We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Advertising Disclosure

vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

IPVanish VPN vs Encrypt.me VPN vs Ivacy VPN 2024

Table of Contents

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Nicky Hosek
    Nicky Hosek

    Cybersecurity Researcher

    Note: Encrypt.me has joined forces with StrongVPN and we'll refer to it as StrongVPN in this comparison.

    While not among the most well-known VPNs worldwide, IPVanish has a reputation as one of the stalwarts of the VPN industry. Its apps feature all the bells and whistles you expect from a top VPN, with a kill switch, split tunneling, military-grade encryption, and multiple secure VPN protocols. It also has a decently large server network with 2,400 servers across 90 countries. As a bonus, you can use it on as many devices as you want at the same time.

    Recently, Ivacy VPN has made a lot of improvements to try and compete with the top VPNs. This includes upgrading its servers to 10 Gbps capacity and adding support for the WireGuard protocol. This is on top of relatively premium features, like 24/7 live chat support and 10 simultaneous device connections with all paid plans, plus it has a massive server network with 5,700 servers across 100 countries.

    StrongVPN is in a similar position, having merged with multiple smaller VPN services, including Encrypt.me, to improve its offering. While it still has a smaller network with 950 servers across 30 countries, it impresses with its sleek and functional VPN apps.

    While these promising VPNs share similarities, there are important differences regarding their speeds, access to streaming platforms, and pricing. Also, while all these VPNs have apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, that doesn’t means they were all created equal. Overall, IPVanish comes on top of Ivacy and StrongVPN.

    Our Score

    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 9.0/10
    Reliability & Support 9.3/10
    Features 7.9/10
    Pricing 6.4/10
    Ease of Use 8.3/10
    Reliability & Support 8.4/10
    Features 7.3/10
    Pricing 7.6/10
    Ease of Use 6.8/10
    Reliability & Support 9.4/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Keira Waddell
    Keira Waddell

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 9.2/10

    IPVanish offers high-speed connections and an impressive list of advanced security features at a budget-friendly price. So, I was eager to test it out for myself. I carefully studied its privacy policy and thoroughly tested its speeds, security features, and streaming capabilities. I also looked into its network coverage and ease of use before putting its customer service team to the test. ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    S
    Stu Taylor
    10.0/10
    Very, very satisfied

    I am into my third year of using IPVanish. I am extremely happy with the speed, reliability, features ... and reliability. The fact that I have used it for this long without trying the competition speaks volumes. I am never going to try anything else because I am completely happy with what I have. Why risk it?More

    Latest negative user review
    B
    Beth Gray
    2.0/10
    Misleading, false advertising, don't honor guarantee. BEWARE

    IP address and region not effectively blocked on most sites. Streaming sites do NOT work with their se... rvices, but they do not disclose that anywhere on their website. The support team had no idea in terms of technical knowledge. They claim that their 30-day guarantee is unconditional and there is no risk, but they have so many exclusions buried in their fine print that the average user would have huge difficulty finding. They advertise on many streaming how-to websites where they KNOW their services do not work. COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. If I could give less than one star I would. SO unethical.More

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    Our Score: 7.9/10

    Important: Encrypt.me has joined forces with StrongVPN. You can no longer sign up to Encrypt.me as a new member, but you can check out our StrongVPN review here. Current Encrypt.me customers will still have access to their usual Encrypt.me services. While we wish it offered as many devices as some of our top providers, Encrypt.me (previously Cloak VPN) succeeds in protecting Apple devices connec...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    M
    Mel Snyder
    10.0/10
    Simple for all my iOS/OSX devices

    I travel a lot, US and EU, and use airline club, airport and hotel connections - all of which make me ... nervous, especially because I check my IRAs 2-3 times a day. Cloak is the third VPN I've tried - I don't remember the names of others because I quickly abandoned them when I found them kludgy and hard to set up. Cloak is SO easy, and shows up as a simple iOS setting choice. I see no speed impact, although I suspect there may be one, and so when I'm connecting to a slow service, I may use it only when transmitting or receiving sensitive data. Like seatbelts and life jackets, the easier they are to use, the more likely they are to be used. Cloak is easy.More

    Latest negative user review
    T
    Toby
    6.0/10
    Great VPN when it works

    Easy to setup, easy to "set and forget". But, that's only when the Cloak servers are responding and ru... nning as normal. I have found that often (10% of the time approx) when trying to use wifi the Cloak servers are not responsive/down and that leaves you in the exactly the situation you don't want to be in... either using iOS and OSX on unsecured connections or not using them online at all. Pretty poor outcome for something that you actually pay for.More

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 7.3/10

    Ivacy is a long-running VPN with some of the cheapest subscriptions around. It also offers a popular free version and an extensive server network with many rare locations. But is it actually safe or trustworthy with your data? After all my tests, I’ve concluded that Ivacy is a solid option but not at the top VPN level. It offers above-average speeds and adequate security; the free version is...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    P
    Pa Asten
    8.0/10
    Not sure where all these negative thoughts come from.

    Never had a problem connecting my desktop pooters with Ivacy. Had minor problem connecting my IOS devi... ce to my dedicated European IP but that was soon sorted. I daresay most of the negativity comes from the younger generation who have no patience. Staff at Ivacy who helped this 75yr old were awesome and ever helpful. Keep at it guys! I'd give them 9.5.More

    Latest negative user review
    J
    JB
    2.0/10
    Terrible support

    I was a customer 6 years ago. They still email me frequently, despite me unsubscribing many times and ... reaching out to their customer support 8+ times. If Ivacy can't get this right then I wouldn't trust any other promise that they make.More

    Pricing

    Starting price $2.75/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $8.33/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license Unlimited devices
    Starting price $1/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall
    Best VPN for Torrents
    Best VPN for Windows
    Best VPN for Android
    Best VPN for Mac
    Best VPN for iOS
    Best VPN for USA

    The Bottom Line

    While Ivacy may sound good on the surface, its location in a non-privacy-friendly jurisdiction and its poor torrenting performance were factors we just couldn’t overlook. While StrongVPN’s performance is solid, it has the same privacy issues as Ivacy, plus a lack of advanced security features. However, with a battalion of advanced tools, IPVanish will appeal more to expert users with unlimited options with regard to bandwidth, P2P, and server cycling. And who can look past its affordable long-term pricing and unlimited simultaneous connections?

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    FAQ

    Is IPVanish VPN better than Encrypt.me VPN and Ivacy VPN?

    Yes, IPVanish VPN is better overall than Encrypt.me VPN and Ivacy VPN. It has 2400 servers in 90 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2.75 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between IPVanish VPN, Encrypt.me VPN and Ivacy VPN?

    When choosing a VPN, you want to pay close attention to its number of servers, overall speed score, pricing, and the number of simultaneous device connections it offers. While some VPNs provide a flawless online experience, others will really slow you down.

    If you’re ready to commit, then IPVanish VPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests.

    Is IPVanish VPN faster than Encrypt.me VPN and Ivacy VPN?

    Yes, IPVanish VPN is faster than Encrypt.me VPN and Ivacy VPN. Since your VPN is your computer’s main connection to the internet, you need to use a service that won’t slow you down by more than 20%.

    If speeds are important to you, then I recommend you take a look at ExpressVPN. It’s the fastest service out there, provides unlimited bandwidth, and you won’t experience any slowdowns even when you connect to the other side of the planet. You can try it out risk-free.. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don’t like it.

    Do IPVanish VPN, Encrypt.me VPN or Ivacy VPN offer any deals?

    IPVanish VPN, Encrypt.me VPN, and Ivacy VPN offer deals on occasion. You can check out the current coupons and discounts here. However, ExpressVPN has the best deals. Right now, you can get a 49% discount and up to 3 months for free with a new subscription.

    We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
    Learn more
    vpnMentor was established in 2014 as an independent site reviewing VPN services and covering privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize the independent, professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

    About the Author

    A previous London-based journalist, Nicky is a freelance writer based on a farm in South Africa. When she's not training horses, she writes fluent, intelligent cybersecurity articles with creativity and flair.