Is IPVanish good in 2026?
IPVanish is a fast, easy VPN whose biggest selling point is simple: unlimited simultaneous devices on every plan. It runs 3,400+ servers in 150+ locations across about 112 countries, supports WireGuard, and its no logs policy was independently verified by Schellman in 2025.
The trade offs are its US jurisdiction, a privacy incident from 2016 under a previous owner, steep renewal prices and patchy Netflix results in some tests. To see how it ranks overall, check our best VPN list, or compare it directly with our NordVPN review.
Speed and performance
Speed is a real strength. IPVanish owns and runs its own server network, and on WireGuard it ranks among the fastest VPNs that PCMag and Cybernews tested.
Download and upload speeds
In PCMag testing IPVanish cut download speed by only 6.38 percent and upload speed by 9.29 percent, far better than the PCMag averages of 27.81 and 41.1 percent. Cybernews ranked it its third fastest VPN, keeping about 92 percent of download speed on nearby and long distance servers alike.
| Test | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| PCMag, 2026 | 6.38 percent download loss, 9.29 percent upload loss | Well above average |
| Cybernews United States | 91 percent download, 55 percent upload kept | Excellent downloads |
| Cybernews United Kingdom | 90 percent download, 74 percent upload kept | Strong all round |
| Cybernews France | 92 percent download, 82 percent upload kept | The best result |
| Cybernews Japan | 92 percent download, 13 percent upload kept | Fast downloads, weak uploads |
| Cybernews Australia | 93 percent download, 30 percent upload kept | Uploads drop on long routes |
Download speeds hold up almost everywhere, while uploads fall off on distant servers. That matters for video calls and cloud backups, less so for streaming.
Latency and gaming performance
Latency is the weak point. PCMag measured a 103.86 percent latency increase, well above its 41.9 percent average. IPVanish has no gaming servers, so pick your server with care.
- Use ping time filtering in the server list to find the lowest ping
- Stay on WireGuard for the best speed and stability
- Turn on split tunneling so launchers and voice chat bypass the VPN
- Avoid Double Hop while gaming, since it adds a second server to the route
For shooters where every millisecond counts, see our best VPN for Warzone picks.
Does IPVanish work with streaming services?
Mostly, but results vary. Cybernews unblocked Netflix US, UK and India, plus YouTube TV, Max, Hulu, Disney+ and Prime Video. PCMag reached Netflix in Australia, Japan and the UK, but was blocked in the US and Canada, and lowered its score as a result. IPVanish says its own tests show all major Netflix regions working.
| Service | Works with IPVanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix UK | Yes | Worked for both PCMag and Cybernews |
| Netflix US | Mixed | Worked for Cybernews, blocked for PCMag |
| Netflix Canada | Mixed | Blocked in PCMag testing |
| Netflix Australia and Japan | Yes | Open in PCMag testing |
| BBC iPlayer | Partly | Worked for Cybernews, with buffering |
| Disney+, Hulu, Max, Prime Video | Yes | Worked in Cybernews testing |
There are no dedicated streaming servers, so you may need to try a few locations. Netflix asks for about 15 Mbps for 4K in its internet speed guide, which IPVanish clears easily. If a service shows a proxy error, our guide on how to fix the HBO Max VPN error walks through the usual fixes. IPVanish has apps for Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV, plus a new app for Fire TV on Vega OS. For streaming sticks, compare it in our best VPN for onn 4K Pro guide.
Security and encryption
IPVanish encrypts traffic with AES 256 or ChaCha20, uses SHA 512 authentication and supports perfect forward secrecy. PCMag and Cybernews both ran leak tests and found no IP or DNS leaks.
Key security tools include:
- Kill switch on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Fire TV and Android TV
- Double Hop with your own choice of entry and exit server
- Scramble obfuscation to get past networks that block VPNs
- Threat Protection to block ads, trackers and malicious sites on every plan
- Link checker on desktop and mobile, plus a QR code scanner on phones
- Split tunneling by app on Windows and Android, and by domain on more platforms
The gaps: there is no post quantum encryption yet, unlike ExpressVPN, and no port forwarding. Only about 550 servers in 20 locations are RAM only so far, with a full move planned by 2027.
Privacy, logging and audits
IPVanish says it does not record your traffic, DNS queries, IP address or connection timestamps. In February 2025 Schellman Compliance verified those claims, the second independent check of its no logs policy. It also publishes quarterly transparency reports that list legal and government requests, with no user data handed over.
| Topic | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No logs audit | Yes | Schellman, February 2025 |
| Transparency reports | Yes | Published every quarter |
| Jurisdiction | United States | Five Eyes member |
| Owner | Ziff Davis | Part of the Vipre Security Group |
| Signup data | Minimal | Email, payment and ZIP code on the web |
The history is the catch. In 2016, under its previous owner, IPVanish gave the FBI connection data despite claiming not to log. The current company has since been audited twice, but its US base means it must answer valid legal requests. PCMag also noted that IPVanish uses third party trackers on its website. If jurisdiction matters most to you, Proton VPN is Swiss based. The EFF guide to choosing a VPN explains why audits and ownership matter.
Apps and devices
IPVanish apps share the same black and green design on every platform, with a server map, load and ping details and an Optimal Location button. You can use it on unlimited devices at once, which only Surfshark also offers among the big names.
| Platform | Protocols | Standout features |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | App split tunneling, LAN blocking, Secure Browser |
| macOS | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec | Native Apple Silicon support, Double Hop |
| iOS | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, IPSec | Split tunneling, On Demand rules, QR scanner |
| Android | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | App split tunneling, Double Hop |
| Linux and routers | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Config files from the account portal |
| TV | WireGuard, OpenVPN | Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Vega OS |
It also runs on ChromeOS and Apple Vision Pro. PCMag wanted filters in the Windows server list, but found the apps consistent and easy. If Windows is your main device, compare it in our best VPN for PC guide.
Plans and extras
IPVanish sells three tiers. Essential covers the VPN, Threat Protection, a 3 GB eSIM and 24/7 chat. Complete adds next gen antivirus and phone support. Advanced adds 1 TB of Livedrive cloud storage, the Secure Browser and 5 GB of eSIM data.
- SOCKS5 proxy included on every plan
- 7 day free trial on iOS and Android with a 2 year plan
- 30 day money back guarantee on yearly and 2 year plans only, not monthly
- Payment by card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Amazon Pay, with no crypto
Watch the renewal. Both yearly and 2 year plans renew every year at $99.99 for Essential, $109.99 for Complete and $129.99 for Advanced, and PCMag found these rates hard to spot during checkout.
Torrenting and P2P
IPVanish allows torrenting on all servers with unlimited bandwidth. Cybernews saw steady speeds of about 7 to 8 MB/s once a torrent connected to peers. The built in SOCKS5 proxy helps if you want speed inside your torrent client, but remember it hides your IP without encrypting traffic. There is no port forwarding, so heavy seeders may prefer PureVPN.
Using IPVanish for travel and remote work
IPVanish covers parts of Africa and South America that many rivals skip, and its Scramble obfuscation helps on hotel and airport Wi-Fi that blocks VPNs. It has no servers in China or Russia, and some locations are virtual, which the app labels clearly.
For remote work, these features help the most:
- On Demand connects automatically on untrusted Wi-Fi
- eSIM data on every plan gets you online the moment you land
- Unlimited devices cover your laptop, phone and tablet on one account
- Split tunneling keeps local printers and work tools outside the tunnel
Always check local laws before you travel. For a trip to Japan, see our best VPN for Japan guide, and for labelled streaming servers, read our CyberGhost review.
Customer support
IPVanish offers 24/7 live chat, email, social media and, on Complete and Advanced, phone support, which few VPNs provide. PCMag reached a chat agent within a couple of minutes and waited about five minutes on the phone, though email took close to a day. The help center is detailed, but PCMag found the contact options hard to locate.
