This IPVanish Review was written by Troy from TROYPOINT after using the VPN service on a regular basis for over seven years.
IPVanish VPN is one of the most popular virtual private network (VPN) providers across the world, and for good reason.
This unbiased VPN review explores IPVanish’s features, speeds, price, settings, pros, cons, and much more.
IPVanish is touted as the “fastest top tier VPN in the world” according to their website with more than 2,000 VPN servers in over 75 locations worldwide.
This VPN service has been also featured in publications like the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, IGN, DigitalTrends, TechRadar, and others.
In this review, I will be using two of the most popular devices that people use in conjunction with IPVanish VPN which is a Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Windows PC.
You can find our setup guide for Fire TV Stick/Fire TV and Android TV devices via the link below.
IPVanish VPN Tutorial for Firestick & Android TV
IPVanish did not have access to this review prior to publishing.
IPVanish Review
This IPVanish VPN review will cover all of its most popular features and lack thereof.
You may find additional information by exploring the IPVanish Website via the link below.
IPVanish Website
IPVanish VPN Highlights
- Zero log policy
- 256-bit encryption
- Unlimited devices with one account
- Over 2,000 VPN servers in 75 countries across the world
- Over 40,000 encrypted IP addresses to choose from
- Blazing fast download speeds worldwide
- Compatible VPN apps for Firestick/Fire TV, Android TV, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and more
- VPN protocols include Wireguard®, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, SSTP, and PPTP
- SOCKS5 Proxy Server
- Cooperative with Real-Debrid
- Security on public Wi-Fi networks
- Kill Switch available
- Split Tunneling
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
- Accepts PayPal and all major credit/debit cards
Blazing Fast Speeds
Speed is arguably the most important feature to consider when comparing VPN providers, and this is where IPVanish stands out from other services.
IPVanish has over 2,000 servers across the world, which makes sure customers can enjoy fast connections.
Also in 2021, IPVanish rolled out its WireGuard® VPN Protocol which is known to provide the fastest connections possible.
IPVanish states the following on their website regarding speeds:
“Enjoy all the benefits of a VPN without sacrificing your speed in the process. Our VPN service has been engineered to provide the fastest connections possible, and now it’s faster than ever with the WireGuard® VPN protocol.”
When mentioning VPN speeds, it’s important to know there are tons of factors that come into play. This includes internet speed packages, network setup, location, distance from severs, and many more factors.
Hide Your IP Address
Using IPVanish VPN will make it impossible for your Internet service provider (ISP), hackers, app/addon developers, website operators, and other organizations from tracking what you are streaming or downloading.
A VPN will encrypt your connection to the Internet and create an anonymous connection through a masked IP address, which will hide your identity and activity.
Whenever you click the Connect button within your IPVanish VPN application, your IP address will be masked so you can’t be identified online.
Strict Zero-Log Policy
IPVanish VPN has a strict zero-log policy meaning they do not keep track of any traffic logs.
This means if they were ever requested to provide your internet history, it doesn’t exist.
This is also one of many reasons why IPVanish is regarded as the Best VPN for Streaming among the growing cord-cutting community.
Unlimited Devices
Another great feature IPVanish VPN provides is its support for unlimited devices simultaneously with one account!
This will ensure all of your internet-connected devices are protected without overpaying for other VPN services.
Due to the number of Internet-connected devices that we use on a daily basis, this is definitely a huge positive in my opinion.
IPVansh is one of the few VPN providers that offer this feature. Most other VPN services only provide 5-10 devices per account.
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Secure Internet Connection
IPVanish VPN uses AES 256-bit encryption, which is the industry standard for data encryption and is recommended by the NSA.
The AES 256-bit encryption is common for most popular VPN providers.
Diving deeper into encryption and VPN security, let’s take a look at the different VPN protocols that IPVanish utilizes.
The VPN protocols available within IPVanish include WireGuard®, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, and IPSec.
WireGuard® Protocol
The WireGuard® Protocol is IPVanish’s latest VPN protocol that is touted to be the fastest VPN protocol on the market.
The Wireguard® protocol is designed to be faster, stronger, and more lightweight than other connection types.
As an open-source project, this protocol is under continued development, but it’s already considered one of the most secure VPN solutions in the industry.
OpenVPN Protocol
The OpenVPN protocol is one of the most popular and favored open-source protocols that can run on any port.
OpenVPN typically offers faster speeds than other protocols.
This uses both User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Port to mask your VPN connection as HTTPS traffic and also get away with blocking.
IPSec
IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a protocol that encrypts IP packets for tunneling and transport.
IPsec protects all application traffic over an IP network. This is available for most mobile devices.
But unlike OpenVPN and other connection types, IPSec does not define an authentication function of itself. It simply provides a framework for secure transport.
IKEv2 Protocol
The Internet Key Exchange v2 (IKEv2) protocol is also paired with IPSec for authentication and encryption.
While IKEv2 is only available in newer mobile devices, it is considered a more secure extension because devices can switch between a Wi-Fi and cellular network without disrupting the VPN connection.
L2TP Protocol
Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) is a protocol that is best suited for mobile devices that are not compatible with the OpenVPN protocol.
While L2TP fixes the vulnerabilities in PPTP, it may result in slower speeds than OpenVPN. Also, L2TP can be more difficult to configure on a router because it uses multiple ports.
Unblocking Geo-Restrictions
Another reason to use a VPN on your devices is to have the option of accessing sites or streams that are only available to people in certain geographical regions.
This is often referred to as “unblocking” websites which is very popular among users of streaming services and sports fans who are often geo-restricted in certain locations.
Bypassing geo-restrictions is huge for those wanting to stream popular sports games and PPV events.
VPN Servers Worldwide
As mentioned previously when we discussed speeds, IPVanish VPN will give you the option of connecting through 2,000 + servers that are located in 75+ countries around the world.
It’s extremely important to have thousands of servers to connect to for a few different reasons.
First, you will typically experience faster speeds connecting to a server closer to where you are located.
Secondly, having multiple servers also allow you to get around geo-blocking often imposed by streaming services.
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SOCKS5 Proxy
IPVanish is one of the few VPN providers that offer the SOCKS5 proxy with their service.
Internet service providers are cracking down on those who use Torrent Websites to download streams and other files that are available on the Internet.
A recent example of this involved the popular YTS Torrent Site Handing Over User Data to Authorities.
Therefore, using a secure VPN with SOCKS5 proxy is a must for this situation. IPVanish VPN contains both a SOCKS5 Proxy Server and a kill switch option that are essential for torrenting.
Kill Switch
IPVanish VPN provides a kill switch that will cut your connection to the Internet in case your VPN ever disconnects. This is another feature that most VPN services provide.
Your Internet connection will be remain blocked until the encrypted tunnel is restored on your device.
Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t work on streaming devices such as the Firestick or some Android TV devices.
For those looking for protection on those devices, VPNSafetyDot is a great tool.
IPVanish VPN & Streaming Services
IPVanish VPN suffers from streaming services blocking it just like all VPNs do.
In our tests, IPVanish did not work with the most popular streaming service currently available, Netflix.
The same happened when we attempted to play a movie from Peacock TV or Amazon Prime Video.
Keep in mind that the split tunneling feature within IPVanish will allow you to ignore VPN connections for services that don’t work properly.
All VPNs suffer from this setback due to these streaming outlets always finding new ways to block the more popular VPN services.
Split Tunneling
Sometimes you will come across applications that don’t work when a VPN is enabled. Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock TV are common examples of this in certain regions.
Split tunneling allows you to bypass the VPN connection for certain apps that reside on your device.
By doing this, you won’t need to disconnect from your VPN whenever you want to use these apps that don’t cooperate with a VPN connection.
Buffer-Free Streaming
If you’re going to be using a VPN while streaming, it’s extremely important to find a fast one that allows buffer-free playback.
Since TROYPOINT’s main focus is streaming, we will never promote a VPN review where the end result leads to constant buffering.
IPVanish is a top-rated VPN service and buffering shouldn’t be an issue unless you are using a slow Internet package, unreliable apps/services, or a cheap streaming device.
No Data Leaks
IPVanish VPN uses built-in DNS leak protection, which is a feature not offered by many VPN providers.
This is enabled by default to always keep your traffic and true location details secured inside the private network.
The Domain Name System (DNS) is the reason why browsing the internet is so quick and simple. Its job is to translate the long, complex numeric names of domains into human language, and the other way around.
When you connect to IPVanish VPN, your device only uses DNS servers operated by IPVanish. All your DNS queries travel over the encrypted tunnel and are resolved on the same VPN server you are connected to.
This way, you never have to worry about your confidential information leaking and third-parties spying on it.
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Privacy on the Go
It’s important to point out that VPNs should also be used when connecting to a public WiFi Hotspot when away from home.
If you ever travel and connect to public WiFi hot-spots, you should ALWAYS connect to the access point through a VPN service.
You can use the same IPVanish account on your other devices which is a great benefit.
IPVanish provides applications through both Google Play and Apple App Store so you can use your VPN account when away from home as well.
Device Compatibility
IPVanish VPN is compatible with the most popular internet-connected devices and software used today.
This includes Amazon Firestick/Fire TV, Android TV devices, Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android phones/tablets, routers, Chromebooks, and Linux operating system.
Not all VPNs are compatible with these devices and due to IPVanish’s large ecosystem of supported operating systems, you can use your account on your different devices.
IPVanish VPN Firestick/Android TV App
Since the Amazon Firestick and Android TV devices are the most popular devices used with VPNs, it’s important to use a VPN provider that works well on these devices.
This is where IPVanish shines, as it provides the best VPN application for Fire TV/Android TV devices after testing against several others.
Shown below are screenshots of the optimized IPVanish VPN application for the Fire TV Stick.
The interface is extremely user-friendly, doesn’t crash, and provides easy access to settings for customization options.
See our quick IPVanish VPN setup video below that shows Troy installing and using IPVanish on the Amazon Firestick.
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24/7 Customer Support
IPVanish offers 24/7 support through their Website if you have questions about your account, billing, or need technical support.
You will notice a Help button on the bottom of the IPVanish VPN Website for live chat. Customer support via email is also available.
Real-Debrid Friendly
Many TROYPOINT fans use Real-Debrid, which is an unrestricted downloader that provides access to buffer-free media streams.
Real-Debrid does not work well with all VPN providers but IPVanish is on their Cooperative VPN Providers list.
IPVanish Review – Speed Tests
No matter which VPN service you use, you will experience a drop in download speeds because your traffic is routed through a separate VPN server and your connection is encrypted.
This is important when using Streaming Apps and IPTV Services on your device, as download speeds play a huge factor in buffering and playback.
Since IPVanish is touted as the Best VPN for IPTV and other apps, we conducted several speed tests for our IPVanish review to see where this VPN ranks among the other popular services.
Important Note: IPVanish recently announced a network upgrade that will improve their VPN speed by 2.5 times. View the link below for more information.
IPVanish Boasts Major VPN Speed Improvement
Below you will find speed test results using an Amazon Firestick and a Windows PC.
Although there are hundreds of Internet speed tools available, for this example I am using the Analiti Speed Test app on the Firestick, and our TROYPOINT Speed Test tool on Windows PC.
Unfortunately, Analiti is only available on Firestick/Android devices, which is why we are using the TROYPOINT Speed Test tool with the PC.
Analiti can be installed directly through the Amazon App Store or Google Play.
The following speed test was conducted on 100 Mbps max Internet plan.
Wireless tests were conducted through ASUS AC3100 Router which is approximately 20 feet away from device.
IPVanish Speed Tests – Firestick/Fire TV
Prior to testing different VPN speeds, it’s important to understand how to change protocols within the IPVanish VPN app.
Depending on your Internet Service Provider (ISP), some protocols perform better than others and you should test speeds on all of them to determine the right one for you.
Follow the quick steps below for how to change protocols. In this instance, we are using the Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite.
1. Launch the IPVanish VPN app on your Firestick/Fire TV and click the Settings icon in the upper right of the screen.
2. Select VPN Protocol.
3. Select the VPN protocol you want to use.
- Note: For IPVanish VPN on Firestick, you can choose between OpenVPN (UDP & TCP) or IKEv2 Beta
4. Return back to the home screen and click connect
That’s it! Now check out our results below after testing VPN speeds.
When testing we used the same country, city, port, and server to make sure these factors were constant.
We also tested both the OpenVPN (UDP) and IKEv2 protocols since these are the most popular.
Note: When switching between protocols to test speeds, always click Disconnect before changing to another protocol.
OpenVPN (UDP) Protocol
Wi-Fi: 86 Mbps down & 21 Mbps up
Ethernet: 90 Mbps down & 21 Mbps up
IKEv2 Protocol
Wi-Fi: 62 Mbps down & 22 Mbps up
Ethernet: 85 Mbps down & 21 Mbps up
Fastest IPVanish VPN protocol on Firestick/Fire TV – OpenVPN (UDP)
You will need to test each protocol on your own device to determine what works best with your respective Internet Service Provider.
IPVanish Speed Tests – Windows PC
When using the IPVanish VPN application on a PC, you will notice there are more protocol options to choose from.
To switch between VPN protocols on a PC, follow the two short steps below.
1. Launch the IPVanish VPN app on your PC and click Settings within the left menu.
2. Select Connection in the upper menu and choose whichever protocol you prefer under the Active Protocol dropdown.
3. Return back to the main screen and click Connect.
That’s it! Now check out our results below after testing speeds on a Windows PC.
Similar to our Firestick tests, we used both the OpenVPN (UDP) and IKEv2 protocols.
Note: When switching between protocols to test speeds, always click Disconnect before changing to another protocol.
IKEv2 Protocol
Wi-Fi: 92.1 Mbps down & 69.2 Mbps up
Ethernet: 95.3 Mbps down & 87.2 Mbps up
OpenVPN (UDP) Protocol
Wi-Fi: 85.6 Mbps down & 58.9 Mbps up
Ethernet: 88.1 Mbps down & 55.2 Mbps up
Fastest IPVanish VPN protocol on Windows PC – IKEv2
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Pricing
Price is always one of the most important factors when reviewing a VPN service.
As seen in the image below, you will find that IPVanish has a competitive price when compared to other popular VPN services.
We suggest purchasing either the IPVanish VPN annual plan or a two-year plan for the most savings.
You have nothing to lose because all plans offer a 30-day risk-free guarantee. If you don’t like it, simply ask them for a refund.
These prices/discounts are subject to change*
IPVanish VPN Plans:
- One Year Plan – 65% Off – $44.99
- Quarterly Plan – 54% Off – $14.99
- Monthly Plan – $10.99
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IPVanish VPN Special 2-Year Plan:
IPVanish is also offering a special 2-year plan exclusively for TROYPOINT visitors. This can be a great way to save money instead of choosing other plans.
- Two Year Plan – $2.92/month
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IPVanish Review – Pros and Cons
Now after touching on all of the important points above, let’s evaluate the pros and cons of IPVanish VPN.
What We Like
- Zero Log Policy
- Fast download speeds across the world
- Advanced 256-bit encryption
- Low Price with an annual subscription
- Unlimited connections with one account
- Several VPN Protocols now including WireGuard®
- SOCKS5 Proxy Server
- Unblocks Netflix, YouTube, and other services
- Cooperative with Real-Debrid and other debrid services
- Easy to install apps for all of the popular devices
- Kill switch on some applications
- 24/7 customer support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
What We Don’t Like
- Has problems unblocking geo-restrictions for some streaming services such as Netflix (all VPNs do)
- No dedicated IP Addresses
IPVanish Review – Settings & Features
To access the settings menu, click the gear icon in the top-right corner.
Start IPVanish will automatically launch the application when the Firestick or Fire TV is turned on.
We suggest leaving this off since there are some apps that we won’t use the VPN with.
Allow LAN access when turned on will not route local are network traffic through the VPN.
I keep this setting turned on so that I can connect to the Firestick/Fire TV through the network with various apps such as Plex or the Amazon Fire TV Remote control app.
Split Tunneling allows the user to choose apps that can connect to the Internet without being routed through the VPN.
This is handy when using applications that don’t allow for VPN use such as Peacock TV, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and other paid services.
Once inside the Split Tunneling settings, you can check which apps don’t require VPN protection.
Scramble adds obfuscation to OpenVPN which may allow it to bypass Websites or services that block VPNs.
I keep this off unless there is a website that is blocking my VPN where this setting circumvents the action.
VPN Protocol is the connection protocol used by the application.
The available VPN Protocols within IPVanish on Firestick include OpenVPN (TCP), OpenVPN (UDP), and IKEv2.
On a Windows PC, the available IPVanish VPN protocols include OpenVPN (UDP), OpenVPN (TCP), IKEv2, L2TP, SSTP, and PPTP.
OpenVPN (UDP) usually provides faster download speeds when using a VPN so we recommend that option.
If your VPN app is not connecting, it may help to switch your connection protocol.
Port is the IPVanish VPN tunnel through which your Internet traffic moves.
Port 443 is the default option since this is usually used for HTTPS traffic and may help get around various blocks.
I suggest leaving this setting on 443 unless directed otherwise by IPVanish support to change it.
Contact Support will direct you to the IPVanish 24/7 customer support information. Support can be contacted through live chat, email, or phone.
Terms of Service provide IPVanish’s most recent document.
Licenses will provide documentation with the licenses used within the IPVanish application/service.
IPVanish Review – Final Verdict
Overall, IPVanish is one of the most popular VPN providers available and is used by millions of cord-cutters and techies worldwide.
This is the best VPN choice for cord-cutting, torrenting, streaming, and general Internet use.
Because of its blazing-fast download speeds, 256-bit encryption, unlimited connections, easy to use apps, protocols, SOCKS5 Proxy Server, and inexpensive annual plan, IPVanish is our top recommended VPN provider.
IPVanish remains on the cutting edge of VPN technology and is continually updating its service.
Coming soon is the new WireGuard VPN Protocol which will provide a more optimized encrypted connection that will result in faster download speeds for many subscribers.
For our overall IPVanish Review, TROYPOINT gives this VPN service 4.8/5 stars.
4.8 out of 5 Stars
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IPVanish Review FAQ
Is IPVanish VPN Good?
In this IPVanish review, we explain several pros and cons to determine if this VPN service fits your needs. IPVanish is our top recommended VPN for several reasons described in this review.
Why does my Download Speed Decrease when using a VPN?
Download speed will decrease due to the fact that you are routing your traffic through a 3rd party server and encrypting your connection. Download speed will still be fast enough to stream HD content.
Does IPVanish VPN Work with Netflix?
Yes, IPVanish VPN works with Netflix as of this writing.
What Does a VPN do?
A VPN encrypts your connection to the Internet and masks your IP address. This prevents your ISP, government, hackers, app/addon developers from logging what you are accessing while online.
What Devices Work with IPVanish VPN?
IPVanish VPN can be installed on the Firestick, Fire TV, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.
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