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Unlimited devices for each plan
Works with popular streaming services like Netflix
Independently verified no-logs policy
All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
IPVanish offers excellent value since it comes with unlimited simultaneous connections. Most virtual private networks (VPNs) have a limit on how many devices you can use, but IPVanish subscribers can connect as many devices as they need under one plan. Unlimited devices is a big perk for a VPN subscription.
On the downside, IPVanish's desktop app is clunky, and connecting to servers wasn't intuitive. However, the mobile app has a cleaner, easy-to-use interface. Privacy enthusiasts may have concerns about IPVanish being headquartered in the United States, but that's not a deal-breaker for VPN users looking to stream out-of-market content.
If you're looking for a VPN with all the essential features, including unlocking Netflix content abroad, then you may enjoy IPVanish.
| Price | $2.19–$14.99/mo |
| Free version | No |
| Max # of connected devices | Unlimited |
| # of servers | 2,400+ servers in 140+ countries |
| VPN protocol | WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, IPsec |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Netflix access | Yes |
| Learn more | Get IPVanish |
We complete standardized hands-on tests for each VPN we review so we can put their claims to the test. This includes vigorous third-party testing by comparing our internet speed while connected to different servers, checking for DNS leaks, making sure the kill switch actually works, and more. We also make sure we can comfortably access popular streaming sites, like Netflix, and still do our day-to-day work without interruption.
Once we’ve completed the testing, our editorial rating is calculated by taking into account key features you’d expect from a good product. We score each VPN in the following categories and use a weighted average to calculate the final rating out of 5 stars: price, server count, speed, security, and features.
To learn more about how we test, check out our full VPN methodology here.
We last tested IPVanish on April 1, 2025.
Unlimited devices for each plan
Works with popular streaming services like Netflix
Independently verified no-logs policy
IPVanish was easy to download and install on our Windows device once we signed up for a subscription. From our IPVanish account portal, we just needed to select our preferred operating system, which led us to a page to download the app. IPVanish also features setup guides for each operating system. For this round of testing, we used the Windows app. In the past, we've tested IPVanish on an iPhone as well.
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IPVanish's dashboard may be confusing for those new to VPNs. Honestly, we're not VPN beginners, but we still think the dashboard was needlessly busy. It keeps track of how your data goes up and down while connected to a server, but you can close out this section if you don't need to use it.
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When we first connected, IPVanish offered a Default Location option, which optimizes our connection by automatically selecting the best server closest to our real IP. (Historically, this was called Optimal Location.) We could also switch over to the server list tab to find the available server locations as well as their ping, load percentage, and number of servers per server location. Being able to see which servers were running faster was super helpful.
However, switching from server to server wasn't as intuitive as it was with other VPN providers. When we were connected to a New York server, for example, we tried double-clicking a Charlotte server to switch. We tried a few times, but the VPN would disconnect and reconnect to the New York server instead. This was a little annoying but not the worst user experience ever.
Despite the slow server connection, IPVanish worked really well at quickly unblocking regional content during our streaming tests. And even though connecting to a U.S. server cut our download speed in half, we were still operating at enough Mbps to watch Netflix, browse the internet with a few tabs open, and run a couple of programs.
We were also pleasantly surprised to see that IPVanish offers double hop (also called multi-hop or double VPN). This advanced security feature routes your internet traffic through two different servers before reaching its destination.
On the flip side, we were disappointed that IPVanish failed our kill switch test (meaning it leaked our real IP when we switched servers). We've done several rounds of testing on IPVanish, and it seems like the VPN flip-flops when it comes to the kill switch. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.
Overall, our experience with IPVanish was okay. It's not our favorite VPN for privacy, security, and speed, but it's certainly not on our "best-worst" list. Let's dive into the specifics to see if this VPN provider is right for you.
One of the biggest perks of IPVanish is the ability to connect as many devices as you need. Most VPNs only allow a limited number of devices, but if you have a large household, IPVanish could save you money on VPN costs with the 2-year plan.
Based on the user experience, IPVanish seems to have prioritized its mobile app over its desktop counterpart. The mobile app has a clean interface, and it's easy to find settings and receive support. Meanwhile, the desktop app isn't as intuitive and looks a bit more outdated.
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IPVanish has standard security features you can personalize to your needs, such as a kill switch, multiple VPN protocols, and split tunneling. It's also added double-hop capability, a Link Checker to scan potentially malicious websites, and Threat Protection, which can block ads, trackers, and malicious websites. It does all this without compromising too much on bandwidth when connecting to international VPN servers.
IPVanish's price ranges from $2.19–$14.99/mo. It offers three different payment subscriptions: monthly, yearly, and two-year plans.
The longer the subscription, the more you can save every month. The cheapest plan is the two-year plan, which is $2.19/mo (billed every two years). The most expensive is the monthly subscription at $12.99/mo.
The annual plan is slightly cheaper or similar compared to other VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark at $3.09/mo (billed every two years) and $1.99/mo (billed every two years), respectively.
Like Surfshark, IPVanish also places no limit on how many devices you can connect, whereas NordVPN limits its services to 10 devices. If you have a large household with many devices, IPVanish has great value. However, if you opt for the annual plan, be aware that the renewal price won't include the whopping introductory discount.
Payment options include all major debit and credit cards, Google Pay, and PayPal.
| 1 month | 12 months | 24 months Best Price
|
|
| Price per month | $12.99/mo | $3.33/mo (billed annually) | $2.19/mo (billed every two years) |
| Learn more | View plan | View plan | View plan |
IPVanish now has two different plan tiers: IPVanish Essential and IPVanish Advanced.
IPVanish Essential includes the VPN and its standard features, like the Threat Protection ad blocker and unlimited device protection. IPVanish Advanced includes extras like a secure browser and cloud backup.
We break down two plans in the table below.
| Features | Essential | Advanced |
| Price | Starts at $2.19/mo (billed every two years) | Starts at $3.29/mo (billed every two years) |
| IPVanish VPN | ||
| Unlimited devices | ||
| Threat Protection | ||
| Secure Browser | ||
| Cloud backup | ||
| File sync and share | ||
| Phone supportr | ||
| Learn more | View plan | View plan |
IPVanish has the standard features you expect from a VPN, including a kill switch, split tunneling, and multiple VPN protocols. It also comes with Threat Protection, which can block ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
It also has a strict no-logs policy and won't track and store your online activity. However, its headquarters are in the United States, so this could be an issue for privacy-focused users.
IPVanish has 2,400+ servers in over 140+ countries. Most of these servers are located in North America and Europe, but server locations also include Asia, Oceania, and some South American countries.
IPVanish's server network isn't the most expansive we’ve seen (NordVPN has 7,400+ servers), but it’s decent. Having a large number of servers accessible is crucial to ensuring you have a stable connection no matter how much traffic a server receives. You can always connect to a new server in the same location to gain a faster connection.
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If you're unsure which server will give you the quickest connection, you can always use IPVanish's Default Location. This feature uses your real IP address to find the servers closest to you that should provide the fastest connection.
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IPVanish has a no-logs policy. It claims it won't track or keep records of your online activities while you are using IPVanish.
While many VPNs claim to have a no-logs policy, it's not always the case. Even IPVanish was once involved in a scandal in 2016 when it was revealed that it handed over log information on a user to the U.S. government despite claiming to have a no-logs policy.[1]
Since then, IPVanish's no-log policy has been audited and verified by an independent cybersecurity firm. But the most recent audit was completed in April 2022, which isn't great. Other privacy-forward VPN providers undergo annual audits or have an "always-on" audit policy.
IPVanish is headquartered in the United States, so it's part of the Five Eyes Alliance. Along with the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the alliance monitors the online communications of citizens and foreign governments. It opens a door for countries to spy on their citizens by proxy. People who want to use a VPN for ultimate security and privacy should opt for a provider that is headquartered outside of an Eyes Alliance country.
But as mentioned, if you're primarily interested in using a VPN for low-key activities like streaming or gaming, U.S.-based VPNs shouldn't be a deal-breaker.
A kill switch feature automatically disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN loses its connection. This is a helpful privacy tool to prevent your data from leaking unexpectedly and ensure you always have an encrypted connection.
IPVanish has a kill switch feature included. However, it's only available on the macOS, Windows, and Android app. The IPVanish app for iOS doesn't have a kill switch feature.
The kill switch toggle appears on the main dashboard, so you can easily turn it on and off.
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You can also activate the kill switch by navigating to Settings > Connection.
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Split tunneling can divide your internet traffic. With this feature, you can let some of traffic access your internet connection directly while other traffic goes through the VPN.
Split tunneling is beneficial if you need specific applications to run faster than a VPN allows. It also helps if you want to use a VPN to hide your true location but still need to use location-based services like Amazon Prime Video or Hulu.
IPVanish has a split tunneling feature. To turn it on, simply head over to the Settings menu and select the Split Tunneling tab. Then you can choose the applications you want to bypass the VPN connection.
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However, it was kind of annoying to use because we needed to disable IPVanish before we could configure split tunneling.
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IPVanish uses AES-256 encryption to protect your internet traffic from prying eyes.
AES-256 encryption is the industry standard and makes it virtually impossible to decrypt your data. AES-256 got its name from the length of the encryption key with 2^256 possible combinations. This makes it extremely difficult to hack, and even a supercomputer would take millions of years to crack the code.
IPVanish uses multiple VPN protocols, including IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IPSec.
Having multiple VPN protocols allows you to choose the best option. Some protocols prioritize speed, while others focus on security. However, WireGuard is considered the best all-around VPN protocol since it provides quick speeds while optimizing encryption.
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IPVanish has expanded from its VPN offerings to support other cybersecurity needs. With Threat Protection, you can block intrusive ads, online trackers, and malicious websites when IPVanish is connected.
IPVanish is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and even Apple Vision Pro. To use Threat Protection, go to Settings > Network Security. From there, you can toggle Threat Protection on.
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However, like with split tunneling, we needed to disable IPVanish before configuring Threat Protection.
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Plus, we had no way of confirming whether Threat Protection actually blocked ads and trackers as claimed. Other VPN providers, like NordVPN, Surshark, and Proton VPN, to name a few, provide a clear counter of blocked content, so it's easy to see which websites have more ads and trackers. With IPVanish, Threat Protection sounds great, but who knows how well it really works.
Not all VPNs offer the premium security feature double hop, AKA multi-hop or double VPN. We were impressed that IPVanish added this security asset to its VPN functionality. Double hop works by routing your internet traffic through two different secure VPN servers instead of just one. This process adds a layer of protection, effectively concealing your internet activities, IP address, and data from prying eyes or hackers.
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To access double hop, navigate to Locations > Double Hop. We could configure which two servers we wanted to route our traffic through with IPVanish enabled or disabled, which was nice.
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The shield icon in the IPVanish dashboard is for the Link Checker feature. This super simple tool is a cool addition to the VPN stack. We pasted in the website we wanted to scan for malicious content before we went to the site. In less than 30 seconds, IPVanish let us know the website was legit. This is a unique feature for sure, though most premium VPN providers will automatically scan for malicious websites via integrated ad-blocking technology.
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We conduct comprehensive in-house testing to determine how well each VPN performs. We tested IPVanish for speed, streaming, and IP leaks.
We found that it offers full WebRTC and DNS leak protection, but some of its servers may dramatically reduce your internet speeds.
First, we tested our internet speed without an IPVanish connection. Then, we selected several different countries as our VPN servers and tested our internet speed.
A VPN typically slows down your internet speed as it encrypts your data. While a slight lag may be expected, it shouldn't affect your overall ability to connect to your network.
The speed test was conducted on a PC laptop running Windows 11 from a physical location in the U.S.
| Test type | No VPN | US to US | US to CA | US to UK | US to AU |
| Download speed | 596.38 Mbps | 269.76 Mbps | 165.11 Mbps | 192.94 Mbps | 159.66 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 41.47 Mbps | 40.21 Mbps | 38 Mbps | 39.15 Mbps | 35.49 Mbps |
| Latency (ping) | 16 ms | 19 ms | 85 ms | 83 ms | 214 ms |
| Download speed % difference | N/A | -54.76% | -72.3% | -67.65% | -73.22% |
| Upload speed % difference | N/A | -3% | -8.37% | -5.59% | -14.4% |
| Latency % difference | N/A | +18.75% | +431.25% | +418.75% | +1,237.5% |
In our previous testing, IPVanish had little effect on our internet connection compared to our baseline speed. Our download and upload speeds didn't have any noticeable drops until we connected to servers overseas. However, slower speeds are to be expected with faraway servers, so we weren't surprised that our speeds dropped when connected to Australia from the United States.
In our most recent testing, our speeds really tanked when connecting to IPVanish servers in the U.S., London, Vancouver, and Melbourne. But, our baseline speed was pretty high at the time of testing, so even though IPVanish servers decreased our internet speed by over 50%, we were still operating with enough Mbps to stream Netflix, navigate between several open tabs, and run programs.
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Additionally, IPVanish did impact our latency more significantly, but we found this to be common with VPNs. Latency, or ping, is how long it takes for data to travel back and forth between points following instructions for its transfer. It's better to have low latency because it means the internet reacts much quicker to your requests. So gamers want lower ping to avoid the dreaded lag.
We like that IPVanish displays the load for all its servers, which helped us select servers to test. It recommends selecting servers with lower value load percentages since fewer people are using them.
Streaming services like Netflix offer different content to subscribers in different regions. You may be based in the U.S., but if you want to watch a show available on Netflix U.K., you'll need a VPN to cover your current location and access the U.K. content.
| US to US | US to UK | US to CA | US to AU | |
| Did it work with Netflix? |
We tested IPVanish, and it connected us to Netflix libraries in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia with no buffering and no problems.
In previous testing, Netflix immediately detected IPVanish once we switched to a server in Australia. Streaming platforms are always on the lookout to stop VPNs, so it's not a guarantee that a VPN service can consistently unblock streaming services like Netflix. However, we were pleased to see that IPVanish passed all our streaming tests this time around.
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A domain name system (DNS) leak can happen when requests are sent to an internet service provider's DNS servers instead of being concealed by a VPN. It's a security flaw resulting in a breach of privacy.
We used the DNS Leak Test service from BrowserLeaks to test IPVanish. Before connecting to the VPN, our information was visible including the IP address, internet service provider, and location. After connecting to IPVanish, this information was properly concealed.
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A WebRTC leak can expose your true IP address even if you’re using a VPN service. We used the BrowserLeaks website to test for WebRTC leaks before and after using IPVanish.
The test showed our true IP address when we weren't connected to the VPN. But once we ran the test while connected to IPVanish, our IP address was masked by the VPN.
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A kill switch is a tool that should come standard with all VPNs. It helps protect your online activities if your VPN connection were to drop by blocking your internet connection as well.
We confirmed that IPVanish has a kill switch when we first downloaded the app, so we toggled that on for testing. We initially connected to a server in Charlotte and then swapped to a server in Chicago. Unfortunately, IPVanish didn't keep our real IP address masked during the switch. The app said our internet connection was blocked during the server switch, but our IP address in Pennsylvania leaked anyway.
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During our previous testing, IPVanish kept our real IP address hidden during a server switch from Costa Rica to the Dominican Republic. But the testing before that proved unsuccessful, meaning that IPVanish does not consistently make our IP vanish.
IPVanish works with many operating systems and devices including:
There are numerous ways to contact IPVanish to receive customer support. It offers phone, email, live chat, and online guides for assistance.
IPVanish actually has a call center, which other providers like NordVPN don't have.
The IPVanish phone number is +1-800-591-5241, and the support operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time (CT). It also provides phone numbers for Spain, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Brazil.
Outside of call center hours, you can also submit a request online. But there is no mention of how quickly a member of the support team will get back to you.
Alternatively, you can use the IPVanish chatbot to find answers. It's located on the bottom right of its website or app.
You can use the 24/7 live chat feature or leave a message. To use the chatbot on the website, you must enter your email address or log in with your Facebook or Google account.
We opened the chat and were immediately greeted by the chatbot. There's a button to get in touch, so we selected that and then chose live chat. From there, you'll fill out some personal information and determine which department to contact (billing, technical, etc.).
We selected technical support to try troubleshooting the issues we previously had while connecting to Australian servers. It took a couple minutes for an agent to connect to the chat, but they were friendly and quick to respond once they joined.
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But you may not even need to get in touch with customer support since IPVanish provides an extensive online support center. You can find FAQs, troubleshooting advice, and numerous set-up guides.
On the mobile app, all of these customer support options are easily accessible. Simply click on the "Help" icon on the menu, and your options will appear.
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IPVanish is a solid provider, but there are plenty of options to consider if you're not sold. Here are some of our favorite recommendations:
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| Price | $3.09–$17.99/mo | $1.99–$20.65/mo | $2.19–$12.99/mo |
| Max # of connected devices | 10 | Unlimited | 7 |
| # of servers | 7,400+ servers in 118 countries | 3,200+ servers in 100 countries | Unlisted in 100 countries |
| VPN protocol | NordLynx (WireGuard), OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | OpenVPN, IKEv2. WireGuard |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM | AES-256 |
| No-logs policy | |||
| Headquarters | Panama | The Netherlands | Romania |
| Netflix access | |||
| Learn more | Get NordVPN | Get Surfshark | Get CyberGhost |
IPVanish is better than NordVPN if you’re looking to connect unlimited devices. NordVPN and IPVanish both have a verified no-logs policy, kill switch and split tunneling features, and access to different Netflix libraries around the world.
However, NordVPN has 7,400+ servers compared to IPVanish's 2,400+ servers. NordVPN also offers more affordable plans.
IPVanish doesn't limit bandwidth or cap the amount of data you can transfer. It also lets users connect as many devices as they want to IPVanish. The VPN provider claims it only limits abuse of its service outlined in its terms of service. It also features unlimited simultaneous connections like Surfshark and PIA.
IPVanish doesn't sell your data. According to its privacy policy, it doesn't sell or rent personal information to third parties. IPVanish has a verified and strict no-logs policy. This means that IPVanish doesn't store any information about your online activities. Even if it wanted to sell your data, IPVanish doesn't technically have any data to sell since its no-logs policy prevents storage. However, IPVanish was last audited in April 2022, whereas other premium no-logs VPNs undergo annual audits.
We can't say IPVanish is the best VPN out there, but if you have a large family or device-heavy household, the ability to connect unlimited devices to secure Wi-Fi provides excellent value.
While IPVanish doesn't have the most servers, it still offers a large variety of server locations around the world, including countries in South America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. It also can help you choose the fastest server in your preferred location.
If you don't have many devices, you might find IPVanish pricing too expensive — especially when the first-year discount ends. You may also not enjoy the dated desktop interface. However, we had an excellent user experience with IPVanish on our mobile device.
IPVanish is best for households with multiple devices looking for the essential features of a VPN without affecting internet speeds. If you aren't looking to connect several devices and want a more affordable plan, read how IPVanish compares to our alternatives:
Unlimited devices for each plan
Works with popular streaming services like Netflix
Independently verified no-logs policy
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