The current online privacy outlook is bleak. With each passing day, more governments are eager to obtain data about the web interactions of their citizens, and more hackers lurk around the Internet looking to steal all kinds of sensible information. The need for VPNs is evident, and in a market full of mediocre options, IPVanish stands out.
IPVanish Review 2019
IPVanish is a security-driven VPN brand with lots of attractive traits. First, it comes with AES 256-bit encryption, which is the industry standard, and a no-logging policy to boot. DNS leak protection and a kill switch are part of the package as well. The speeds are impressive, as is the network, which has 1,200 servers in 60 nations.
Features
- Huge network: IPVanish provides more than 1,200 servers in 60 nations around the world, with over 40,000 IP addresses to give away to its clientele.
- SOCKS5 web proxy: Users that want to circumvent censorship, connect to VoIP services, or engage in P2P activity, can enjoy a download-free SOCKS5 web proxy.
- Anonymous torrenting: IPVanish lets you hide your IP address to share P2P files whenever you want, wherever you are, with no restrictions.
- AES 256-bit encryption: Thankfully, IPVanish implements the military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to protect content and traffic from snoopers.
- No-logging policy: Despite being located in an unfavorable jurisdiction for privacy, IPVanish makes sure not to keep or share logs of people activity at any time.
- Multiple protocol availability: IPVanish has several protocols, most of them widely accepted as the best in the business: users can choose between IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec.
- Netflix compatibility: Some of IPVanish’s servers can defeat Netflix’s dreaded “proxy error.” Netflix is the planet’s most prominent and influential platform to stream movies and series.
- High-end speeds: IPVanish is very speedy, slightly decreasing the VPN-free connection rate. Online streaming runs smoothly, with no buffering.
- Five simultaneous connections: IPVanish is right at the industry’s average when it comes to connections allowed at the same time under one account, with five.
- Works with TOR: IPVanish can be used as an additional security layer to browse content in TOR, or The Onion Router, which is known for its encrypting and traffic relaying.
- Kill switch and DNS leak protection: IPVanish is famous around the community because of its security prowess, and the presence of a kill switch and DNS leak protection cement that statement.
Interface
While it is true that IPVanish doesn’t have the most user-friendly interface, the situation is not so bad, either. For example, the brand uses a “best server” feature that is very helpful to improve customer experience, especially for beginners.
The user interface isn’t very smooth, because IPVanish has so many configuration options and features available. It is not a coincidence that it is lauded as the perfect VPN for advanced users.
The appearance is dark and, depending on each user, unattractive. However, IPVanish does show users their server, current IP address, and the time of connection, while also letting them see the shared data.
It is also fair to point out that IPVanish does have tutorials and manuals to show users how to install the service on each platform or operating system. People can download apps quickly and without much hassle.
IPVanish apps
IPVanish works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, Windows Phone, Linux, Chromebook, and some VPN routers. The apps are feature-rich and generally intuitive, and there are manuals that direct users how to install and set them up.
Users can find the Android app on the website (APK download) or on the Google Play Store. There are guides on the page about how to manually install and set up PPTP, L2TP, and IKEv2 for Android. The client has lots of configuration options: startup behavior, updates, kill switch, DNS leak protection, obfuscation, port number, IP disguising frequency, DNS configuration, local client log, and others.
IPVanish Android App
The default protocol for the Android app is OpenVPN, with AES 256-bit encryption and compatibility with Android 4.0.3 or higher versions.
The iOS app can be found on the website or at the App Store. There are guides in the page to install the IKEv2 and IPSec protocols, and the client works with iOS 9 and newer versions. The same Android features and configurations are available for iOS.
IPVanish iOS App
The Windows app isn’t the smoothest of them all, but it works just fine. It is well-designed, with lots of options to configure. It has IPv4 and IPv6 leak protection and a kill switch, as well as other features.
IPVanish Windows App
Privacy and security
IPVanish has US jurisdiction, which is not ideal since the country is known for its privacy-invasive practices and for law enforcement agencies forcing companies to hand over activity logs during investigations. However, IPVanish hasn’t had any notable issues of that kind in the recent past (there were some rumblings in 2016, though). The company has a strict no-logging policy.
The brand states that “We have a strict policy against the collection of both connection and activity logs. We will never store the metadata about your VPN session or information about how you used the service.”
IPVanish’s top-notch AES 256-bit encryption protocol is standard. A kill switch to disable the Internet connection in the event of a VPN collapse is also useful, as is the DNS leak protection.
Server Locations
One of the most exciting things about IPVanish is its large server park. It has 1,200 servers spread across 60 nations, which is above-average in the industry. A sizable portion of the options offered are in the United States and Europe, but there are some in Asia, Central Asia, and South America.
Some of the countries in which IPVanish has servers are Austria, Belgium, Albania, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Israel, the UAE, and South Africa.
Compatible Devices
IPVanish is compatible with most devices, platforms, and operating systems available in the market. It runs on Windows 7 and higher, OSX 10.10 and higher, Android 4.2 and higher, and iOS 9 and higher.
The company also has full compatibility with Linux, Chromebook, Amazon Fire TV, and some routers.
Installation and Setup
The installation process is very smooth. Android and iOS users can find the app on their respective app stores. People can also download the app from the company’s website.
Windows users should note that the client will install an IPVanish shortcut on the desktop when the download is complete. To install it, all you need to do is click on it.
After launching the app, you have to sign in using the same username and password you created upon registration. When you log in, you will be able to select the city and country you are about to join. Pressing “Connect” will take you there.
You will find the necessary configurations and options to personalize your experience in the Settings section.
Protocols
The company implements OpenVPN encryption, with AES-256 bit cipher, HMAC SHA1 data authentication, RSA-2048 handshake, and HMAC SHA-256 control authentication. It also has the IKEv2 and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols.
Pricing and Payment Options
IPVanish’s monthly service costs $10, which is somewhere around average to above-average in the industry. The brand has a three-month package worth $26.99, lowering the average monthly price to $8.99.
The most enticing deal is the annual plan. It costs $77.99, which represents a 46 percent discount (or $6.49) off the original $10 package. All prices come with a seven-day money-back guarantee.
Payment methods include all the major credit cards, PayPal, and Bitcoin.
Help and Support
- Live chat: Technically, it is a first-come, first-served tool that shows how many people are in the queue waiting for an agent to show up.
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions:) It has content regarding the installation and setup processes, as well as other common problems.
- Form: The brand provides a form that users can fill out in case they couldn’t get an answer from the Live Chat or FAQ features. You should receive a response via email within a few days, sometimes sooner.
Pros in a nutshell:
- AES 256-bit encryption
- A no-logging policy
- A 7-day money-back guarantee
- Excellent speeds
- A wide array of configurations
- Perfect for advanced users
- A broad network of 1,200 servers present in 60 countries
- It works with Netflix
- Torrenting allowance
- Several protocols available, including OpenVPN
- Highly compatible
- DNS leak protection
- A SOCKS5 web proxy
- A kill switch
- Works with TOR
Cons in a nutshell:
- American jurisdiction
- No phone support
- Poor live chat feature
- No ad blocker
- Not the best VPN for beginners
Other VPN Providers
IPVanish is one of the best VPN providers in the industry. However, there are several other alternatives for you to consider in the table below.
Visit ExpressVPN
Conclusion
In conclusion, IPVanish provides an excellent service for a fair price but is not among the cheapest VPN alternatives out there. It has some of the best protocols and encryption standards in the industry, with excellent speeds and a big enough network of servers and countries.
It is often said that IPVanish is a nightmare to use, but that isn’t entirely true. While it is not the smoothest app or client, it takes an advanced user to understand every offering, which speaks well about the brand’s offerings.
IPVanish, therefore, is a desirable VPN option for its security-driven approach, high-end speeds, and server network.
REVIEW SUMMARY
IPVanish is a widely recognized VPN brand that offers top-end encryption (AES 256-bit,) a no-logging policy and lots of configuration options that are best suited for VPN veterans, but aren’t too shabby for beginners, as well. The service isn’t overly expensive and is a fast and safe option to consider.
