IPVanish Review 2026: Speeds, Streaming, & Privacy Tested

Exclusive deal: IPVanish #2 VPN: Unlimited devices

IPVanish

★ 9.5/10

IPVanish is my second-ranked VPN: 93% speed retention in my tests, unlimited devices, 3650+ servers on a rebuilt 50Gbps network and a Next Gen Antivirus on the Complete and Advanced plans. Essential is just $2.19/mo for the first 2 years.

• 93% speed retention
• Unlimited devices
• 3650+ servers in 150+ locations
• Next Gen Antivirus
• 3 GB eSIM data gift

• 93% speed retention in my tests
• Unlimited simultaneous devices
• 3650+ servers and 56000+ shared IPs
• Threat Protection included on Essential
• Twice-audited no-logs policy
• Live 24/7 chat on every plan
• Great Fire TV and Apple TV apps

• US jurisdiction in the Five Eyes
• Renewals jump to $99.99 or more per year
• Antivirus is desktop only
• No port forwarding
• Only part of the network is RAM-only

Provider offer 85% OFF + 3 GB eSIM data gift Claim offer ↗ View offer on provider website

30-day money-back guarantee, try it risk free

IPVanish is a strong fit if you want fast everyday performance and one subscription for a house full of devices. In my testing it kept 93% of my baseline speed, second only to Surfshark One in my current results. Every plan still includes unlimited simultaneous connections, and the early Black Friday deal brings Essential down to $2.19/mo.

2026 has also been its busiest year in a long time. IPVanish rebuilt its network around 3,650+ servers in 150+ locations with 50Gbps ports and 56,000+ shared IP addresses. It also launched a Next Gen Antivirus powered by VIPRE and moved to three plans: Essential, Complete and Advanced.

I’ve tested IPVanish on my own devices and covered it in videos on All Things VPN and VPNR. This update covers the current deal, the new features, the rebuilt network, my speed results, streaming and privacy. I’ll also tell you exactly which plan I’d pick in your shoes, and where Surfshark One is the better buy.

IPVanish at a Glance

What’s New with IPVanish in 2026

IPVanish shipped more in 2026 than in the previous few years combined. It also has a new look and a new tagline, “Control your digital world.” That tells you where it’s heading: from a plain VPN to a broader privacy and security suite.

IPVanish Plans and Pricing: Essential, Complete and Advanced

IPVanish now sells three subscription tiers. Unlimited simultaneous VPN connections come with every plan, so you’re really choosing how much extra security you want on top of the VPN. Threat Protection is included even on the cheapest Essential plan.

The current early Black Friday prices apply to 2-year plans only. Taxes may be added at checkout depending on where you live. Here’s how the three plans compare right now:

Before the sale, from October 3 to 14, the same plans cost $2.39, $3.09 and $3.59 per month. So Essential buyers save $4.80 today, and Complete and Advanced buyers save $7.20. That’s a modest cut, but it adds up across a whole household of devices.

To be fair, these prices match IPVanish’s 2025 Black Friday prices for Essential and Advanced. So it’s a return to last year’s low rather than a new record. The plans now include more, though: unlimited devices on Essential, and antivirus plus phone support on the higher tiers.

The renewal is the real catch. $99.99 per year works out to about $8.33/mo for Essential, $9.17/mo for Complete and $10.83/mo for Advanced. That’s several times the intro price, so plan ahead for year three.

Renewals, refunds and trial

• Renewal: the sale price covers the first 2 years only, then annual renewals are $99.99 (Essential), $109.99 (Complete) and $129.99 (Advanced).
• Monthly plans: around $14.99/month for Essential, not part of the sale and not covered by the money-back guarantee.
• Money-back guarantee: 30 days on yearly and 2-year plans bought directly. App Store purchases follow Apple’s refund rules.
• Free trial: 7 days when you sign up through the iOS or Android app stores, with payment details required.
• Payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal and Google Pay. Taxes are added at checkout.

The 2-year deal is prepaid, not billed monthly, even though it’s advertised with a monthly equivalent. Set a reminder before renewal and compare your options then. For a step-by-step checkout walkthrough, see my IPVanish coupon page.

3,650+ Servers and the Rebuilt Network

IPVanish now runs 3,650+ servers in 150+ locations with 56,000+ shared IP addresses. It owns and operates the servers instead of renting from server farms. That matters to me as a security professional, because fewer third parties touch the hardware your traffic runs through.

In September 2026, IPVanish finished a two-year, ground-up rebuild of that network. IPVanish says it improves speeds during peak hours in particular. Here’s what changed:

• 50Gbps ports on every server: five times the old 10Gbps ports, so busy servers have far more headroom at peak times.
• Direct peering at 40+ internet exchanges: shorter, more direct routes to the services you use.
• Two independent data centers in every major city: each with a separate provider, so one outage doesn’t take a location down.
• NFTables instead of IPTables: leaner traffic processing on each server.
• 56,000+ shared IP addresses: a large pool that helps with blocks and blacklists.

Locations and RAM-only servers

Coverage is strongest in North America and Europe, and thinner in Africa and parts of Asia. Independent counts put the country total at roughly 100 to 113, because some of the 150+ locations are virtual. IPVanish labels which ones are physical, so check before you rely on one.

IPVanish also has 568 RAM-only servers across 19 locations, which you can filter in the Locations tab. Diskless servers wipe data on every reboot. The rest of the network isn’t RAM-only yet, so this is still a work in progress.

IPVanish Next Gen Antivirus (Powered by VIPRE)

The Next Gen Antivirus is the biggest security upgrade IPVanish has shipped in years. It launched on October 7, 2026 inside the Windows and macOS apps on the Complete and Advanced plans. It’s powered by VIPRE, which sits under the same parent company as IPVanish (Ziff Davis).

You manage scans, real-time protection and web filtering from the same app where you pick a VPN server. It’s the next step after Threat Protection Pro, which was mainly a web and download filter. Existing Threat Protection Pro users get the antivirus automatically.

The three layers of protection

As a cybersecurity professional, the layer I value most is behavioral detection. A lot of modern malware is brand new, so signature matching alone misses it. Watching what a process actually does, like suddenly encrypting hundreds of documents, catches threats a signature database can’t.

I also like that external drives are included in scans. USB sticks are still a classic infection route, especially in shared homes and offices. It’s a small detail that many bundled antivirus tools skip.

VIPRE’s lab results

In AV-Comparatives’ March 2026 Malware Protection Test, the VIPRE engine scored a 99.91% protection rate against 10,000 recent malware samples. It also earned the lab’s top Advanced+ award. The same engine already powered IPVanish’s Link Checker and Threat Protection Pro.

Why a VPN alone isn’t enough

A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your IP address, while an antivirus inspects files and processes on your device. They solve different problems. If you download an infected file through a VPN tunnel, it arrives encrypted in transit and fully infected on your disk.

How to start using the IPVanish antivirus

IPVanish Speed Test: 93% Speed Retention

IPVanish kept about 93% of my baseline speed in my testing. That’s a 7% reduction with the VPN connected, and it makes IPVanish the second fastest VPN in my current results. Only Surfshark One did better, at around 96%.

Here’s what 93% looks like on common connection speeds. These are illustrative calculations, not extra measured tests. They show why a 7% drop rarely matters on a decent connection.

How retention is calculated: VPN-connected speed ÷ speed without the VPN × 100. For example, 465 ÷ 500 × 100 = 93%. Your results depend on your connection, device, protocol and distance to the server.

What this means for everyday use

• Streaming: keeping 93% of a healthy connection leaves plenty of headroom for 4K video on several devices at once.
• Downloads: a bandwidth-limited download takes roughly 7.5% longer than without the VPN.
• Gaming: ping matters more than raw speed. Local latency is low, and the Gaming Booster feature helps.
• Antivirus overhead: the antivirus runs on your computer, not in the tunnel. A full scan uses some CPU, so I schedule mine for off-hours.

How to get the best speed from IPVanish

• Use WireGuard wherever your app supports it. It’s the fastest protocol for streaming and gaming.
• On Windows, try OpenVPN with Data Channel Offload if you need OpenVPN. IPVanish says it’s almost 3x faster than before.
• Connect to a nearby server and try another location if one feels slow.
• Expect slower results on Double Hop and long-distance routes.

Streaming with IPVanish

IPVanish has performed well with the major streaming services in my testing. Streaming platforms update their VPN blocking regularly, so treat these results as a snapshot. Test your must-have services early, while the refund window is still open, and see my best VPN for Amazon Prime Video guide for more options.

Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku

• Fire TV and Firestick: the remote-friendly app is one of IPVanish’s best features, and since May 2026 there’s a dedicated app for Amazon’s new Vega OS. It’s one of the reasons IPVanish ranks high in my best VPN for Firestick guide.
• Apple TV (tvOS 17+): now supports WireGuard, OpenVPN with Scramble and IKEv2. IPVanish says it’s the first major provider to offer all three in one Apple TV app.
• Roku: Roku has no VPN app support, so you need a compatible VPN router or a shared connection.
• Antivirus on TV devices: the antivirus is Windows and macOS only. TV and mobile apps keep standard Threat Protection.

IPVanish Features: What You Get on Every Plan

Beyond the headline extras, IPVanish has one of the most configurable VPN apps I’ve used. Most of these settings are aimed at power users, but the defaults are sensible. These features come with every plan, including Essential:

• Kill switch: cuts internet access if the VPN drops. It’s off by default on some apps, so turn it on.
• Split tunneling: choose which apps bypass the VPN, on Windows and Android.
• Scramble: obfuscates OpenVPN traffic to get past networks that block VPNs, now also on Apple TV.
• Double Hop: routes traffic through two VPN servers for extra separation, with a speed cost.
• Threat Protection and Link Checker: blocks malicious sites, ads, scripts and trackers, and checks suspicious links.
• Leak protection: DNS and IPv6 leak protection, with DNS handled by IPVanish’s own servers.
• Power-user options: SOCKS5 proxy, LAN exemption, custom DNS, port selection and MTU control.
• Unlimited bandwidth: no data caps, and P2P allowed on every server.

Security tools by plan

The Secure Browser is an isolated, sandboxed browser that keeps online threats away from your computer. It wipes session data as soon as you close it. The 1TB cloud storage gives you encrypted automatic backup and file sync, which is a smart extra layer against ransomware.

Privacy and Security: Strengths and Important History

IPVanish’s privacy story includes independent audits and a historical incident that deserves clear disclosure. An honest review needs both. Here’s how I weigh them.

Protocols and encryption

WireGuard is my default for everyday speed. OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) with AES-256 is the most compatible option and works with Scramble, while IKEv2 is stable on mobile. Older protocols like L2TP/IPsec remain on some platforms, but I’d avoid them.

Independent no-logs audits and the Trust Center

IPVanish says it doesn’t log traffic, DNS queries, connection metadata or user IP addresses. It keeps only an email address and payment details for billing. That’s the standard minimum for a paid VPN.

That policy was audited by Leviathan Security Group in 2022 and Schellman in February 2025. Schellman’s review covered nine areas, from logging configurations to simulated user sessions. It found no user activity logs on any server.

IPVanish also runs a Trust Center with audit reports and quarterly transparency reports. Audits apply to the systems and period examined, not to the future. So I always recommend checking the latest report before you buy.

US jurisdiction and the 2016 logging incident

IPVanish is based in New York, inside the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. It has been owned by Ziff Davis since 2019, and Ziff Davis also owns VIPRE. US jurisdiction is the main reason it isn’t my top privacy pick.

In 2016, under a previous owner, IPVanish provided connection information to US authorities despite its no-logs claims at the time. The ownership changes and later audits are meaningful, but they don’t erase that history. If you face a high-risk threat model, Proton VPN is my pick for privacy.

Leak protection and kill switch

I found no DNS, IPv6 or WebRTC leaks in my tests. The kill switch blocks traffic if the VPN drops. Enable it and test how your device behaves during a disconnect.

Torrenting with IPVanish

IPVanish allows P2P traffic on every server with no bandwidth caps, and includes a SOCKS5 proxy. A SOCKS5 proxy doesn’t encrypt your traffic, though. I recommend using the full VPN and binding your torrent client to the VPN interface.

The catch: there’s no port forwarding and no dedicated P2P servers. If you seed heavily on private trackers, that limits your connectability. PrivateVPN or Private Internet Access are better fits there.

Apps and Everyday Usability

Unlimited connections make IPVanish easy to roll out across a whole household. The apps share a similar layout, so switching between devices feels familiar. Here’s what to expect on each platform:

• Windows: the most complete app, with kill switch, split tunneling, Scramble, OpenVPN Data Channel Offload and antivirus.
• macOS: kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, DNS choice and antivirus.
• Android: feature-rich, with split tunneling, LAN exemption, Scramble and MTU control.
• iOS and iPadOS: WireGuard and IKEv2, OpenVPN in beta, and a RAM-only server filter.
• Apple TV and Fire TV: three protocols on Apple TV, and apps for both Fire OS and Vega OS.
• Linux and routers: Linux support and manual setup on DD-WRT routers.
• Browser extensions: none, which is a gap compared with most rivals.

Support, Trials and Refunds

Every plan includes 24/7 live chat and a help center with setup guides. Phone support comes with Complete and Advanced, which is rare among VPNs. In my experience, live chat answered setup questions quickly.

The 30-day money-back guarantee covers yearly and 2-year plans bought directly. Monthly plans don’t qualify. The 7-day mobile trial turns into a paid subscription unless you cancel in time.

IPVanish vs Surfshark One

With its antivirus, IPVanish now competes directly with Surfshark One, which has bundled a VPN and antivirus for a while and remains my #1 recommendation. The early Black Friday prices changed this matchup. Surfshark One is now $2.49/mo, which undercuts IPVanish Complete at $2.79/mo.

My take: IPVanish has closed a big gap, and VIPRE’s lab pedigree is genuinely impressive. But Surfshark One is now cheaper than IPVanish Complete and was faster in my testing. Its antivirus also covers Android, its servers are all RAM-only, and you get 3 extra months free.

IPVanish makes the most sense if you prefer its apps, live mostly on Windows or Mac, or want the 1TB cloud backup on Advanced. Essential is also the cheapest way into either service, at $52.56 upfront, if you only need a VPN. For the full picture, read my Surfshark One review and my Surfshark Antivirus review.

Who Should Choose IPVanish?

• Households with lots of devices that benefit from unlimited simultaneous connections.
• Budget-minded users who want a fast VPN for $2.19/mo on Essential.
• Windows and Mac users who want fewer apps: Complete puts VPN and antivirus in one place.
• Users who want backups too: Advanced adds 1TB of encrypted cloud backup.
• Fire TV and Apple TV users who want a full-featured TV app.
• Travelers who’ll use the free eSIM data in 200+ countries.

Look elsewhere if you need port forwarding, maximum privacy under a non-US jurisdiction, or antivirus on your phone. In those cases Proton VPN, PrivateVPN or Surfshark One fit better. If price is your only concern, my best cheap VPN guide covers even lower options.

You can compare all my picks on the best VPNs in 2026 page. It’s updated with every early Black Friday price I’ve verified. I’ll refresh it again for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Is IPVanish Worth It in 2026?

Yes, IPVanish is worth it if you want speed, unlimited device connections and a big, freshly rebuilt network. It kept 93% of my speed, and it now runs 3,650+ servers on 50Gbps ports. Its Fire TV and Apple TV apps are also among the best I’ve used.

My starting choice is Essential at $2.19/month, just $52.56 for the first 2 years with 85% OFF. Pick Complete if you’ll replace a separate antivirus, or Advanced if you’ll use the cloud backup and Secure Browser. The trade-offs are US jurisdiction, the 2016 history and renewals of $99.99 to $129.99 per year.

If you’re choosing a VPN and security bundle from scratch, Surfshark One remains my best overall value at $2.49/mo. Both deals are live now as early Black Friday offers ahead of November 27. If IPVanish’s apps and unlimited devices fit your setup, it’s a very strong #2 that just got better.

Exclusive deal: IPVanish #2 VPN: Unlimited devices

IPVanish

★ 9.5/10

My pick for unlimited devices and fast everyday performance: 3650+ servers on a rebuilt 50Gbps network, plus Next Gen Antivirus on the Complete and Advanced plans. Essential is $2.19/mo for the first 2 years.

• 93% speed retention
• Unlimited devices
• 3650+ servers in 150+ locations
• Next Gen Antivirus
• 3 GB eSIM data gift

Provider offer 85% OFF + 3 GB eSIM data gift Claim offer ↗ View offer on provider website

30-day money-back guarantee, try it risk free

Read next

• IPVanish coupon and pricing guide
• Surfshark One review: my best overall pick
• Surfshark Antivirus review
• Proton VPN review
• Best VPNs for Firestick
• Best cheap VPNs
• Best VPN deals and coupons