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IPVanish Review: Is It Worth Your Money?

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ipvanish logo
Verdict:
RECOMMENDED​
Overall Score:
8.0 / 10

IPVanish is climbing the ranks to become a leading VPN provider.

It promises military-grade security and privacy combined with high-speed connections and other top-tier features.

But then again, every VPN provider claims to be the best.

So, in this IPVanish review, I’ll give an honest account of its performance.

I’ll share how this VPN really stacks up to the rest. I’ve analyzed its performance, usability, security, privacy policies, and speed to discover if it truly deserves a spot at the top (and if it’s worth your hard-earned cash).

Read on for an in-depth analysis of my findings.

vpnAlert Rating: 8 of 10 ⭐
Jurisdiction: USA (under 5 Eyes jurisdiction)
Logging: Verified zero log policy – any personal information retained can be viewed and deleted upon request.
Encryption: AES 256-bit VPN encryption
Security Features: Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, DNS/IP leak protection.
Servers: Over 1900 servers across 70 countries
Protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP
Average Speed Loss: 2.33 Mbps
Streaming: Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Firestick, and BBC iPlayer (and more)!
Torrenting: P2P sharing on all servers
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon FireStick. Manual setups for Linux and some routers.
Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited
Customer Support: 24/7 Live Chat Support
Usability: Sub-par usability
Monthly Price: $10.99
Discount: Exclusive IPVanish Offer
Money Back Guarantee: 30-day
Official Website: https://www.ipvanish.com/

IPVanish Overview

ipvanish pricing 1

I can confidently say that IPVanish offers a safe VPN. While it may not be as secure as higher-tier VPNs, it passed my security tests.

Despite the provider’s disreputable past, I also find the audited no logs policy reassuring.

As for speed, IPVanish is fast and has a decent network of servers.

With your purchase, you get access to nifty features, including unlimited simultaneous connections, P2P-friendly servers (great for torrenting), multiple device support, and attentive 24-hour customer support.

Surprise! The VPN’s unblocking abilities are pretty advanced, too.

I could unblock Netflix, HBO, and Hulu without a headache.

If you decide to give IPVanish a try, there’s peace of mind knowing that the provider offers a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee – but not on all its plans (watch out for this catch)!

For a general idea of IPVanish’s performance, here’s a glance at my review results:

Categories Score Out of 10
Privacy & Jurisdiction 7.5
Security 8.5
Countries & Servers 7.5
Speed & Performance 8.5
Media Streaming 9.5
Torrenting 8
Multi-Platform Compatibility 9.5
Customer Support 8
User Experience & Usability 7
Affordability 7.5

If you’re looking for a safe VPN to browse and torrent with, IPVanish is a great choice.

However, it may not be the most user-friendly VPN, and its jurisdiction is questionable.

Let’s get to it!

Pros

Cons

Privacy & Jurisdiction

Rating: 7.5 / 10

If you’re eager to ensure your privacy online, this section will be informative.

Here, I’ll delve into IPVanish’s current logging policy, past logging policies, ownership, and jurisdiction – plus its recent audit!

Current Logging Policy

IPVanish has always marketed itself as a “no logs” VPN.

However, a past scandal disproved this claim (more on this below).

Today, the company has put much effort into reinstating its reputation as a safe, private VPN provider.

At the time of writing, IPVanish’s privacy policy states that it “does not collect, monitor, or log your browsing activity.”

This means it doesn’t store:

  • Traffic destination or content
  • IP addresses
  • Connection time stamps
  • DNS inquiries

It admits to collecting personal data such as email addresses and payment details to improve its service and communications – to gather the least amount of data.

What I found reassuring is that IPVanish provides the right to request, review, and request deletion of your personal data.

ipvanish legal rights

Past IPVanish Logging Policies

A quick read through the WayBackMachine proves that IPVanish doesn’t hold a perfect record in the logging department.

In 2016, IPVanish was in hot water for sharing a user’s data with the Department of Homeland Security. The provider turned over IP addresses, connection timestamps, and other details that assisted the authorities with their case.

While the company’s actions helped convict a criminal, it was put under scrutiny for breaching its privacy policy.

In 2017, IPVanish was acquired by StackPath, LLC. The company released the following statement to reinstate its policy under new management:

ipvanish company policy statement

There have been no recorded incidents of IPVanish sharing user data since 2016.

Has IPVanish's Logging Policy Been Audited?

Following IPVanish’s 2016 DHS incident, the company took huge strides to reclaim its reputation as a strict no-logs VPN. Since then, it has reached out to third-party auditors to prove its current claims and policies are legitimate. This audit can be found at the bottom of your IPVanish account portal, or it can be requested by emailing press@ipvanish.com.

The most recent March 2022 audit was conducted by Leviathan Security Group, a cybersecurity consulting firm.

leviathan security group

This audit verified that IPVanish operates exactly as described and holds no logs other than minimal account information.

Who Owns IPVanish?

IPVanish has changed hands twice since its 2012 conception.

Today, ZiffDavis Inc. owns the company and falls under the “Net Protect” division.

Ziff Davis is a digital media and internet company founded in 1927.

With its fingers in many pies, the company is most renowned in the tech world for being the publisher of PC Mag (interesting).

ZiffDavis inc

Since ZiffDavis took ownership, the VPN appears to have grown from strength to strength. An infographic by IPVanish demonstrates these achievements.

Where Is IPVanish Based?

IPVanish is based in the US, with its headquarters in Orlando.

This jurisdiction is of concern because it falls under the Five Eyes alliance.

This alliance provides cooperating governments, including the US government, with some authority to put cyber security companies under pressure to hand over logs about their users.

However, IPVanish debunks claims that Five Eyes jurisdiction is a detriment to user privacy. It also dispels rumors that surfaced on Reddit in 2018, accusing IPVanish of handing logs over to the FBI.

Despite Five Eyes, the US is not the most private country, and it only scores 83/100 on Freedom House. This is less than the UK and many European countries.

ipvanish server performance

Security

Rating: 8.5 / 10

Security is vital to the efficacy of a VPN. That’s why this next section is dedicated to IPVanish’s security features.

Apart from scrutinizing these features, I conducted my own tests – just for that added peace of mind. 

Let’s get to it!

How Secure Is IPVanish?

IPVanish is just as secure as many top-tier VPNs.

It provides military-grade 256-bit AES encryption accompanied by a Kill Switch and DNS/IP leak protection. It’s also one of a select few VPNs that offer split tunneling.

SOCKS5 Proxy, Wi-Fi protection, and excellent protocols polish these features.

But let’s dig deeper.

IPVanish's Encryption Status

IPVanish uses brute force 256-bit AES encryption to conceal your data.

This means your online activity is untraceable when connected to the VPN.

I used Wireshark to test if the encryption is fulfilling its duties.

IPVanish Encryption Test:

To start, I connected to IPVanish’s WireGuard protocol.

Then, I analyzed individual TCP, UDP, DNS, and HTTP data packets.

My live captures of all TCP, UDP, DNS, and HTTP data packets generated illegible script – these results indicate that the VPN is, indeed, encrypted!

I’ll share a snapshot of the TCP stream with you:

tcp stream

The gibberish confirms that my internet browsing is encrypted.

You can install Wireshark to conduct your own tests. Simply download and open the program, click on your capture option (IPVanish), and follow the UDP/TCP stream.

DNS Leak Protection

All IPVanish DNS requests are handled by in-house servers, with DNS leak protection activated by default. This includes an IPv4 address while blocking IPv6 to prevent your real IP address from leaking out the tunnel.

While doing my research, I stumbled on multiple IPVanish DNS Leak complaints, including a Reddit thread:

ipvanish dns leak error

However, these complaints date back several years, and I was determined to give the provider the benefit of the doubt. So, back to testing!

DNS Leak Tests

Dnsleaktest.com is great for conducting leak tests. But I wanted a second opinion – I used ipaddress.com to compare results.

First, I connected to a server close to me (Dubai).

Here are my findings.

DNSleaktest.com result:

dns leak test result

No leaks for me!

Ipaddress.com result:

ipaddress result

I got the same results using a different client.

The IPVanish VPN has routed my activity to a public IP address belonging to the M247 Ltd based in the UAE. I’m testing from South Africa.

I ran the same tests while connected to a UK server to ease my mind further. Again, no leaks!

If you find your IP address is leaking, IPVanish has a troubleshooting page that may be of help.

SOCKS5 Proxy

One advantage that IPVanish offers is its use of a SOCKS5 proxy, which is more secure than a traditional proxy.

A SOCKS proxy funnels your traffic through a remote server, so it appears as though you’re using the internet from another location entirely.

The SOCKS5 proxy takes this further and includes multiple authentication methods, giving you authorized (exclusive) use of the remote servers

Essentially, this means IPVanish users benefit from greater anonymity online.

IPVanish Protocols

IPVanish is pretty flexible and supports multiple protocols, including WireGuard.

WireGuard is considered one of the most secure VPN protocols in the industry, and when you download your IPVanish app, you’ll notice it’s the provider’s default protocol. The only bummer is that it doesn’t support Linux.

wireguard settings

The VPN also features other popular options, including OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), IKEv2, L2TP, SSTP, PPTP, and IPSec (unavailable for Windows).

As a plus, IPVanish’s OpenVPN supports routers, which means you can connect all your devices to the VPN even if they don’t support the VPN natively (think media boxes).

What's IPVanish's Best Protocol?

IPVanish’s best VPN protocol depends on your device and the reason for connecting to a VPN. However, some protocols work best overall.

They are OpenVPN and WireGuard.

Both these protocols are designed to offer faster access speeds without compromising security. They also feature broader device coverage and can be configured for different uses.

*Here’s a quick glance at IPVanish’s list of protocols and the devices they support:

Protocol type Device support
WireGuard Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV Stick
IKEv2 Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
OpenVPN (TCP/UD) Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chrome, Routers
L2TP Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome
IPSec macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
SSTP Windows
PPTP Windows, Android, Linux, Routers, Amazon Fire TV Stick

Kill Switch

IPVanish features a Kill Switch on its macOS, Android Mobile, and Windows apps.

This feature disconnects you from the internet when your VPN connection is interrupted and helps keep your privacy and anonymity intact.

The IPVanish kill switch can be enabled on your Windows Settings panel under “Connection.”

ipvanish kill switch

To activate it on Android or iOS, you’ll need to

  1. Go to your device’s “Connections” or “Network” settings menu and tap the cog that appears next to the IPVanish app icon.
  2. Use the toggle to enable “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN.”
ipvanish connection settings

Now, let’s test this Kill Switch to see if it performs!

IPVanish Kill Switch Test

My Kill Switch test yielded positive results.

My test process was as follows:

I made sure the Kill Switch box was checked. Then I connected to an IPVanish server and hopped online. Next, I disconnected from the server.

My internet connection immediately dropped, and I was given the following error page.

internet access blocked

Split Tunneling

Before you get excited, IPVanish only offers this security feature on its Android and FireOS apps.

This is slightly disappointing – I was hoping for split tunneling on Windows, at the very least! If it weren’t for this one misgiving, I would have given the VPN a 9/10 for security (instead of 8.5/10).

If you are an Android or FireOS user, you can benefit from this revolutionary feature by fine-tuning your app settings. See my “how-to” below.

Split tunneling is great if you want to stream Spotify on a faster connection while getting serious work done through an optimally secured VPN tunnel.

How to Use IPVanish Split Tunneling on Android?

While I can’t speak for split tunneling usability on FireOS, it’s easy as pie to activate on Android.

Here’s how you do it:

  1. Open your app and navigate to the “Settings” menu.
  2. Tap on “Split Tunneling.”
  1. Check the boxes of the apps that you want to run through your usual “unprotected” connection. I checked my Netflix app to watch series on a faster connection.
  1. Navigate back to “Home” or “Locations” to connect to a server.

See, easy!

If you need split tunneling but you’re not an Android user, you can find VPN alternatives here. These are some of the best VPNs with split tunneling, and, yes, IPVanish makes the cut!

Wi-Fi Protection

If you’re dependent on public Wi-Fi or hotspots, then a VPN will shield you from hackers or spies who are up to no good!

For this, I reached out to IPVanish’s support team to see if they offer any “special” Wi-Fi protection.

ipvanish live chat support

Although Albert, my agent, was quick to respond – his answer wasn’t compelling.

I know there’s no IPVanish Wi-Fi detection feature, but I was hoping Albert would elaborate on using the Kill Switch as a Wi-Fi safety mechanism. 

For example, you can enable “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN” (see how-to above) to ensure that your VPN is always running, even while roaming and passing through hotspots. 

Android & iOS App Permissions

Before I concluded my IPVanish security research, I wanted to revise the app permissions on my Android phone. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do the same for iOS, but my results generally indicate how safe IPVanish’s apps are.

I used the very handy exodus tool to run my audit.

Here’s what I found:

First, I was a tad annoyed to discover several versions of the IPVanish Android app floating around – some superiorly better than the others.

But I narrowed my focus to the versions that were recently audited.

These are as follows:

ipvanish permission

While the permissions are excessive, they’re all mostly harmless.

The only one that raised alarm bells is “READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE.”

This setting allows the app to read the contents of your SD card, so you can’t use this to hide personal data from the app.

Here’s a list of all the permissions:

lists of permissions
referrer service

The good news is that there are only two trackers – “Google CrashLytics” and “Google Firebase Analytics.” Both are harmless.

trackers

If you’ve downloaded IPVanish and discover permissions you’re not happy with, you can always try your luck at requesting a refund.

Me? I’m keeping an eye on that sneaky “Read External Storage” guy!

Security Overview

I’ve scrutinized IPVanish’s security features, and I’m mostly impressed.

But I’m a predominant Windows user, and I noticed that while many of the best attributes are available on my device, your device may not be as lucky.

For example, a kill switch is an advanced tool that can be used to tighten security – but it’s not available on all operating systems.

This table summarizes which security features are available for the devices the VPN caters to:

Security Feature Available on the following devices only:
256-bit AES encryption All devices (Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Amazon TV Fire Stick)
DNS Leak Protection All devices (Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Amazon TV Fire Stick)
SOCKS5 Proxy All devices (Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Amazon TV Fire Stick)
Kill Switch macOS, Android mobile, Windows
Split Tunneling Android, Amazon TV Firestick
Protocols *See detailed table above.

Security Tests Overview

Overall, I’m happy with all my security test results. I’ve summarized them for your convenience:

Test Result
Encryption Pass
DNS Leak Protection Pass
Kill Switch Pass
Android App Permissions Pass but keep an eye on permission settings

That’s a wrap for security!

Countries & Servers

Rating: 7.5 / 10

IPVanish offers an extensive list of servers and caters to many popular countries.

However, I was disappointed to discover that South Africa didn’t make the cut. Oh well.

Let’s explore the extent of this provider’s footprint.

IPVanish’s Servers

ipvanish server

IPVanish currently has 1,900+ servers spanning 75+ locations.

This is not many servers compared to competitors. While this isn’t a huge train smash, a larger fleet will help avoid any traffic congestion on servers – meaning speeds will suffer less.

IPVanish support has voiced their proactive plan to add more servers during the year:

ipvanish support

Another bummer is that there are no specialized P2P servers – although all servers support P2P activity.

As a plus, all the servers are owned by IPVanish, which has security benefits! It also eliminates network overload and other issues associated with third-party servers.

Countries & Cities

Although IPVanish only has a modest number of servers, the country count is above average. This helps curb the issue of congested servers.

Here’s the coverage at a glance:

Regions Cities Number of Servers
Asia 10 90
North America 22 1315
South America 5 31
Europe 39 534
Oceania 6 73

As you can see, North America is the richest in servers.

I can only assume this is because of the VPN’s US jurisdiction. Europe comes in at a far second.

Africa has been omitted from the list completely. Hmm.

I hope this changes soon.

Does IPVanish Bypass Censorship?

IPVanish bypasses censorship in most countries easily. I’ll prove its potency below with my media unblocking tests.

Essentially, it re-routes your internet activity around slow and overly restrictive networks to provide true online freedom.

However, it’s not invincible, and the VPN has been completely blocked by certain countries, including:

  • China
  • Sudan
  • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
  • Cuba
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Islamic Republic of Iran
  • South Sudan
  • Crimea region of Ukraine
  • Donetska
  • Luhanska
  • Sevastopol

This list may shorten or grow depending on the VPN’s relationship with the countries.

Does IPVanish Work in China?

After countless attempts, I’ve concluded that IPVanish doesn’t work in China.

If you manage to bypass the Fort Knox firewall, luck must be on your side!

Even IPVanish doubts the VPN’s capabilities in this regard, and on its website, it says, “our IPVanish VPN apps are unlikely to work if you are attempting to connect to our VPN from inside of China.”

However, if you’re determined to get the VPN working in China, there may be a “hit or a miss” solution. You can try connecting via a manual configuration.

To do this, you must connect to one of the servers’ IP addresses instead of a server name. This method may mask that you’re using a VPN, and China will be none the wiser.

Find a list of the best VPNs for China here.

Speed & Performance

Rating: 8.0 / 10

Every VPN will slow your connection, some more than others.

With IPVanish, I found the speeds moderate to fast, depending on which server I connected to. The servers further away from me were slower, but I expected this.

I’ll share my speed tests with you below. I’ll also compare IPVanish’s performance with other VPNs so you can gauge its efficacy.

IPVanish Speed Tests

Factors such as the type of device you’re using, your distance from the server, and server capacity can all affect your VPN speed. 

So, to provide near-accurate feedback, I tested IPVanish using multiple servers.

First, I tested IPVanish’s speeds on the five servers closest to me.

Here they are from closest to furthest:

  • Dubai
  • Mumbai
  • Tel Aviv
  • Sao Paolo
  • Buenos Aires

Next, I tested speeds on the five servers with the best ping scores.

These were (from lowest ping to highest):

  • Dubai
  • Buenos Aires
  • Mumbai
  • Tel Aviv
  • Sao Paolo

Dubai is obviously my best server option in terms of speed, and it makes sense that the ping scores match my list of nearest servers.

But let’s see how my results faired.

Speed Test Results

I started by capturing my internet speed before connecting to an IPVanish server:

ipvanish server speed test

Then I moved to my VPN server list.

Dubai:

dubai server speed test

Mumbai:

mumbai server speed test

Tel Aviv:

tel aviv server speed test

Sao Paolo:

san paolo server speed test

Buenos Aires:

buenos aires server speed test

Mumbai and Tel Aviv both superseded my nearest (Dubai) server in speed, but only just.

My ping results were a bit erratic but mostly on par with IPVanish’s records.

I’ve created a table to summarize my findings; I think this will draw a better picture:

IPVanish Server Ping Download Speed Speed Loss (Drop)
Dubai, UAE 46 ms 8.33 Mbps 1.71 Mbps
Buenos Aires, Argentina 24 ms 6.26 Mbps 3.78 Mbps
Mumbai, India 19 ms 8.46 Mbps 1.58 Mbps
Tel Aviv, Israel 24 ms 8.43 Mbps 1.61 Mbps
Brazil, Sao Paolo 24 ms 7.06 Mbps 2.98 Mbps

These results helped me determine an average download speed when connected to IPVanish. This speed is (drum roll) 7.77 Mbps (not bad considering my 10Mb line)! The average speed loss is a modest 2.33 Mbps.

IPVanish Speeds Compared to Other Top VPNs

I’ve determined that IPvanish doesn’t drastically reduce my line speed, but how does it compare to other VPNs?

No need to wait for the answer. I practiced due diligence and rounded up my own sample speeds for you to compare.

VPN Speed Comparison Table:

I connected to each VPN’s fastest recommended server to conduct my test. Here’s what I got:

VPN Provider Download Speed Speed Loss Difference
ExpressVPN 9.00 Mbps 1.04 Mbps
Surfshark 8.68 Mbps 1.36 Mbps
NordVPN 8.97 Mbps 1.07 Mbps
IPVanish 8.46 Mbps 1.58 Mbps
PureVPN 8.50 Mbps 1.54 Mbps

While ExpressVPN takes the cake, IPVanish did a good job of keeping up with the speeds of its competitors. I’m impressed!

Is IPVanish Slow?

IPVanish is not a slow VPN, but it’s not the fastest either.

My test results indicate that the speed sits at a definite middle ground compared to competing VPNs.

For me, the VPN speed was still fast enough to stream my Netflix shows in HD without experiencing buffering – that’s me satisfied!

Media Streaming

Rating: 9.5 / 10

Here, we’ll see how IPVanish performs on major streaming platforms and if it can help access foreign libraries.

I tested the provider with Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Fire TV Stick.

Is IPVanish Good for Streaming?

My tests show that IPVanish is good for streaming. Despite my skepticism and the VPN’s past reputation for being inconsistent with its unblocking capabilities, I found the VPN unblocked major streaming platforms easily!

I was also able to stream content in HD without experiencing lag, so IPVanish gets brownie points for being fast enough in this regard!

Does IPVanish Work With Netflix?

Great news for those “Netflix and chill” fans! IPVanish does work with Netflix.

In South Africa, we’re restricted to our own library. So, I was curious to see what US Netflix had to offer. This meant I had to bypass geo-blocks.

Before connecting to an IPVanish server, I could only access my local platform. Notice the plans offered in South African rands (ZAR):

plans in south african rands

I also couldn’t watch “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia on netflix

So, I signed out of my account and connected to an IPVanish US server.

When I searched for Netflix, it immediately directed me to the US platform.

I continued to create a new account. Note the currency is now in US dollars!

netflix plan

At this point, I was nervous that Netflix US would reject my credit card details, but it didn’t! I was able to start streaming immediately (guess what I did for the rest of the day):

streaming on netflix

FYI – I used the US Chicago server, and this worked on my first try (no need to swap servers).

Now to explore Hulu and HBO!

Does IPVanish Work With Hulu and HBO Max?

IPVanish works with both Hulu and HBO Max.

I was surprised that IPVanish unblocked Hulu on my first try.

Many VPNs require some troubleshooting before they unblock this firewall.

But it was easy as pie!

The same goes for HBO. Before connecting to IPVanish, I couldn’t get past the following HBO pop-up:

HBO Max

But I was immediately directed to the sign-in page once connected to an IPVanish server (Las Vegas).

hbo max sign in

This was my first-time using HBO, so I was super excited to have access to a fresh new library of series and movies!

using ipvanish on hbo

IPVanish knocked my socks off with its unblocking features – really impressed!

Does IPVanish Work With BBC iPlayer?

Yes! IPVanish works with BBC iPlayer.

Once again, the VPN knocked my socks off by unblocking BBC iPlayer without a hassle.

All I did was connect to a London server, and boom! I was in.

Here’s my “before” snapshot where I get the “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues” pop-up:

ipvanish works on bbc iplayer

Here’s my “after” snapshot.

bbc iplayer uk

As you can see, I am well into the episode “Sam Ryder: Road to Eurovision.”

Does IPVanish Work With Amazon Fire TV Stick?

I don’t have an Amazon Firestick, so I can’t give a first-hand account of how well the VPN pairs with the device. However, my research shows that IPVanish works seamlessly with Amazon Fire TV Stick!

This makes sense since IPVanish developed a native app exclusive to Amazon’s Fire TV devices.

This app has proven to work well at unblocking geo-protected content while protecting streaming habits from third parties.

Torrenting

Rating: 8.5 / 10

This section is dedicated to IPvanish’s torrenting capabilities.

I’ll share how the VPN’s P2P support performs, and I’ll briefly mention its copyright policy.

Is IPVanish Good for Torrenting?

IPVanish has adequate (not great) torrenting capabilities.

Truth be told, its P2P features are sub-par, and there are no specialized torrenting servers.

However, I found that torrenting on the normal IPVanish servers poses no problems. I ran a quick test on my closest server (Dubai) to monitor the speeds, and I could download a 4.99 MB file in less than 15 minutes.

My average download speed was 2.7 MiB/s with a max download speed of 2.99 MiB/s. This isn’t bad, considering I’m using a 10Mb connection.

The fast download speeds may be due to the VPN’s SOCKS5 proxy.

As mentioned, this proxy is ideal for those seeking to maintain good speeds without compromising online privacy.

IPVanish P2P Torrent Tests & Results

I wanted to double-check IPVanish’s torrenting speeds and P2P support – just to justify my first test.

I used my three fastest servers after Dubai (Mumbai, Tel Aviv, and Sao Paolo) to download the same file using uTorrent.

Surprisingly, Sao Paolo gave me the best download speeds and was even faster than the Dubai server. It gave me a max download speed of 3.04 MiB/s.

san paolo server result

The Mumbai and Tel Aviv servers were a bit slower and offered max download speeds that varied between 1.87 – 1.92 MiB/s

mumbai and tel aviv server result

Again, these speeds aren’t bad considering my line restrictions, but they would perform better on a specialized P2P server (which IPvanish lacks).

tel aviv server result

How to Download Torrents With IPVanish?

Learn how to download torrents with IPVanish by following these easy steps:

  1. Subscribe to IPVanish.
  2. When your account is ready, connect to an IPVanish server. I suggest connecting to a server closest to you to get a faster and more stable connection. Use your app’s map display option to make it easier to find your nearest IPVanish server.
download torrents with ipvanish
  1. Download your preferred torrenting client. I used uTorrent to run my test.
  2. Run an ipleaks.net test to ensure your IP is successfully masked. My test matched the IP address of the VPN server I was connected to (Dubai). This means my location was securely spoofed, and my privacy was intact.
dubai ipleak test
  1. Proceed to download your files safely and privately!
Moving on.

IPVanish’s Copyright Policy

IPVanish has a copyright policy that clearly states that it “respects the intellectual property of others” and asks that all users do the same.

This policy helps protect Copyrighted material and keeps the provider out of trouble if its clients use the VPN for torrenting infringement.

Remember, while it’s not illegal to use a VPN, downloading Copyrighted material is frowned on and worthy of penalization in many countries.

Torrent wisely, that’s all I’m saying!

Multi-Platform Compatibility

Rating: 9.5 / 10

IPVanish supports multiple devices and is one of few VPNs that offer a dedicated Fire TV app.

If it had a native app for routers – or even an app for Smart TVs, I’d give it a solid 10 out of 10 rating! But 9.5 out of 10 is an impressive feat, and again, I’m surprised at this mid-tier VPN’s efficacy!

What Devices Does IPVanish Support?

devices that ipvanish support

IPVanish has apps for the following devices:

  • Windows
  • Mac
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Fire TV
  • Chrome OS

The VPN also offers manual setup guides for:

  • Router Firmware
  • Linux

Let’s scrutinize this list.

PC, Mobile, & Miscellaneous Devices

IPVanish offers dedicated apps for Windows (7, 8, and 10), macOS (10.13 and up), iOS (11.0 and up), Android (5.1 and up), Chrome, and Amazon Fire TV Stick. These apps allow you to connect to a VPN-protected server with a simple click or tap of a button.

Manual setup guides are available for Linux and older versions of Android and iOS.

Routers

IPVanish doesn’t have an app for routers, but it does offer manual support for DD-WRT v2 and v3, Tomato, Asus-WRT, and Merlin.

However, the provider warns that only experts should attempt this type of router VPN setup, as you can damage your router if the manual configurations are processed incorrectly.

As an alternative, you can purchase a router that’s been pre-installed and pre-configured with an IPVanish VPN. IPVanish has partnered with FlashRouters to provide this solution.

Does IPVanish Have Browser Extensions?

IPVanish does not have browser extensions, but it does have a Chrome OS app that’s often mistaken as an extension.

The Chrome app works just like the other apps. You install it to your Chrome OS device and manage your settings and server references using the interface.

How Many Simultaneous Connections Does IPVanish Offer?

IPVanish allows you to connect to an unmetered number of simultaneous connections. This means you can use IPVanish to conduct business while the rest of your household watches YouTube and uploads TikTok videos safely and anonymously!

This “unlimited connections” feature puts the VPN ahead of many higher-tier VPNS that limit the number of connections per account.

Does IPVanish Work With Apple TV?

Yes – IPVanish works with Apple TV, but only in a round-about way.

There’s no IPVanish app for Apple TV. However, you can connect your Apple TV to an IPVanish-protected router or hotspot. In other words, you’ll be piggybacking off a protected third-party connection.

Where Do I Download IPVanish?

IPVanish can be purchased and downloaded from the Apple Store and Google Play Store. But my advice is to get it straight from the source – this is the safest option.

Here’s how to download IPVanish:

  1. Visit the official IPVanish website. Here, you click on the “Subscribe” button.
ipvanish official website
  1. Follow the prompts to choose your plan and enter your account details. You’ll also need to select a payment method.
  2. After purchasing your account, you’ll be redirected to a page where you can download the app for the operating system you’re using.
download ipvanish app
  1. Once you click on “Download,” you’ll be issued prompts to guide you through a quick and easy installation process.
  2. When your app is installed, you can open it using the email and password you provided at sign-up.
That’s it! A hassle-free download!

User Experience & Usability

Rating: 7.0 / 10

IPVanish isn’t one of my favorite user interfaces I’ve worked with.

This isn’t to say it’s bad. I’d prefer it to be cleaner – perhaps I just have a gripe with black backgrounds.

Unless you’re clued up with terms such as “ping” and “load,” it’s also not very layperson-friendly.

However, if you’re not too concerned about advanced settings and are happy to do a “Quick Connect” using a suggested server, the usability is as easy as clicking a button.

How to Use IPVanish?

Here, I’ll provide steps on using IPVanish on Windows and Android.

I’ll also walk you through some of the features.

Unfortunately, I don’t have an iOS or Fire Stick device, so I can’t provide a personal account in this regard. But IPVanish’s support team can help!

Windows

Start by downloading and installing the Windows app to your device. Then:

  1. Log in to the app using your credentials.
log in to ipvanish
  1. Check the “Kill Switch” box so that a tick appears. Now you’ll be notified if you lose VPN connectivity.
ipvanish kill switch
  1. At this point, you may want to change your protocol. To do this, click on the “Settings” cog found to your left, “Connections,” and then select a protocol from the dropdown menu.
ipvanish wireguard settings
  1. Browse through the rest of the settings options to tweak your preferences.
  2. Navigate back to “Quick Connect” or “Server List” to connect to a server. You can sort locations by Ping, Load, Country, and Favorites by selecting “Server List.” There’s also a “Map” option to select servers on the map.
map view
  1. Choose your server and click “Connect.”
choose server and connect

The Android app works similarly but with a few tweaks.

Android

Follow these instructions to use IPVanish on Android:

  1. Navigate to the IPVanish website to download the Android app. You can get an awesome deal here if you haven’t subscribed yet.
  2. Follow the prompts to download and install the app.
  3. Open the app and log in using your credentials.
  4. You will be met with the following screen:
connect to server
  1. Tap on “Connect” to connect to the fastest available server or tweak your preferences.
  2. For example, you can tap on the “Settings” cog to change your protocol, activate the Kill Switch, and initiate split tunneling:
 
  1. Once you set your app to preference, you can connect to a server by navigating back to the “Home Screen” or selecting “Locations.” Select “Locations” if you want to connect to a server in a specific country. Locations are categorized according to Countries, Cities, or Favorites.
  1. Tap on “Connect.
Now you can use the internet safely and privately!

Customer Support

Rating: 8.0 / 10

IPVanish offers a Live Chat feature that provides a quick response rate.

I reached out to support frequently throughout my research process, and it took less than a minute for my requests to be catered to each time. 

Alternatively, you can email the provider via a submission form on the website.

While I was impressed with the response rate and the agents’ friendliness, I didn’t always receive the solutions I was looking for.

For example, when I asked about public Wi-Fi security notifications, the answer was a simple “don’t have that yet,” when I knew they could have provided me with other solutions.

Perhaps I just got an uninterested agent.

To give IPVanish the benefit of the doubt, I put their support service to one last test.

Customer Support Test

I was curious how the provider would react to a cancellation request.

So, I made this my query.

ipvanish customer support

It wasn’t my intention to cancel my account, and I was hesitant to share my email. I said I was doing research for my boss instead.

ipvanish live help
ipvanish live chat support

I was both surprised and impressed that they weren’t going to make me jump through hoops to cancel my account. Also, this entire chat took just over a minute!

I also initiated this chat at 11 pm, proving the feature delivers its 24/7 support promise.

All in all, the customer support service seems to be on top of its game, but let’s just say this claim is agent dependent.

Affordability

Rating: 7.5 / 10

How much does IPVanish cost? And can you get it for free?

Find answers in this section and insight into the provider’s refund policy and payment methods.

IPVanish Pricing & Plans

IPVanish isn’t the cheapest VPN, but it is priced fairly for what you get for your money.

See for yourself:

Like most VPNs, the annual subscription fee works out to be the most affordable. But no matter which plan you choose, you’ll receive all the VPN features. If you select the yearly plan, you’ll get ransomware and malware protection as a bonus.

You’ll be charged for the whole sum in advance for all plans.

So, if you select the yearly plan, you’ll be billed $47.89 upfront.

Payment Methods

The VPN can only be bought using a credit card or a PayPal account – not very accommodating, I know!

Other competitive VPNs offer subscribers several payment methods, and some even accept cryptocurrencies.

payment method

Can I Get IPVanish for Free?

You can’t technically get IPVanish for free, but a loophole allows you to test the service without losing cash.

Simply subscribe to the yearly plan and request a refund before 30 days have elapsed. Of course, this method does mean you’ll have to fork out money initially and that you have less than 30-days of “free” VPN service, but I’ll leave it with you as an option.

On that note, let’s break down the provider’s refund policy.

Refund Policy

IPvanish is quite particular about who qualifies for a refund.

A 30-day money-back guarantee is only offered to new customers who subscribe to the 1-year plan.

iOS customers who sign up in the iOS app are also exempt from this money-back guarantee.

If you paid for your plan using the Google Play Store, you have 30 minutes to cancel your purchase and request a refund. No pressure!

IPVanish’s refund policy also clearly states that “refund requests made later than the Money Back Period will not be honored.”

To be honest – this is one of the strictest policies I’ve encountered to date!

How Does IPVanish Compare to Other Top VPNs?

As I mentioned, this VPN sits at a reasonable middle ground price-wise.

But some higher-rated VPNs do offer a more affordable rate.

This table will provide you with an accurate comparison:

VPN Provider Monthly Plan Best Deal Payment Options Refund Policy
IPVanish $10.99 Show Offer PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
NordVPN $11.99 Show Offer Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, ACH Transfer, Cryptocurrencies 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Surfshark $12.95 Show Offer MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Cryptocurrencies 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
ExpressVPN $12.95 Show Offer Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, WebMoney, iDeal, UnionPay, and more 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
PureVPN $10.95 Show Offer PayPal, Visa, Moneybooker, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, WebMoney, and more 31-Day Money-Back Guarantee

What Do Customers Think About IPVanish?

You’ve heard enough from me. Now, let’s give other first-hand customers a chance to share their feelings.

I perused TrustPilot and Google Play Store to see what reviewers had to say about IPVanish. The emotions were mixed but positive overall!

To start, the VPN earns an impressive 4.6/5 score on TrustPilot.

It gets plenty of thumbs up for speed, compatibility, and usability.

Mike, for example, shares his explicit enthusiasm:

customer feedback

Most of the bad reviews circulate around billing issues (users who didn’t read the refund policy fine print), and then there was one guy, Brian, who shared my feelings on the poor interface (I’m not alone):

billing issue feedback

Google Play Store had similar feedback, although the score here dropped to 3.4 stars out of 5.

ipvanish reviews

I must mention that all bad reviews were met with helpful responses from IPVanish support. Consider this feedback as an example:

feedback on ipvanish

Honestly, I found most of the reviews compatible with my own IPVanish experiences – which are generally good overall.

IPVanish Alternatives

No two VPNs are equal, which is good if you’re looking for a solution unique to your needs.

If you doubt IPVanish is for you, there are good alternatives with similar qualities.

I’ll share my top 3 suggestions.

ExpressVPN – Reputation for Excellence

ExpressVPN has a reputation for excellence. However, this perfection comes at a hefty price, and you must be prepared to fork out the big bucks.

Offering top-tier security features such as a kill switch, proprietary protocol, no-logs, split tunneling, and 3,000+ RAM-only servers, you can rest easy knowing that you’re covered by the best online safety and privacy technology.

ExpressVPN is also one of few VPNs that work in China (sometimes with a bit of troubleshooting).

Get an exclusive ExpressVPN deal here.

Surfshark – Money-Saver

Surfshark is affordable and offers all the security and unblocking features one would need to optimally benefit from a VPN.

You’d pay as little as $2.49 when subscribing to the provider’s 2-year plan, which really is a great deal!

The Surfshark VPN also offers exclusive features such as Camouflage Mode for extra privacy and Bypasser (its version of split tunneling).

Click here to save even more on your Surfshark plan!

PureVPN – Best Jurisdiction

PureVPN website

If you’re worried about IPVanish’s US Five Eyes jurisdiction, PureVPN may appeal to you because of its more private locations.

Based in Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands, this VPN offers stricter anonymity laws, allowing it to retain a firm grasp on its no-logs policy.

PureVPN also has several servers, including virtual servers, and caters to third-world countries such as South Africa.

Use this link to save on our PureVPN subscription!

All VPNs Compared

Use this table for an easy VPN comparison:

Criteria IPVanish ExpressVPN Surfshark PureVPN
Jurisdiction US The BVI The BVI Hong Kong & The BVI
Security Features Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, DNS/IP leak protection, 256-bit AES encryption Automatic Obfuscation, Kill Switch, Private DNS, 256-bit AES encryption NoBorders Mode, Kill Switch, MultiHop, CleanWeb DNS Leak Protection, Port Forwarding, Kill Switch, Public Wi-Fi Protection, Split Tunneling
Logging No logs No logs No logs No logs
Protocols WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, L2TP Lightway, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2 WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec
Servers 1900+ servers in 70 countries 3,000+ servers in 94 countries 3,200+ servers in 65 countries 6,500+ servers in 78+ countries
Speed Loss Difference 1.58 Mbps 1.04 Mbps 1.36 Mbps 1.54 Mbps
Torrenting Supports P2P activity on normal servers P2P support on all servers P2P support on all servers but no seeding P2P support on some servers
Streaming Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, and more Unblocks BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more Unblocks BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and more Unblocks Netflix, HBO, BBC iPlayer, and more
Devices Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon FireStick. Manual setups for Linux and some routers. Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Smart TVs, game consoles, Chrome, Firefox, Edge Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Smart TVs, game consoles, Chrome, Firefox Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Smart TVs, Firestick, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Simultaneous Connections Unlimited devices 5 devices Unlimited devices 10 devices
Best Deal Show Offer Show Offer Show Offer Show Offer
Interesting Reads:

FAQs

The first step to fixing an IPVanish critical error is to ensure you’re connected to the internet. If your device is connected to a working internet connection and you’re still experiencing an error, try switching to a different server or change your VPN protocol.

If your error continues, use IPVanish’s Live Chat feature to ask an agent to walk you through troubleshooting methods in real-time.

When compared, NordVPN surpasses IPVanish’s security, privacy, and unblocking features, making NordVPN better than IPVanish overall.

While both VPNs use military-grade encryption and modern tunneling protocols, NordVPN has a better kill switch for apps and adds an extra layer of security with its Double VPN. It also ranks better for speed, privacy, and unblocking geo-restricted content.

However, IPVanish has the upper hand regarding price (it’s cheaper) and simultaneous device coverage – NordVPN only covers six devices with a single account, while IPVanish offers unmetered simultaneous connections.

IPVanish is used to provide privacy and security for everyday internet activity.

Anyone can purchase IPVanish to protect themselves from hackers, cybercriminals, and prying eyes.

Once you connect to an IPVanish VPN server, your selected activity will run through a protected tunnel that encrypts your traffic and masks your IP address to help guarantee your anonymity online.

Signing Out!

IPVanish has consumed my past days, and I haven’t done much else than eat, sleep, and breathe the VPN! But it’s been for a good cause.

I’m delighted to provide an honest and detailed account of the VPN’s efficacy.

Overall, I am satisfied with IPVanish’s abilities – the pros outweigh the cons, after all.

But if you’re still on the fence and would like more information on the best VPNs on the market, I’ll leave you with some helpful reading material: 8 Best Cheap VPN Services.

If IPVanish sounds great to you, visit this link for an exclusive discount on your subscription fee!

Try IPVanish Risk-Free!

Protect private web traffic from snooping, interference, and censorship. All plans are covered by a no-hassle 100% money-back guarantee for your first 30 days of service.

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