IPVanish VPN Review

IPVanish is a US-based commercial VPN service. When a user connects to one of its servers, IPVanish supplies a shared decoy IP address that hides the real one, allowing the user to appear in one of more than 75 locations across many countries. The company focuses on providing an easy-to-use interface and strong network encryption to protect users’ privacy from third parties, whether they’re using a computer or mobile device.

In this article, we’ll cover some pros and cons of the IPVanish VPN service, including security features, pricing options and what current customers are saying.

Pros & Cons of IPVanish VPN

Key Features of IPVanish

We looked at the four most important features of any VPN and separated them into four categories: security and privacy, server coverage, performance, and price. Below is a breakdown of IPVanish’s key features.

Security & Privacy

The top priority for a VPN service is creating a secure, private browsing experience. IPVanish relies on the strongest available encryption (256-bit AES), which is also used by leading security firms and government agencies. This level of encryption ensures that the user’s IP address and personal information are protected from common hacking methods, such as brute force attacks, as well as censorship from third-party entities. This is especially important for users who want to use peer-to-peer (P2P) torrent services — something IPVanish not only allows but advertises. Some VPN companies store user data on their servers, which may expose it to leaks or vulnerabilities. Many customers also don’t like personal information being used for marketing purposes. These details are usually buried in the company’s privacy policy, so choosing the right provider is key. Fortunately, IPVanish has a no-logs policy that prevents storing information about users’ VPN sessions, and it’s also compatible with secure software like the Tor browser.

Server Coverage

Having widespread server coverage is crucial for a VPN service. To maintain performance and keep servers from being overloaded, the company should have numerous servers across geographical regions and countries. IPVanish has more than 40,000 available IP addresses accessible through over 1,500 servers in different countries, most located in North America and Europe. However, the VPN service has continually expanded its range to Asia, Oceania, South America and parts of Africa. In the United States, there are over a dozen servers in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Miami. Many online services are region-locked or otherwise censored by a third party. Connecting to a VPN server from a different country is one way users get around geographical restrictions. Though services like Netflix use advanced VPN-detection software, IPVanish may allow users to successfully access blocked online services from one of the company’s many server locations.

Performance

A VPN service is much less useful when it causes performance issues, so a good VPN should allow respectable download and upload speeds while connected to its servers. IPVanish offers reasonably fast download speeds. In company speed tests, performance was highest in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Speeds were lower in remote areas and those with fewer servers. Computer or phone performance, however, may decrease while using the service, depending on each device’s specifications. Users who want to stream movies or music need a consistent connection. Some VPN services have data limits, and once those limits have been reached, the user will experience throttled connection speeds. IPVanish doesn’t impose limits on bandwidth or the number of times users can reconnect to the service. It also allows unlimited devices to be connected simultaneously. This is particularly beneficial for households with many family members who own separate devices or enjoy different media.

Price

There are thousands of VPN services and a range of pricing structures. While many companies offer tiered packages, IPVanish’s plans are all-inclusive, with the only difference being the length of the subscription period. IPVanish offers three subscription types: one month, three months, and one year. It costs $11.99 monthly for the standard monthly plan, $26.99 for the three-month plan (avg. cost of $8.99/month) and $77.99 for the one-year plan (avg. cost of $6.49/month). Renewals are scheduled according to each plan’s subscription period, so the one-month plan is billed once monthly, the three-month plan is billed every three months and the one-year plan is billed annually. Users receive a discount for purchasing the longer-term plans, and the company has special discounts for new customers, students, and educators. Additionally, IPVanish’s money-back guarantee gives customers 30 days from the purchase date to request a full refund.

IPVanish VPN Overview

What Customers Are Saying

Long-term customers are satisfied with the performance of IPVanish’s service, with a pleased customer noting that he’s never experienced “more than 10% speed cut” and usually retains speeds close to those of his provider. After having shopped around for a VPN service for a long time, another user consulted a friend and was recommended IPVanish for a Windows 10/Ubuntu setup. They said, “Installation was easy, basic setup easy as well, and as to whether it does what it’s supposed to do? Well, let’s just say I haven’t received anymore bad letters from Comcast due to visiting a certain site…”