VPNs Like IPVanish + Alternatives+ Similar VPN+ Competitors

IPVanish is one of several VPNs whose job is to give you online privacy and security. IPVanish, on their site, state that they’ll make your real IP address disappear so that your online activity cannot be tracked, and they boldly add that they are “the world’s best VPN service”. There are many other VPN like IPVanish that offer similar and also your desired security and privacy features. These similar VPNs are known as the best IPVanish alternatives and competitors available. In this article, we shall explore all the IPVanish competitors and alternatives to help you choose the most suitable option.

The IP part of IPVanish stands for Internet Protocol, and refers to the Internet Protocol address (IP address). It is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the internet Protocol for communication. It is basically like a return address on a letter you send out. When you do anything online, you are sending request to particular destinations, and the information you need has to come back directly to you via your device.

The only way to identify your device from the myriads of devices on a network is through the IP address assigned to it. IP addresses identify the host and provide the location of the host in the network, thus enabling the establishment of a path to that host. Therefore, whatever you do online can be traced to you through your IP address.

The vanish part of IPVanish stands for the literal vanish, that is disappear, being invisible or unnoticeable. Being invisible online mean that the path is established to you is just so that your requests can be routed to you, but none of your online activity can be traced back to you. Think anonymous browsing.

Is IPVanish really the world’s best VPN service, or are they just talking the talk? The following detailed review is to answer that question. The review examines:

1. VPN like IPVanish & Alternatives
2. Features and Interface
3. Speed and Performance
4. Server Availability
5. Privacy
6. Security
7. Customer Service

IPVanish is one of the top VPN services, but if you are not satisfied with privacy and security features, you may try out other alternatives that strongly compete with IPVanish. Below are other VPN like IPVanish:

VPNs LIke IPVanish + Alternatives:

• NordVPN
• Surfshark
• ExpressVPN
• Proton VPN
• CyberGhost VPN
• PureVPN
• Private Internet Access
• IPVanish
• TorGuard
• Hotspot Shield

IPVanish Feature and Interface

The IPVanish app installs quickly and easily in every supported device. It would take about a minute to install and set up in Android and iOS apps; and about 3 minutes on a PC and Mac.

IPVanish has a user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for you to find everything you need. Though, the black color scheme of IP Vanish might give some an exciting hacker-feel, it comes out as ominous to others. IPVanish should note that competing VPNs are earning points for looks with bold colours and tongue-in-cheek mascots.

IPVanish offers what most users will feel should be the standard with a VPN service: unlimited bandwidth, unlimited server switching, and unlimited P2P traffic. IP Vanish do not restrict BitTorrent at all. This is a big plus to IPVanish; in some of the best rated VPNs, the use of BitTorrent is restricted to specific servers. This feature of IP Vanish will appeal to you if you are a heavy downloader. IP Vanish even seem to encourage torrenting by stating: “By using IPVanish, ditch the worry of being watched so you may torrent freely and privately”

IPVanish do not allow access to Netflix, and they do not advertise this on the website. However, you can occasional watch Netflix on certain servers; though, most of the time, you will get a Netflix proxy error message. IP Vanish lacks the ability to block ads; however ad blocking is a feature that many VPN providers are starting to provide

Device support

IPVanish offers a wide selection of applications for many devices and platform including windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV and Routers. IP Vanish actually stand among the bests VPNs for routers because not only will it secure all devices connected to the router, all devices connected to the router will count as only one device with IPVanish.

On one license, IPVanish offers five connections with any supported device. This is a big plus considering that premium VPN providers limits your connections to three devices. Not only can you connect your multiple devices, you can add the devices of your family and friends. In some VPNs you get additional simultaneous connections by paying a token. However, IPVanish does not offer that, you have to buy a second license. 

Speed and Perfomance

VPN generally lower the speed of your web browsing because of the added encryption and the time it takes for a data packet to travel back and forth over the VPN. A VPN will provide you with their services without any no or minimal drop on your internet speed. With a poor VPN, your browsing experience will be characterized by the spinning wheel of buffering and displays of the loading bars.

Establishing an initial connection with IPVanish network gives fast and consistent speeds. IPVanish performs very well with almost-insignificant speed drop when connecting to nearby servers, and tolerable drop when connecting to far flung servers. IPVanish offers decent upload and download speeds; in fact, IPVanish stand as one of the best VPNs with its download speeds.

IPVanish Server Availability

Location availability is an important criterion for choosing VPN providers. For one, robust server availability enhances your anonymity online, as it gives you a lot of option for spoofing your location; also, you are assured that there is a nearby server for faster and more reliable connections.

IPVanish VPN network consist of over 1000 servers spread across over 60 countries. The whole world is fairly represented in the countries’ list, as there are servers in Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Impressively, the list includes locations such as China (and Russia until recently) even with the VPN stifling regulations of their government.

Granted, in terms of server network, there are VPN providers that have more numbers than IP Vanish; but IPVanish’s over 1000 servers (which are more than enough for spoofing) easily place them among the best VPNs.

It is also important to note that IPVanish do not make use of virtual servers, unlike some PVN providers who use these to improve their server count. With virtual servers, several ‘virtuals’ can run on a single physical server; meaning that the location given for some of the virtuals would be different from where the actual hardware is.

This becomes a problem if you are like me in being particular about location. I don’t want to think I’m connected to a server in Amsterdam, when actually the server is in Hong Kong. When IPVanish says they have a server in a particular location, you can be assured that they have the hardware in that location.

IPVanish pride herself as “the world’s only top tier VPN in the world”. Being a top tier VPN mean that they own and personally manage their entire server network. You heard that right: no third parties. This is a factor that distinguishes IPVanish from every other PVN provider.

IPVanish Privacy

IPVanish takes your privacy really seriously. To sign up, all you need is a valid e-mail account, which needn’t be your real account. IPvanish also have a kill switch which does not allow internet activity if the VPN becomes disconnected for any reason. 

Logging policy:

‘Logs’ and ‘no log’ are important considerations in the VPN industry, and for good reasons. You cannot be completely anonymous when someone somewhere is keeping a record of your movements. What records could be kept?

Though there are no standard definitions of terms, the VPN industry frequently reference two classes of logs: activity logs and connection logs. Activity logs include (but not limited to) the websites you visited, the data you transferred, and the IP addresses accessed; while connection logs include (but not limited to) the time you connected and disconnected, the duration of you connection, and your bandwidth usage.

IPVanish keep no log because they have a zero log policy. The zero traffic log policy of IPVanish states: “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 really does make you vanish, with no kept records that can be used to track you. The zero log policy of IP Vanish is a big plus for them because even some very good VPNs keep certain logs. Generally, VPN users see log keeping as risky to privacy, and rightfully so. 

Any VPN that keep activity logs is as good as salt that is tasteless. Everything I do online is kept somewhere. What if some mischievous hacker gets there? How am I sure that law enforcement agencies would not get the records? Some VPN providers, even highly rated ones, state that they keep only connection logs; stressing only as if connection logs are no big deal.

They would claim that such logging is for diagnostic purposes, and that you shouldn’t worry. Well, I don’t know about you, but I do worry. I do because there are cases of the ‘no-big-deal’ connection logs facilitating the arrest of VPN users. The LulzSec fiasco is one of several.

Logging history:

Though IPVanish have a zero log policy, it would appear that they went contrary to this policy and kept logs in the past. In June 2016, under pressure from the US Department of Homeland Security, they handed over data logs of one of their users involved in a child abuse and pornography investigation. I don’t need super intelligence to know that you cannot hand over something that does not exist.

This checkered history of IPVanish is counting against them, as many users no longer trust their zero-log claims. Don’t throw them out yet. Consider that they now have a new ownership, and the new owners guarantee they will not keep logs.

IPVanish privacy policy begins with: “Your privacy is our priority, but your trust in us is equally important”. They realize that simply telling you that they keep no log is not enough, so they ask that you should trust their word that they keep no logs.

It is interesting to note that IPVanish recently suspended operations in Russia, because a local law conflicts with the company’s zero-log policy. Though some other VPN providers did that as well, it should give confidence that IPVanish is now very much committed to upholding their zero-log policy.

Jurisdiction:

Another factor that raises questions about privacy provided by IPVanish is its US jurisdiction. The US being part of the 5 eyes international surveillance alliance, has anti-privacy laws, and has been known to implement Orwellian data surveillance and collection methods. The US government authorities can force VPNs within her jurisdiction to monitor, log and hand over user data, while also giving them gag orders prohibiting disclosure.

A recent Massachusetts court case proved that the US government was able to compel a Hong Kong ‘no logs’ VPN provider to provide enough information about one of the PVN users, and the supplied information facilitated the arrest and prosecution of the user. 

If the US could force cooperation from a foreign VPN provider not under its jurisdiction, I don’t want to think of what they could do to a local PVN provider well in her jurisdiction and subject to all her data retention and anti-privacy laws.

IPVanish Security

IPVanish use a 256-bit AES encryption, which is a high level encryption protocol that meets the industry’s standard for the encryption of electronic data. It is also worth noting that the 256 bit encryption is military-grade, used by government and top financial institutions, and is virtually unhackable.

Many of the top VPN providers support OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) as well as L2TP and PPTP encryption protocols. IPVanish not only support this regular protocols, they further distinguish themselves by also offering the Socket Security (SOCKS) protocol.

This special provision counts as a plus because; the OpenVPN which is generally recommended because it offers fast speed without compromising security requires you to download to your device a client bearing the unique certificate that will be accessed to establish a connection, but with the SOCKS protocol, you do not have to download any third-party software to your device to get a connection. No third party should translate to added security. However, the SOCKS proxy is not without its downside.

It has been said that IPVanish own and manage their entire server network. Earlier, I said you should read that as: no third parties. In this section, you can read that as: great data security.

IPVanish Subcription Price

Like other top VPNs, IPVanish has three plans with different prices. However, none of the plans is watered-down; the features and functionalities in all plans are exactly the same, as they are different only in length of time. The plans are: $10.00 single one month plan, a $35.97 three month plan equating to $11.98 per month, and a $77.99 annual plan equating to $6.50 per month. Like every other VPN, the annual plan is their best value plan.

Though, these prices are not the highest in the industry, they do not come cheap.  IPVanish is different from other VPNs in offering a 3 months plan instead of the traditional 6 months plan. The three month plan will be appealing to users who do not want the long term commitment, but find the monthly plan too pricey.

Special Discounts

Like most VPN providers, IPVanish gives special coupons or discount sales. Currently they have a 20% discount sale for new subscription to any of the service plans. They also sometimes offer a two year plan that is heavily discounted to give significant savings.

IPVanish Payment Options

IPVanish accepts regular payment options such as credit cards and Paypal. They do not support anonymous method of payment such as prepaid gift cards or bitcoins. They can aspire to that height of accepting anonymous payments in order to give their users complete online anonymity.

Like most VPNs, IP Vanish do not do free trials, and the only way to test the value of their service free of charge is to take-up their 7 day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with IPVanish VPN service, they will gladly refund your payment, no questions asked, as long as the refund is requested within 7 day from the date of purchase.

You also need to have bought the subscription directly from IP Vanish website. However, their 7 days window falls short of the 30 days window given by other top VPN providers. Certain disgruntled users have complained that the 7 days was on them before they knew it, and they were hooked with no way to get back their money when they really needed out. IP Vanish can really do with increasing the 7 days ‘user testing’ period.

Customer Services

IPVanish has an array of options for getting assistance when issues arise. First they have the tutorial for first timers to guide them in installing and setting up the IPVanish client. On the support center, you can browse by topics many of the questions that users have had in the past and their answers.  Then there is a knowledge base that is really helpful and covers a whole array of topics. There is the email support which enables direct contact with an IP Vanish representative.

However, I am yet to see any VPN provider that has received the beatings that IPVanish has received because of their customer support service, not even the VPNs that offer no form of support have seen such beatings. Customer reviews of IPVanish customer support service have sometimes been brutal.

Comments have included: “The service is good as long as you do not need any help”, “if you need instant supportyou’re your VPN service, don’t bother with IPVanish, unless your definition of instant is 48+ hours”, “support gets a two out of five stars”, “IPVanish is blatantly misleading in advertisement by saying that support is 24/7/365”, “the tech –support is nonexistent, no one will get back to you ever”. Wait! Before you think of drawing a big X on IPVanish; please read on.

My test of the customer support service was satisfactory. For the much maligned e-mail support, I sent in a ticket and got a response in just over two hours, not the 48 hours or 72 hours that some users allegedly recorded. It was either IPVanish were listening to the numerous complains and have taken steps to set things right, or I have some supernatural elements of luck making things happen for me.

I’ll go for the former. The evidence shows that IPVanish must have put things right in the customer support department. What evidence? For one, they did not have live chat support, and you could only get direct contact by sending them an e-mail. Now, IP Vanish have introduced live chat support. This can be accessed at the bottom of their website, and it also worked without any issues; responses were received immediately.

Conclusion

The IPVanish app is user friendly and supports a lot of devices. They have a robust network comprising of over 40,000 IPs, and over 1,000 servers in over 60 countries spread across the world. They own and manage all their servers – no third party means added privacy. They have a zero log policy, and add that you should trust that they keep no log. They offer SOCKS5 web proxy which is great for torrenting. They use military grade high level encryption protocol to guarantee online safety.

They are located in the US which makes them subject to US anti-privacy laws. They have been found to keep log in the past while claiming zero-logs which put question marks on their current promise of zero logs. The VPN like IPVanish listed above are also its best competitors in the VPN industry; you can use one of them as an alternative or better replacement.