Alternatives · VPNs
CyberGhost alternatives
CyberGhost compared with 8 alternatives: Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and 3 more.
CyberGhost is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94. 2 of the 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
8 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| CyberGhostThis tool | Free trial · from $56.94/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Private Internet Access | From $47.88/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| NordVPN | Free trial · from $139.08/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Surfshark | Free trial · from $79/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| ExpressVPN | Free trial · from $99.95/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Proton VPN | Free plan · from $83.88/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| IPVanish | Free trial · from $99.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| PureVPN | From $47.95/yr | No | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| TunnelBear | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
CyberGhost starts at $4.74 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 8 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Private Internet Access.
NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN and IPVanish score higher without starting lower. PureVPN and TunnelBear start lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from CyberGhost
- From $47.88/yr
Private Internet Access
Open-source VPN with unlimited devices and servers in all 50 US states
- Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free trial · from $139.08/yr
NordVPN
Subscription VPN with threat protection and Meshnet device links
- NordVPN starts at $139.08 per year at renewal (Basic 1-year plan). CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
Suits: Households covering up to 10 devices on one account
- Free trial · from $79/yr
Surfshark
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles
- Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23. CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free trial · from $99.95/yr
ExpressVPN
VPN with its own Lightway protocol, sold in three yearly tiers
- ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85. CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
Suits: People who want a VPN with apps for routers and TVs as well as computers
- Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. CyberGhost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- Free trial · from $99.99/yr
IPVanish
Ziff Davis-owned VPN with no device cap and antivirus on higher plans
- IPVanish starts at $99.99 per year at renewal (Essential), after a first 2 years for $52.56. CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
- Only CyberGhost lists a browser extension.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- From $47.95/yr
PureVPN
VPN sold in three tiers that add a password manager and data removal
- PureVPN starts at $47.95 per year at renewal (Standard), after a first 27 months for $58.20. CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
- PureVPN also covers password manager.
Suits: Households that need a VPN on up to 10 devices
- Free plan · from $3.33/mo
TunnelBear
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans
- TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once). CyberGhost starts at $56.94 per year at renewal, after a first 26 months for $56.94.
- TunnelBear has a free plan. CyberGhost does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only CyberGhost lists a Linux app.
Suits: Occasional users who need a VPN for a few gigabytes
Limits worth knowing in CyberGhost
- The $2.19 a month covers only the first 26 months of the long plan; it then renews at $56.94 every year.
- Seven devices at once on every plan; covering more needs a router setup.
- The monthly plan gets a 14-day money-back guarantee instead of 45 days, and mobile trials need a payment method.
- Prices for the dedicated IP and Windows Security Suite add-ons are not shown on the plans page.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to CyberGhost?
The alternatives to CyberGhost in this directory are Private Internet Access, NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, IPVanish, PureVPN and TunnelBear. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with CyberGhost.
Is there a free alternative to CyberGhost?
Yes. Proton VPN and TunnelBear have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to CyberGhost?
Private Internet Access and Proton VPN are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.