IPVanish Review

Does IPVanish really work? And will it keep your data safe? Find out if this "secure" VPN is any good.

IP Vanish is known for unlimited devices, fast speeds and lots of servers. It's great for P2P, however it lacks features that other VPN providers have. It's not as reliable for streaming or bypassing censorship.

Read on to learn about IPVanish and it's pros, cons and dealbreakers.

WHAT IS IPVANISH

Founded in 2012, IPVanish is a US-based VPN service. The US is a Five-Eyes Country, but it doesn't have any data retention laws. This allows IPVanish to have a zero-logs policy.

IPVanish offers fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and over 1,400 servers. It has some extra security features, such as split tunneling and OpenVPN Scramble. It also supports safe torrenting, however, Netflix streaming is not available.

The pricing is more expensive than other competitors. But it allows for connections to unlimited devices at the same time, so it could be a good choice for families.

IPVanish works with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Linux support is "best-effort" only.

IPVANISH PROS & CONS

PROS:

• Strict no logs policy
  
• 40,000+ shared IPs; 1,400+ servers in over 75 locations
  
• 256-bit AES military grade encryption
  
• Connect unlimited devices at the same time
  
• Supports torrenting and P2P sharing
  
• Complimentary SugarSync® secure cloud storage
  
• 30-day money back guarantee

CONS:

• More expensive than competitors
  
• Cannot stream Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video
  
• Doesn't work in China
  
• Slow customer support

HOW MUCH IPVANISH COSTS

IPVanish has 3 plans. If you sign up for a longer subscription, you can get a better discount. The plans are:

• Monthly: $10.00 per month
  
• Quarterly: $26.99 billed every 3 months ($8.99/mo)
  
• Annual: $77.99 billed every year ($6.49/mo)

IPVanish does not offer a free trial at the moment, but it has a 30-day money back guarantee with any of its plans, even the monthly plan. You'll need to pay for the service upfront. The refund is automatically processed when you cancel from the website.

However, note that IPVanish will not issue refunds if you purchased it through the Apple store.

IPVANISH FEATURES

© CreditDonkey

Now let's take a closer look IPVanish's features.

No Logging Policy

IPVanish does not keep logs of any user connection, traffic, or activity data. It does not sell users' personal information to third parties.

This is important, since they're operating out of the US - a Five-Eyes country. The good news is that the US doesn't have any data-retention laws, so IPVanish is able to have a zero-logs policy.

Without logs, your information is secure. There's nothing to show, even if IPVanish were to share information.

No Third Parties

IPVanish own all their servers. That way, they have complete control over their hardware, and can manage their network better. This translates to faster, more reliable speeds for users.

All aspects of their service are handled internally. This includes things like app development and customer support.

Another advantage of not having a third-party developer - your information is more secure. That way, the only one with access to your information is IPVanish.

Security Features

Kill-switch
If your VPN connection randomly drops (which can happen, like if you have unstable internet connection), the Kill Switch feature will automatically block your device from accessing the internet. This way, you won't be unknowingly using an unsecured connection.

Scramble
This feature hides that you're using a VPN. It's useful when using in countries that detect and block VPN connections. Scramble disguises the connection so you can bypass firewalls.

DNS leak protection
IPVanish does not use any third party DNS provider. They only use servers operated by IPVanish. This ensures your DNS queries are never leaked.

Split Tunneling
While connected to the VPN, you can pick which apps you don't want routed through the VPN. This gives you more control over your internet traffic.

This feature is only available on the Android app and Amazon Fire Stick/FireTV.

P2P File Sharing

IPVanish allows P2P file sharing and torrenting on all of its servers without throttling speed. With unlimited data and fast speeds, you can download your files with speed and security.

In addition, it also supports SOCKS5 web proxy. This hides the originating IP address when you make P2P and VoIP connections. This gives you an extra layer of anonymity.

Router Installation

You can install IPVanish VPN directly on your router. This lets you protect all devices connected to your home network. Even devices like your smart TV, smart speakers, and game consoles can be protected.

Using a VPN on your router is safer, since it's always on. You don't have to worry about remembering to connect to a VPN server, since you're protected from the source.

SECURE CLOUD STORAGE

When you subscribe to IPVanish, you also get complimentary 250 GB of SugarSync® secure cloud storage.

SugarSync provides secure cloud file storage, syncing, sharing, and backup. It supports most document, photo, video, and music files. There is also a remote data-wipe feature in case you lose your device.

CAN YOU STREAM WITH IPVANISH?

IPVanish cannot stream Netflix. Netflix has blacklisted all IPVanish's servers so you can't access the content.

Similarly, you cannot stream Hulu or Amazon Prime video.

As of now, IPVanish is only able to stream Kodi, SlingTV, Youtube, and certain live sports streaming.

If you want to access Netflix and other popular media platforms, pick NordVPN or ExpressVPN instead.

DOWNSIDES

Here are some reasons you may want to look at another VPN provider.

More expensive pricing
IPVanish is more expensive than other VPN providers. And yet, it doesn't offer as many features or capabilities as some of the others do. It's not the most well-rounded VPN for the price.

No Netflix streaming
This alone could be a dealbreaker for you.

No dedicated IP
IPVanish does not offer dedicated IPs. When you connect to a VPN server, you share the IP with other users. If you need a dedicated IP for any reason, look at NordVPN.

Located in the US
Since it's located in the US, IPVanish has to abide by its laws. Although there are no data retention laws in the US, it's still part of the Five Eyes network. Things may change in the future, making IPVanish less secure.

For now, we're confident in IPVanish's security, given its zero-logs policy.

Alternatives to IPVanish

© CreditDonkey

NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the best all-around VPN services in terms of price and features. It's located in Panama, which has no data-retention laws. It keeps no logs and your privacy is protected.

They have over 5,800 servers in 59 countries. You can have up to six connections. It supports Netflix and P2P networks. It also works in China.

It has a unique Double VPN feature. This passes your traffic through two VPN servers, so your data is encrypted twice.

NordVPN accepts payments from PayPal and major credit cards. You can even use Bitcoin if you'd like to keep your identity private.

		Visit Site
	IPVanish	NordVPN
		SPECIAL OFFER 3 Year Plan - $3.49/Month - Learn More
	Benefits and Features
Live Chat Support	Yes	Yes
Subscription	$10.99/month $9.99/month (3-month subscription) $7.49/month (12-month subscription)	$11.95/month $6.99/month (12-month subscription) $4.99/month (24-month subscription) $3.49/month (36-month subscription)
Payment Methods	Credit card, Paypal	Credit card, Bitcoin, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, UnionPay
Free Trial	30-day money back guarantee	30-day money back guarantee
Money Back Guarantee	30-day money back guarantee.	30-day money back guarantee.
Windows	Yes	Yes
iPhone App	Yes	Yes
macOS	Yes	Yes
Android App	Yes	Yes
Linux	"Best support" - not guaranteed	Yes
Cancellation	Paypal and credit card users can cancel via their IPVanish account. You can also cancel recurring subscriptions on the Apple store and Google Play.	Credit card users can cancel via their NordVPN account. You can also cancel recurring subscriptions on the Apple store and Google Play.
Jurisdiction	United States	Panama
Number of Servers	1400+ servers	5200+ servers
Countries Served	60+ countries	59 countries
Security Protocols	OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP), IKEv2/IPSec, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec	PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN (with TCP/UDP)
Encryption	AES-256	AES-256
Works in China	No	Yes
Devices per license	Unlimited devices	6 devices
Routers	Yes	Yes
Anonymous	Not anonymous. You'll have to provide payment details for your subscription.	Allows user to stay anonymous. Accepts payment in Bitcoin and other methods. Registration only requires e-mail address.*
Keep Logs	Keeps no logs, except user's e-mail address, username, and payment data.	Keeps no logs, except user's e-mail address, username, and payment data. Bitcoin can be used to keep personal data private.
Allows P2P	Yes, on all servers	Yes. P2P traffic will automatically be rerouted to servers in Canada and the Netherlands.
		Visit Site
		3 Year Plan - $3.49/Month 2 Year Plan - $4.99/Month 1 Year Plan - $6.99/Month
IPVanish: Pricing information from published website as of 06/18/2018 NordVPN: Pricing information from published website as of 06/18/2018

ExpressVPN
Based in the Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN has has 3,000+ servers in 94 countries. Even though it's a little more expensive, it's one of the top choices if you're looking for quality, speed, and reliability.

It supports torrenting, streaming of all major media platforms, and can bypass China restrictions.

However, ExpressVPN only connects up to 5 devices, while IPVanish can protect unlimited devices per license.

CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a VPN provider based out of Romania. Romania has no data retention laws, allowing CyberGhost to keep no logs on users.

They also have more than 1,200 servers spread across almost 60 countries. One thing to note is that they have better-than-average coverage for Africa, a continent most VPN companies ignore.

It supports torrenting and streaming of major media platforms. It also blocks ads and malware.

CyberGhost offers a free 24-hour trial with no credit card required. And if you sign up for one of the longer subscriptions, it also has a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line

IPVanish offers strong security and fast speeds, but they miss out on a few key points. Not being able to connect to Netflix may be a deal breaker for some. Or not working in China is a no-go for those who frequently travel there.

The pricing is on the higher end, so not having these features makes it harder to compete against other cheaper providers (such as NordVPN).

It wouldn't be our top recommended VPN provider, but could work depending on what you need. A big advantage is that there's no cap on the number of devices, so it could be good for families.