Last tested: March 2026 · Tested from Brisbane, QLD on 100Mbps NBN
Speed Test Results — Australian Servers
All speed tests were conducted on a 100Mbps NBN FTTP connection in Brisbane using the WireGuard protocol. Tests ran between 7–9 PM AEST on weeknights during peak congestion hours.
| Server Location | Download (Mbps) | Upload (Mbps) | Ping (ms) | Speed Retention |
|---|
| Sydney, AU | 87.3 | 35.2 | 19 | 87% |
| Melbourne, AU | 84.6 | 33.8 | 26 | 85% |
| Brisbane, AU | 89.1 | 36.4 | 9 | 89% |
| Perth, AU | 76.8 | 29.5 | 54 | 77% |
| Singapore | 72.4 | 27.1 | 98 | 72% |
| US West (Los Angeles) | 55.7 | 20.3 | 168 | 56% |
| UK London | 48.9 | 17.6 | 279 | 49% |
Key takeaway: CyberGhost delivers solid domestic speeds — 87-89% retention on Australian servers is respectable and more than sufficient for streaming, browsing, and general use. International speeds drop off more noticeably than premium competitors like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, but remain usable for streaming. The dedicated streaming servers occasionally outperformed standard servers by 5-8% on international connections.
Streaming: What Works in Australia
We tested all major Australian and international streaming platforms over two weeks in March 2026, using both standard and dedicated streaming servers:
- Netflix AU ✅ — Works on dedicated streaming servers (standard servers inconsistent)
- Stan ✅ — Reliable on all Australian servers
- Kayo Sports ✅ — Works on dedicated streaming and standard AU servers
- Binge ✅ — Works on AU servers
- Disney+ ✅ — Works via dedicated streaming servers
- Paramount+ ✅ — Works on AU servers
- 7plus ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- 9Now ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
- ABC iView ✅ — Works from overseas via AU servers
CyberGhost's dedicated streaming servers are the key here. On standard servers, we hit occasional blocks on Netflix and Disney+ — but switching to the clearly labelled streaming-optimised servers resolved the issue every time. The fact that CyberGhost labels which servers work with which services is genuinely helpful and saves the trial-and-error frustration you get with other VPNs.
Honest note: Netflix US was more inconsistent than Australian streaming. We had to switch servers 2-3 times during our testing period to find working US Netflix servers. It always worked eventually, but it wasn't seamless.
Privacy & Security Deep Dive
Jurisdiction: Romania. Romania has repeatedly pushed back against EU data retention directives, and the country's Constitutional Court has struck down data retention laws twice. There are no mandatory logging requirements for VPN providers, making it one of the strongest privacy jurisdictions in Europe for VPN users.
Logging policy: CyberGhost maintains a strict no-logs policy. They don't store browsing history, traffic destinations, connection timestamps, session duration, IP addresses, DNS queries, or bandwidth usage. They publish quarterly transparency reports detailing legal requests received (and denied), which is a nice transparency touch.
Audit history: Independently audited by Deloitte in 2022, specifically examining their no-logs infrastructure and data management practices. The audit confirmed that CyberGhost's systems are not designed to store or identify individual user activity. While one audit is decent, competitors like NordVPN have undergone multiple rounds.
Encryption: AES-256 encryption on OpenVPN, ChaCha20 on WireGuard. Both are current best-practice standards. Perfect forward secrecy is enabled, generating unique keys per session. RSA-4096 for handshake authentication on OpenVPN connections.
Kill switch: We tested the kill switch by forcing a VPN disconnect mid-session. On desktop (Windows and macOS), traffic was blocked within 2 seconds. The kill switch is available on all platforms including mobile. On Android, it integrates with the OS-level "Always-on VPN" setting for extra protection.
DNS leak tests: Zero DNS leaks detected across five tested servers using dnsleaktest.com and ipleak.net. All queries routed through CyberGhost's private DNS infrastructure.
Additional features:
- NoSpy servers: Self-managed servers in CyberGhost's Romanian data centre, operated entirely by CyberGhost staff — no third-party hosting providers involved
- Content Blocker: Blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains at the DNS level
- Automatic Wi-Fi protection: Connects VPN automatically when joining unknown Wi-Fi networks
App Experience
CyberGhost's desktop app has a distinctive design — it's a compact sidebar-style window that expands when you need it. The main screen shows your connection status and a prominent connect button. Click "Best Server Location" to auto-connect to the fastest available server, or expand the server list to browse manually.
Clicks to connect: One click for auto-connect. Two clicks to choose a specific server category (streaming, torrenting, gaming) and location. The dedicated server categories are clearly labelled and easy to navigate.
Server selection: This is where CyberGhost shines. Servers are sorted into categories: All Servers, For Streaming (labelled by platform — e.g., "Netflix AU", "Stan"), For Torrenting, For Gaming, and Dedicated IP. Each server shows distance, load percentage, and number of users. It's the most intuitive server selection we've seen.
Settings: Comprehensive without being overwhelming. Protocol selection (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2), kill switch, auto-connect rules, smart rules (trigger VPN on specific Wi-Fi networks or when launching certain apps), split tunnelling on Windows and Android, and content blocker toggle.
Mobile vs desktop: The mobile apps are well-designed and mirror the desktop categorisation system. The iOS app is clean and straightforward; the Android app adds split tunnelling support. Both support WireGuard for optimal battery life. The "Smart Rules" automation features work particularly well on mobile — auto-connecting when you leave your home Wi-Fi, for example.
Pricing Breakdown
All prices in AUD, current as of March 2026:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Total Cost | Savings |
|---|
| Monthly | $12.99/mo | $12.99 | — |
| 6-Month | $6.99/mo | $41.94 | 46% off |
| 2-Year (+ 3 months free) | $2.19/mo | $56.94 | 83% off |
Money-back guarantee: 45 days — the longest in the VPN industry. This gives you nearly seven weeks to test the service, which is more than enough time to evaluate speeds, streaming, and reliability on your connection. We tested the refund — processed in 5 business days.
Payment methods: Credit/debit cards, PayPal, Bitcoin, and Amazon Pay.
Value proposition: At $2.19/month on the two-year plan, CyberGhost is one of the cheapest VPNs with a credible reputation. Combined with the 45-day refund window, it's essentially risk-free to try. The monthly price is steep, so the long-term plans are where the value sits.
Who Should Use This VPN
Best for:
- Budget-conscious Australians: One of the cheapest reputable VPNs on the market, especially on the 2-year plan
- Streaming fans who want simplicity: The dedicated, labelled streaming servers remove the guesswork of finding a server that works with your service
- VPN beginners: The categorised server system and intuitive interface make CyberGhost one of the easiest VPNs to use
- Risk-averse buyers: The 45-day money-back guarantee gives you the longest trial period in the industry
Not ideal for:
- Speed-sensitive users: While perfectly adequate, CyberGhost's speeds don't quite match ExpressVPN or NordVPN on international connections
- Privacy hardliners: The Kape Technologies ownership may concern some users — Kape has a controversial history (formerly Crossrider, an ad-tech company). CyberGhost's operations appear independent, but it's worth noting
- Users in restricted countries: CyberGhost doesn't reliably work in China or other heavily censored regions
How It Compares
CyberGhost competes directly with Surfshark in the value segment. Both offer aggressive long-term pricing, but Surfshark edges ahead with unlimited device connections and slightly better international speeds. Against NordVPN, CyberGhost is significantly cheaper but gives up speed consistency and the depth of NordVPN's security features. Compared to PureVPN, another budget option, CyberGhost wins on server categorisation and ease of use.
CyberGhost's unique advantage is its dedicated streaming servers — no other VPN makes it this easy to find a server that works with your streaming service. For a complete comparison, check our best VPN for Australia guide.
