CyberGhost VPN vs Surfshark

Compare CyberGhost VPN and Surfshark 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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Surfshark

Netherlands· VPN Services

Needs review

Shortlist Surfshark when you need unlimited concurrent devices, a large RAM-only commercial VPN network, and optional Surfshark One suite tools under a Dutch legal entity. Skip when you need ownership diversification away from the Nord Security group, open-source clients, cash-only anonymous accounts, or hard EU-only account processing without US-group SaaS — consider Proton VPN or Mullvad instead.

Unlimited devicesRAM-only serversNL legal entityDeloitte no-logs (claimed)VPN + One suiteClosed source

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Highlighted rows differ between the two products.

CyberGhost VPN vs Surfshark: Snapshot
Feature	CyberGhost VPN	Surfshark
Country of origin	Romania	Netherlands
Category	VPN Services	VPN Services
Open source	No	No
Self-hosted	No	No
Headquarters	Romania	Netherlands
Legal entity	CyberGhost S.R.L. (J40/1278/2011; 68 Polona St., District 1, Bucharest)	Surfshark B.V. (Kabelweg 57, 1014BA Amsterdam, the Netherlands)
Governing law	Romania / EU (entity); group policies under Kape Technologies PLC (UK)	Netherlands / EU GDPR as controller per Privacy Policy
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.	Global RAM-only VPN server network (vendor: 4,500+ servers / 100+ countries). Account/support/analytics/payments subprocessors per Privacy Policy include Google (Firebase Analytics, BigQuery), Cloudflare, Zendesk, Stripe and other PSPs, AppsFlyer, Iterable, Purchasely, Telnyx, plus group companies in EEA, UK, and the United States. Transfers use SCCs or adequacy.
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.	Dutch-registered VPN and Surfshark One cybersecurity suite: unlimited devices, RAM-only servers, audited no-logs claims, and optional antivirus, leak alerts, and identity tools.
Tags	privacy vpn consumer romania no-logs wireguard	privacy vpn consumer cybersecurity gdpr

At a glance: CyberGhost VPN vs Surfshark
At a glance	CyberGhost VPN	Surfshark
HQ / entity	CyberGhost S.R.L., Bucharest, Romania	Not listed
Parent group	Kape Technologies PLC (UK)	Not listed
Protocols	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	Not listed
Network (vendor)	100 countries, 120+ locations	Not listed
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
HQ / legal entity	Not listed	Surfshark B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ownership	Not listed	Merged holding with Nord Security (2022); brands operate separately
Deployment	Not listed	Cloud VPN / SaaS suite (not self-hosted)
Open source	Not listed	No (closed-source clients)
Device model	Not listed	Unlimited simultaneous connections (paid plans)
VPN network	Not listed	4,500+ RAM-only servers, 100+ countries (vendor-stated)
Primary audits	Not listed	Deloitte no-logs 2023/2025; Cure53; SecuRing

Key capabilities: CyberGhost VPN vs Surfshark
Key capabilities	CyberGhost VPN	Surfshark
Romanian entity	Yes	Not listed
WireGuard + OpenVPN	Yes	Not listed
NoSpy HQ servers	Yes	Not listed
Deloitte no-logs (claimed)	Yes	Yes
7 simultaneous devices	Yes	Not listed
Streaming/P2P profiles	Yes	Not listed
Unlimited devices	Not listed	Yes
RAM-only servers	Not listed	Yes
NL legal entity	Not listed	Yes
VPN + One suite	Not listed	Yes
Closed source	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.

Surfshark

Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections
One subscription covers every concurrent device the account can run — phones, laptops, TVs, routers — without the 5–12 device caps common on rival plans. Best for households and multi-device freelancers; confirm current ToS limits for free trials.
RAM-only global VPN network with modern protocols
Vendor-stated 4,500+ RAM-only servers across 100+ countries; WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and in-house Dausos. Nexus features include MultiHop, IP Rotator, Everlink self-healing, and FastTrack routing. Server counts and locations change — verify live map before region-critical use.
Surfshark One security suite (beyond the tunnel)
Optional bundling of antivirus (AV-TEST scored), Alert leak monitoring, Alternative ID (disposable persona/email/number), private Search, and Incogni data-broker removal on higher tiers. Suite tools process extra personal data by design — read the Privacy Policy scopes before enabling them.
Nexus MultiHop, IP Rotator, and CleanWeb
Dynamic MultiHop for entry/exit pairing, periodic IP rotation without full disconnect, CleanWeb ad/tracker blocking, plus kill switch and bypass controls. Useful for privacy-sensitive browsing and shared networks; not a substitute for endpoint hardening on high-risk devices.
Audited no-logs posture and public security tests
Deloitte no-logs assurance reported for 2023 and 2025 (account-gated full reports); public Cure53 and SecuRing assessment PDFs for infrastructure/apps. Treat as strong consumer-grade transparency, not automatic enterprise ISO/SOC coverage.

Assurance & compliance: CyberGhost VPN vs Surfshark
Assurance & compliance	CyberGhost VPN	Surfshark
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.	Vendor claimed Deloitte no-logs assurance reports for 2023 and 2025 (ISAE 3000 framing per vendor; full reports account-gated). Public Cure53 and SecuRing security/infrastructure PDFs also published on Trust Center.
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.	Not found Not found as a primary advertised company-wide certification on Trust Center pages reviewed for this draft.
SOC 2 / SOC 3	Not found No SOC 2/3 report identified on primary trust/legal pages reviewed.	Not found Not found as a primary advertised company-wide certification on Trust Center pages reviewed for this draft.
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 Dutch B.V. controller; Privacy Policy cites GDPR, DSAR rights, SCCs/adequacy for transfers. Not legal advice.
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 EU entity / no known US parent, but Privacy Policy lists US-group subprocessors (Google analytics/storage, Cloudflare, Zendesk, Stripe, AppsFlyer, Telnyx, US group companies) for account/support/marketing/payments paths. VPN no-logs claims do not eliminate account-data exposure. Indicative only — 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.	Not found No clear public self-serve B2B DPA package found on primary pages; Teams is sales/quote-driven. Confirm contract language before enterprise use.
EU AI Act	Not applicable Consumer VPN connectivity product; not an AI system offering.	Not applicable Consumer VPN/security suite; AI-assisted scam-check features exist but product is not AI-centric as primary category.
VPN Trust Initiative seal	Not listed	Vendor claimed Vendor displays VTI certification/seal on About and Trust materials; confirm current listing on vpntrust.net if required.

Considerations & known limitations: CyberGhost VPN vs Surfshark
Considerations & known limitations	CyberGhost VPN	Surfshark
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
Shared holding with Nord Security	Not listed	Medium After the 2022 merger, Surfshark and Nord brands sit under one industry group even if infrastructure is separate. Shortlists that need ownership diversification should not treat NordVPN as an independent alternative.
US-group SaaS in account data path	Not listed	Medium Privacy Policy names Google, Cloudflare, Zendesk, Stripe, AppsFlyer, Telnyx and US group companies among recipients. Practical impact: account, support, billing, and marketing data may be reachable via US legal process even when VPN activity is claimed unlogged.
Limited public enterprise certs / DPA	Not listed	Medium Strong consumer-facing audit marketing (Deloitte, Cure53, SecuRing) but ISO 27001/SOC 2 and a self-serve DPA were not found on primary pages. Regulated buyers need extra contract and evidence work.
Suite features expand personal data processing	Not listed	Low Alert, Alternative ID/number, email scam checker, and Incogni process additional identifiers or content by design. Enabling the full One suite widens the privacy surface beyond pure VPN tunneling.
Closed-source client applications	Not listed	Low Clients are not open source; buyers who require public code review of VPN apps should prefer peers with OSS clients.

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

Surfshark

Best fit when

Households and multi-device users who need one VPN account across many concurrent endpoints
Buyers wanting a consumer privacy suite (VPN + antivirus, leak alerts, optional Incogni) rather than tunnel-only software
Travelers and remote workers needing a large country list, WireGuard/OpenVPN clients, and kill-switch/CleanWeb controls
Small teams evaluating a simple Teams admin panel for seat assignment (not full SASE/ZTNA)
EU buyers who accept a Dutch B.V. controller with published no-logs and security assessment materials

Poor fit when

Organizations requiring open-source VPN clients or self-hosted control planes
Buyers who must diversify away from the Nord Security–Surfshark ownership group (NordVPN is a sibling, not an independent alternative)
Procurement needing proven ISO 27001 / SOC 2 company certification or a self-serve public B2B DPA without sales engagement
Threat models that forbid US-group subprocessors for account, support, analytics, or payments data
Users seeking cash-only / account-number anonymity comparable to Mullvad-style signup

Consider instead when

When: You want open-source clients, a free tier option, and a privacy stack outside the Nord/Surfshark group
Consider: Proton VPN
Smaller device cap than Surfshark’s unlimited concurrent connections; stronger open-source posture.
When: You prioritize account-number privacy, minimal identity linkage, and a tunnel-focused product
Consider: Mullvad
Fewer lifestyle suite tools; different commercial and account model.
When: You want peer-reviewed AirVPN-style advanced networking features and a non-Nord ownership path
Consider: AirVPN
Different audience and ops model; check current catalog status and docs.
When: You already standardize on Nord products and only need another brand under the same holding
Consider: NordVPN
Sibling brand after 2022 merger — not ownership diversification.

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?

Surfshark

Will Surfshark sign a B2B DPA that lists subprocessors and clarifies controller vs processor roles for Teams seats?
Which regions host account databases and support tooling in practice, beyond the high-level Privacy Policy country list?
Can procurement obtain the full Deloitte no-logs package and latest infrastructure reports under NDA without a personal consumer account?
What is the current operational separation between Surfshark and Nord Security infrastructure for logging, staff access, and incident response?
Are company-wide ISO 27001 or SOC 2 programs in progress or available only under NDA?