IPVanish VPN review: Why it earned a spot in my favorites list

June Wan/ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways IPVanish The provider has strengthened its security and privacy protection policies. In addition, the servers now deliver turbocharged speeds in North America and worldwide. Key concerns for some users are that the provider based in the U.S., the service renews expensively. It also doesn't offer a dedicated VPN browser extension (Editor's note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company. For more, see our Editorial Guidelines.) IPVanish is building a strong case for why it's one of the best VPNs. The provider has expanded its points of presence to 113 countries. It's also repositioned some of its data centers, or traffic exchange points, to improve connection speeds globally. Plus, iOS and macOS users can now use split tunneling on IPVanish, something that's still missing from most VPN apps. The new privacy policies will cast out any doubts if you were a non-believer. Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested Many of the key features remain unchanged, such as the number of devices you can connect simultaneously -- it's still unlimited. The streaming is even better -- there wasn't any video buffering, even on server locations thousands of miles away. You can choose a VPN-only tier that is affordable if you purchase the yearly plans. Be warned that renewal prices are a bit hefty. I'll let you in on the recent developments with IPVanish, plus more hands-on experiences with the app on phone, PC, and smart TV. I got fast speeds, not far from my normal internet connections I previously remarked on IPVanish's swift speeds, but my latest tests show that it's warming up to the fastest VPNs. I sometimes got 94% bandwidth speed retention on select nearby servers and could stream UHD quality on Hisense TV without lags. On an average fast internet connection, you can leave the app running in the background while browsing or even gaming, and you won't notice the difference. Latency was also better on U.K. and U.S.-based servers like Manchester, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City, all with ping convenient for gaming at less than 150ms. I conducted speed tests in several locations with the Speedtest by Ookla online tool (editor's note: Ookla is owned by ZDNET's parent company, Ziff Davis) while using IPVanish. I switched between different servers and protocols and recorded the impact on speeds. I also took readings during peak and off-peak usage times based on North American time zones to see if the VPN was impacted by server congestion issues. I grouped the server locations into regions and compared average speed readings with and without a VPN. Region Server locations tested Download speeds without VPN Average Download speeds with IPVanish VPN Average speed retention (higher is better) United States New York Chicago Miami, Seattle Los Angeles, Boston, Salt Lake City 201Mbps 171.90Mbps 85% Canada Toronto, Vancouver 192Mbps 174.40Mbps 91% South America Brazil (São Paulo), Venezuela (Caracas), Argentina (Buenos Aires) 205Mbps 166.52Mbps 81% Europe U.K. (London), France (Paris), Germany (Frankfurt), Switzerland (Zurich) 199Mbps 167.33Mbps 84% Asia Singapore, South Korea (Seoul), Japan (Tokyo), Thailand (Bangkok) 202Mbps 159.17Mbps 78% The U.S. and Canadian servers had better average speeds than other regions. IPVanish devotes a lot of its infrastructure to the North American market. Over 40% of the servers are in the U.S. alone to ease high usage traffic. This makes IPVanish a great U.S. VPN choice, whether you're inside or outside the country. The WireGuard protocol gave the fastest speeds, although OpenVPN was most beneficial for geo-restrictions because I could also use the Scramble feature to avoid VPN detection. As with any VPN, you should still expect slight drops from your normal internet speeds with IPVanish. The software encrypts and tunnels data via private servers concurrently. This is why nearby server locations with minimal load are preferable -- internet traffic travels a shorter distance. Server locations outside of my continent had 20-35% slower speeds, but I had no problem as long as my connections stayed well above 100Mbps. More futuristic features added to give IPVanish a major security boost IPVanish's security is well customized for personal, home, or even business networks. Using one of the best cryptographic algorithms, AES 256-bit encryption, the software offers strong data confidentiality for all your connections to the web and untrusted public hotspots. There are already talks about post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to future-proof VPNs against quantum computers. I hope that IPVanish plans to be among the early adopters like ExpressVPN. The app uses trustworthy open-source tunneling protocols like WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), and IKEv2/IPSec. All of them can be accessed on the Apple, Android, and Windows apps. Many VPNs don't offer IKEv2/IPSec on iOS, which is a limitation given that it performs really well on mobile devices. Still, WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols are also well-balanced in terms of speed and security-wise across platforms. If unsure, you can select the Automatic Protocol setting for the app to pick the optimal one depending on your location or network type. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET While exploring IPVanish features, I also took note of the advanced technology to avert data leaks. All the servers use private domain name service (DNS) routing by default, which keeps your web queries and searches hidden even from your internet service provider. Also, the software provides both IPv4 and IPv6 leak protection. This is great because many applications and systems today track IPv6 addresses, and most VPNs don't do anything about it. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET The kill switch setting used to be on by default, making it difficult for some first-time VPN users to understand why they couldn't access the internet without the VPN. In the new version, you can turn the feature on and off manually from the app's home screen. A kill switch is vital in preventing exposure of your internet protocol (IP) address if the VPN connection drops suddenly, or if you forget to turn on the VPN after rebooting your device. IPVanish's kill switch is one of a kind because it's also available on the Fire TV and Android TV apps. Keeping in mind that a VPN alone can't protect you from all threats. IPVanish offers other features to minimize risks outside of VPN tunneling: Threat Protection . Developed by the award-winning VIPRE Internet Security firm, this ad, malware, and tracking block tool can actively filter dangerous content and ads you unknowingly interact with online. QR code and link checker . These two new additions use advanced AI algorithms to detect and block unsafe scan codes and shared links before they direct you to unsafe pages or downloads. Secure Browser. This is an in-app browser that enables you to interact with content and services online without downloading anything to local storage. Everything happens in a sandbox in the cloud, and all data is deleted after each session. It greatly reduces the chances of picking up viruses or malware, even if you open infected content. The browser is also available as an extension on just about every other browser -- Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Brave, and Vivaldi. You will need the Advanced plan to be able to use it. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET Honestly, the app is so overwhelming in settings that it's impossible to cover everything, but you'll want to know about these security features: Double Hop VPN You can get multi-layered encryption by tunneling traffic through two different server locations before reaching the destination. This setting is in the "Locations" section of the app, and it allows you to choose entry and exit servers for your connections. As expected, it resulted in slower speeds than regular tunnels, but that's a compromise to make if you're extra-cautious. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET RAM-only servers These are temporary storage servers that reboot very often and will, in the process, wipe out all user session data. It ensures no information is left behind that can be accessed by anyone in the future. Currently, these servers are available on the iOS and macOS apps, and may soon be added to Android and Windows. Split tunneling Thankfully, IPVanish now offers split tunneling on Windows, Android, Fire TV, iOS, macOS, and Apple Vision Pro. Not even ExpressVPN or NordVPN has reached this milestone with its Apple devices. You can select applications and domains to connect safely through the VPN, while others access the web directly with faster speeds. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET Customized network security You can set how the VPN connects to different networks, for example, automatic connections on untrusted networks. It's also straightforward to add trusted networks that you want to use freely without the VPN interfering. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET Based in the U.S. jurisdiction, but you have less to worry about, considering their transparency Some people wouldn't touch a VPN that's based in the U.S., and that's okay. The country has strict data retention expectations for companies to meet and shares intelligence with other countries of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. IPVanish takes this concern seriously and has tightened its data handling policies to earn the public trust. They now publish multiple transparency reports per year, showing all data requests they've received in each quarter. I went through the trust center reports and saw that the provider gets dozens of requests from law enforcement and civil organizations as well as thousands of DMCA requests. To date, it hasn't handed over any data. They're effortlessly maintaining a truly zero-logs policy, so users don't have anxieties about their private information being collected by the app. IPVanish is also having yearly third-party audits, the most recent one in February 2025 by Schellman Compliance, LLC. This is another strong assurance that the no-logs policy is applied across their operations. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET Moreover, IPVanish has minimized data collection at the point of account creation. You can use the mobile app without signing up simply by purchasing one of the plans. We could argue that you're still leaving data collected by the payment gateway, but it's significantly less. Desktop and web signups still require an email, but users aren't asked for full names or addresses. All user account data, including email addresses, is removed or anonymized within forty-five days of purchase cancelation or account inactivity. An expansive server infrastructure for accessing geo-blocked services IPVanish's network has significantly improved to over 3,100 servers across 113 countries and 148 cities. This coverage is slightly more than ExpressVPN, but still less than NordVPN or Proton VPN. The service boasts over 40,000 IP addresses on rotation, making it less likely that you'll share the same IP address with several other users. Managing servers and connections on the IPVanish app is a lot easier. It displays all servers available in a particular location, and you can choose based on the server load metrics. You can even save the best-performing ones. Connections were excellent in most locations. I closely monitored for unexpected disconnections, as was the case previously with some servers, but it appears the minor outage issues I experienced before have been fixed. Even switching server locations was seamless, taking roughly six seconds. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET IPVanish doesn't offer dedicated IP addresses. In case you may prefer an exclusive, non-changing IP address over the dynamic shared ones. There are also no specialized servers for activities like streaming, torrenting, or gaming. The provider says you can use the regular servers for almost everything. It's nothing to mull over, but I sometimes prefer clearly labeled servers to avoid wasting time searching manually. Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET Can you use IPVanish for streaming, gaming, or torrenting? I tested IPVanish with many streaming services, and it worked most of the time. I could instantly open some exclusive Netflix libraries on the first try. I tried the New York, Miami, Seattle, and Los Angeles servers, and they all worked with Netflix. I also got positive results with most of the European and Asia-Pacific servers, including Japan, where I'm always looking for exciting anime series to binge-watch over the holidays. IPVanish also accessed platforms like Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Max, ESPN+, and DAZN without issue. The connection speeds are ideal for 4K streaming, as well. I didn't experience any buffering whatsoever. If you're specifically interested in streaming with a VPN, we've also curated some of the best VPNs for streaming. For gaming enthusiasts, IPVanish makes it easy to find low-ping servers in any location. The server list shows all available servers in any location alongside other metrics like latency. All IPVanish servers support safe torrenting. Aside from the safety features in place to secure your connections and activities, the VPN's SOCKS5 proxy servers can be configured with peer-to-peer (P2P) clients like qBittorrent, Vuze, or Deluge for optimal torrenting performance. IPVanish uses NAT firewall technology that restricts direct device-to-device communications via port forwarding, but you can still forward traffic on a router using open TCP or UDP ports like 443, 8443, or 1194. One IPVanish account is enough for all your devices at an affordable price With a single IPVanish subscription, you can secure an unlimited number of devices. This is great, considering that most VPNs have a limit of 10 or fewer connections. IPVanish is perfect if you need protection for your entire household or business devices. There are yearly and monthly tier plans. Essential is a "VPN-only" plan that is also the cheapest in the long run. It costs $52.56 for the first two years, equal to $2.19 per month, and $40 for one year, equal to $3.33 per month. The Advanced plan offers additional features like 1TB cloud storage, file syncing across devices, and the Secure Browser with built-in VPN. This tier costs $78.96 in the first two years, equal to $3.29 per month, and $53.88 for a year, equal to $4.49 per month. Both plans are also available at monthly subscription rates of $13 per month and $15 per month, respectively. The above prices are discounted offers for new subscribers, but renewals cost more. You can check the amount due in the next billing period from your account dashboard, but the official renewal rates are $90 and $180 for the one and two-year Essential tiers, respectively, or roughly $7.50 per month for both. I consider this slightly expensive, but premium options like ExpressVPN and NordVPN don't renew cheaply either. IPVanish offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on the yearly plans. One-month subscriptions do not qualify for a refund, as is the case with most providers. Also, a seven-day free trial is available to Android and iOS users if you download the app from Apple's App Store or the Google Play Store. Again, you must choose one of the yearly tiers to get the trial. Compatible devices and the user experience You can install and use IPVanish on Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs, Android and iOS devices including tablets, routers, smart TVs like a Fire TV, Apple TV, and media streaming boxes like a Chromecast, and Nvidia Shield. I initially thought there would be a VPN extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, but instead they only offer the Secure Browser extension, which requires the Advanced tier. IPVanish has a native app for ARM64 Copilot+ Windows PCs, being among the first services to do so. There are also OpenVPN and WireGuard configurations, which you can download directly from your account online and then install manually on a router or on Linux via the terminal. I found it very straightforward to sign up for the service. After choosing a plan on the website and paying, a setup link was sent to my email address. I installed the app and connected to a secure server in under five minutes. Thanks to the intuitive design, you barely need assistance using the app. Still, customer support is within reach 24/7 via chat, email, and phone during working hours. ZDNET's buying advice Aside from being the cheaper one, the revamped IPVanish is a sound alternative to NordVPN or ExpressVPN. I have nothing but praise based on how much it surpassed my expectations in the latest speed, security, and privacy protection tests. It's a matter of time before this becomes another favorite streaming VPN for many thanks to the growing server network and geo-bypassing capabilities. There's also a great value proposal if you consider that the VPN allows for unlimited connections with one account. IPVanish FAQs Is IPVanish free? No, IPVanish is a paid service with no free tier. New subscribers can get a seven-day free trial on iOS or Android by signing up from either app store or opting for any of the yearly plans. It's possible to extend the trial on other devices just by logging in using the same credentials you signed up with on mobile. The other option to try IPVanish for free is to utilize the 30-day money-back guarantee, which is only available on the yearly subscriptions. Can IPVanish access Netflix? Yes, IPVanish works with Netflix. It can access content on most Netflix libraries worldwide, allowing you to watch your favorite shows while traveling overseas. In a few instances, you might experience problems unblocking Netflix with IPVanish. This can happen due to several factors like Netflix's firewalls blocking encrypted traffic. To optimize your IPVanish app for geo-restrictions, use the OpenVPN protocol and turn on the Scramble VPN feature that prevents sites from detecting that you're using a VPN. Is IPVanish good for Fire TV Stick? Yes, IPVanish works reliably on Fire TV and second-generation or newer Fire Sticks. You can install the app directly from the Amazon App Store and use it on specific models such as Fire TV Stick HD, 4K, 4K Max, and Fire TV Cube. Beyond just providing convenient setup and seamless speeds for streaming with Fire/Vega OS devices, the app offers a kill switch setting so that your IP address is protected at all times. Why does IPVanish keep disconnecting? If you can't connect to IPVanish or the connection keeps dropping, here are some basic troubleshooting tips. Check if your internet connection is unstable because fluctuations can result in VPN connection failure. The server you're trying to connect to may be under temporary maintenance or experiencing high user traffic, so try a different one. Also, the app could be missing important updates, so check if any are available and install them. Changing some settings in the app might also help. Switch to a different protocol and see if that works. The IPVanish troubleshooting resources page recommends using OpenVPN (TCP) if you're having connection problems. You can also uninstall and reinstall the software. Contact the support team for assistance if nothing seems to solve the issue. How can I cancel my IPVanish subscription? To cancel IPVanish, you'll need to sign in to your account. Go to the official website and click "My Account" to log in. You will find the option to cancel the service under the "subscriptions" section. You can get a refund using the money-back service if 30 days haven't lapsed since you made your yearly plan purchase. Unfortunately, monthly subscriptions do not qualify. IPVanish gives instant refunds, but you can also contact representatives by phone, chat, or email to claim your refund. Show more