Although VPN services by and large offer the same thing, no two VPNs are the same. When you’re shopping around for a VPN, you want to ensure that you get the best deal and service possible.
To help users find the perfect Virtual Private Network for their needs, we’ve created an IPVanish vs NordVPN comparison. These VPN providers are two of the most popular on the current market but are different in several areas.
If you’re struggling to decide which VPN provider is the right choice for you, read our NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN comparison to find out which one we think is the best, and learn more about each service.
If you’ve stumbled across many reviews, you might be thinking: what is better than NordVPN? NordVPN is unsurprisingly considered the best VPN out there, and there aren’t many VPNs that can compete with this titan.
However, over the past few years, IPVanish VPN has experienced a surge in popularity among internet users and is viewed as a rival to NordVPN. Let’s examine each provider’s most important aspects to determine which is the better of the two.
First and foremost, let’s take a look at the privacy and security features provided by each VPN. With a VPN, you can hide your web traffic from third parties like governments, hackers, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). You can also use a VPN to prevent trackers from tracing your online movements.
To secure your VPN connection and ensure your web traffic is always protected when you’re using the VPN, both IPVanish and NordVPN use AES-256 bit encryption. This is military-grade encryption used by governments and large corporations, and it is near impossible for hackers to break through this level of encryption.
NordVPN also uses Transport Layer Security to encrypt web traffic and Perfect Forward Secrecy to change encryption keys, while IPVanish owns and manages its own network. This is great since many providers, NordVPN, included rent servers from third parties.
Tunneling protocols play an important role in encrypting your data. IPVanish offers users a choice of IKEv2, OpenVPN over TCP/UDP, L2TP, IPSec, and PPTP, depending on whether you’re looking for a secure or fast connection.
NordVPN also allows users to choose from a set of secure protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and NordLynx, which is based on WireGuard. NordVPN recommends that users employ either the OpenVPN protocol or NordLynx since they provide the most protection and fastest connection speeds.
Although NordVPN offers fewer protocols, it doesn’t use the less secure PPTP or slower L2TP. Therefore, users aren’t missing out on anything important.
Checking a VPN company’s privacy policy is a must since you’re giving them the same powers as your ISP. Any VPN worth its two cents should have a strict zero-logs policy in place to ensure that information such as your browsing data and real IP address are not stored or shared.
Fortunately, both IPVanish and NordVPN have no-logs policies in place. IPVanish’s privacy policy states that the provider “does not collect, monitor, or log any traffic or use of its Virtual Private Network service on any platform.” While IPVanish does store account information such as your name and email address, this is only for verification when you log into your account or for payment purposes. IPVanish does not sell this data to third parties.
NordVPN also operates a tight zero-logs policy, and the only data it collects relating to your use of the VPN service is the time of the last session, but this is stored for just 15 minutes. Nord states that it also process payment and information such as your email address for account purposes on its privacy policy. However, Nord does not share anything with other parties.
One advantage that NordVPN has over IPVanish VPN is that Nord has had its privacy policy audited by an independent firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers AG. This reaffirms that the provider’s no-logs policy checks out and is extremely reassuring for its network users.
NordVPN has moved over to entirely RAM-based servers on its network, which is a great advantage for users. RAM servers are easier to wipe since all data stored on them is completely removed when they are powered off.
However, IPVanish has made no announcements about making a move over to RAM servers, which leads us to believe that the provider still uses VPN-server hard drives.
The location of a VPN provider is critical since some governments enforce strict data retention laws. It’s best to go with a VPN based in a privacy-friendly country to reduce the risk of your personal information or browsing data being shared.
NordVPN is based in Panama, which is well-known for not having ties to the Five Eyes alliance. The Five Eyes is an international agreement between countries that shares citizen data. This mass-scale surveillance operation is problematic for many people since it is viewed by many as a breach of individuals’ freedom.
IPVanish, on the other hand, is based in the United States, which is a member of the Five Eyes. The US is well known for its surveillance of citizens, and the US government can subpoena a company to hand over its data logs at any time. This fact makes it even more important that IPVanish has a no-logging policy.
Extra security features can make your internet browsing experience that much safer. A kill switch, for example, is integral given that it cuts off your connection to the internet should your VPN server suddenly go down.
IPVanish offers a kill switch for Windows, Android, and Mac users. NordVPN also has a kill switch available on iOS devices and automatically enabled upon download for iPhone and iPad users.
As well as kill switches, NordVPN and IPVanish offer IPv6 and DNS leak protection. Both providers employ private DNS servers which protect your private information. IPv6 protection ensures your real IP address isn’t leaked, which unfortunately can occur even with VPN protection.
Aside from the above, NordVPN offers an extra way to anonymize yourself online through Double VPN. The Double VPN feature routes your connection through two server locations to add more layers of protection and prevent third parties from viewing your real IP address. You can also connect to the Onion Network with NordVPN.
IPVanish users can scramble OpenVPN traffic to make the VPN use undetectable, while NordVPN employs obfuscated servers to hide VPN activity and usage.
The winner: Both providers have advantages over the other. We like that IPVanish owns and manages all of its own servers but that NordVPN uses volatile RAM servers on its network and offers extra security features like the Double VPN.
Moreover, the fact that NordVPN has been independently audited is encouraging, as is the fact it is based in Panama. For this alone, NordVPN definitely beats IPVanish on the security front.
When you use a VPN, you get the opportunity to access content in other countries and enhance your overall internet experience. Many VPN providers have started to provide extra features to entice consumers, and the two providers are no different. Here’s some of what they have on offer.
Using your VPN on a large number of devices at the same time is useful, especially since most people interchangeably use several devices nowadays. NordVPN offers six simultaneous connections, while IPVanish provides ten simultaneous connections per plan.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs for streaming since it provides access to many different streaming services worldwide. Whether you’re a Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer fan, you’ll be able to enjoy content on these streaming platforms in any country. NordVPN has the NEAT feature, which is similar to Smart DNS but also offers encryption.
With NordVPN, you can access Netflix in 14 territories, but fewer with IPVanish. While we were able to get through to a couple of Netflix libraries using IPVanish, it wasn’t as effective as NordVPN. If you’re a Netflix junkie, then NordVPN is definitely the superior option.
IPVanish permits torrenting on all of its servers, while NordVPN has over 4000 dedicated servers for P2P networking. Both providers are great for accessing torrenting platforms since they mask your download traffic with advanced encryption.
If you want more anonymity online, then you can access the Onion Network (Tor). NordVPN’s Onion over VPN option allows you to route your connection through the Tor network whilst still enjoying VPN encryption.
IPVanish discourages users from using the Tor network, even though it is possible to access it with the VPN switched on. However, there is no special feature to make this process easier for you, like with NordVPN.
Both NordVPN and IPVanish offer many shared IP addresses, reducing the chances of internet activity being linked to you online. However, a dedicated IP address is useful for accessing work files remotely or online banking and is a great choice for some people. It also helps you avoid the bad neighbor effect that commonly occurs with VPN IP addresses.
IPVanish doesn’t have dedicated IP addresses available for users, but NordVPN does for a small extra cost.
NordVPN and IPVanish offer split-tunneling to users, enabling them to direct some traffic outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. This is one of the best features in our opinion since it can increase speeds and ensures that you still enjoy the necessary security and privacy for certain activities.
The winner: NordVPN is the clear winner when it comes to additional features. You can customize your VPN use more easily with Nord.
The number of servers and locations is something to consider before you get a VPN. If you want to watch Netflix or other streaming services in a specific country, then you need to ensure your VPN provides access to this part of the world. You might need to see popular social media trends in a certain region for work and need access to specific server locations.
NordVPN has a large network with over 5500 VPN servers available across 59 countries. IPVanish has more than 1600 servers in 75 global locations. Both providers have servers mainly in European and North American locations, with only a few in Africa.
While we think both providers need to expand their server networks and add more locations in African, South American, and Asian countries, both operate overall impressive-sized server networks.
The winner: Based on size alone, NordVPN is the winner regarding its number of servers and locations.
VPNs can affect internet speed which can interrupt activities like streaming. While it is hard to find a VPN that will speed up your internet connection, it isn’t impossible to find one that doesn’t drastically slow down your connection.
Both providers promise unlimited speed, so we put this to the test with a couple of speed tests. Our download speeds were fast with NordVPN, averaging about 30Mbps from a base speed of 34Mbps. We used the NordLynx protocol, which delivered what was promised. The speeds we experienced were fast and good enough for HD streaming or downloading files.
IPVanish also performed well with average download speeds of around 28Mbps, which is again great for bandwidth-heavy activities, including gaming. Speeds with IPVanish may surpass those of NordVPN when using the PPTP protocol, but this may also make your connection less secure.
The winner: NordVPN is the best VPN out of the two providers in terms of speeds. We like that NordLynx provides customers with a way to have a secure yet fast connection.
IPVanish offers ten connections on its subscription plans, so it makes sense that the VPN allows users to enjoy the VPN on multiple devices. There are cell phone apps for Android and iOS users and apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. There is also a Google Chrome browser extension, which encrypts the data in your browser only. As well as this, IPVanish has support for Amazon Fire TV users, allowing users to download the app directly onto their Fire TV Stick.
NordVPN also has dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android devices. There is also support for Android TVs and Chrome and Firefox browser extensions. Both providers also enable users to configure the VPNs to their routers, allowing customers to protect other IoT devices such as gaming consoles.
The apps from both VPNs provide ease of use, and we’d recommend either one to a VPN novice. IPVanish allows users to quickly connect to the best VPN server or add preferred servers to a favorites list. NordVPN allows users to customize their VPN use in the settings section and clearly labels servers best for P2P networking or have the best speeds.
The winner: It’s a draw when it comes to device support and apps. With both VPN services, you get functional and easy-to-navigate apps and the option to use the VPN on many operating systems.
The two VPNs offer competitive prices for their services and have offers available throughout the year.
IPVanish subscription plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. There is a reduced cost for the first year, and the standard prices are:
IPVanish also offers its VPN with 500Gb of SugarSync file storage for an additional cost. If you want to protect your important files, this is great value for money, and this plan is also refundable for 30 days.
NordVPN has three subscription plans. Each comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee:
The winner: When it comes to the 1 month plan, IPVanish is cheaper, but NordVPN is cheaper on the long-term plans, which we feel is more important.
Customer support is an indication of a company’s attitude towards customers and illustrates their dedication to users. NordVPN has a dedicated support section on its website where users can find FAQs or more general information on connectivity, billing, or features. There are also a couple of ways to get in touch with the NordVPN customer support team, including via a live chat or email.
IPVanish has great customer service support. Its VPN support features a help section with FAQs and setup guides. Users can also choose from email support, a live chat service, or get in touch with the US-based support team via telephone.
The winner: IPVanish trumps NordVPN because its services include an option for customers to get in contact with the support team via telephone.
NordVPN vs IPVanish; which is the better VPN service? Both providers excel in terms of security and privacy, but NordVPN impresses us more due to its audited privacy policy and extra security features.
The two providers are equal in many areas; both have a month-long money-back guarantee policy and offer user-friendly apps. You can also use both VPNs to access streaming services and restricted content in many countries worldwide.
However, NordVPN is the winner due to its cheaper long-term subscription plans and slightly larger server network. Even though IPVanish is great for torrenting and provides more simultaneous connections than NordVPN, it can’t compete with the amazing services that Nord customers can take advantage of.
I’m Madeleine, and I'm a writer that specializes in cybersecurity, tech products, and all things related to the internet.
I have a keen interest in VPNs and believe that everyone deserves internet freedom and security. I wr...
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