matters most — what the difference means for you.
How do you try it?
CyberGhost VPN
Buy a 6-month or 2-year plan; 45 days to ask for a refund.
Proton VPN
Use the free plan for as long as you like.
Proton lets you test without paying at all.
Port forwarding?
CyberGhost VPN
Not in the feature list.
Proton VPN
Yes, on paid plans, on P2P servers.
For setups that need it, Proton.
How many devices?
CyberGhost VPN
7.
Proton VPN
10 on paid plans (Free: 1).
Proton’s paid plans allow more.
US coverage?
CyberGhost VPN
1,376 servers in 11 cities; none marked virtual.
Proton VPN
6,015 servers in 22 cities.
Proton publishes more servers and cities.
Where is the company?
CyberGhost VPN
Romania — EU.
Proton VPN
Switzerland — outside the EU and the 14 Eyes.
If jurisdiction matters to you, Proton.
Linux?
CyberGhost VPN
Command-line app for 64-bit distributions.
Proton VPN
App with or without a graphical interface; standard and advanced kill switch.
Prefer a Linux app with buttons? Proton VPN.
TV apps?
CyberGhost VPN
Fire TV app; other TVs through Smart DNS.
Proton VPN
Android TV, and Apple TV on a paid plan with tvOS 17.
No app for your TV? A VPN router covers it.
Where they don’t differ, even though it seems they should
This part is often more useful than the list of differences — it saves money for anyone who was about to pay for an imaginary advantage.
Low-risk start
A free plan on one side, a 45-day window on the other.
Independently audited
CyberGhost in 2025, Proton in 2026 — both no-logs audits.
Auto-renewal
Both paid plans renew automatically.
Which one fits whom
| Your situation | What to choose | On what condition |
|---|---|---|
| You don’t want to pay yet | Proton VPN Free | One device; no country choice. |
| You want a paid plan with a long refund window | CyberGhost | 6-month or 2-year plan. |
| You need port forwarding | Proton VPN Plus | On P2P servers. |
| You want only physical US servers | CyberGhost | None marked virtual. |
- CyberGhost’s monthly plan has only a 14-day guarantee.
- Proton Free doesn’t let you choose a US server.
- CyberGhost notes that taxes may apply; Proton’s price list doesn’t say.
- CyberGhost doesn’t list port forwarding.
Where the facts come from
Sources: CyberGhost’s and Proton’s US price lists, server lists and Proton’s port forwarding page. Prices are in the price blocks on each service’s page.
Facts in the text checked: .
FAQ: CyberGhost VPN or Proton VPN
Other comparisons
The same products against other competitors, and other comparisons in the “VPN services” category.
Where their scores differ
Only criteria we’ve checked for both services and where the scores differ. Equal criteria and criteria without data aren’t shown here, because they add nothing to the decision.
If what matters most is — port forwarding: Proton VPN VPN Plus
CyberGhost VPN: no (1,0/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: yes (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — network coverage: Proton VPN VPN Plus
CyberGhost VPN: 100 countries (3,0/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: 149 countries (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — jurisdiction: Proton VPN VPN Plus
CyberGhost VPN: EU (3,5/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: outside the 14 Eyes, no data retention obligation (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — devices at once: Proton VPN VPN Plus
CyberGhost VPN: 7 (2,5/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: 10 (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — free way to try it: Proton VPN VPN Plus
CyberGhost VPN: refund within 45 days (4,0/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: free version (5,0/5)
If what matters most is — price now: CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN: 2,19 USD/mo before tax (4,8/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: 3,49 USD/mo before tax (4,0/5)
If what matters most is — app rating: Proton VPN VPN Plus
CyberGhost VPN: 4,2 out of 5 (4,2/5) · Proton VPN VPN Plus: 4,6 out of 5 (4,6/5)
The scores and their weights are the same as in the reviews of both services. How we calculate
Comparison text updated: