- The world of VPNs can be overwhelming.
There's just so many providers, so many features
and each seems more complicated than the last.
That's why I'm gonna review three of the best for you today,
side-by-side and share my conclusions.
But first, if you've used one of these VPNs
please tell me about your experience in the comments,
I'd love to hear them from you.
(upbeat music)
Nord VPN versus Surfshark versus CyberGhost.
All three services are hugely popular.
They are there big players in the VPN market right now.
They seem similar at first glance,
but is this really the case?
They don't get the same ratings in top 10 lists
and online reviews.
Guys in this juicy info pack Nord VPN
versus Surfshark versus CyberGhost review,
I'm gonna compare these services
most crucial features side-by-side.
I'll explain the similarities and the differences
and talk about which one would work best for you.
They have massive server fleets
and a variety of locations to pick from.
CyberGhost has the most servers and locations.
In fact, it has more than double Surfshark's server account.
All three services have adopted the new ultra fast
and secure WireGuard tunneling protocol,
with Nord VPN basing their proprietary version
of the protocol called NordLynx.
I ran some speed tests on the open VPN
and WideGuard protocols to see just how fast this VPNs are.
The CyberGhost speed test showed that
its performance is pretty solid especially with WireGuard,
however, Surfshark speeds are even better,
and Nord VPN speed test gave the best results.
Thanks to NordLynx, Nord VPN reaches phenomenal speeds.
Guys, these VPNs have large server poles,
lots of locations and great performance.
However, I test these VPNs out often
and I've noticed that CyberGhost speeds
can vary dramatically.
Nord VPN is the fastest VPN here,
in fact, as far as performance goes,
it's possibly the best VPN for 2021.
So it wins this round.
Each of these VPNs offers pristine security.
They use military grade encryption
and the most advanced tunneling protocols.
They all have kill switches and great leak protection.
They have extra security features too,
ranging from split tunneling to a handy ad tracker
and malware blocker
Nord VPN and Surfshark have more extra stealth.
They both have stealth mode and multihop
and Nord VPN has Onion over VPN
while Surfshark has an excellent data breach alert tool.
In general, privacy is outstanding for these services.
They're all based on in privacy friendly jurisdictions
that aren't a part of any major intelligence alliances.
Nord VPN is in Panama where companies aren't required
to collect user data.
Surfshark is in the British Virgin Islands,
a British overseas territory
that also has no data retention loss.
CyberGhost is in Romania, which is a part of the EU
but test privacy friendly legislation.
They all have privacy policies you can rely on.
None of these services collect logs.
Nord VPN says their services are provided
via an automated process,
and they retain no information about their users actions.
This has been proven with an independent audit.
Surfshark VPN collects just email addresses
and billing info.
CyberGhost also collects no identifiable data.
The service has never been independently audited though.
All three services accept cryptocurrency
as anonymous payment.
Nord VPN has Onion over VPN and double VPN or multihop,
two great privacy extras
and Surfshark offers multihop as well.
CyberGhost jurisdiction and privacy policy are great,
but it's not ideal as Nord VPN and Surfshark
in the privacy arena.
It has less privacy features
and it's also owned by Cape Technologies,
a UK based company with some stings in the past.
Our contenders all have good privacy and security.
However, thanks to having extra features
and clean repetitions, Surfshark VPN and Nord VPN
bag a draw in this round of Surfshark versus CyberGhost
versus Nord VPN.
VPNs are a streaming stapled right now in 2021,
but not all VPNs are good at or even capable of
unblocking geo-restricted content.
Luckily when it comes to Nord VPN versus Surfshark
versus CyberGhost,
all three services are great at streaming.
Nord VPN unblocks multiple Netflix libraries
and accesses most streaming platforms.
Some of Nord VPN servers are specifically optimized
for streaming.
Surfshark VPN also unblocks multiple streaming platforms
and Netflix libraries from around the world.
CyberGhost regular servers aren't the best
at unblocking streaming platforms
but unlike Nord VPN and Surfshark
it has specialized streaming servers
for specific platforms that are clearly labeled in the apps.
They are great at unblocking some Netflix libraries
and many other streaming platforms.
These services also work on most TVs
and all three VPNs have Android TV
and Firestick apps as well as Smart DNS.
Smart DNS is a game changer
because it allows you to unblock content
on devices that don't have a dedicated app.
So essentially with these VPNs,
you can get your streaming fix
on just about any brand of TV or console.
CyberGhost, Surfshark VPN, and Nord VPN are all great
at unlocking geo restricted content,
but Nord VPN has the best speeds.
In fact, it's probably the best VPN
for streaming right now in 2021,
so it wins this round.
It's crucial to be armed with a good VPN
when you're torrenting
but unfortunately some VPNs don't support P2P.
However that doesn't apply to our three contenders.
Nord VPN is great for torrenting.
There's a list of P2P servers
right on the apps home screen.
These have been optimized for P2P traffic.
Security is great, speeds are phenomenal
and extra features like split tunneling
and a free Sock5 proxy add to the package.
Surfshark is also excellent at torrenting.
P2P is allowed in all servers.
There's that handy split tunneling,
and once again, speeds are good and security is reliable.
So Nord VPN versus Surfshark is one better for torrenting.
Well, Surfshark lets you roam free
on it's 3000 or more servers
while Nord VPN only allows torrenting
in around 40 countries.
But these servers are engineered to be ideal for torrenting.
CyberGhost check most of my boxes for torrenting,
it's fast and secure, has split tunnel rig protocols
and a list of specially optimized torrenting servers
and openly support speak to P2P.
However, some torrenters are concerned
about the wording and the privacy policy
which States that CyberGhost also reserves the right
to disclose your personal data as required by law.
And when we believe the disclosure is necessary
to protect our rights,
none of the data they collect and point back to users
but some are still worried
that it could assist with copyright lawsuits.
Nord VPN does everything a torrenting VPN needs to do
and best sit at the fastest.
So we'd see that Nord VPN wins this round
of Nord VPN versus CyberGhost versus Surfshark VPN.
So far, all these services are looking pretty sweet
and are super close competitors,
but which devices are you able to run them on?
These VPNs have dedicated apps
for the most common platforms.
They have Smart DNS, router configuration,
and browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
The Linux apps are all command-line based.
So far, they're pretty similar so let's take a closer look.
Nord VPN for Mac and windows are nearly identical.
The mobile apps are pretty much as feature packed
as the desktop versions.
The map feature is a really handy addition.
All the apps, even the Nord VPN Firestick
and Android TV apps are easy to install and use.
Surfshark VPN setup is also really easy
and the apps are clean, looking, and simple to operate.
The mobile versions are lightweight but feature packed.
Unlike Nord VPN and CyberGhost,
Surfshark has had its browser extensions audited.
This makes the Surfshark Chrome extension
a really solid option for Chromebook users.
The CyberGhost apps are clean looking
with clear explanations.
However, the Mac and iOS apps are missing some features.
CyberGhost extensions for browsers are totally free.
Another difference between these services is the amount
of simultaneous connections they offer.
Nord VPN allows six, CyberGhost allow seven,
but Surfshark offers unlimited connections.
Thanks to the endless connections
and the audited browser extension,
Surfshark wins this round.
Can our contenders get around the tough firewalls
and inspections in countries where the net is censored
particularly in China?
CyberGhost can reliably bypass
Chinese internet restrictions.
It has no stealth mode,
so it can't hide the fact that you're using a VPN.
This means that the Chinese government
can block these connections.
Both Nord VPN and Surfshark have have obfuscated servers
for disguising the VPN.
Nord VPN has specialized servers for use in countries
where the net is restricted.
These are based in 17 locations in 14 countries.
Surfshark VPN supports obfuscation and all servers
plus it has that no borders mode,
a combination of tech and settings
that help you to bypass any type of internet restriction.
Thanks to no borders and obfuscation on all servers,
Surfshark wins this round of Surfshark versus CyberGhost VPN
versus Nord VPN.
How do these services shape up when you need some help?
They all offer great customer support basics
like email tickets FAQs and guides.
Live chat support is probably the most
helpful VPN support option and all three services deliver.
They each have a 24/seven live chat that's knowledgeable,
polite, and helpful.
This round is a draw.
Guys this is the last round and the competition is fierce.
Which VPN is easier on the budget?
Nord VPN has the cheapest one month plan.
Nord VPN and CyberGhost have one-year plans.
They cost much less than the monthly plans.
CyberGhost is the cheaper option here.
All three services have two year plans
and Surfshark comes out on top this time.
CyberGhost's three-year plan is the cheapest option
of the lot by just a few cents.
It's actually nearly the same price
as Surfshark's two-year plan.
Nord VPN free trial exists for Android users.
You can try it for seven days,
and there's a seven-day surf shark free trial
on Google play and the App Store,
and CyberGhost has a one day free trial for all devices.
Nord VPN and surf shark
also have 30 day money-back guarantee
while CyberGhost money back guarantee
last an extra 15 days.
They have free trials and the cheapest plans.
This round is a tough one
but we're giving a win to CyberGhost VPN.
So all these services are really strong.
Is there a clear winner?
Nord VPN won the performance, torrenting,
and streaming rounds and tied with Surfshark
in security and privacy rounds.
Surfshark won the apps and ease of use round
and it's best that bypassing censorship.
CyberGhost won the pricing round
and all three services tied into support round.
So essentially Nord VPN won the most rounds
with Surfshark bagging second place
and CyberGhost coming in last.
I'd say Nord VPN is best at tasks
that require top-notch security
or super high powered performance.
So invest in that if you torrent, stream, or game a lot.
Surfshark is great if you need to cover lots of devices
if you want a cheaper option or if you live in China
or are planning a trip there.
CyberGhost VPN may have come in last
but only because they compared it
to two of the world's best.
It's a solid high quality VPN at a budget price
and even sports some fancy extra features.
Guys which service is your favorite?
Please let me know down in the comments.
If you watch this video
and you're keen to start a Nord VPN, CyberGhost,
or Surfshark download, go ahead and check out the link
in the description for some mad discounts.
And please check out my channel for more privacy news,
reviews and tutorials.
Thanks for watching.
(upbeat music)