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A CyberGhost alternative makes sense if one of its limits affects you: seven devices, no port forwarding, no Apple TV app, an unreliable macOS kill switch after sleep, or Kape ownership. CyberGhost itself renews at $56.94 a year with three Deloitte audits, according to our tables, so leaving is about fit, not a failing service.
This guide matches seven alternatives to the most common reasons for switching, with renewal prices, audit counts and device limits from our tables.
Why People Look for a CyberGhost Alternative
Our CyberGhost guides list the usual reasons. Seven devices can be tight for a household. There is no port forwarding for seeding, no obfuscation for restrictive networks, and no Apple TV app. CyberInsider found the macOS kill switch unreliable after sleep. And some users avoid Kape Technologies, formerly Crossrider, as our CyberGhost safety guide explains.
The Comparison
Our renewal table puts CyberGhost at $56.94 a year. PureVPN renews lower at $47.95, Mullvad at about $65 and Windscribe at about $69. Surfshark renews at about $79, Proton VPN at about $83.88, and NordVPN at $139.08. On audits, our table counts three for CyberGhost, against six for NordVPN, five for Proton VPN, four for PureVPN and two for Surfshark.
| Provider | Renewal price | Per month | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | $139.08/yr | ~$11.59 | Basic |
| Surfshark | ~$79/yr | ~$6.58 | Starter |
| ExpressVPN | $99.95/yr | ~$8.33 | Basic |
| CyberGhost | $56.94/yr | ~$4.75 | 2-year |
| PureVPN | $47.95/yr | ~$4.00 | Standard, 2-year (1-year renews $57.95) |
| IPVanish | $89.99/yr | ~$7.50 | Essential |
| Windscribe | ~$69/yr | ~$5.75 | Pro |
| Proton VPN | ~$83.88/yr | ~$6.99 | VPN Plus |
| Mullvad | ~$65/yr | ~$5.40 | flat, no tiers |
| Norton VPN | $79.99/yr | ~$6.67 | Standard |
| Hotspot Shield | ~$95.99/yr | ~$8.00 | Premium annual |
| Astrill | $300 every 2 yrs | ~$12.50 | 2-year, same at renewal |
Surfshark: More Devices
Surfshark sets no device limit, against CyberGhost’s seven, and runs apps on Apple TV with tvOS 17 and later. It renews higher, at about $79 a year. Our Surfshark vs CyberGhost page compares them in depth.
NordVPN: Most Audits
NordVPN has six audits in our table, the most among the big names here, and obfuscated servers for restrictive networks. It renews highest, at $139.08 a year for Basic. Our NordVPN vs CyberGhost page compares them. NordVPN and Surfshark share an owner, Nord Security.
Proton VPN: Independent Ownership and a Free Plan
Proton VPN belongs to the Proton Foundation, outside the big VPN groups, with five audits and a free plan without a data cap. Its Stealth protocol helps on restrictive networks. Our CyberGhost vs Proton VPN page compares them.
Private Internet Access: Port Forwarding, Same Owner
PIA offers port forwarding and SOCKS5, and sets no device limit, according to our tables, though it belongs to Kape like CyberGhost. It suits seeders who are happy with the owner. Our CyberGhost vs PIA page compares them.
Mullvad: Anonymous Accounts
Mullvad uses a flat price, about $65 a year, 10+ audits in our table, and account numbers instead of email addresses. It allows five devices and offers fewer streaming features. Our CyberGhost vs Mullvad page compares them.
PureVPN and Windscribe: Lower Renewals
PureVPN renews at $47.95 a year, the lowest in our table, with four KPMG audits and port forwarding as a paid add-on. Windscribe renews at about $69 a year and has a free tier, but its refund window is only seven days, and only under 10 GB of use.
Streaming Considerations
CyberGhost does well for streaming, with labelled servers and strong 2026 results for Netflix and iPlayer, as our CyberGhost Netflix guide explains. Before switching, check that your alternative handles the services you watch; Surfshark, for example, failed US YouTube in Tom’s Guide’s May 2026 test where CyberGhost passed.
Privacy Considerations
If ownership is your reason, compare more than the brand. Our VPN ownership guide shows which providers share a parent. Audits matter too; our VPN audit tracker explains what each covered. A CyberGhost alternative with fewer audits may ask for more trust, not less.
Price Over Time
First-term deals hide the real cost. Our renewal price guide compares what each provider charges after the first term, which is what you pay from year three onwards. CyberGhost’s renewal sits in the lower half of our table, so a cheaper first term elsewhere may cost more later.
Switching Without a Gap
Sign up for the alternative before cancelling CyberGhost, so you are never without protection. Install it on one device, test the services you use most, and only then move the rest of your devices. Cancel CyberGhost’s renewal afterwards, and request a refund within its window if you are still inside it. Our CyberGhost refund guide explains the request and the order number you will need from your invoice.
Refund Windows
CyberGhost offers 45 days on longer plans and 14 on the monthly plan. Most alternatives give 30 days; Proton VPN gives a full refund within 30 days, Mullvad gives 14 days, and Windscribe allows seven days, under 10 GB of use. Test any switch within the window.
Which CyberGhost Alternative Fits
Need more devices: Surfshark. Want the most audits: NordVPN. Prefer independent ownership: Proton VPN or Mullvad. Need port forwarding: PIA, or PureVPN with the add-on. Want the lowest renewal: PureVPN. Our VPN alternatives guide and best VPNs list cover the wider market.
Before You Switch
Check the renewal price of your pick.
How We Research
This page draws on our renewal, audit, device, refund and ownership tables, CyberInsider on the macOS kill switch, TechRepublic on CyberGhost’s ownership history, and our CyberGhost guides. We cross-checked these sources against each other, and where they conflict or something can’t be verified, we say so in the text rather than guessing. We checked time-sensitive figures, including prices in US dollars, on 6 October 2026. Renewal, audit, device and refund figures from our tables. The main source we relied on is TechRepublic’s CyberGhost review. Our full approach lives on the About Us page.
CyberGhost Alternative FAQ
It depends on the reason: Surfshark for devices, NordVPN for audits, Proton VPN for independence.
PureVPN renews lower, at $47.95 a year, per our table.
PIA, and PureVPN as a paid add-on.
No. Both belong to Kape Technologies.
Surfshark, PIA and Windscribe, per our device table.
The Verdict
A CyberGhost alternative is worth it when one specific limit affects you. Match the reason to the provider, compare the renewal price rather than the first-term deal, and test within the refund window.