ExpressVPN vs IPVanish 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

Both these VPNs are good all-rounders that are notable for their fast speeds, making them excellent choices for a multitude of online activities. But is there much difference between them? Is IPVanish out of sight, or does ExpressVPN deliver the goods?

Both services are user-friendly, suiting VPN newcomers and experts alike. But ExpressVPN is sleeker and has a neat, minimized view. And while IPVanish is faster than a lot of services, ExpressPVN is the fastest I’ve ever used. Plus, with more servers covering more countries, ExpressVPN is the clear winner.

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can try ExpressVPN without risk. If you’re not completely happy, you can easily get a full refund to test IPVanish instead.

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Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

Streaming — ExpressVPN Works With More Platforms

IPVanish has Ultra HD-friendly speeds on nearby servers and works with many popular platforms, but ExpressVPN is the gold standard for streaming. Its entire network is optimized for seamless streaming, and each server my colleagues and I tested proved fast and reliable. I also like that its Lightway protocol conserves battery life for streaming on mobile devices.

On top of this, ExpressVPN offers a handy feature (called MediaStreamer) for streaming on devices that don’t normally support VPNs. This is its Smart DNS function that works with a handful of platforms, including Netflix US and UK, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and more. IPVanish, on the other hand, doesn’t have Smart DNS at all.

BBC iPlayer streamed with no lag and minimal loading times with ExpressVPN

If streaming is a priority, you should also note that IPVanish doesn’t work with some popular platforms. From my location in the UK, I couldn’t watch Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, or BBC iPlayer. My colleague in the US confirmed it worked fine with Disney+ US but not Prime Video.

IPVanish is more reliable for US platforms and worked with Disney+ US but not in the UK

Winner

It has faster speeds, a proprietary protocol ideal for streaming, and more servers to prevent crowding. It’s a clean sweep for ExpressVPN in this category.

Server Network — ExpressVPN Has More Servers in More Countries

ExpressVPN boasts comfortably more servers in more countries, so it’s a far superior network. Admittedly, IPVanish’s US coverage is impressive, with 20 locations. But ExpressVPN has 24 server locations in the States, which is also decent. It also has one more UK location than IPVanish.

Numerous servers placed in several countries not only give you more connection options, but it’s beneficial to speeds. When users are spread across a larger number of servers, there’s less chance for congestion and the slowdowns caused by it.

Winner

The numbers tell the story here; ExpressVPN has one of the most impressive server networks available. While IPVanish’s US network is impressive, ExpressVPN is the clear winner.

Speed — ExpressVPN Is the Fastest I’ve Tested

Our UK speed tester began with a baseline connection of 125Mbps and used each VPN’s fastest protocol (for ExpressVPN, it’s Lightway — for IPVanish, it’s WireGuard).

When comparing ExpressVPN and IPVanish in terms of speed, the winner was obvious. Speeds from nearby locations are comparable, but there’s no contest over long distances. US servers were nearly twice as fast with ExpressVPN, while its Japanese servers were over 35% quicker than IPVanish’s.

Speed drops with local UK servers were hardly noticeable, at less than 4% slower

ExpressVPN’s Lightway proprietary protocol is what gives it the edge. Most services offer standard protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard. But ExpressVPN built Lightway from the ground up to remove the coding that’s unnecessary for a commercial VPN. It provides lightweight, fast, and highly secure connections.

Speed tests for both VPNs were carried out over several weeks

Winner

The larger network and proprietary Lightway protocol make ExpressVPN the fastest I’ve used.

Gaming — ExpressVPN Wins With Faster Speeds and Ping

Ping measures the on-screen response time to your commands, so it’s a crucial gaming stat. Under 100 ms is recommended for smooth gameplay, but the faster, the better. ExpressVPN gave me lower ping rates in almost every case, which translated to smooth gameplay.

IPVanish did have consistently faster ping using US servers (from the UK), which was curious. Still, ExpressVPN’s intuitive app makes it more game-friendly, plus you can easily configure ExpressVPN on gaming consoles, including Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch (IPVanish doesn’t support Switch).

Response time (ping, or latency) is just as crucial for retro gaming as it is for Fortnite

Winner

With faster speeds, lower latency, and support for 3 major game consoles, ExpressVPN is the app you’ll want for responsive gaming.

Torrenting — ExpressVPN’s Faster Speeds Offer Quicker Downloads

With its faster speeds and stronger privacy features, ExpressVPN is a better option for torrenting. I downloaded the same 5GB copyright-free file with both VPNs using nearby servers (Midlands with ExpressVPN and Manchester with IPVanish).

ExpressVPN completed the transfer a full minute faster than IPVanish. Plus, with its stronger privacy protection (like RAM-only servers and a court-proven privacy policy), you know that your personal data and torrenting activity are safe. IPVanish is also safe and fast, but it just doesn’t quite match ExpressVPN at this level.

I do like that each IPVanish account includes SOCKS5 proxy connections you can use alternatively. It’s less secure than a VPN because it doesn’t encrypt your data, but for the same reason, it downloads faster. I configured it to Vuze in under a minute, and it was barely below my base speed.

ExpressVPN doesn’t offer a proxy but has port forwarding instead (IPVanish doesn’t support this). You have to configure it via your router, so it’s a little trickier to set up than SOCKS5. But similar to a proxy, it offers faster downloads at the expense of encryption.

Winner

Both services offer a faster alternative to downloading on the VPN, but with its faster speeds and better privacy protection, ExpressVPN takes the round.

Security — ExpressVPN’s Protection Is Far More Advanced

ExpressVPN uses RAM-only servers that automatically wipe all data on reboot. IPVanish doesn’t, meaning that, if in the rare case that one of its servers were hacked or stolen/seized, user data may be vulnerable. Furthermore, ExpressVPN’s DH (digital handshake) key is twice as secure as IPVanish’s.

Both VPNs offer obfuscation, but you have to enable it with IPVanish. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN’s servers can automatically detect tough firewalls and network blocks and will obfuscate your data when necessary to bypass them. Plus, ExpressVPN’s Lightway was built to support obfuscation; with IPVanish, you have to switch to the slower OpenVPN protocol.

On top of that, ExpressVPN offers its Threat Manager to block malware and trackers, plus an ad blocker. Admittedly, its ad and malware blocking isn’t as effective as some, but it’s far more effective than IPVanish’s Threat Protection. Plus, ExpressVPN actively updates its blocklist of dangerous sites and content, so at least it’s improving.

Winner

ExpressVPN’s security is far more advanced thanks to its automatic obfuscation, RAM-only servers, and dangerous content blockers.

Privacy — Both VPNs Are Reliable, But ExpressVPN Has the Edge

ExpressVPN’s headquarters are in the British Virgin Islands, outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance. Unfortunately, IPVanish’s base is in the US, a founding 5-Eyes member. That means IPVanish would have to comply if the US (or any other 5-Eyes government) demanded data.

Both VPNs have independently audited no-logs policies, but ExpressVPN’s has been proven in court in some high-profile cases. In 2017, the government of Turkey demanded a user’s data, which ExpressVPN refused. The authorities then seized its Turkish servers, but since they’re RAM-only, they found nothing.

Winner

With its HQ in a privacy-friendly country and a court-proven track record of protecting its users' privacy, ExpressVPN takes the round.

Works in China — ExpressVPN Works, IPVanish Doesn’t

The Great Firewall of China (GFW) is constantly updated, which often leaves even the top VPNs scrambling to get through. Unfortunately, many VPNs don’t have the resources to keep up with this technological race, and IPVanish appears to be one of them. IPVanish can’t guarantee that it works in China.

While you may have to adjust your settings to get reliable connections, ExpressVPN strives to offer its services in China. Its automatic obfuscation is what does the trick, but the company notes that the protocol should be set to Automatic for it to work in China.

It also provides Hong Kong servers, so China-based users have a connection that’s not too far away. This helps reduce speed loss that occurs when using faraway servers, which is particularly important given the already slow speeds in China. IPVanish used to have Hong Kong connections but has removed them.

VPN websites are almost always blocked in China, so it’s usually not possible to download apps from within the country. However, ExpressVPN offers mirror URLs that support can provide via email.

Winner

IPVanish doesn’t work in China and doesn’t claim to either, so another round goes to ExpressVPN.

Installation & Ease of Use — It’s a Draw

These VPNs are comparable in functionality, but the apps look very different. I like ExpressVPN because the neat and compact design is easy to use and trim. While IPVanish is a little more clunky (I could do without the map), the menu is a little easier to navigate.

Shortcuts are easy to configure for one-click connections to your favorite websites and apps

Meanwhile, IPVanish offers unlimited device connections on one subscription. ExpressVPN allows 8 simultaneous connections, but you can easily configure it to your router to protect all your devices. Both VPNs are easy to install, and you can configure them on any device or OS in under 2 minutes.

You can adjust the height and width of the IPVanish app by dragging the bottom right corner of the app

Winner - draw

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ExpressVPN looks more modern and sophisticated, but IPVanish is a little easier to navigate, so I’m calling it a draw.

Reliability & Support — ExpressVPN’s Excellent Live Chat Service Wins

I’ve never had any technical issues with ExpressVPN. Most VPNs (including IPVanish) will have occasional problems and need restarting or reinstalling. But ExpressVPN always runs smoothly, no matter what I use it for.

If you have any issues, its live chat is the best I’ve used. Live agents answer almost instantly, and they’re knowledgeable and friendly. IPVanish is also good, but you have to go through a chatbot before speaking to an agent. When I wanted to ask if IPVanish worked in China, the chatbot returned support articles for setting up a virtual machine, which wasn’t helpful.

IPVanish does offer phone support, which is rare for any VPN. It’s available during office hours in the US, Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Spain, and Australia. I prefer live chat since you can resolve the issue on the device you’re using, but phone support may be helpful if you need to explain something in real time.

Winner

ExpressVPN’s live chat is the best, so I’m giving it the round. But if you think phone support might be useful, consider IPVanish.

Tips on Choosing Between ExpressVPN and IPVanish

Here’s a quick summary of my experiences when choosing between ExpressVPN and IPVanish:

• Smooth streaming. A VPN can help you stream without risking your data. ExpressVPN works with more platforms and offers faster speeds for an uninterrupted viewing experience. I tested this by streaming UHD video content that’s licensed in my country, noting buffer times and stream quality.
• Fast speeds. You’ll need this for high-bandwidth activities like streaming, gaming, downloading, and more. ExpressVPN’s fast speeds make it efficient for online activities. My tests involved downloading large files and measuring download times to evaluate consistency.
• Server networks. ExpressVPN has a larger server network, which translates to more nearby options for faster speeds and better connectivity.
• Robust security features. I examined the strength of encryption, kill switch functionality, and leak protection. Both VPNs are highly secure, but ExpressVPN provides some more advanced features, RAM-only servers and a stronger ad and malware blocker.
• Respectable privacy practices. Check the service’s data logging policies and jurisdiction to understand how your data is treated. Both VPNs adhere to audited no-logs policies, but ExpressVPN is based in a privacy-friendly country, which is reassuring.
• Easy to use. An intuitive app makes for a hassle-free experience. I evaluated the user interface, setup process, and overall ease of navigation and found both to be user-friendly.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee. A reliable money-back guarantee reflects confidence in the service. I looked into the terms of the guarantee and tested the refund process and found both to stand by their claims.

ExpressVPN vs IPVanish — Reddit Opinions

ExpressVPN has a lot of long-term fans. Plenty of posters back it for reliability and performance or simply hail it as the best VPN available. IPVanish has its admirers, too, especially after its redesign. Some posts complain that its cancellation process is complex, but they are several years old. Plus, we’ve found that the refund process is simple, so it’s likely been updated since those threads were posted.