IPVanish is a low - cost VPN that supports every platform , including Windows , macOS , Linux , ChromeOS , iOS , and Android . It latterly link a growinglist of leading VPN servicesthat even work with Windows on Arm , so you could protect your secrecy onthe latest Snapdragon Elite 10 laptops .
blanket financial backing is smashing since you need cybersecurity on every gadget you habituate to browse the web . evenly significant , you need a VPN that wo n’t affect internet velocity .
I checked IPVanish ’s pricing , tested its download speeds at servers around the populace , explored its features , and tested customer service reactivity to discover out if it ’s a good solvent for your needs .
Specs
Tiers and pricing
IPVanish has unproblematic pricing with only two level : Essential and Advanced . you could choose a monthly , annual , or two - yr subscription catamenia and longer terms offer more savings .
IPVanish Essential is $ 13 per month , $ 40 per year , or $ 53 if you pay for two years of service . Advanced cost about $ 1 more for each calendar month , adding a unafraid web browser app extension , 1 TB of cloud relief memory board with sync , and phone support .
If you blame the long subscription term , the average monthly cost is a little over $ 2 for Essential and $ 3 for Advanced . That makes itone of the best VPN flock you could find .
Design
IPVanish has a nice , innovative pattern . It open with a function , showing worldwide waiter locations as pins . I can surge and sweep up the map to find a location or pick out the location button in the left sidebar to browse and search the intact inclination .
The listing shows host loads so I can recover one that has enough capacity uncommitted to propose good speeds . I was pleased to see most servers has less than a 20 % burden .
The configurations tab let me set up split - tunneling so some apps and knowledge base run at full speed , while others use the VPN for maximal privacy protection . I can also flip VPN protocols to WireGuard , IKEv2 , OpenVPN , or let IPVanish automatically choose the good alternative .
Features
The most basic function of a VPN is protecting your privateness , and IPVanish Essential did a good job of blot out my IP destination and localisation without any detectable escape . However , the best free VPNs safeguard your personal identity just as well .
To abide out , a VPN should offer enough worldwide servers to do by its customer base without any significant slowdowns . In my initial tests of IPVanish Essential , I was disappointed with sluggish operation when connect to nearby U.S. and Canadian host , even when I chose a low - load server .
For example , I got a 73Mbps download rate , which is just 8 % of my usual 900Mbps pace without a VPN . I noticed the app chose WireGuard , which is often the loyal VPN protocol .
I switched to IKEv2 , and that made a vast difference , reaching 514Mbps downloads and 65Mbps uploads at a skinny U.S. waiter with an average latency of 37ms . The server in Canada leapt from a miserable 5Mbps to acceptable 224Mbps downloads and 41Mbps uploads .
I found IPVanish ’s IKEv2 connexion were faster for most overseas servers as well , reaching over 400Mbps download speed for France and Germany , while the better U.K. rate was a decent 92Mbps . Pings were around 115ms and uploads were about 4Mbps , which is normal for upstage waiter .
Unlike my earlierSpeedTestresults , Australian servers offered the best operation when I prefer the WireGuard communications protocol , score an impressive 178Mbps download speed for a location so far aside .
Support
IPVanish call 24/7 financial backing , so I tested that by spread a chat . It was in the afternoon on a weekday . A chatbot reply quickly to my question about whether ping or load was a more important metric . The AI noted both affect operation in different way and gave me a nexus to learn more .
When I ask for a live agent , the AI told me to select the “ Live Chat ” button on the financial support page . I depart the schmoose and looked around in subject I miss something .
I opened the chat with the button at the bottom rightfulness and asked again for human aid . This fourth dimension the chatbot asked for my email address , then yield me a link to anIPVanish support articlethat comprise the leave out button for alive confabulation .
After finding the live chat option , it was disappointingly slow . I was supposedly in “ waiting line berth : 1″ but it took over 30 arcminute get a response .
IPVanish has a helpful AI , but bouncy chat was much too slow . If you anticipate needing personal assistance , CyberGhost was among the best for fast , well-disposed support .
Privacy and security
IPVanish ’s privacy policy states clearly that it does n’t trade or rent your personal information to third parties . However , it allows sharing “ where our inspection and repair apply third company advertizement . ”
I did n’t see any advert in the app and have n’t notice a rise in spam . Still , the privacy policy is n’t clear about third - party sharing .
Like other leading VPNs , IPVanish honors legal requests for data . It ’s based in the U.S. which is part of three major tidings alliances that portion out information with other country . That said , if exploiter activity is n’t logged , that data ca n’t be shared .
There ’s no phonograph recording of security breaches , and IPVanish has independent audits to verify its security system protocols and no - logarithm policy .
Is IPVanish right for you?
Overall , IPVanish ’s focal ratio were good , particularly for European servers . However , I had to tinker with my connector communications protocol to get the skilful results . The app ’s robotlike communications protocol always chose WireGuard , even when IKEv2 was significantly quicker .
If you do n’t beware fussing with preferences a bit , the monetary value is right and the monetary value does n’t skyrocket when it ’s time to renew . There ’s no limit on simultaneous connections so it ’s a good selection if you need a VPN on several devices .
That said , there arefaster streaming VPNs that offer great speeding with no hassle . Premium VPNs like NordVPN provide more features , while Surfshark beats IPVanish ’s functioning while equal its Mary Leontyne Price .
While it has malware and ad blocking that body of work well , neither IPVanish design play off the robust malware aegis of gamey - caliber antivirus software . The 24/7 live chat proved to be gruelling to get at and slow .
IPVanish Essential offers great value for the cost , but there are some issues that make it unvoiced to recommend . It ’s a salutary idea toresearch the best VPNs before selecting a long - term subscription .
