Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN: Why PureVPN is Better?

Navigating the sea of VPN providers can be a daunting task, especially when you want to ensure your online security and privacy. In our detailed comparison of Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN, we will put these leading VPN services to the test and evaluate them across categories like pricing, security, features, and speed to determine the ultimate guardian for your online needs. 

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Speed

Baseline speed: 2 Gbps

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Average download speeds	468 Mbps	485 Mbps	388 Mbps
Average upload speeds	394 Mbps	421 Mbps	356 Mbps

In a recent WireGuard speed test to servers located in the US, UK, and Canada, Surfsharl averaged the highest with 485 Mbps download speed, PureVPN reached 468 Mbps, and CyberGhost achieved 388 Mbps. 

For upload speed, Surfshark led again with 421 Mbps, followed by PureVPN at 394 Mbps, and CyberGhost with 356 Mbps. However, remember that speed may vary due to factors like server location, distance, network congestion, and individual internet connections.

Who tops this category? Surfshark because it offers the fastest speeds in comparison to PureVPN and CyberGhost.

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Server Locations

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Servers	6,000+	3,200+	9,000+
Countries	65	100	91

PureVPN offers access to a diverse fleet of over 6,000 servers spanning across 65 countries, granting users access to a world of online possibilities. Most of these servers are bare-metal, while some are virtual.

Surfshark, on the other hand, boasts a robust network of 3,200+ servers (some of which are virtual) spread across an astonishing 100 countries, providing users with a diverse array of server locations to cater to their every need. 

CyberGhost takes the crown for sheer server abundance, boasting an impressive lineup of more than 9,000 servers in 91 countries, guaranteeing lightning-fast connections. Like PureVPN and Surfshark, CyberGhost also uses some virtual servers.

Who tops this category? CyberGhost is first, PureVPN second, and Surfshark third. 

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Security

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Encryption used	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit
Protocol selection	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, IPSec	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard	OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, L2TP
Private DNS	Yes	Yes	Yes
RAM-based servers	No	Yes	Yes
Quantum-resistant	Yes	No	No

PureVPN boasts robust security measures, employing AES 256-bit encryption on your data. It lets you choose from a diverse range of protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, and IPSec. While PureVPN uses its own DNS network, it does not provide RAM-based servers. However, the VPN service is quantum-resistant!

Surfshark provides strong security by implementing strong encryption with AES 256-bit. It offers multiple protocols to choose from, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. Surfshark also utilizes private DNS servers to enhance privacy and operates RAM-based servers for added security. 

CyberGhost takes advantage of AES 256-bit encryption for the security of user data and provides a wide selection of protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, and L2TP. The VPN provider sends your DNS queries through its own DNS servers and uses RAM-based servers instead of disk-based servers.

Who tops this category? While PureVPN has the advantage of quantum-resistant encryption keys, CyberGhost and Surfshark compensate with their use of RAM-based servers. So, it is a three-way tie!

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Privacy

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Base of operation	British Virgin Islands	Netherlands	Romania
Audited no-logs policy	Yes	Yes	Yes
Always on-audit	Yes	No	No

PureVPN is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, ensuring a favorable privacy environment. It follows a Well known audit firm-audited no-logs policy, affirming that it does not retain user activity logs. What distinguishes PureVPN is its implementation of an always-on audit mechanism, providing an additional layer of transparency and accountability

Surfshark operates out of the Netherlands, a country that is part of the Nine Eyes alliance surveillance network. However, Surfshark has a Deloitte-audited no-logs policy, ensuring that it does not store any user data or activity.

CyberGhost is based in Romania, a country that takes data protection seriously and is not part of the 5-9-14 eyes alliance. CyberGhost follows a strict no-logs policy, which is independently audited by Deloitte. 

Who tops this category? Though all three VPNs have been independently audited, PureVPN is the only one with an always-on audit mechanism.

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Unblocking

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Netflix	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hulu	Yes	No	No
Max	Yes	Yes	No
BBC iPlayer	Yes	Yes	Yes
Disney+	Yes	Yes	Yes

PureVPN opens up a world of entertainment with its excellent unblocking capabilities, granting access to popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Max, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ no matter where you are.

Surfshark makes streaming an enjoyable experience, unblocking Netflix, Max, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. While Hulu remains inaccessible, the rest of the options ensure a wide variety of content.

CyberGhost offers reliable access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+, but Hulu and Max remain restricted. Despite this, users can still enjoy a decent selection of streaming services with CyberGhost.

Who tops this category? PureVPN given that it unblocks all popular streaming platforms without any issues. 

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Pricing

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Monthly	Standard ($10.95), Plus ($16.95), Max ($20.95)	Starter ($12.95), One ($17.95), One+ ($22.95)	$12.99
1-year	Standard ($3.74/month), Plus ($5.82/month), Max ($6.24/month)	Starter ($3.99/month), One ($4.49/month), One+ ($8.29/month)	None
2-year	Standard ($1.96/month), Plus ($3.21), Max ($3.85/month)	Starter ($2.49/month), One ($3.49/month), One+ ($6.49/month)	$2.11/month

PureVPN follows a tier-based pricing structure. The tiers are categorized as Standard, Plus, and Max, each having different features and pricing levels. Users can choose from monthly, 1-year, and 2-year plans within each tier.

Surfshark offers flexible pricing with three tiers that provide different capabilities: Starter, One, and One+. Customers can choose a plan according to their needs, whether it is monthly, 1-year, or 2-year.

The pricing structure of CyberGhost is quite straightforward, offering monthly and 2-year plans to choose from. While it lacks a 1-year plan, it does provide a 6-month plan as an alternative.

Surfshark and PureVPN provide a 30-day and 31-day money-back guarantee, respectively. However, CyberGhost surpasses them both with a refund policy of 45 days. Moreover, all three VPNs provide multiple payment options.

Who tops this category? PureVPN due to its affordability and impressive offerings. Surfshark takes second.

Get PureVPN

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Features

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Kill Switch	Yes	Yes	Yes
Split Tunneling	Yes	Yes	Yes
Obfuscation	Yes	Yes	No
DNS Leak Protection	Yes	Yes	Yes
IPv6 Leak Protection	Yes	No	Yes
Dedicated IP	Yes	Yes	Yes
Port Forwarding	Yes	No	No

PureVPN offers impressive features with its 20 Gbps servers, delivering fast and reliable connections, and VPN over Tor offering enhanced anonymity. Additionally, PureVPN also provides a range of bundled products like a password manager (PureKeep), file encrypter (PureEncrypt), and privacy auditor (PurePrivacy), which can be purchased alongside the VPN service.

Surfshark offers SmartDNS for instant access to geo-restricted content and multi-hop servers that let you connect to two VPN servers at the same time. Besides that, it comes with an antivirus, ad and pop-up blocker (aka CleanWeb 2.0), data breach detector, and a private search engine for an extra price.

CyberGhost comes with Smart DNS for smooth access to geo-restricted content and Onion over VPN to enhance user anonymity. It also offers additional features, such as an antivirus and security updater on their Windows app if you pay for it.

Who tops this category? PureVPN since it offers a wide range of useful features and add-ons like port forwarding. Surfshark takes second place.

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Compatibility 

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Available apps	macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Huawei, Android TV, Fire Stick	macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Android TV, Fire Stick	macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Android TV, Fire Stick
Browser extensions	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Edge	Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Multi-logins	10	Unlimited	7

PureVPN offers broad compatibility with easy-to-use apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Huawei, Android TV, and Fire Stick. It also provides browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Supporting up to 10 simultaneous multi-logins, PureVPN allows users to connect multiple devices at the same time with one account.

Surfshark supports macOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Android TV, and Fire Stick, along with browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. What sets Surfshark apart from PureVPN and CyberGhost is the unlimited multi-logins feature, allowing you to connect as many devices as you want under one subscription.

CyberGhost offers user-friendly apps for macCOS, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, Android TV, and Fire Stick, with extensions for Chrome, FireFox, and Edge. However, it only supports 7 multi-logins per account.

Who tops this category? Surfshark’s unlimited multi-logins feature gives it first position, while PureVPN takes second.   

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Customer Support

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Live chat	Yes	Yes	Yes
Email	Yes	Yes	Yes
Knowledgebase	Yes	Yes	Yes
In-app support	Yes	Yes	No

PureVPN and Surfshark offer live chat, email support, and a knowledge base, including in-app support. However, CyberGhost lacks in-app support, although it provides all the other essential support options. 

Who tops this category? PureVPN and Surshark are tied for first.

Surfshark vs CyberGhost vs PureVPN – Which is the Best?

	PureVPN	Surfshark	CyberGhost
Pricing	1st	2nd	3rd
Speed	2nd	1st	3rd
Server locations	2nd	3rd	1st
Security	Tie	Tie	Tie
Privacy	1st	3rd	2nd
Unblocking	1st	2nd	3rd
Features	1st	2nd	3rd
Compatibility	2nd	1st	3rd
Customer support	1st (Tie)	1st (Tie)	2nd

PureVPN shines brightly with top-notch pricing, privacy, unblocking capabilities, and customer support. Surfshark takes the lead with impressive speed, compatibility, and equally excellent customer support. On the other hand, CyberGhost boasts an extensive server network, making it a strong contender in terms of server locations. 

Get PureVPN