CyberGhost VPN Review: Best Budget VPN for Digital Nomads?

As digital nomads, we live on public Wi-Fi from cafés, airports, and coworking spaces. So a reliable VPN isn’t optional.

I’ve been using CyberGhost for a while now. It’s one of the biggest global VPNs, with 38 million users worldwide, tons of servers, and big promises of fast speeds, solid privacy, and affordable plans. But does it actually hold up when you’re traveling?

In this CyberGhost VPN review, I’ll share my honest experience: how fast it really is, whether it keeps your data private, and if it’s worth it for digital nomads and remote workers constantly on the move.

CyberGhost VPN at a Glance

• Based in Romania (outside 5/9/14 Eyes)
• 11,500+ servers in 100 countries
• AES‑256 encryption + WireGuard/OpenVPN/IKEv2
• No‑logs policy (audited by Deloitte)
• Works with Netflix + P2P
• 7 simultaneous connections
• Starts at $2.19/month

What I Liked about CyberGhost

Huge server network

CyberGhost has one of the biggest server networks I’ve seen, with over 11,500 servers in 100 countries running on 10 Gbps infrastructure. That basically means you can switch countries and always find a fast, stable connection. I’ve used it while in Thailand, Spain, and Mexico, and it always found a fast, stable connection. 

Real privacy

CyberGhost sticks to a no-logs policy, runs on RAM-only servers, and even publishes transparency reports every few months. Since they’re based in Romania, your data isn’t subject to invasive surveillance laws like in the US or UK. It’s one of the few VPNs where I actually believe they care about user privacy.

Dedicated streaming + torrenting servers

So many VPNs say they unblock Netflix or handle torrents, and then… they don’t. CyberGhost actually does. Their streaming and torrenting servers are fast and reliable. I’ve streamed shows in HD while abroad and shared large files without drops. It’s nice not to have to test 10 different servers just to get one that works.

Super easy to use

The apps are clean, intuitive, and easy to set up. I’ve used it on my laptop, phone, and iPad, without ever getting lost in menus or settings.

Up to 7 simultaneous connections

CyberGhost lets you connect up to 7 devices at once, which is perfect if you’re like me and travel with half your office. Laptop, phone, and tablet are all covered under one subscription. If you really need unlimited devices, something like IPVanish might make more sense, but for most people, this is plenty.

24/7 customer support

Their live chat support is available around the clock, and the reps are helpful.  I’ve reached out a couple of times, and both times got someone who knew what they were doing.

45‑day money‑back guarantee

Most VPNs give you two weeks to get a refund. CyberGhost gives you 45 days, which is generous. You can literally test it out across a few countries and see if it holds up before deciding if it’s worth keeping.

What I Think Could Be Improved

Not the fastest out there

It’s fast enough for most day-to-day stuff, but not quite as snappy as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, especially if you’re connecting from far-flung places. That said, I’ve used it across a few continents without major frustrations. It’s just not the one I’d pick if speed is your absolute number one.

Lacks some of the fancy extras

CyberGhost keeps things simple (which can be a good thing) but it doesn’t have more advanced features like multi-hop or obfuscation modes. If you like to tweak every setting, you might find it basic. For most people, though, the simplicity is actually a plus.

Pricing and Plans

What I like about CyberGhost is how straightforward their pricing is. Essentially, the longer you commit, the cheaper it gets, which makes sense if you’re on the road for a while.

The Monthly Plan is $12.99. It’s fine if you’re just testing the waters or only need a VPN for a short trip. But if you plan to stay abroad for more than a month or two, it starts adding up fast.

The 6-Month Plan drops to $6.99 per month. It’s good if you’re in that in-between stage where you’re still figuring out if this whole nomad lifestyle is for you or just hopping around a few countries.

The best value by far is the 2-Year Plan, which comes down to $2.19 per month (basically the cost of a coffee). They even throw in two extra months free, so you’re covered for more than two years straight.

All the plans come with the same features: fast global servers, strong privacy protection, and support for multiple devices. The only thing that changes is how long you’re covered.

You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin, which is nice if you’re living a bit off-grid. And unlike most VPNs, CyberGhost actually offers free trials: 24 hours for desktop, 3 days on Android, and 7 days on iOS. On top of that, every plan has a 45-day money-back guarantee, which gives you plenty of time to test it across different countries and Wi-Fi setups.

CyberGhost VPN Real‑World Performance

I’ve used CyberGhost from a bunch of different places, and honestly, it’s held up better than I expected.

When I was in Chiang Mai, I was getting around 80–90 Mbps download and 30–40 Mbps upload on local servers. Calls on Google Meet and Slack were totally smooth, even when a few other nomads were coding next to me.

In Spain, the speeds jumped to about 150 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up on European servers. Uploading videos, backing up files, streaming Netflix... All of it felt effortless.

Mexico was the one place where things dipped a little. I averaged about 70 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up, which was still fine for daily work but definitely slower when connecting to distant servers like those in the US or Europe.

When I tried connecting to far-off servers, for example, using a US server while in Asia, the speeds dropped a bit (maybe to 40–50 Mbps), but it never froze or kicked me off a call.

So, no, it’s not the absolute fastest VPN in the world. But it’s fast enough to work, stream, and upload without headaches, which is really what matters when you’re working from different corners of the world.

Alternatives to CyberGhost

When you’re working from new places all the time, your VPN is an essential part of your toolkit. So when you’re choosing one, think about how reliable it is, how easy it is to use, and what you actually get for the price.

NordVPN

NordVPN is a bit of a powerhouse. It’s faster and has more advanced security features, but it’s also more expensive and takes a bit more tinkering to set up. CyberGhost is cheaper, easier to use, and honestly covers everything most nomads need. Unless you’re after ultra-advanced privacy tools, you probably won’t miss much.

Surfshark

Surfshark’s big advantage is unlimited devices, which is perfect if you’ve got a laptop, phone, tablet, and maybe a second phone for travel. But CyberGhost wins with its 45-day refund policy (Surfshark only gives 30) and its much larger server network, which really helps when you’re moving around different countries and need a reliable connection.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the premium option. It’s lightning-fast and super stable, even on long-distance connections, but you pay for it. If you’re the type who needs the absolute best speed no matter what, go for it. But if you just want something that works smoothly without overpaying, CyberGhost is the smarter choice. It’s reliable, secure, and doesn’t eat into your travel budget.

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Written by Pamela Leon

Pamela is one half of Pame & Dami, a digital nomad couple from South America. Together, they’ve built a lifestyle around traveling the world while working remotely.

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