IPVanish Review

The Bottom Line

After more than 10 years reviewing VPNs and putting IPVanish through its paces again over the past few weeks, my view is straightforward: this is a better VPN than most review sites will tell you in 2026, and if you last looked at them two or three years ago, a lot has changed.

Speeds remain fast and consistent, particularly on nearby European servers. The no-logs policy has now been independently audited twice, most recently by Schellman Compliance in 2025. And the streaming situation has completely turned around: Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ all worked reliably in my testing, which was not something I could say in previous versions of this review.

Privacy is solid for what it is. The twice-audited no-logs policy and quarterly transparency reports mean IPVanish’s privacy claims now have more independent backing than most VPNs in the top ten. The US jurisdiction is still a consideration for privacy-conscious users, and I won’t pretend otherwise.

What I like less is the renewal pricing, which jumps sharply after your introductory term. No dedicated streaming servers means you’ll occasionally need to switch servers. And China remains unsupported with no apparent plans to change that.

Overall I still recommend IPVanish to most people who want a reliable, well-priced all-rounder, particularly those who need unlimited device connections or stream regularly on a Fire TV Stick. You can get IPVanish Essential from $2.49 per month on the two-year plan. Let’s get to the full review.

IPVanish at a glance

How IPVanish compares to the main alternatives

If you’re specifically weighing IPVanish against NordVPN, our NordVPN review goes into full detail. For the short version, here’s the quick comparison:

1. Price & Plans

I’ve moved pricing near the top because the renewal price situation is worth understanding before anything else, and it’s the thing most likely to catch people out.

IPVanish pricing is no longer as simple as it was previously. They’ve now followed the bulk of VPN providers and introduced two tiers: Essential (the core VPN with Threat Protection, unlimited devices, and 3GB eSIM data) and Advanced (which adds Threat Protection Pro, phone support, 1TB cloud storage, and a Secure Browser). Here’s how the pricing breaks down across both:

For most people, Essential on the 2-year plan is the right buy. The Advanced tier only makes sense if you specifically want the 1TB cloud storage or Secure Browser. Threat Protection Pro is the other meaningful addition, but unless you’re doing a lot of file downloading it’s not a must-have.

Watch out for the renewal price hike

This is the part I feel I have to write in bold every time. IPVanish’s auto-renewal prices are significantly higher than the introductory prices.

The renewal warning is built into the table above, but it’s worth saying plainly: when your initial term ends, Essential renews at $89.99 per year and Advanced at $109.99. Both are steep jumps from what you paid on sign-up.

IPVanish doesn’t hide this, but it doesn’t make it prominent either, and you’re opted into auto-renewal by default. The first thing I’d do after signing up is make a note of your renewal date and plan to cancel and resubscribe at the promotional rate. It takes five minutes and saves a considerable amount.

Payment methods and refunds

Payment options include credit and debit cards, PayPal, and Google Pay. Amazon Pay has been removed since my last review. There is no cryptocurrency or anonymous payment option, which is a minor frustration for a privacy service.

The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans. There is also a 7-day free trial on mobile apps (iOS and Android), a recent addition that lets you test the service before committing. You can start a mobile trial directly from the App Store or Google Play without needing a credit card.

My recommendation: the Essential 2-year plan at $2.49 per month is the best starting point for most people. If you’re unsure about committing two years, the yearly Essential plan is a reasonable middle ground at $3.89 per month.

2. Speed

IPVanish has consistently been one of the faster VPN providers over the years, and that reputation holds up in my current testing.

I ran speed tests over several weeks across a range of servers at random on a Windows client using WireGuard. I’ve been using TalkTalk, but it’ll be much the same for your home connection regardless of which provider you use.

The connection speed achieved without using a VPN was: 507.64 Mbps.

These are significantly better results than my previous round of testing, and honestly better than I expected. Netherlands, Switzerland, and Sweden all came back above 475 Mbps, which represents barely any speed loss at all on a 507 Mbps base connection.

New York at 412 Mbps is a result I’d normally associate with top-tier providers, not a VPN in this price bracket. Even Australia, traditionally the punishment test for any VPN, delivered 296 Mbps, which is more than enough for 4K streaming with headroom to spare.

The UK and France results are the only ones that show a more noticeable drop, coming in around 330 to 360 Mbps. Still very usable for everything from HD streaming to video calls, but it’s worth noting that the UK server didn’t top the chart as you might expect from a domestic connection.

Compared to ExpressVPN, which returned 361.4 Mbps on their UK server in similar testing, IPVanish is now effectively neck and neck on that location. Against NordVPN at 314.6 Mbps on UK, IPVanish actually pulls ahead. Across the board this is a strong set of results and puts IPVanish firmly among the faster services I’ve tested.

Latency and gaming

Most VPN reviews focus only on download speed. If you game online or use voice chat, ping matters more. For a full breakdown of the best options, see our best VPN for gaming guide.

On a local UK server, I recorded a ping of around 7ms, which is excellent and close to what you’d get without a VPN. At that latency there’s no noticeable lag in fast-paced online gaming. Longer-distance connections increase latency predictably, but given the New York server returned over 400 Mbps in throughput testing, the infrastructure is clearly in good shape across the board.

3. Privacy & Logging

IPVanish has a no-logs policy, but what matters is whether that claim has been put to the test. In this case it has, twice.

IPVanish does not log usage data from its subscribers: no record of what websites you visit, no record of what you’re doing or saying online. They go further and also state they don’t retain metadata, including your IP address, any VPN IP addresses used, or connection timestamps. Metadata on its own can link you to your online activity just as effectively as traffic logs, so it’s important this is explicitly addressed.

The first independent audit was completed in 2022 by the Leviathan Security Group. A second audit was completed in 2025 by Schellman Compliance LLC, reaching the same conclusion: IPVanish’s infrastructure is not configured to retain user activity logs. IPVanish also now publishes quarterly transparency reports via their Trust Centre, something I felt was long overdue.

The elephant in the room is the 2016 incident. Under their then-owner Highwinds, IPVanish handed over a user’s name, email, and real IP address to the Department of Homeland Security in connection with a criminal case, despite claiming a no-logs policy at the time. It was a serious failure.

IPVanish has changed hands twice since then. The people who made that decision are long gone. The current owner, Ziff Davis, has commissioned two independent technical audits that examine actual server configurations, databases, and code rather than simply interviewing staff. Both confirm the present architecture cannot retain what was handed over in 2016.

My position: this is now a decade old, under a fundamentally different ownership structure, and addressed more rigorously than most VPNs that have never faced a comparable test. I don’t think it should define IPVanish in 2026.

Jurisdiction and ownership

IPVanish is based in the United States, placing it within the Five Eyes surveillance alliance. The current owner is Ziff Davis, formerly known as J2 Global, a large US digital media and technology company.

You may know Ziff Davis from another angle: they also own PCMag, one of the world’s most widely-read technology publications. Whether you find it interesting or slightly awkward that the parent company of a VPN also owns a site that reviews VPNs is up to you, but it’s worth knowing.

Under the Ziff Davis umbrella, IPVanish operates alongside StrongVPN. Encrypt.me, SaferVPN, and several other services previously in the group have been wound down or merged.

There are no mandatory logging requirements in the US at the time of writing, and the twice-audited no-logs policy covers the practical privacy concern for most users. Privacy purists who want a VPN entirely outside Five Eyes jurisdiction will still prefer NordVPN (Panama) or ExpressVPN (British Virgin Islands).

If you’re specifically looking for the best option for UK users, our best VPN for UK guide covers how IPVanish stacks up against the alternatives.

In Comparison:

Simultaneous connections

IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous device connections. You can have as many devices connected at the same time as you like on a single account. In a household with laptops, phones, tablets, a Fire TV Stick, and a games console, that adds up quickly. It’s one of the things that genuinely sets IPVanish apart.

In Comparison:

Surfshark is the only direct rival in the unlimited category. For large families or anyone with a lot of connected devices, unlimited is simply better than a fixed limit.

4. Security Features

IPVanish covers the security essentials well and has added a handful of features in recent years worth understanding properly.

Encryption and protocols

IPVanish supports a broader protocol selection than many providers who have narrowed to one or two options. Currently available:

Scramble (obfuscation)

One feature that deserves more attention than it gets is Scramble. Available on the OpenVPN protocol, Scramble wraps your VPN packets so they appear to be generic HTTPS traffic to Deep Packet Inspection firewalls.

In practical terms, IPVanish can function on networks that actively block standard VPN connections: restrictive workplace networks, hotel Wi-Fi, or countries with VPN restrictions.

I tested it against a network configured to block standard UDP VPN ports and it worked exactly as intended, establishing a connection where one would otherwise be refused. Most home users will never need this, but it’s a useful option to have.

RAM-only servers

IPVanish is rolling out RAM-only servers across its network. RAM-only servers wipe all data on every reboot, making it technically impossible for logs to persist even if a server were physically seized.

Currently covering 18 locations, with a commitment to a fully RAM-only network by 2027. It’s a direction of travel rather than a completed rollout, but a meaningful step that not every provider in this price bracket is taking.

Kill switch, leak protection, and split tunnelling

The kill switch works reliably on Windows in my testing. There is a known issue on macOS where the kill switch can fail to prevent an IP leak specifically during a server switch rather than a connection drop. I’d recommend pausing your online activity briefly before switching servers on Mac until this is addressed.

DNS and IPv6 leak protection are both included and function as expected. Split tunnelling lets you choose which apps bypass the VPN, useful for keeping a banking app on your regular connection while routing everything else through IPVanish.

The On Demand feature automatically connects the VPN when you join specific networks or open selected apps. If you regularly use public Wi-Fi, this removes the need to remember to turn the VPN on manually.

Threat Protection (ad-blocker)

IPVanish includes Threat Protection as a built-in feature. When enabled, it blocks ads, combats online trackers, and filters known malicious websites.

The ad-blocking element handled the majority of ads well in my testing. It’s not a replacement for a dedicated browser-level ad-blocker, but it works well as an all-in-one option.

Double VPN (multi-hop)

IPVanish now offers double-hop VPN servers.

How they differ from many other providers is you can select any two custom locations yourself. You’re not simply locked into pre-determined locations.

5. Server Network

IPVanish has done significant work on its server network in recent years. They now operate over 3,200 servers across 150+ locations in 110+ countries, with more than 40,000 IP addresses. In 2023, IPVanish had around 53 server locations. Effectively doubling coverage in two years is a meaningful infrastructure investment and something most review sites haven’t caught up with yet.

Server location options now cover every continent, with strong coverage across the US and Europe. For UK users, IPVanish has locations in Birmingham, Glasgow, London, and Manchester, giving you several options for finding the fastest connection.

I’ve used servers across the US, Spain, Greece, Thailand, and more without issues, and switching is quick and simple from the main app interface.

In Comparison:

Does IPVanish use virtual servers?

Yes, IPVanish now use virtual servers in some locations.

Previously IPVanish had been one of few VPN services that didn’t use virtual locations but this has all changed in recent years and they now do.

I really like the fact that the virtual locations are highlighted in the app itself so you don’t need to visit their website to see which locations are not physically where they claim to be. This isn’t true across all providers so is a real bonus for IPVanish users.

6. Streaming

This is where IPVanish has changed most since my previous review, where I concluded that Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime were largely inaccessible. That picture has significantly changed.

IPVanish has clearly invested in its ability to unblock geo-restricted content. Here is where things stand in 2026 based on my own testing:

One practical caveat to be upfront about: IPVanish does not have dedicated streaming servers. You’re using the same general server pool for streaming as for everything else. You’ll occasionally need to switch to a different server if the first one doesn’t unlock a service.

It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a minor inconvenience compared to NordVPN’s SmartPlay, which routes streaming traffic automatically. If you hit a wall, switching the protocol setting from Automatic to WireGuard in the app settings usually solves it.

7. Torrenting & P2P

IPVanish doesn’t just permit torrenting, it actively encourages it. All servers support P2P and the service is well set up for it.

1. All servers support P2P. There are no restrictions on which servers you can torrent on. You don’t need to hunt for P2P-specific options as you do with some providers.

2. SOCKS5 proxy support. This is a feature most IPVanish reviews overlook and shouldn’t. IPVanish includes SOCKS5 proxy credentials in every account dashboard. Configure your torrent client (qBittorrent, for example) to route through the proxy and you’ll mask your IP address from the torrent swarm without the speed overhead of full VPN encryption.

In testing this produces measurably faster peak download speeds compared to running the full tunnel. If your priority is hiding your IP from copyright tracking rather than encrypting all traffic, this is the smarter tool for the job.

3. Reliable kill switch. Critical for torrenting. If your connection drops mid-download, you don’t want your real IP suddenly visible to the swarm. The Windows kill switch handled every disconnect scenario I tested without issue.

A few things to be aware of:

• IPVanish does not support port forwarding, which reduces seeding efficiency for advanced users who care about their upload ratios. Proton VPN does support it if that’s a priority.
• Torrenting itself is legal in the UK and most countries. Torrenting copyrighted material isn’t. A VPN doesn’t change that.

If torrenting is your main use case, see our best VPN for torrenting guide for a full breakdown of the top options.

8. Apps

Mobile apps (Android & iOS)

IPVanish offers well-designed apps for Android and iOS. Both have been updated since my previous review and present a consistent experience across platforms.

The Android app covers everything you’d want: quick connect from the main screen, split tunnelling, an OS-level kill switch, and the On Demand feature which automatically connects the VPN on specific networks or when opening selected apps. If you use public Wi-Fi regularly, On Demand removes the “remember to turn on the VPN” problem entirely.

Server switching is simple and fast. The iOS app is clean and covers the essentials. I used it on my iPad for streaming on Netflix while on the move and had no issues.

Both apps are available from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Desktop apps (Windows & macOS)

The desktop apps are available for Windows and Mac OS, with Windows the most fully featured of the two.

The Windows app has been updated with a cleaner, more modern design since my previous review. It retains the same basic layout that long-term users will recognise while looking significantly less dated. Server selection is handled via Map, List, and Filter views. Quick Connect handles it for most users.

In Settings you’ll find everything you need:

• IPv6 Leak Protection
• DNS Leak Protection
• Kill Switch
• Protocol and port selection
• Scramble (OpenVPN obfuscation)
• Split Tunnelling

An interesting development is IPVanish’s Secure Browser. You can run it via the desktop app or by using a browser extension. It’s basically a livestream of a web session hosted on IPVanish servers that displays to you.

This means none of the data actually reaches your computer, something more akin to a live video stream. It’s an interesting feature and one I haven’t seen from any other provider.

One thing worth flagging honestly: the macOS kill switch has a known issue where it can fail to prevent your real IP from leaking during a server switch specifically (not a connection drop, but when actively changing servers).

Stopping your online activity briefly before switching servers on Mac is the sensible workaround until this is fixed. It does not affect Windows.

Other apps (Fire TV, Linux, routers)

IPVanish has a dedicated app for Amazon Fire TV devices, including Fire TV Stick, Fire TV, and Fire TV Cube. This is one of IPVanish’s strongest calling cards and, in my experience, one of the best Fire TV VPN apps in the market.

If streaming via Fire TV Stick is your primary use case, IPVanish deserves serious consideration. Our best VPN for Firestick guide goes into more depth.

There is also a Linux app. IPVanish can be installed on VPN-enabled routers manually using their setup guides, or you can buy a pre-configured router from Flashrouters or other good retailers that works directly with IPVanish if you want to cover your entire network from a single point.

9. Customer Support

IPVanish’s support is generally good but, like most VPN providers these days, the entry point is annoying.

The support section on the website has clearly written guides covering most common issues, and that’s where I’d start. If you need to speak to someone, IPVanish has 24/7 live chat, which is bot-gated initially before reaching a real person.

Once connected to a human, the quality is decent. They handled both basic and more complex technical questions competently in my testing, and when they didn’t know the answer directly they escalated quickly or pointed me to the right guide. They do lean towards pointing you to knowledge base articles rather than answering directly, which isn’t ideal, but on most occasions it was the right article.

Live chat covers billing, sales, and technical support. You can also raise a support ticket for less urgent issues, though response times are slower than live chat.

10. Who shouldn’t buy IPVanish

I want to be honest about this rather than just write a broadly positive review with no caveats. IPVanish is a good VPN for most people. It is not the right fit for everyone.

Don’t buy IPVanish if:

• You want guaranteed streaming access without ever switching servers. IPVanish has no dedicated streaming infrastructure. NordVPN’s SmartPlay handles this automatically and more consistently.
• You’re going to China and need a reliably working VPN. IPVanish does not work behind the Great Firewall. Look here instead.
• US jurisdiction is a firm dealbreaker for you. IPVanish is a Five Eyes country. NordVPN (Panama) or ExpressVPN (British Virgin Islands) are better fits if that’s a hard line.
• You need a dedicated IP. IPVanish doesn’t offer one. NordVPN does.
• You want browser extensions. IPVanish doesn’t have them and shows no signs of adding them.
• You need port forwarding for serious torrenting. IPVanish doesn’t support it. Proton VPN does.

For everyone else, the case for IPVanish is straightforward: fast speeds, unlimited connections, genuinely improved streaming, a twice-audited no-logs policy, and competitive pricing on introductory plans.

Verdict

IPVanish is a better VPN than most review sites give it credit for, and I say that as someone who has tested it across every phase of its history, including its worst.

The streaming situation is the most significant change since my previous review. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITVX, and Sky Go all work reliably in 2026 testing. The privacy credentials have been meaningfully strengthened with a second independent audit in 2025 and ongoing quarterly transparency reports. The server network has effectively doubled in two years and they’ve added advanced features like double-hop servers.

Speeds remain very competitive and the gaming latency on nearby servers is excellent. The unlimited simultaneous connections are still a genuine differentiator, and the Fire TV app remains one of the best in the market for that specific use case.

What hasn’t changed: the renewal pricing is a genuine issue and needs to be managed consciously. No dedicated streaming servers means an occasional server switch rather than guaranteed first-connection access. China is unsupported. US jurisdiction will remain a consideration for some users regardless of what the audits say.

The Essential 2-year plan is where I’d start for most people. Set a reminder for your renewal date and plan to resubscribe at the promotional rate rather than letting it auto-renew. That one habit makes IPVanish considerably better value than the headline renewal prices suggest.

Don’t forget the 30-day money-back guarantee and the 7-day free trial on mobile, which give you plenty of time to test the service before committing.

Ready to give them a try?

30-day money-back guarantee • 7-day free trial on mobile

What do users think?

Trustpilot users currently give IPVanish a score of 4.2 out of 5.

For comparison, ExpressVPN sits at 4.1, NordVPN at 4.2, Surfshark at 4.3, and CyberGhost at 4.0. That puts IPVanish solidly in the upper tier on user satisfaction. The most common complaints in negative reviews relate to billing and the auto-renewal pricing, which lines up with the issues I covered in the pricing section. Positive reviews most commonly highlight speed, ease of use on Fire TV devices, and the unlimited connections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IPVanish safe to use?

Yes. IPVanish uses AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption, both at the top end of current industry standards. The no-logs policy has been independently audited twice, most recently by Schellman Compliance in 2025. The US jurisdiction is a consideration for some users, but the twice-audited no-logs policy and RAM-only server rollout address the practical privacy concerns for most people.

Is IPVanish good for streaming?

Yes, and significantly more so than a couple of years ago. Netflix US and UK, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Disney+, Hulu, and Sky Go all worked reliably in my 2026 testing. IPVanish has no dedicated streaming servers, so you may occasionally need to switch servers if the first one doesn’t work. Switching the protocol to WireGuard in the app settings usually resolves issues quickly.

How many devices does IPVanish support?

Unlimited. You can connect as many devices as you like simultaneously on a single IPVanish account. Only Surfshark matches this among the major providers.

Does IPVanish work in China?

No. IPVanish does not work reliably inside China, and the company acknowledges this. If you’re travelling to China and need a working VPN, see our best VPNs for China guide instead.

Does IPVanish keep logs?

No. IPVanish’s no-logs policy has been independently audited twice: by Leviathan Security Group in 2022, and by Schellman Compliance LLC in 2025. Both confirmed the infrastructure is not configured to retain user activity logs. IPVanish also publishes quarterly transparency reports.

What is the 2016 logging incident and does it matter now?

In 2016, under their then-owner Highwinds, IPVanish handed over user information to US authorities despite claiming a no-logs policy. IPVanish has since changed hands twice and commissioned two independent technical audits confirming the current architecture cannot repeat what happened in 2016. My view is that it should now be treated as historical context rather than a current disqualifier.

Is IPVanish better than NordVPN?

For most users, NordVPN is the stronger all-round choice on speed, streaming consistency, privacy jurisdiction, and audit history. IPVanish wins on simultaneous connections (unlimited versus NordVPN’s 10) and on Fire TV specifically. The two-year introductory pricing also favours IPVanish, though NordVPN’s renewal pricing is similarly worth watching.

Can I use IPVanish for torrenting?

Yes. All IPVanish servers support P2P. The SOCKS5 proxy included with every account is particularly useful: it lets you route your torrent client through IPVanish’s proxy without the speed overhead of full VPN encryption, producing faster download speeds while still masking your IP. IPVanish does not support port forwarding.

What jurisdiction is IPVanish under?

United States, a Five Eyes country. The current owner is Ziff Davis. For users for whom Five Eyes jurisdiction is a firm dealbreaker, NordVPN (Panama) or ExpressVPN (British Virgin Islands) are better fits.

Does IPVanish offer a free trial?

Yes. A 7-day free trial is available on mobile apps (iOS and Android), started directly from the App Store or Google Play. All paid plans also include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What is the Scramble feature?

Scramble is IPVanish’s obfuscation feature, available on the OpenVPN protocol. It wraps VPN traffic so it appears to be regular HTTPS traffic to Deep Packet Inspection firewalls, allowing IPVanish to work on networks that block standard VPN connections, such as restrictive workplaces or countries with VPN restrictions.