NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Which is the Best?
We put these VPNs to the test to find out which is the best!
If we were to look at both NordVPN and IPVanish optimistically,
- IPVanish was worse. Now it’s only bad.
- NordVPN was among the best, is among the best, and will remain among the best. The future prediction is based on its history and growth with time.
That’s the general overview, and you already know NordVPN is better. In fact, it’s among the best in the market — it ranks #1 in our top recommended VPNs list.
As for IPVanish, it does what the VPN name suggests well- “Vanishes IP”. Apart from that, it’s pretty much downhill, especially when compared to a giant like NordVPN.
In this article, we’ll see why IPVanish is a bad choice in comparison to NordVPN. We will look at it from different standpoints, including features, streaming, ease of use, torrenting, security & privacy, servers & speed, customer support, and pricing.
NordVPN vs IPVanish : How do these Compare?
Vendor |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Features | 10/10 | 7/10 |
Ease of use | 10/10 | 8.5/10 |
Security/Privacy | 10/10 | 7.5/10 |
Support | 9/10 | 5/10 |
Speed | 9/10 | 7/10 |
Pricing | 10/10 | 7/10 |
Cell |
Both NordVPN and IPVanish started in 2012. NordVPN, headquartered in Panama, was established by four childhood friends to liberate the internet. IPVanish, headquartered in the US, was founded by Mudhook Media Inc. of Highwinds Network Group.
Today, NordVPN serves approximately 14 million users worldwide, as stated on their website. No such information is available about IPVanish, but as per speculations, it has about one-fifth of that.
In short, both are big names and have had enough time to evolve their product & services. Which one did better? And the true winner stands out to be NordVPN. Lets see How?
Features
According to Wikipedia, “A virtual private network extends a private network across a public network and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network.”
To fulfill that definition, a VPN company has to simply connect your device to their private server and pass incoming and outgoing traffic through it. However, to compete in this oversaturated market, a VPN provider offers features. And not all providers include the same features, essentially making them different.
NordVPN
NordVPN is perhaps the best VPN in terms of quality & quantity of features. Its package includes features such as:
- OpenVPN for strong encryption.
- Cybersec to block ads and malware.
- DoubleVPN to hop your traffic through two encrypted servers, making it extra secure & private.
- Obfuscated Servers to get through VPN blocks in countries like China.
- Smartplay for secure and smooth streaming.
- Kill Switch to stop the internet activities in case the VPN gets disconnected. NordVPN has two versions of this- apps-only kill switch & internet kill switch.
- Onion over VPN to anonymously surf the internet using Tor.
- Leak Protection from IP or DNS leaks.
- Split Tunneling.
- SmartDNS.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
All combined, it makes for a complete VPN package. The only little negative we have to say about the features is ‘all features are not available for all devices.’ E.g., Split Tunneling is not available for its desktop app.
IPVanish
IPVanish has one extra feature in the form of cloud storage. Apart from that, it lacks many compared to NordVPN. On its plan, you get the following features:
- SockS5 web proxy to mask IP without encryption. NordVPN also provides this but doesn’t advertise.
- 250 GB of encrypted storage by CloudSync!
- Leak protection - IP & DNS.
- Internet kill switch.
- Split tunneling.
- Tor compatibility.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
That’s about it. IPVanish doesn’t have many features, like with NordVPN or any of our top recommended VPNs.
Verdict
We haven’t mentioned the common security or speed-related features yet (because we have whole sections for it), but it’s clear that NordVPN has more and useful features compared to IPVanish.
Winner: NordVPN
Ease of use
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Payment options - Cryptocurrencies? | Yes | No |
Interface | Map-based & list-based | list-based |
Apps (Android, iOS, etc.) | All devices | All |
Cell |
For commercial-grade VPNs such as NordVPN and IPVanish, it’s crucial to be user-friendly. Knowledgeable or not, anyone can be using it — perhaps someone just wants to bypass the PUBG ban and came across this option called “VPN.” Also, who doesn’t like a good interface and experience?!!
NordVPN
Signing up with NordVPN is super straightforward. Just choose the plan and pay. The payment options also include cryptocurrencies, apart from the regular CCs and Paypal. It is something privacy-concerned individuals will appreciate.
Once you log in, you can quickly connect to a random, fast server.
Alternatively, if you want to bypass geo-block of a particular location and access some site(s), you can choose a specific location from either-
- The Map interface where the locations of servers are marked.
- Or the List interface, wherein you can search for the location and connect to the server.
The “Settings” option allows you to access and on/off the features we mentioned. Everything in there is well-organized and intuitive.
Overall, it’s great user experience.
IPVanish
Setting up with IPVanish is also easy. However, it doesn’t have a cryptocurrency option for payment, making it an inconsiderable choice for some of you.
Once you log in, you have a mini-tutorial to help you through how it works. You can skip it, of course.
When you are in, you can quickly connect, choose a server by filtering, choose a server from the map, or choose a server from the list. Each of these options is spread in the form of tabs. In our opinion, it feels a bit counter-intuitive. The way NordVPN does it is simpler & straightforward.
Navigating through the setting menu is a comparatively better experience, however.
All in all, it’s easy to use but feels a bit cluttered at the same time.
Verdict
NordVPN offers a cryptocurrencies payment option, which IPVanish doesn’t. Plus, IPVanish’s interface feels a bit messed compared to NordVPN.
Winner: NordVPN
Servers & Speeds
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Server locations | 59 countries | 75+ locations |
Number of servers | ~5400 | 1500+ |
Unblocks streaming platform | Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, etc. | Netflix (only on some locations) |
P2P/Torrenting | Yes | Yes |
Avg. Download speed reduction | ~20% | ~ 50% |
Avg. Upload speed reduction | ~15% | ~ 50% |
Avg. Ping | ~100 ms | ~ 200 ms |
If we were to define a VPN, we would mention “a good VPN is one which has plenty of high-speed, high-bandwidth server options.” More servers mean you have fewer users per server, and you have more options to bypass geo-blocks.
NordVPN
NordVPN has almost 5500 high-grade servers in 59 countries. Obviously, it needs more servers to offer smooth performance for its millions of users, but the 59 countries mean one has the option to visit sites accessible in any of the 59 countries. Plus, it also has Obfuscated Servers to go round the great firewall of China. Moreover, it has many high-performance P2P servers for torrenting activities.
As for the speeds/performance after connecting to VPN, our tests displayed:
- The average reduction in download speed was ~20%
- The average reduction in upload speed was ~15%
- The ping was about 100 ms.
Apart from these performance tool tests, we did real-life tests as well. We were easily able to unblock Netflix, Hulu, Prime, and most of the major streaming platforms, in numerous locations. Plus, the slight reduction in speed didn’t affect the practical performance in any manner — we were still streaming UHD content smoothly.
IPVanish
IPVanish has 1500+ servers (most of which are compatible with P2P) in 75+ locations (not countries). This means it offers lesser servers & sites than NordVPN. Effectively, it can’t pass as many geo-blocks as NordVPN. Just a reality check: It isn’t a significant problem.
The big problem with IPVanish is its performance. In our tests, the reduction in download speed and upload speed was more than 50%!! And the ping was in the 200 ms range.
In reality, IPVanish didn’t unblock many of the streaming sites. It did unblock Netflix but to an extent, i.e., not in most locations except the US. On top of this disappointment, streaming UHD content with our internet plan ended in frequent buffering.
Verdict
From a performance standpoint, IPVanish is quite simply a horrible option. It doesn’t unblock geo-restricted content in most places, doesn’t allow access to many streaming platforms, and suck half of the internet speed. NordVPN is the exact opposite.
Winner: NordVPN
Security & Privacy
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
VPN protocols | OpenVPN, IPSec/IKEv2, WireGuard’s NordLynx | IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec |
Encryption | AES-256 | AES-256 |
Key size | 4096-bit | 2048-bit |
Logs | No logs | Shaky reputation |
Location | Panama | US |
Other features | Kill switch, DoubleVPN, Onion over VPN | Kill switch |
Cell |
Another thing our VPN definition will undoubtedly have is the mention of “strong encryption, security, and zero-logs privacy policy.” It’s so, so important, and at the core of what a VPN stands for.
NordVPN
It is headquartered in Panama, away from the five eyes alliance, meaning it has excellent privacy laws. Besides, NordVPN has a zero-logs policy and also offers crypto payments, making it a perfect choice for people using it for privacy. Furthermore, independent audits have proven that NordVPN doesn’t keep any logs.
As for security, it uses OpenVPN & IPSec/IKEv2 protocols. It will soon be replaced by Wireguard VPN protocol, NordLynx, which is much faster — it’s available for many users & devices, but not for all. The encryption used is 256-bit AES with a 4096-bit key, which is practically impossible to decrypt.
IPVanish
IPVanish is located in the US, which is one of the five-eye alliances, making it a bit more scary from a privacy viewpoint. Plus, in 2016, IPVanish gave a user’s information to the government(HSI), despite having a zero-logs policy. The person was a criminal, but it still is a privacy concern.
As for security, it uses IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols. All of these are top-tier protocols, but NordLynx NordVPN is upgrading to is a bit better. The encryption algorithm used is the same military-grade AES-256. However, the key size is 2048-bit instead of 4096-bit making it less secure on paper. Practically, though, IPVanish is as safe as any.
Verdict
In theory, NordVPN’s new security is a bit faster than the previous best, both NordVPN and IPVanish uses. Also, the encryption-decryption factor of NordVPN is better than IPVanish, in theory. Practically, both are super-secure. The privacy laws of NordVPN are better than IPVanish, looking at past records.
Winner: NordVPN
Support
Vendor | | |
|---|---|---|
Communication option | Live chat & Email; Knowledgebase & tutorials | Email only |
Response time | Live chat: < 1 minute Email: ~3 hours | Email ~ 2 hours |
Quality of response | 9/10 | 7/10 |
We did mention the “ease of use” element of both VPNs. Still, sometimes there can be issues ranging from setting up the VPN to connecting to the server(s). In such cases, a good support team can be useful.
NordVPN
NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat and email support. In our experience with its live chat, the support agent responded promptly and solved all the queries. Moreover, the agent was professional & friendly and was willing to go the extra mile.
IPVanish
IPVanish has email support only. Though they responded to our email, it can’t ever be as quick & two-way as live chat.
Verdict
NordVPN has the 24/7 live chat option, which IPVanish simply doesn’t.
Winner: NordVPN
Pricing
|
|---|
Starting Price Per Month: $11.95 |
Best price: $3.71/month (2 years) |
Number of connections per plan: 6 |
Money-back guarantee 30 days |
VS
|
|---|
Starting Price Per Month: $10 |
Best price: $6.49/month (1 year) |
Number of connections per plan: Unlimited |
Money-back guarantee 30 days |
No matter how awesome NordVPN is. If the cost of the subscription isn’t in your budget, you won’t buy it. And if you read throughout the review, you won’t buy IPVanish even if it is in your budget.
NordVPN
The 1-year plan of NordVPN costs $3.71/month. With this plan, you can connect up to six devices concurrently.
IPVanish
The annual plan of IPVanish costs $6.49/month. The plan allows as many devices as you want, but we highly doubt you will ever need a VPN for more than six devices.
Verdict
Not only is NordVPN a better VPN from every possible viewpoint, but it is also more than 50% cheaper. Sure, we are aware of the 250 GB cloud storage, but paying extra for an inferior product is a foolish mistake.
Winner: NordVPN
Conclusion : Which one is the Best
The Winner Is - NordVPN
Let’s just summarize the article and list the things you saw in the article:
- NordVPN offers better features than IPVanish.
- NordVPN is clutter-free and intuitive to use.
- The speed and server options NordVPN offers are far superior.
- The same is the case with Security & Privacy.
- NordVPN gives an extra support option than IPVanish.
- And the cherry on the cake is NordVPN costs cheaper than IPVanish.
In a nutshell, buy NordVPN. And don’t even think of purchasing IPVanish.
Total Score: 10/10
NordVPN Pros
Starts at
$2.95
per month
• Uptime 99.99%
• Free SSL certificate
• WordPress official recommendations