CyberGhost VPN vs Proton VPN

Compare CyberGhost VPN and Proton VPN on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: ExpressVPN

CyberGhost VPN

Romania· VPN Services

Needs review

Shortlist CyberGhost when you want a Romanian-entity consumer VPN with polished multi-device apps, streaming/P2P server profiles, NoSpy HQ servers, and repeated Deloitte no-logs assurance. Skip when you need holding-company independence, a published B2B DPA/subprocessor pack, or minimal US SaaS in the account path—consider Mullvad or Proton VPN instead.

Romanian entityWireGuard + OpenVPNNoSpy HQ serversDeloitte no-logs (claimed)7 simultaneous devicesStreaming/P2P profiles

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Proton VPN

Switzerland· VPN Services

Needs review

Shortlist Proton VPN when you want a Swiss Proton AG VPN with open-source clients, publicly linked Securitum no-logs infrastructure audits, Secure Core/Stealth, a real free tier, and optional Business SSO/SCIM inside the Proton suite. Skip when you need anonymous numbered accounts without email (prefer Mullvad) or first-class remote port forwarding/DDNS (prefer AirVPN).

Swiss-operated (Proton AG)Open-source clientsSecuritum no-logs auditsSecure Core double-hopFree unlimited-data tierBusiness SSO / SCIM

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Highlighted rows differ between the two products.

CyberGhost VPN vs Proton VPN: Snapshot
Feature	CyberGhost VPN	Proton VPN
Country of origin	Romania	Switzerland
Category	VPN Services	VPN Services
Open source	No	Yes
Self-hosted	No	No
Headquarters	Romania	Switzerland
Legal entity	CyberGhost S.R.L. (J40/1278/2011; 68 Polona St., District 1, Bucharest)	Proton AG (Route de la Galaise 32, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva); EU rep Proton Europe sàrl (Luxembourg)
Governing law	Romania / EU (entity); group policies under Kape Technologies PLC (UK)	Switzerland (vendor privacy/legal framework)
US parent / control	No known US parent	No known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)	Medium	Medium
Hosting / residency	VPN egress: vendor-operated NoSpy servers at Romanian HQ plus self-owned colocated servers in third-party data centers worldwide (100 countries marketed). Account/billing/support/analytics path per privacy policy includes Cleverbridge (DE), Stripe, PayPal/Braintree, Zendesk, Google Analytics, AppsFlyer, Mouseflow, Iterable, and related processors—several US-group. Full infra subprocessor register not published as a single procurement table.	VPN/account infrastructure: Proton-owned/controlled servers; account data stated in CH/DE/NO; Secure Core owned in CH/IS/SE; global VPN exits with full-disk encryption. Support/payments processors include US-group Zendesk, Stripe, Chargebee, PayPal (and HubSpot for sales forms) per privacy policy—not the VPN tunnel path.
Summary	Romanian consumer VPN from CyberGhost S.R.L. with WireGuard/OpenVPN, NoSpy HQ servers, streaming/P2P profiles, and Deloitte no-logs audits—under Kape Technologies PLC.	Swiss Proton AG VPN with open-source clients, Securitum-audited no-logs infrastructure, Secure Core/Stealth, free unlimited-data tier, and Business SSO/SCIM packaging.
Tags	privacy vpn no-logs romania consumer wireguard	privacy vpn no-logs open-source swiss free-tier business

At a glance: CyberGhost VPN vs Proton VPN
At a glance	CyberGhost VPN	Proton VPN
HQ / entity	CyberGhost S.R.L., Bucharest, Romania	Proton AG, Plan-les-Ouates (Geneva), Switzerland
Parent group	Kape Technologies PLC (UK)	Not listed
Protocols	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth
Network (vendor)	100 countries, 120+ locations	20,000+ servers, 140+ countries (re-check live)
Devices	Up to 7 simultaneous	Not listed
Open source / self-host	No (proprietary apps; not self-hosted)	Not listed
Commercial model	Subscription; optional Dedicated IP; money-back window on long-term plans	Not listed
Governance	Not listed	Primary shareholder: non-profit Proton Foundation (vendor claim)
Free tier	Not listed	1 device, unlimited data, limited countries, no ads
Paid consumer devices	Not listed	Up to 10 simultaneous (typical Plus packaging)
Open source	Not listed	Official clients yes; not a self-host server product
Business	Not listed	SSO, SCIM, dedicated IPs/gateways, DPA published

Key capabilities: CyberGhost VPN vs Proton VPN
Key capabilities	CyberGhost VPN	Proton VPN
Romanian entity	Yes	Not listed
WireGuard + OpenVPN	Yes	Not listed
NoSpy HQ servers	Yes	Not listed
Deloitte no-logs (claimed)	Yes	Not listed
7 simultaneous devices	Yes	Not listed
Streaming/P2P profiles	Yes	Not listed
Swiss-operated (Proton AG)	Not listed	Yes
Open-source clients	Not listed	Yes
Securitum no-logs audits	Not listed	Yes
Secure Core double-hop	Not listed	Yes
Free unlimited-data tier	Not listed	Yes
Business SSO / SCIM	Not listed	Yes

CyberGhost VPN

NoSpy servers inside Romanian HQ
Self-owned servers CyberGhost says it operates end-to-end at its Bucharest headquarters with staff-only physical access—for higher physical-control privacy than third-party facilities. Colocated self-owned servers elsewhere cover non-RO egress. NoSpy access may depend on plan length (not monthly-only).
Streaming, P2P, and gaming server profiles
Labeled optimized servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming across a network marketed at 100 countries and 120+ locations. Reduces trial-and-error for households; unblocking success still varies by platform and changes over time.
WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 with kill switch
Choose WireGuard for speed, OpenVPN for flexibility, or IKEv2 on supported platforms. Automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, RAM-only server claims, and split tunneling address common tunnel-failure and mixed-app workflows.
Multi-platform apps and seven simultaneous devices
Native apps for major desktops and mobiles, extensions, selected TVs/Fire Stick, and router setup. One subscription covers up to seven concurrent connections—fit for mixed family fleets, not unlimited-device competitors.
Token-based Dedicated IP add-on
Optional static IP sold separately; company describes a token design so operational systems do not map the fixed address to the account the way naive dedicated-IP setups do. Useful against CAPTCHA-heavy sites; still a paid add-on, not core anonymity.
Published Deloitte no-logs audits and transparency reports
Repeated Deloitte Audit Romania ISAE 3000-style reviews of no-logs configuration (including dedicated-IP token handling), with public report links, plus quarterly legal-request transparency reports. Assurance scope is configuration/operations—not a guarantee of absolute anonymity.

Proton VPN

Audited no-logs on Proton-owned VPN infrastructure
Strict no-logs policy for VPN session activity (no traffic content, destination, or session metadata that identifies a user to a server, per published Securitum infrastructure reviews). Account data lives on Proton-controlled servers in Switzerland, Germany, or Norway; Secure Core machines are Proton-owned in CH/IS/SE. Suits privacy officers who need public audit PDFs, not NDA-only claims.
Secure Core double-hop via CH, IS, or SE
Paid Secure Core routes traffic through hardened Proton-owned entry servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden before the exit country—extra hop against network-level attacks if an exit were compromised. Adds latency; best for high-threat models, not every streaming session.
Stealth protocol and free-tier censorship tools
Stealth obfuscates the tunnel (TLS-over-TCP style) to reduce DPI/VPN-block detection and is available on Free as well as paid apps. Free plan: one device, unlimited data, no ads, limited country set, kill switch; paid unlocks multi-device, streaming profiles, Secure Core, and full NetShield packaging.
Open-source clients across major platforms
Official apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser extensions are open source on GitHub (ProtonVPN org) with third-party app security reviews published over time. Server-side VPN stack is not a public full OSS product—inspect clients and audit reports, not the entire backend.
NetShield DNS filtering and multi-protocol stack
NetShield is Proton's DNS-based blocker for ads, trackers, and malware domains (feature depth varies by plan). Protocols include WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Stealth; kill switch and leak protections are first-class client features for untrusted Wi-Fi.
Business org controls: SSO, SCIM, dedicated IPs
Proton VPN for Business adds organization admin, private gateways, dedicated servers/IPs, enforced 2FA, SSO, and SCIM provisioning (docs cover Okta/Google examples). Fits SMB remote access and policy control—not a numbered-account anonymity product.

Assurance & compliance: CyberGhost VPN vs Proton VPN
Assurance & compliance	CyberGhost VPN	Proton VPN
Independent no-logs audit (Deloitte)	Vendor claimed Public Deloitte Audit Romania ISAE 3000-style assurance engagements (2022, 2024; third cycle announced Feb 2026 with downloadable report). Scope: configuration/operations vs no-logs description.	Verified Multi-year Securitum infrastructure no-logs audits published with downloadable reports (see no-logs audit blog). Client app security reviews also published over time.
ISO 27001	Vendor claimed Privacy policy states QSCert ISO 27001 (and ISO 9001) ISMS certification since 2012 with yearly renewal. Confirm current certificate validity independently.	Vendor claimed Proton announces ISO 27001 (May 2024) and links a certificate from the Trust Center; re-validate scope/certificate for your ISMS.
SOC 2 / SOC 3	Not found No SOC 2/3 report identified on primary trust/legal pages reviewed.	Vendor claimed Trust Center and company blog assert SOC 2 Type II; obtain the report under your vendor process if required.
GDPR / EU data protection	Vendor claimed EU (Romanian) controller CyberGhost S.R.L.; privacy policy describes GDPR rights, DPO contact, and lawful bases. Not a legal compliance certificate.	Vendor claimed Swiss operator claims GDPR alignment; EU representative in Luxembourg; Swiss FADP also applies.
US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)	Partial Romanian entity, no known US parent; UK group (Kape). Account path uses US-group SaaS (Stripe, Zendesk, Google Analytics, AppsFlyer, etc.). Medium/partial—not low. Not legal advice.	Partial No known US parent (Proton AG / Foundation). VPN designed no-logs on Proton paths. US-group processors for support/payments (Zendesk, Stripe, Chargebee, PayPal; HubSpot sales) raise indicative exposure for account identity data. Not legal advice.
Data processing agreement (B2B)	Not found Consumer-focused public site; no clear self-serve B2B DPA portal found during research. Request under contract if needed.	Vendor claimed Public DPA published at proton.me/legal/dpa; confirm countersignature/process for your business SKU.
EU AI Act	Not applicable Consumer VPN connectivity product; not an AI system offering.	Not applicable VPN connectivity product; separate Lumo AI offering is out of scope for this VPN entry.

Considerations & known limitations: CyberGhost VPN vs Proton VPN
Considerations & known limitations	CyberGhost VPN	Proton VPN
Part of multi-brand Kape VPN group	Medium Ultimate holding company Kape Technologies PLC also operates ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access. Switching among Kape brands does not diversify group-level ownership risk.	Not listed
US-group SaaS for account and support data	Medium Privacy policy discloses Stripe, Zendesk, Google Analytics, AppsFlyer, and similar processors for non-tunnel data. Separates VPN no-logs claims from account/support transfer risk.	Not listed
Most locations are colocated, not NoSpy	Low Only NoSpy servers sit in company HQ. Global city coverage relies on third-party data centers even when hardware is self-owned—relevant for physical-access threat models.	Not listed
Thin public enterprise procurement pack	Medium No public B2B DPA/subprocessor schedule found for fleet buyers. Consumer money-back and app UX do not replace contractual diligence.	Not listed
Streaming unblocking is not guaranteed	Low Optimized server labels help users, but platform detection changes frequently. Do not treat marketing unblocking claims as durable SLA.	Not listed
US SaaS for support and payments	Not listed	Medium Privacy policy lists Zendesk, Stripe, Chargebee, PayPal (and HubSpot for sales) as processors. This is not VPN traffic logging, but billing/support identity can leave the Swiss-only path—map to your transfer assessment.
Global exit nodes outside EU/CH	Not listed	Medium Large multi-country network means traffic can exit outside the EU depending on server choice. Strict residency policies need operational controls (allowed countries, Secure Core preferences), not HQ alone.
Free tier capacity and country limits	Not listed	Low Free is one device and a limited country pool; shared free capacity can mean slower peaks. Not a full substitute for paid multi-device org rollout.
Account identity vs numbered anonymity	Not listed	Low Standard Proton account (email or external address options) is not the same threat model as cash/number-only VPN accounts. Cash/Bitcoin payment options exist for paid plans but account recovery fields may still apply.
ISO/SOC scope verification	Not listed	Low ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II are vendor-asserted on Trust Center; procurement should confirm certificate/attestation scope covers the VPN services in use.

Fit

CyberGhost VPN

Best fit when

Households and individuals needing easy apps across phones, PCs, TVs, and up to seven concurrent devices
Users who prioritize streaming- or P2P-labeled servers over manual protocol tinkering
Buyers who want a Romanian operating company plus published Deloitte no-logs assurance and transparency reports
Travelers needing kill switch, split tunneling, and quick public-Wi-Fi protection
Teams evaluating consumer VPN shortlists where UX and server coverage outweigh pure minimalism

Poor fit when

Organizations that require a published B2B DPA, subprocessor schedule, and enterprise fleet controls out of the box
Evaluators who reject multi-brand holding groups (Kape also owns ExpressVPN and PIA)
Buyers insisting on zero US-group SaaS for payments, support, or analytics
Power users who need port forwarding, deep open-source client control, or anonymous no-email accounts (prefer Mullvad/AirVPN-class tools)
Procurement policies that disallow UK-group ownership regardless of EU operating entity

Consider instead when

When: You want hard privacy minimalism, anonymous accounts, and open-source focus
Consider: Mullvad
Swedish VPN; weaker streaming-marketing packaging, stronger anonymity defaults
When: You want a Swiss/EU privacy suite with free tier and open-source clients
Consider: Proton VPN
Different product family; less multi-brand VPN conglomerate context
When: You need technical port forwarding, DDNS, and enthusiast configuration depth
Consider: AirVPN
Italian technical VPN; not a consumer streaming specialist
When: You specifically want the premium Kape-family brand with different protocol positioning
Consider: ExpressVPN
Same ultimate group (Kape); ownership risk is not diversified by switching brands inside the group

Proton VPN

Best fit when

Privacy-conscious individuals who want Swiss jurisdiction, open-source apps, and audited no-logs packaging
Users already on Proton Mail/Drive/Pass who want one account for VPN plus suite
People under network censorship who need Stealth (including on Free) and Secure Core on paid plans
SMBs needing managed VPN with SSO/SCIM, dedicated IPs/gateways, and a published DPA
Orgs that require downloadable third-party no-logs infrastructure reports rather than NDA-only claims

Poor fit when

Teams that require anonymous numbered accounts with no email (Mullvad-style)
Workloads whose primary need is multi-port remote forwarding and Dynamic DNS (AirVPN-style)
Policies that forbid any US-group SaaS for billing or support (Zendesk/Stripe/Chargebee/PayPal listed)
Buyers who need a fully self-hosted VPN control plane rather than Proton SaaS

Consider instead when

When: You need maximum account anonymity (no email identity)
Consider: Mullvad
Numbered accounts and cash/crypto-friendly privacy posture; less suite/Business packaging.
When: You need remote port forwarding and Dynamic DNS as core features
Consider: AirVPN
Technical inbound reachability; different product emphasis than Proton Free/Plus.
When: You want a large consumer network with different brand/jurisdiction tradeoffs
Consider: NordVPN or catalog peers such as CyberGhost
Re-check ownership, audit publication model, and streaming for your regions.
When: You need enterprise zero-trust mesh rather than a privacy VPN
Consider: Tailscale, NetBird, or self-hosted WireGuard
Different product class from consumer/privacy VPN.

Open questions for due diligence

CyberGhost VPN

Will CyberGhost sign a B2B DPA and provide a current subprocessor list with locations for support, billing, and analytics?
What is the current ISO 27001 certificate number, scope, and expiry (beyond privacy-policy wording)?
Which personal data categories, if any, are accessible to Kape group entities outside CyberGhost S.R.L. in production operations?
For NoSpy-only threat models, what fraction of traffic and which use cases still require colocated non-RO egress?

Proton VPN

Which current Securitum no-logs PDF applies to the server regions and features you will enable?
For Business, which subprocessors apply to your SKU and will Proton countersign the published DPA without material carve-outs?
Can org policy force EU/CH-only or Secure Core-only exits for all managed devices?
Do ISO 27001 / SOC 2 Type II reports' scope statements explicitly cover Proton VPN infrastructure used by your tenants?
If policy bans US payment processors, which payment methods (e.g. Bitcoin) meet your residual-risk tolerance?