PVanish has a zero traffic logs policy, offers 256-bit AES encryption and boasts 1,500+ servers in 75+ locations and a massive collection of 40,000+ shared IPs. Fast, reliable and secure, IPVanish offers an array of unique features for top-of-the-line security.
Speed & Performance
IPVanish is speedy, offering less than a 20% reduction in speeds. On a 100 Mbps connection, speeds remained above 80 Mbps and ping fluctuated between 40 and 340 ms depending on location, Asian servers had the highest ping and slower servers, but speeds and pings may vary from server to server.
There are 1,500+ servers in 75+ locations and a rotation of 40,000+ shared IP addresses to keep your browsing history and identity private.
Protocols include IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec. The OpenVPN protocol is the most common option when speed is a concern, and there’s no loss in privacy or security. Customers can also use the SOCKS5 special protocol that doesn’t require downloading software to use OpenVPN.
Users can use any of the protocols available on servers that are both P2P- and streaming-friendly. IPVanish doesn’t mention which servers unblock Netflix, so you’ll need to do your own testing to find servers that work.
Connections are unmetered across all devices – you can connect as many as you like.
Speeds are unthrottled.
If you want to connect to TOR for even better security, you can. TOR adds and additional layer of protection to your connection to ensure your browsing remains 100% private. In countries like China, TOR is an option to bypass censorship. The issue is that many VPNs don’t work in the country, and from initial tests, IPVanish didn’t work in China.
Security & Privacy
IPVanish has a zero traffic logs policy that keeps all of your user and usage data private. Multiple connection protocols are available, and 256-bit AES encryption keeps your data private. When testing for malware and IP leaks using multiple different providers, IPVanish worked flawlessly.
Previous concerns about the company’s logging practices are less of an issue today after the acquisition of the company. In 2016, there were reports that the company handed data over to US authorities despite holding ”no logs.”
Following a sale of the company, the new owner promises to keep no logs and store no metadata.
The company is based in the United States.
Most of the servers are owned by the company, although some servers are leased. IPVanish claims that no one else has access to the infrastructure and that there is two-factor authentication in place to prevent attacks.
If a connection drops, an automatic kill switch engages so that your IP address is never exposed.
DNS leak protection runs in the background to further ensure that your IP address and location are never leaked to websites.
While not part of the company’s service, there’s also 250GB of free SugarSync store and backup provided. Users can backup all of their private photos, videos and documents on a secure server.
Users can access censored websites and apps through IPVanish.
Device Compatibility
IPVanish offers powerful protection, with a robust set of apps that make the setup process as easy as possible. Support is offered for Windows 7+, macOS 10.10 and later, iOS 11.0 and later, Android 5.1 and up, Debian and RedHat Linux and routers running: Merlin, Asus-WRT, Tomato and DD-WRT.
The apps are clunky and cumbersome, and this is one of the major complaints among users. While the apps allow for a robust set of customization options, they definitely don’t match the quality or speed of apps offered by competitors.
Router support provides enhanced security and privacy by tunneling all traffic that connects to the router through the VPN. The setup process for a router is complex, so you may need to reach out to tech support and make sure that you’re using a compatible router.
Tech Support
Customer support is available in addition to a wealth of guides and tutorials to help you get started. Tech support is available 24/7, and there’s a “live chat” option. While there may be opportunities to speak to a live agent, the chat starts off as a bot.
Others have stated that a live agent does answer some questions, but the answers are often inaccurate, so it seems to be a hit-or-miss when reaching out to support.
There’s a system status option along with a support center that can help you find answers to many of the problems that you have.
A blog will keep you updated on new features and functions available.
If you don’t need full support, you’ll find a variety of setup guides for all of the devices that are supported. There are also solutions for teams and specific stream services available.
Price
IPVanish is more expensive than many competing VPNs. The one-month plan offers a 17% discount and a $10 per month option. The three-month plan has a 25% discount, dropping the plan to $8.99 per month. The one-year plan is discounted by 46% down to $6.49 per month.
There are often short-term deals that offer the plan for as low as $49.99 per year.
Subscribers can request a 30-day money back guarantee.
All plans are in USD and come with full features. The plans come with 250GB of SugarSync storage that’s fully encrypted to keep your data safe and secure. This additional perk may not be available forever, although it is owned by the same company that owns IPVanish.
Coupons are available, and there are student discount options to bring prices down further.
Multiple payment options are available including credit card and PayPal. You’ll notice that Bitcoin and any form of cryptocurrency are not accepted at this time. Crypto payments are the most important when you want to maintain 100% privacy.
Summary
SurferVPN is a great option for anyone whowants to stream on Netflix or other services internationally. Five connections at one time allows you to protect your laptop, smartphone, PC and even gaming console data.
Connecting to the service through a pre-configured router enables you the highest level of protection, with minimal speed loss and a kill switch to protect your data from leaking if the server you’re connected to drops.
If you’re looking for a high-end streaming VPN and don’t plan on using the service for much P2P, SaferVPN is a good option, with highly optimized servers and a robust no-logs policy.
