IPVanish VPN review: Privacy features compared with other providers

Quick verdict 

IPVanish offers a good balance of features and a decent selection of VPN servers. A change in strategy means it’s now one of the cheapest audited VPNs on the market, although it did score lower than most of its competitors in terms of privacy and security.

One of the biggest attractions of IPVanish VPN is the unlimited device connections. It’s also a great VPN for beginners, thanks to its high level of usability (8.34). It only took 1.98 seconds to connect to a new server in our tests and the simple and clean interface makes it easy to navigate.

As a company (9.4), IPVanish has never encountered any issues with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) or Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), although it did lose some points for being based in the US. As part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, the U.S. shares citizen information with allies, making IPVanish potentially less private than providers like NordVPN, which is based in Panama.

IPVanish test results and overall scores

Here's where you'll find the criteria, evidence, and scoring for IPVanish.

6.47

Privacy & Security

7.55

Speed

9.50

Content Access

8.40

Pricing

8.34

Usability

8.21

Features

9.40

Company

8.00

Customer Service

IPVanish: Pros

IPVanish has support for unlimited simultaneous devices, which is useful for anyone with multiple devices requiring protection. 

It also performed very admirably in both our MacOS and iOS speed tests, reaching an average of 328.33Mbps and 443Mbps respectively on UK servers, making it especially useful for Apple lovers.

Additionally, IPVanish accessed nine out of the 10 streaming platforms we tested, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer. The only platform it was unable to access was Sky Go. 

Finally, IPVanish is currently one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. Right now, you can sign up for the 24-month contract for just £1.73 per year, which represents an 83 per cent discount. These frequent discounts and the 30-day money-back guarantee are why IPVanish is currently one of our top picks for the best cheap VPN.

IPVanish: Cons 

You may be wondering why IPVanish has such a low privacy and security score (6.47). IPVanish went through a large controversy in 2018 after an article for TorrentFreak revealed that the company was not abiding by its no-log policy. In 2016, IPVanish gave FBI investigators highly detailed information on one of its customers. This action led to an arrest, however, it proved that the company was storing customer data on its servers. 

It’s very important to note that since this incident, IPVanish has not experienced any more controversies. Its last independent audit took place in 2022 by Leviathan Security Group without any hiccups.

While this event did happen many years ago, it is something to keep in mind when comparing the security of each VPN.

Factor-by-Factor

Here’s a rundown of the factor-by-factor scores in our latest round of testing. 

Privacy and security – 6.47

IPVanish has been audited by Leviathan Security Group, a cyber security consulting firm. This VPN audit found the no-logs policy is as advertised and the VPN provider doesn’t log or store user data. 

As noted in our Cons section, IPVanish did previously leak its user data in 2016 to aid in a criminal investigation. 

Speed – 7.55

IPVanish has a reputation for speedy connections. This was confirmed in our iOS UK server tests, with an average of 443Mbps. In fact, its average speeds were comparable to the best in the business on Windows and Android, averaging 122.35Mbps and 132Mbps, respectively. It was also the fourth fastest on iOS, at 443Mbps.

Content access – 9.50

IPVanish performed very well in our content access tests. We tested each provider with the following streaming platforms:

• Amazon Prime
• Netflix
• BBC iPlayer
• Sky Go
• Now TV
• Channel 4
• ITV X
• Apple TV
• Disney+
• Paramount Plus

Out of these 10 platforms, IPVanish successfully accessed nine, with the only outlier being Sky Go. While not perfect, it does make IPVanish one of the best providers for TV and movie fans, as our testers experienced no buffering or lag on any platform. 

Pricing – 6.47

IPVanish offers three subscription terms – monthly, yearly or two years – with the latter being the cheapest option. Both long-term plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you the perfect opportunity to try before you buy.

There are various ways to pay for an IPVanish subscription, including PayPal, Google Pay and Amazon Pay. However, there’s no digital currency payment option such as Bitcoin or cryptocurrency, which some of the top VPN providers do accept.

Like most VPN providers, the longest contract represents the best value for money. At the time of writing, the 24-month contract has an 83 per cent discount, while the 12-month plan has a saving of 72 per cent. We have listed a detailed pricing breakdown of each IPVanish plan below for your convenience. 

Subscription term	Price per month
Monthly	£10.49
12-months	£2.92
24-months	£1.73

Usability – 8.34

IPVanish also received a very high usability score thanks to its clean interface and support across multiple platforms. IPVanish’s apps work across the following devices:

• Computers: Windows, Linux, MacOS, and Chromebook
• Mobile devices: Android and iOS 
• TV systems: Amazon Fire Stick, Android TV and Kodi 

IPVanish’s settings are all in one place and the button to locate them is clearly labelled. Once in the settings tab, you’re able to change protocols and configure various other privacy features.

There is also a tutorial section included in the app, which is great for beginners. Changing servers is simple and there are different tabs for countries, cities and your selected favourite servers. Should you find yourself with a VPN issue, IPVanish’s live chat feature is available within the app.

Features – 8.21

IPVanish earns a relatively high features score, thanks to a strong selection found across all apps and devices. Features like kill switch, which automatically disconnects you from the internet in the event your VPN connection drops, and malware protection are present across all platforms. Split tunnelling is also available across MacOS, iOS, Windows and Android, allowing users to choose which websites run through a VPN or a regular internet connection.  

IPVanish also uses Double Hop, which can send your internet traffic through multiple VPN servers for extra protection. Double Hop is available on iOS and Android and will be available on desktops later this November.

Company – 9.40

IPVanish was founded in 2012 by Mudhook Media – part of Highwinds Network Group – but has since changed hands. The VPN provider was acquired by J2 Global, now known as Ziff Davis, in 2019. 

The company is headquartered in the US, which may cause concern for the privacy-conscious, as the country is part of the Five Eyes – an intelligence-sharing alliance also comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. A VPN service located in one of the above countries may be compelled to share customer data with the authorities of any member state. 

Customer service – 8.75

IPVanish’s customer support is user-friendly and helpful. There are multiple channels for users to communicate with the provider, as well as handy set-up guides on its website. During our tests, IPVanish averaged 81 seconds to respond and successfully answered all three questions we asked.

Other VPNs to consider 

If you’re not sure about IPVanish, here are some of the best alternatives to consider:

• Privacy and security: Due to its past controversies, IPVanish does not have the best reputation when it comes to privacy and security. NordVPN scored higher in this category than any other VPN we reviewed and comes with a wealth of privacy features. 
• Server count: IPVanish has servers in over 100 countries. If you require more coverage, NordVPN and Surfshark have server locations in 111 and 105 countries, respectively. 
• Features: IPVanish does not have support for multihop and has very few unique features to its name. Surfshark and ExpressVPN are known for their impressive range of features and will be better suited for users hoping for further security measures.