IPVanish vs NordVPN comparison
No AI-generated content: this article is written and researched by humans
Table of contents

Both IPVanish and NordVPN are well-known VPN providers with strong security and reliable performance. NordVPN has made its name with one of the largest user bases in the industry, and IPVanish has built a loyal customer base for its unlimited device connections and firm stance on privacy.

To see which one delivers a better value in 2025, the team of experts at VPNOverview and I tested them side by side, looking at speed, streaming, security, and ease of use. After thorough examination and evaluation, NordVPN came out on top, but IPVanish still has its unique strengths. Read this IPVanish vs NordVPN comparison to learn more about these two established VPN providers

VPN provider:IPVanishNordVPN
Website:www.ipvanish.comwww.nordvpn.com
Rating:8.5⭐⭐⭐⭐9.3⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Servers: 3400 servers in 113+ countries9300 servers in 137+ countries
Speed performance:FastVery fast
Simultaneous connections:UnlimitedUp to 10
Encryption:AES-256 and ChaCha20 with Poly1305AES-256 and ChaCha20 with Poly1305
Streaming support:Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Hulu, and moreNetflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more
Torrenting support:Yes + P2P optimized servers and free SOCKS5 proxy serversYes + P2P optimized servers
Starting price:$ 2.19/month$ 3.49/month
Money-back guarantee:30-day money-back guarantee30-day money-back guarantee

Key differences between IPVanish and NordVPN

Both IPVanish and NordVPN are premium-tier VPN services, but they have differences in terms of speed, features, and general usability. My in-house testing showed that NordVPN is overall better than IPVanish, mostly thanks to its fast connection speeds with NordLynx, wider server network reach, and much more advanced security features. However, IPVanish is still a solid VPN choice, especially for users needing unlimited device connections and deep app configurability, including LAN traffic blocking and kill switch behavior. 

IPVanish pros and consNordVPN pros and cons
Unlimited device connections. Allows unlimited connections with just one subscription. Consistently fast speeds. Powered by NordLynx, NordVPN hits over 470 Mbps – ideal for streaming, gaming, and big downloads.
Fast speeds with WireGuard. Good performance both for casual browsing and more bandwidth-heavy activities like HD streaming.Huge server network. 9300+ servers in 137+ countries ensure reliable connections anywhere in the world.
Strong privacy stance. Independently audited no-logs policy and self-owned server fleet for added trustworthiness. Advanced privacy and security tools. Features like Double VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, Threat Protection Pro, NordWhisper tunneling protocol, and obfuscation offer extra security.
Smaller server fleet. Around 3400+ servers in 113+ countries, much fewer than NordVPN. Excellent for streaming. Consistently unblocks streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and more, delivering a smooth streaming experience. 
Inconsistent app reliability. Users report unexpected connection drops, slow reconnects, and occasional app crashes, especially on Windows and Fire-TV devices.No permanent free plan. Only a limited NordVPN 3-day Android trial is available.

Here are the main differences between IPVanish and NordVPN:

  • NordVPN is faster. Its NordLynx protocol delivers consistently higher speeds than IPVanish’s WireGuard or OpenVPN.
  • NordVPN offers more global coverage. Its server network is significantly larger and more widespread.
  • While NordVPN and IPVanish stand on a similar ground regarding torrenting, NordVPN may be a better choice thanks to its faster connection speeds and P2P-optimized servers. 
  • NordVPN offers more advanced security features. The service has better obfuscation options, a stealth tunneling protocol, and security-oriented specialty servers. 
  • NordVPN is better for gaming. Thanks to its lightning-fast connection speeds, it can help reduce ping and bypass ISP throttling. 
  • IPVanish is cheaper. IPVanish subscriptions start at $ 2.19/month, while NordVPN is a bit more expensive at $ 3.49/month. 
  • IPVanish allows unlimited device connections. NordVPN caps simultaneous connections at up to 10.
  • IPVanish gives deeper app control. NordVPN’s apps are well-designed and easy to use, but IPVanish has more advanced configuration options at the cost of occasional stability issues.
  • Both unblock content reliably. Both performed great in bypassing geo-blocks during my tests.

Our verdict

IPVanish makes a name for itself with unlimited connections and more configuration options for advanced users, but NordVPN is clearly the more powerful VPN in 2025. It offers incredibly fast connection speeds, a bigger server network, specialty servers, better ad & tracker blocking, and more advanced security and privacy features. Overall, NordVPN takes the lead considering performance, speed, and security, making it my top VPN choice.

IPVanish vs NordVPN price comparison

As of August 2025, IPVanish is more affordable than NordVPN, with the lowest subscription price starting at $ 2.19/month, compared to NordVPN’s $ 3.49/month. Both providers offer 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year plans, but NordVPN has three plan tiers (Basic, Plus, and Complete), while IPVanish offers two plan tiers (Essential and Advanced). All IPVanish subscriptions are cheaper compared to NordVPN, except for the monthly plans. Here, both IPVanish and NordVPN offer prices from $12.99/month up to $14.99/month. 

Subscription plansIPVanishNordVPN
1-month plan:From $12.99/month ($155.88/year)From $12.99/month ($155.88/year)
1-year plan:From $3.33/month ($39.99/year)From $4.99/month ($59.88/month)
2-year plan:From $ 2.19/month ($52.56/year)From $ 3.49/month ($83.43/year)
Free trial: ✅ Yes, 7 days (mobile, Android and iOS)✅ Yes, 3 days (mobile, Android)
Money-back guarantee:✅ Yes, 30 days✅ Yes, 30 days
Current deal:Get 83% OFFGet 75% OFF
*Check out NordVPN deals and coupon codes

Both IPVanish and NordVPN offer solid money-back guarantees, lasting for an industry-standard 30 days. As for free trials, IPVanish offers a longer one, lasting 7 days, and available both on Android and iOS mobile devices. NordVPN offers a shorter 3-day free trial, only available through the Google Play Store for Android devices. Neither of the providers has a free version of their services.

Price category winner: IPVanish

IPVanish is generally cheaper than NordVPN, except for the monthly plans, where both providers offer the same price. In both cases, the longer-term plans are most cost-efficient compared to short-term plans. At the same time, IPVanish offers a longer free trial than NordVPN, but both offer a standard 30-day money-back guarantee.

Which has more global servers: IPVanish VPN vs NordVPN

NordVPN has significantly more global servers than IPVanish, with 9300 servers in 137+ countries, compared to IPVanish’s 3400 servers in 113+ countries. 

FeatureNordVPNIPVanish
Total servers:93003400
Countries covered:137+113+
Server types:RAM-only, P2PRAM-only, obfuscated, P2P
Specialized servers:✅ Yes (Double Hop)✅ Yes (P2P, Double VPN, Tor over VPN)
Server ownership:Fully owned and operatedMostly owned

Here’s what this information means to you – with more servers, NordVPN is capable of ensuring lower congestion. The more servers there are, the better the service is typically at handling traffic, offering faster speeds, and better load balancing. Additionally, a broader global reach, 137+ in NordVPN’s case, compared to IPVanish’s 113+, gives you more global content access options. At the same time, NordVPN also has more specialty servers, such as Double VPN for privacy and Tor over VPN for anonymity, whereas IPVanish only offers Double Hop servers. However, IPVanish fully owns and operates its server fleet. And, because it is smaller, IPVanish may have the advantage of better performance control. 

Servers category winner: NordVPN

NordVPN has a larger server network compared to IPVanish. NordVPN offers 9300 servers in 137+ countries, while IPVanish has 3400 servers in 113+ countries. Ultimately, NordVPN has more connection options, more specialty server types, and may perform better due to lower server congestion.

Which is more secure: IPVanish or NordVPN

Considering security features, both IPVanish and NordVPN provide robust essentials with strong encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and strict no-logs policies. However, NordVPN takes a slight edge due to its privacy-friendly jurisdiction, advanced protocol support, and broader encryption features. 

Security aspectIPVanishNordVPN
JurisdictionUnited States (member of the Five Eyes Alliance)Panama (privacy-friendly)
EncryptionAES-256 (OpenVPN/IKEv2), ChaCha20-Poly1305 (WireGuard)AES-256 (OpenVPN/IKEv2), ChaCha20-Poly1305 (NordLynx), plus post-quantum enhancements
Supported protocolsWireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsecNordLynx (WireGuard-based), NordWhisper, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec
No-logs policyStrict, independently audited, but US jurisdiction Strict, independently audited several times
Kill switch✅ Yes (but only for OpenVPN on iOS)✅ Yes (network and app level)
Leak protectionDNS, IP, WebRTC leak protection includedDNS, IP, WebRTC leak protection included

Both IPVanish and NordVPN offer robust encryption (AES-256 and ChaCha20-Poly1305), but NordVPN also includes post-quantum enhancements in its roster. The providers also use strong modern tunneling protocols (NordLynx, WireGuard), but NordVPN also offers a tailored protocol, NordWhisper, for bypassing internet censorship and restrictive networks. As for jurisdiction, NordVPN’s Panama jurisdiction is more privacy-friendly compared to IPVanish’s Five Eyes member country, the US. Lastly, Nord’s kill switch implementation is more consistent across platforms than IPVanish’s.

During my research, I found that IPVanish now uses ChaCha20, too, not just AES-256 like it used to, which makes it a truly modern and robust service. However, I wasn’t too excited about the US jurisdiction and the kill switch implementation on the iOS platform. On the other hand, NordVPN’s advanced protocol choices and strict no-logs policy made the service stand out, in my opinion, as a slightly more secure VPN service.

Security category winner: NordVPN

Both IPVanish and NordVPN offer robust and reliable security and privacy features. The providers offer industry-standard encryption and modern tunneling protocols, but NordVPN’s advanced selection, Panama jurisdiction, and more encryption options make it a slightly more secure option.

Kill switch

Both IPVanish and NordVPN offer a kill switch, a feature that terminates your internet if the VPN connection drops, which prevents accidental IP leaks. NordVPN’s kill switch works network-wide and can be set for individual apps across all platforms, which offers a great deal of control and customization. As for IPVanish, the service also has a kill switch, but its iOS version is limited and only works with OpenVPN. From what I found, I can conclude that NordVPN’s kill switch can be more reliable and versatile. 

IPVanish kill switch feature on the app
IPVanish kill switch feature on the app

Split tunneling

Split tunneling is a VPN feature that lets you decide which apps or websites use the VPN connection and which use the direct internet connection. This can make your VPN connections smoother and your overall browsing experience faster. NordVPN offers split tunneling on Windows, Android, and AndroidTV, making it a great choice for streaming without full VPN coverage. IPVanish also supports split tunneling, but only on Android and FireOS. So, if you want a braider split tunneling use, NordVPN is the better choice.

NordVPN Split tunneling feature on the app
NordVPN Split tunneling feature on the app

Obfuscation

Obfuscation masks VPN traffic, making it look like regular HTTP traffic. It comes in handy when you’re browsing in a highly restrictive network or are trying to bypass VPN detection measures, such as China’s Great Firewall or gambling sites that block access based on location. Many online betting platforms like bet365, PokerStars, or DraftKings actively detect and restrict VPN traffic, but NordVPN’s dedicated obfuscated servers are built specifically to overcome these barriers.

Meanwhile, IPVanish uses protocol-based obfuscation with OpenVPN Scramble, which means it’s a toggle-on feature and not specific to servers. While the OpenVPN Scramble works in a similar way, it is not as reliable and capable as obfuscated servers. Ultimately, this makes NordVPN a stronger choice in a censored environment, while IPVanish is still good, but for moderate restrictions only.

IPVanish OpenVPN Scramble feature
IPVanish OpenVPN Scramble feature

Specialty servers

NordVPN offers a wide selection of specialty servers, such as DoubleVPN for routing your traffic through two servers, OnionoverVPN for Tor browser integration, and P2P-optimized servers. Meanwhile, IPVanish only has Double Hop specialty servers for an added layer of encryption. So, if you want to use specialty servers for extra anonymity or smoother and safer torrenting, then NordVPN may be the better choice for you.

NordVPN vs IPVanish specialty servers
NordVPN vs IPVanish specialty servers

Ad & Malware Blocker

Ad & tracker blocker is a tool that stops intrusive ads, trackers, and malicious websites, making browsing smoother and safer. Both IPVanish and NordVPN have built-in ad & tracker blockers, called Threat Protection. However, although they’re called the same, NordVPN’s Threat Protection has some advantages, such as allowing temporary pauses and even working on some devices when the VPN itself is turned off. As for IPVanish, its Threat Protection uses VIPRE-powered security to block ads, trackers, cookies, and dangerous domains across all its apps. To sum it up, NordVPN offers more flexibility for its Threat Protection feature, while IPVanish makes sure its ad & tracker blocker is highly effective with a strong third-party backing. 

Which VPN has stronger privacy policies: IPVanish or NordVPN

Both IPVanish and NordVPN have strict, third-party verified no-logs policies. However, NordVPN is based in more-privacy friendly jurisdiction of Panama, a country that is not a member of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances. IPVanish, on the other hand, is based in the US, a member country to the Five Eyes Alliance, which could potentially subject IPVanish to data requests from government agencies. This may be an important factor for privacy-conscious users, despite the strict no-logs policy. 

Privacy aspectIPVanishNordVPN
JurisdictionUS (part of 5 Eyes)Panama (not part of 5/6/14 Eyes)
No-logs policy✅ Yes (audited by Schellman Compliance)✅ Yes (audited by PwC and Deloitte)
Independent audits2 audits (2022, 2025)5 audits (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Leak test resultsPassed all IP, DNS, and WebRTC testsPassed all IP, DNS, and WebRTC tests

These key findings comparing IPVanish and NordVPN privacy policies has led me to conclude that NordVPN is a bit more private VPN, considering the privacy-friendly Panama jurisdiction and more third-party audits. Also, as you can see from my tests below, NordVPN passed all leak tests completely and with no issues at all.

NordVPN leak test results
NordVPN leak test results

Privacy category winner: NordVPN

Considering user privacy, NordVPN has a slight edge over IPVanish. Although both providers offer third-party verified no-logs policies, NordVPN wins over with privacy-friendly Panama jurisdiction, in comparison to IPVanish’s US jurisdiction, a country that’s a member of the 5 Eyes intelligence sharing alliance. Additionally, NordVPN has more third-party audits under its belt.

No-Logs Policy

During my research, I found that NordVPN is based in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 Eyes intelligence sharing alliances. This fact alone reduces the risk of government data requests or interference. Additionally, the service has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not track or store user data. The claim has been audited 5 times as of 2025 by respectable firms, such as PwC and Deloitte

In comparison, IPVanish is based in the US, which is a member country of the 5 Eyes Alliance. This means that IPVanish must expose used data to government agencies if asked. However, at the same time, IPVanish has a strict, twice-verified no-logs policy, which ensures no user data is gathered at all times. That said, the US jurisdiction still leaves a chance for government requests, making NordVPN the overall more trustworthy choice for users prioritizing privacy.

IPVanish no-logs policy claim
IPVanish no-logs policy claim

Independent Audits & Transparency Reports

NordVPN has five independent audits as of 2025, including audits by PwC in 2018 and 2020, and Deloitte in the following years. The audits cover server inspections, employee interviews, and technical log evaluation to back the no-logs policy claim. If passed, such audits confirm that a VPN service, in this case NordVPN, does not log or store user data. 

IPVanish also has independent audits, which the Schellman Compliance firm did in 2022 and 2025. The provider passed the audits successfully, but the smaller scope and frequency compared to NordVPN, plus the US jurisdiction, reduce its overall privacy assurances. 

So, to sum it up, while on the surface both providers seem equally private, NordVPN has more proof to back up its claims.

Which is better for streaming: IPVanish or NordVPN

When comparing IPVanish and NordVPN for streaming, I first performed speed tests for both providers. With NordVPN, I got an impressive 469Mbps average connection speed, which translated to a 94% initial speed retention rate. IPVanish wasn’t too far off, with 456Mbps and a 93% initial speed retention rate; however, the speeds weren’t as consistent, and on some further away servers, the speed dropped to around 262Mbps, affecting HD streaming significantly. So after the speed tests alone, NordVPN was clearly the better VPN for streaming

Then, I checked the streaming platform unblocking capabilities. During my tests, NordVPN consistently and reliably unblocked all of the most popular streaming platforms, such as US, Japan, UK Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and HBO Max. Meanwhile, IPVanish reliably unblocked Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu, but sometimes struggled to get me into Disney+ and HBO Max on the first try. 

Streaming serviceIPVanishNordVPN
Netflix✅ Yes✅ Yes, UK, US, Japan
BBC iPlayer✅ Yes✅ Yes
Hulu✅ Yes✅ Yes
Disney Plus✅ Yes, but not on the first try✅ Yes
HBO Max✅ Yes, but not on the first try✅ Yes
Amazon Prime Video✅ Yes, but not on the first try✅ Yes
ITVX✅ Yes✅ Yes

I also tried both VPNs with different Netflix libraries, as each country has a different selection of content, and you may want to use your VPN to access it. So, I tried NordVPN and IPVanish with Netflix US, UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, and Slovakia, which hosts the largest Netflix library. Ultimately, NordVPN was capable of unblocking all of Netflix’s libraries on the first try, while IPVanish struggled a bit with Japan and Germany, allowing me in after switching servers a couple of times. 

IPVanish unblocking US Netflix
IPVanish unblocking US Netflix

Streaming category winner: NordVPN

For streaming, NordVPN is the clear winner, as it offers faster and more consistent connection speeds and works more reliably at unblocking streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and others. Meanwhile, IPVanish might be less reliable for streaming, due to fast, yet inconsistent connection speeds and less certain unblocking capabilities. Plus, NordVPN has a larger server network, leading to better speeds, less congestion, and a better chance at unblocking content even in exotic locations.

Should I choose NordVPN or IPVanish for torrenting

Using a VPN when torrenting is essential if you want to protect your privacy and avoid ISP bandwidth throttling. Both NordVPN and IPVanish offer features specifically for P2P file sharing, but there are differences in speed, security, and server coverage.

NordVPN provides strong DNS and IP leak protection when torrenting, which ensures your IP address is well hidden at all times. To test out NordVPN’s speeds while torrenting, I connected to one of its P2P-optimized servers in Iceland and proceeded to download a 2GB file from the Internet Archive, which is a legal torrent library. The download averaged 8.5 MB/s, completing in approximately 4 minutes, which was a very good result, indeed. Plus, the large P2P-optimized server network made it easier to find the nearest, optimal connection spot for me.

NordVPN DNS leak test results for secure torrenting
NordVPN DNS leak test results for secure torrenting

IPVanish is also just as capable of preventing IP and DNS leaks and supports P2P traffic on all its servers. However, since the servers aren’t the P2P-optimized specialty servers, the downloading speed on them corresponded with the connection speed. During my IPVanish P2P file sharing tests, I connected to a server in Poland and downloaded a 2GB file from the Internet Archive. The download speed averaged around 7MB/s and took around 15 minutes to complete. Still not a bad result, but significantly slower than NordVPN.

IPVanish DNS leak test results for P2P file sharing
IPVanish DNS leak test results for P2P file sharing

However, IPVanish also offers SOCKS5 proxy servers, which can be used to route torrent traffic through a proxy, potentially improving download speeds by bypassing VPN encryption. NordVPN does not offer any similar proxy servers. That said, using a SOCKS5 proxy without VPN encryption could expose your real IP address if the proxy connection drops.To sum it up, both VPNs are safe for torrenting, but NordVPN offers better speeds, P2P-optimized servers, and more advanced features for users who want extra protection when torrenting.

Torrenting category winner: NordVPN

Based on my tests, NordVPN is a better performer for torrenting than IPVanish, due to optimized P2P servers, faster connection speeds, and robust security features. Even though both providers have torrenting-specific features, my experience with NordVPN was overall smoother.

Should I choose NordVPN or IPVanish for gaming

Using a VPN for gaming can help protect your connection against DDoS attacks, prevent ISP throttling, mask your real location, and allow you to access geo-locked content in games or geo-locked game servers. I tested both providers while playing CS:GO and found that while NordVPN is faster and very capable of keeping ping low and gameplay smooth, IPVanish was almost as good as NordVPN for gaming. Let’s compare the speeds first, starting with NordVPN:

NordVPN speed tests for gaming
NordVPN speed tests for gaming

My initial connection during these tests wasn’t very fast, but NordVPN still kept the 96% initial speed retention rate, which is perfect for smooth gaming. Now, for IPVanish:

IPVanish speed tests for gaming
IPVanish speed tests for gaming

As you can see, IPVanish is not significantly slower than NordVPN, keeping a nice 93% initial speed retention rate during my speed tests. This is also a good result for gaming, even with slower initial connections. Now for technicalities – NordVPN offers pinglowering through its massivenetwork and the speedy NordLynx tunneling protocol, while IPVanish uses LagAssassin tech on its servers. As for DDoSattacks, NordVPN relies on ThreatProtection, and IPVanish uses anti-DDoS servers. Both providers are compatible with various devices, including gamingconsoles and routers, which makes them almost equally good choices of gaming VPNs, with higher NordVPN speeds being the key factor setting them apart.

Gaming category winner: NordVPN

Both IPVanish and NordVPN are great choices for gaming, offering strong DDoS attack protection, good connection speeds, and excellent device compatibility. However, NordVPN is still a bit faster than IPVanish, making it a slightly better choice for online gaming.

Which VPN is easier to use: IPVanish or NordVPN

From my experience with NordVPN and IPVanish, both providers offer intuitive and straightforward installation and setup. However, NordVPN has a slightly sleeker, cleaner, and more polished user experience, especially with the new iOS app design that rolled out this year. 

NordVPN’s installation process is very straightforward on all platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and browser extensions, plus manual setup on routers and NAS devices. I checked installation on macOS and iOS devices, while the VPNoverview team managed others. We concluded that the process seemed very beginner-friendly and did not require any prior knowledge of VPNs. 

The NordVPN apps look consistently sleek across platforms and consist of a Quick Connect button, an interactive server world map, and a searchable server list. All of this makes it very easy to start using the VPN. All of NordVPN’s unique features, such as specialty servers, are easy to find thanks to a clear design and intuitive placement

IPVanish was also very easy to install and, similar to NordVPN, is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, and many more devices, including Apple Vision Pro. However, the app looks significantly different with a more utilitarian design, but clear menus for selecting servers and protocols. After checking NordVPN and IPVanish apps, I can say that NordVPN is more user-friendly but at the same time caters to experienced users, too, with the level of configurability available on the apps. Meanwhile, IPVanish’s look is more utilitarian, offering a lot of control, but to some, the design might feel too functional.

Interface category winner: tie

In this category, I draw a tie, because IPVanish and NordVPN are both very easy to install, set up, and use. While I prefer the sleeker NordVPN app design, some may find the minimal look of IPVanish more up to their expectations. And as for compatibility, both VPNs can be used on numerous devices, making them equal contenders in this case.

IPVanish vs NordVPN Reddit comparison

No good VPN comparison is without a word from actual VPN users on Reddit. I found quite a few comments both on IPVanish and NordVPN, with people pointing out things they liked and things they didn’t. However, those who have used both services seem to agree that NordVPN is the overall better choice.

Re3dditor switching from IPVanish to NordVPN
Re3dditor switching from IPVanish to NordVPN

I also found some Redditors noticing that the IPVanish app is prone to crashing, but I did not experience such issues myself. Additionally, some were not too happy about the inconsistent connection speeds, especially after trying out NordVPN.

Redditor commenting on their choice of NordVPN over IPVanish
Redditor commenting on their choice of NordVPN over IPVanish


So, the general consensus on Reddit is that NordVPN has an edge over IPVanish, and although there’s not much to fault it with, people just seem to prefer the smooth experience they get with NordVPN.

Final verdict: is IPVanish better than NordVPN in 2025?

Both NordVPN and IPVanish are solid and robust VPN services. However, after carefully testing both, I concluded that NordVPN is the overall better option, considering server network, connection speeds, advanced features, no-logs policy, compatibility, and ease of use. That said, the VPN that is better for you depends on your specific needs

When to choose IPVanish?When to choose NordVPN?
✅ When you need a more affordable subscription, starting at $ 2.19/month✅ When you need a massive server network 
✅ When you want to use one VPN subscription on unlimited devices✅ When you need lightning-fast connection speeds and consistent connectivity
✅ When you need a highly compatible VPN service✅ When you need a VPN for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and smooth casual browsing
❌ When you want a lot of advanced features and fast speeds❌ When you need a cheaper VPN subscription (NordVPN subscriptions start at $ 3.49/month)
  • Pricing. IPVanish offers cheaper subscriptions than NordVPN, starting at $ 2.19/month, compared to NordVPN’s $ 3.49/month.
  • Device connections. IPVanish allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, while NordVPN offers up to 10.
  • Server network. NordVPN offers a significantly larger and wider network, consisting of 9300+ servers in 137+ countries. Meanwhile, IPVanish operates a smaller fleet of 3400+ servers in 113+ countries.
  • Speed. NordVPN is faster than IPVanish thanks to a proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol and larger server fleet.
  • Torrenting support. NordVPN offers P2P-optimized servers, while IPVanish offers SOCKS5 proxy servers. Both are good for torrenting, but since NordVPN is faster, it takes a slight edge.
  • Streaming. NordVPN unblocks more streaming platforms and performs consistently across them compared to IPVanish.
  • Privacy and security. NordVPN has more advanced privacy and security features than IPVanish, plus it is based in a more privacy-friendly Panama, compared to IPVanish’s US.

My final verdict is that NordVPN outperforms IPVanish in 2025, due to its larger server fleet, more advanced features and settings, sleek and intuitive app design, offering a better overall value to all sorts of VPN users. 

You may also want to read: 

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between IPVanish and NordVPN?

The main differences between NordVPN and IPVanish include NordVPN having a bigger server fleet, faster connection speeds, and more advanced security features and specialty servers. Meanwhile, IPVanish offers cheaper subscriptions, unlimited device connections, and good connection speeds.

Is IPVanish better than NordVPN?

No, IPVanish is not better than NordVPN. NordVPN performed better at my speed tests, offers stronger privacy, more advanced security features, and better compatibility with streaming. However, IPVanish is still a very reliable VPN with affordable subscriptions and unlimited device connections.

Is NordVPN faster than IPVanish?

Yes, NordVPN is faster than IPVanish. Thanks to its proprietary NordLynx tunneling protocol, NordVPN is capable of speeds reaching up to 600Mbps and holding a 96% initial speed retention rate. Meanwhile, IPVanish is not far off with 550Mbps and a 93% initial connection speed, but the averages were not as consistent compared to NordVPN, sometimes dropping to around 300Mbps on distant connections.

Which one is more reliable for bypassing sports blackouts, IPVanish or NordVPN?

NordVPN is more reliable at bypassing sports blackouts as it offers a wider server network for better reach, obfuscated servers for stealth, and even a NordWhisper protocol to bypass even the strictest restrictions. On the other hand, IPVanish is less reliable for such a task, due to a smaller server fleet, and more basic obfuscation with the OpenVPN Scramble feature.

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