IPVanish offers excellent value since it comes with unlimited simultaneous connections. Most virtual private networks (VPNs) have a limit on how many devices you can use, but IPVanish subscribers can connect as many devices as they need under one plan.

However, IPVanish doesn't have as many robust privacy features compared to other VPN providers. It also lacks usability in the desktop app with a dated interface. Meanwhile the mobile app has a clean, easy-to-use interface.

If you're looking for a VPN with all the essential features, including unlocking Netflix content abroad, then you may enjoy IPVanish.

IPVanish VPN overview

Who is IPVanish best for?

• Recommended for people who want to connect an unlimited amount of devices and want an experience optimized for mobile.

One of the biggest perks of IPVanish is the ability to connect as many devices as you need. Most VPNs only allow a limited number of devices, but if you have a large household, then IPVanish could save you money on VPN costs.

Based on the user experience, IPVanish seems to have prioritized its mobile app over its desktop counterpart. The mobile app has a clean interface, and it's easy to find settings and receive support. Meanwhile, the desktop app isn't as intuitive and looks a bit more outdated.

IPVanish also has many security features you can personalize to your needs like a kill switch, multiple VPN protocols, or split tunneling. It does all this without compromising too much on bandwidth when connecting to international VPN servers.

IPVanish pros and cons

IPVanish features

IPVanish is a great option if you are looking to connect multiple devices without compromising on bandwidth and security. There's no limit to how many devices you can connect to IPVanish. It also has a strict no-logs policy and won't track and store your online activity.

However, if you don't have many devices to connect to, it may not be a cost-effective solution. IPVanish is a good value with the first year discount, but it becomes a premium subscription after the discount period is over. Many other VPN providers have cheaper plans, especially if you opt to do a long-term subscription like 2 years. Some VPNs with comparable or lower costs include NordVPN, Surfshark, or CyberGhost.

IPVanish server count and countries

• 2,000+ servers in 49 countries

IPVanish has over 2,000 servers in 49 countries. Most of these servers are located in North America and Europe, but it also includes Asia, Oceania, and some South American countries.

That’s not the largest server list we’ve seen (NordVPN has 5,000+), but it’s decent. Having a large number of servers accessible is crucial to ensuring you have a stable connection no matter how much traffic a server receives. You can always connect to a new server in the same location to gain a faster connection.

If you're unsure which server will give you the quickest connection, you can always use IPVanish's "Fastest Available Server" option. This feature uses your real IP address to find the servers closest to you that should provide the fastest connection.

No-logs policy and headquarters

• IPVanish logs policy: No logs
• IPVanish headquarters: United States

IPVanish has a no-logs policy. It claims it won't track or keep records of your online activities while using IPVanish.

While many VPNs claim to have a no-logs policy, it's not always the case. Even IPVanish was once involved in a scandal in 2016 when it was revealed that it handed over log information on a user to the U.S. government despite claiming to have a no-logs policy.[1] Since then, IPVanish's no-log policy has been audited and verified by an independent cybersecurity firm.

Since IPVanish is located in the United States, it's part of the Five Eyes Alliance. Along with the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the alliance monitors the online communications of citizens and foreign governments. It opens a door for countries to spy on their citizens by proxy. However, this can easily be combated by using a VPN with a no-logs policy, a security tool legal in all five alliance countries.

Kill switch

A kill switch feature automatically disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN loses its connection. This is a helpful privacy tool to prevent your data from leaking unexpectedly and ensure you always have an encrypted connection.

IPVanish has a kill switch feature included. However, it's only available on the macOS, Windows, and Android app. The IPVanish app for iOS doesn't have a kill switch feature.

The kill switch is easy to turn on by navigating to the Settings menu and selecting "Kill Switch." A pop-up will appear that explains how to turn it on.

Split tunneling

Split tunneling can divide your internet traffic and let some of it access your internet connection directly while other traffic goes through the VPN. It's beneficial if you need specific applications to run faster than a VPN allows or if you want to use a VPN to hide your true location but still need to use location-based services like Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.

IPVanish has a split tunneling feature. To turn it on, simply head over to the Settings menu and select "Split tunneling". Then you can choose the applications you want to bypass the VPN connection.

Encryption

IPVanish uses AES-256 encryption to protect your internet traffic from prying eyes.

AES-256 encryption is the industry standard and makes it virtually impossible to decrypt your data. AES-256 got its name from the length of the encryption key with 2^256 possible combinations. This makes it extremely difficult to hack, and even a supercomputer would take millions of years to crack the code.

VPN protocol

IPVanish uses multiple VPN protocols, including IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec.

Having multiple VPN protocols allows you to choose the option best for them. Some protocols prioritize speed while others focus on security. However, WireGuard is considered the best all-around VPN protocol since it provides quick speeds while optimizing encryption.

IPVanish test results

While the features seem nice, we had to put them to the test. We used a speed test, a DNS leak test, and a WebRTC leak test to evaluate if IPVanish lives up to our expectations for internet speed and overall privacy.

We found that it offers full WebRTC and DNS leak protection, but some of its servers may dramatically reduce your internet speeds.

Speed tests

• IPVanish speed test results: IPVanish passed the speed test results.

First, we tested our internet speed without an IPVanish connection. Then we selected several different countries as our VPN servers and tested our internet speed. Compared to our speed test results for NordVPN and Surfshark, IPVanish wasn’t the fastest VPN.

But, a VPN tends to slow down your internet speed as it encrypts your data. While a small lag may be expected, it shouldn't affect your overall ability to connect to your network.

The speed test was conducted on an iPhone device running iOS from a physical location in the U.S.

Here are the results of our speed tests while connecting to VPN servers in the U.S., U.K., and Australia.

IPVanish speed test results

There are some surprising results. For example, connecting to a U.S. server across the country led to significantly lower download and upload speeds. This could be because we connected to a busy server which led to a fluctuation in speed.

Meanwhile, when we connected to a U.K. server, we saw an 8% increase in upload speeds. While VPNs tend to slow down a connection, you can occasionally find a server with low traffic and possibly high speeds.

Our speed test results show varying results about where fast connections are happening. Luckily, IPVanish has a "Fastest Available" feature that will connect to the best server for you based on your location. You can also narrow down your options by selecting “Best available country,” “Best available city,” and “Best available server.”

IPVanish Netflix tests

• IPVanish Netflix test results: IPVanish passed the Netflix tests and allowed us to watch Netflix in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.

Streaming services like Netflix offer different content to subscribers in different regions. You may be based in the U.S., but if you want to watch a show available on Netflix U.K., you'll need a VPN to cover your current location and access the U.K. content.

We tested IPVanish, and it connected us to Netflix libraries in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K. with no buffering and no problems. However, it has the least intuitive interface on desktop compared to some of the best VPN services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost.

IPVanish Netflix test results

DNS leak tests

• IPVanish DNS leak test results: IPVanish passed the DNS leak test.

A domain name system (DNS) leak can happen when requests are sent to an internet service provider's DNS servers instead of being concealed by a VPN. It's a security flaw resulting in a breach of privacy.

We used the DNS Leak Test service from BrowserLeaks to test IPVanish. Before connecting to the VPN, our information was visible including the IP address, internet service provider, and location. After connecting to IPVanish, this information was properly concealed.

WebRTC leak tests

• IPVanish WebRTC leak test results: IPVanish passed the WebRTC leak test.

A WebRTC leak can expose your true IP address even if you’re using a VPN service. We used the BrowserLeaks website to test for WebRTC leaks before and after using IPVanish.

Our true IP address was shown on the test when we weren't connected to the VPN. But once we ran the test while connected to IPVanish, our IP address was masked by the VPN.

IPVanish compatibility

IPVanish works with many operating systems and devices including:

• Windows: 10+
• macOS: 10.13+
• iOS: 13+
• Android: 5.1+
• Chrome OS: 11
• Fire OS: 5+
• Amazon Fire TV Stick
• Kodi
• Linux: Debian- or RedHat-based distros
• Router firmware: DD-WRT v2 and v3, Tomato, Asus-WRT, Merlin

IPVanish customer support

There are numerous ways to contact IPVanish to receive customer support. It has a call center, which other providers like NordVPN don't have.

The IPVanish phone number is +1-800-591-5241 and operates between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time (CT) from Monday through Friday. Outside of call center hours, you can also submit a request online. But there is no mention of how quickly a member of the support team will get back to you.

Alternatively, you can use the IPVanish chatbot to find answers. It's located on the bottom right of its website or app. You can use the 24/7 live chat feature or leave a message. To use the chatbot on the website, you'll need to enter your email address or log in with your Facebook or Google account.

But you may not even need to get in touch with customer support since IPVanish provides an extensive online support center. You can find FAQs, troubleshooting advice, and numerous set-up guides.

On the mobile app, all of these customer support options are easily accessible. Simply click on the "Help" icon on the menu and your options will appear.

IPVanish VPN prices and subscriptions

IPVanish offers three different payment subscriptions: monthly, quarterly, and yearly. They all include the same VPN features, but the yearly subscription also includes VIPRE Antivirus.

The longer the subscription, the more you can save every month. The cheapest plan is the two-year plan, which is $2.99/mo. The most expensive is the monthly subscription at $12.99/mo.

The annual plan is slightly cheaper or similar compared to other VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark at $2.99/mo and $1.99/mo, respectively.

IPVanish also places no limit on how many devices you can connect, whereas NordVPN limits its services to six devices. If you have a large household with many devices, IPVanish has great value.

Payment options include all major debit and credit cards as well as PayPal.

IPVanish cost

IPVanish VPN FAQs

Bottom line: Is IPVanish good?

We can't say IPVanish is the best VPN out there, but if you have a large family or device-heavy household, the ability to connect unlimited devices to secure Wi-Fi provides excellent value. 

While IPVanish doesn't have the most servers, it still offers a large variety of server locations around the world, including countries in South America. It also can help you choose the fastest server in your preferred location. It also can help you choose the fastest server in your preferred location and is well regarded by VPN users for offering servers that unlock torrenting and streaming sites.

If you don't have many devices, then you might find IPVanish pricing too expensive — especially when the first-year discount ends. You may also not enjoy the dated desktop interface. However, we had an excellent user experience with IPVanish on our mobile device.

IPVanish is best for households with multiple devices looking for the essential features of a VPN without affecting internet speeds. If you aren't looking to connect several devices and want a more affordable plan, then you may find NordVPN or CyberGhost more suitable for your needs.

4.4

Learn More

On IPVanish's website

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IPVanish

• Unlimited devices for each plan
• Works with popular streaming services like Netflix
• Kill switch feature not available on iOS

Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.