IPVanish VPN Review: Is it Actually Worth Your Money?

IPVanish has been around since 2012, and while it’s not one of the big flashy names in the VPN world, it’s been quietly doing its thing pretty well.

IPVanish stands out for its unlimited connections, solid security, and surprisingly smooth 4K streaming on multiple devices. It’s also one of the more affordable options, but its pricing plans can be confusing.

This review will break down exactly what you get, what it costs, and whether IPVanish is the right VPN for you.

IPVanish: Pros and Cons

How Much Does IPVanish Cost?

IPVanish doesn’t have a free plan, but it does come with a 30‑day money‑back guarantee on yearly subscriptions. Basically, you can try it out and, if it’s not for you, get your money back. Just make sure you’re on the official site because there are fake “free” offers floating around.

Price‑wise, you’re looking at around $12.99–$14.99 a month, depending on whether you go for the Essential or Advanced plan. Sign up for a year and it drops to $33.99 for Essential or $78.96 for the 2‑year Advanced option.

The difference is that all plans give you the same VPN features and unlimited device connections, but the Advanced plan throws in 1TB of cloud storage and a couple of extra security perks.

IPVanish Key Features

Server Network

IPVanish runs 2,400+ servers in 75+ locations, and most are bare‑metal servers they fully control, which is a big plus for security. You can connect as many devices as you want (yes, unlimited connections), though if you go crazy with 50+ devices, you might get flagged.

Torrenting is allowed on every server with no bandwidth caps, but streaming is hit‑or‑miss. It works for some services, but don’t expect the same unblocking power as something like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. And there’s no Meshnet or dedicated IP option yet.

Privacy

IPVanish has a strict no‑logs policy, and that’s not just a marketing claim. It’s been independently audited twice: first in 2022 by Leviathan Security and again in 2025 by Schellman. Both confirmed it doesn’t store or share your online activity. That’s reassuring, especially since IPVanish is based in the U.S., which is part of the 5 Eyes intelligence alliance.

You also get OpenVPN Scramble (basically obfuscation), which helps in countries where VPNs are blocked, plus a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and IPv6 leak protection on Windows. The one thing missing is multi‑hop routing, so your connection is just single‑hop.

Security

Like most top VPNs, IPVanish uses AES‑256 encryption. It supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, so you can pick between speed or reliability depending on your setup.

In testing, it passed all our DNS leak checks, and the kill switch worked instantly when I killed Wi‑Fi, no data slipped through. There’s also a new Threat Protection feature to block ads, trackers, and malware domains.

What you don’t get: a built‑in ad blocker interface or port forwarding. So if you’re a big torrent seeder, that might be a dealbreaker.

IPVanish Streaming Performance 

IPVanish handles most of the big names like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video without a problem, especially if you’re connecting through U.S. servers. Outside the U.S., things can get a bit tricky. For example, BBC iPlayer didn’t always work for us on the first try, but switching servers usually fixed it.

One thing I really liked is how easy it is to use on streaming devices. It has a native app for Amazon Fire Stick and Android TV, so setup is super quick and beginner-friendly.

IPVanish Torrenting and P2P Support

IPVanish supports torrenting on every server, no special “P2P only” servers to mess with. That means no throttling and no bandwidth limits.

The only downside is that they quietly removed their SOCKS5 proxy, which used to be handy for torrenting. Still, if all you need is fast, unrestricted P2P traffic, it delivers.

My Hands-On Experience with IPVanish

Real-World Speed and Performance

When I tested IPVanish with WireGuard, I was surprised by how little speed I lost: only about 10%. On my 100 Mbps connection, that meant around 90 Mbps download and 76 Mbps upload, with latency going from 5 ms to 58 ms.

In day‑to‑day use, I could stream in 4K, jump on long video calls, and even do some online gaming without noticing any slowdowns. I pushed it pretty hard with hours of video calls while streaming in the background, and it held up well.

When I compared it to NordVPN, Nord was slightly faster thanks to its newer tunneling protocols. IPVanish also doesn’t have any special “speed boost” features and sticks to classic single‑hop servers, so speeds might dip if you’re connecting from countries that block VPNs.

IP, DNS, and WebRTC Leak Tests

I ran a bunch of IP and DNS leak tests while connected to IPVanish, and nothing leaked. My real IP stayed hidden the whole time. I even tried forcing a WebRTC leak (the kind browsers often reveal), but IPVanish blocked it.

That’s because their apps for Windows and macOS have built‑in DNS leak protection and automatically route all your lookups through their own zero‑knowledge DNS servers instead of your ISP. They also block IPv6 leaks out of the box, so even networks using IPv6 won’t accidentally reveal you.

User Experience and Apps

One thing I liked about IPVanish is that you can put it on pretty much every device you own. There’s no limit to how many you connect, so I had my laptop, phone, tablet, and even my Fire Stick all running on it without ever needing to disconnect one to use another. Setup is straightforward: just download the app, sign in, and you’re good to go.

The desktop app works fine, but it feels a bit dated and cluttered in places. The mobile app, on the other hand, looks cleaner and is easier to use. Both versions come with handy features like auto‑connect, a kill switch, and the option to switch to WireGuard for faster speeds.

Customer Support

IPVanish offers 24/7 live chat (available with the Advanced plan), and when I tested it, I got connected to an agent in under a minute. They also have phone support and email ticketing, which is a nice bonus since not every VPN offers that.

I reached out about a geo‑blocked streaming issue in Europe, and the support team walked me through a fix pretty quickly. Some of the help articles on their site feel outdated, though, and can be a little confusing.

Alternatives to IPVanish

NordVPN – Best all‑round choice

If speed, streaming, and security are your priorities, NordVPN is a strong step up. It costs a bit more than IPVanish and limits how many devices you can connect at once, but it outperforms in almost every area.

Surfshark – Same unlimited devices, cheaper price

Surfshark gives you unlimited connections just like IPVanish and matches it on speed with WireGuard. It’s also cheaper on long‑term plans and has a cleaner, more modern interface. The catch? There’s no phone support, but if you care about privacy, Surfshark being based outside the 5 Eyes Alliance is a nice bonus.

ExpressVPN – Best for streaming and travel

ExpressVPN is kind of the gold standard. It costs more and only allows eight devices, but it’s one of the best for unblocking streaming services and works even in places like China. Its RAM‑only servers also mean no user data is stored, which is great for peace of mind.

IPVanish FAQs

What is IPVanish used for?

It’s a VPN designed to keep your internet activity private, secure your connection, and help you access content from different regions.

Is IPVanish free?

No, it’s a paid service.

Does IPVanish have a free trial?

Not exactly, but it does have a 30‑day money‑back guarantee on its yearly plans, so you can try it risk‑free.

Is IPVanish safe?

Yes. It’s a reliable VPN with strong encryption and a no‑logs policy.

Does IPVanish keep logs?

No. IPVanish has an audited no‑logs policy, which means it doesn’t record your online activity.

Does IPVanish work with Netflix?

Yes, especially Netflix US.

Can I use IPVanish on Fire Stick?

Yes. There’s a native Fire Stick app, so setup is quick and easy.

Does IPVanish block ads?

Not by default, but its Threat Protection feature blocks some ads, malware, and trackers.

Does IPVanish have a kill switch?

Yes, on supported apps.

Can IPVanish be used on multiple devices?

Yes, it supports unlimited connections (though if you go over 50 devices, they might flag your account).

Ready to Give IPVanish a Try?

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