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.

PrivateVPN vs ibVPN 2024

Table of Contents
    Our Score: 9.2/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info
    Our Score: 7.5/10
    %s User Reviews
    More Info

    Which VPN is better?

    Author Image Kristina Perunicic
    Kristina Perunicic

    Managing Editor

    The competition between Romanian-based ibVPN and Swedish-based PrivateVPN is fierce as they both offer above-average VPN services in the form of great features, diverse payment options, and high-level protection at fair prices. Both these VPNs are user-focused and have convenient apps for a variety of platforms (Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS) without bandwidth or speed limits. PrivateVPN and ibVPN can also be easily set up on Linux and routers. Furthermore, both VPNs are DNS and IPv6 leak proof, have kill switches in most apps, and secure your network with top-class encryption. However, ibVPN races slightly ahead in this category to include more anonymity features, such as double VPN and Tor over VPN. Another difference between these two providers is that although they both have about 100 servers, PrivateVPN has a presence in at least 12 more locations than ibVPN (59 compared to 47). A SmartDNS feature for online streaming lovers with access to more than 300 TV and radio channels worldwide is available on ibVPN. In contrast, PrivateVPN provides more stable connections and allows access to almost all geoblocked content at higher speeds. If you want to use a VPN in China, you need to enable PrivateVPN’s stealth mode, whereas ibVPN requires some manual configuration in order to work properly. In terms of connection settings, ibVPN and PrivateVPN support multiple protocols, including IPsec, L2TP, OpenVPN, PPTP, and StealthVPN. PrivateVPN also supports IKEv2, whereas ibVPN offers SSTP and Shadowsocks. When it comes to price, ibVPN may be a little cheaper but it offers more subscription options and a 15-day money-back guarantee. On the other hand, PrivateVPN offers 6 simultaneous connections, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and access to all features on all three subscription plans. For customer support, ibVPN’s team is there for you via live chat and PrivateVPN’s support team is available via email. Additionally, PrivateVPN offers a unique Team Viewer remote help option, which allows you to work directly with a dedicated tech team during installation and setup. Still not sure which one is best for you? Let’s have a look at a category-by-category comparison to find the winner.

    Our Score

    Features 9.2/10
    Pricing 9.2/10
    Ease of Use 8.8/10
    Reliability & Support 9.2/10
    Features 7.5/10
    Pricing 7.8/10
    Ease of Use 8.4/10
    Reliability & Support 8.2/10

    Reviews

    Review by our expert
    Author Image Matthew Amos
    Matthew Amos

    Senior Editor

    Our Score: 9.2/10

    PrivateVPN advertises itself as one of the best VPNs for streaming at a low price. It also claims to have great torrenting support, strong security features, and a true no-logs policy. But PrivateVPN is a small company, so can it compete with the biggest VPNs? To learn the answer, I tested out everything it offers. I tried it out with every major platform to see if it’s one of the best choic...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    D
    Daniel Andersson
    10.0/10
    Works Great for many years.

    I've been using their service for a great many years, and I'm very pleased indeed. Great service and s... upport, and more than enough speed for covering my needs. As long as they have coverage in countries I need to connect to, the number of servers in total is less relevant, as long as the servers they Do have provide enough speeds. They also support Wireguard, which is seldom mentioned in these reviews, probably since they don't have it in their native app, but they do and it's rock solid using that with their provided config files, and that in and of itself also increases the connection speeds, at least for me. All in all, they provide anything and all I want from a VPN provider. What others see as a downside, split tunneling and such, I see as a strength. I want my VPN provider to stick their nose in my business as little as possible, but rather provide a "clean VPN line" and then let Me decide what to do with my routing table. In short, they're Great, for my needs, but others will have to test and make up their own minds. :-DMore

    Latest negative user review
    E
    Emil
    2.0/10
    Been There

    I've been using PrivateVPN for a year. The main reason was due to good price. It's slow, on certain ho... urs of the day you can't watch video smoothly. They have down time or some other problem frequently and it take ages to fix it. Customer support are so poor that my mum without IT knowledge could probably do a better job. Now I switched to another one and feelings for PrivateVPN is much worse because I have something to compare withMore

    Read the full review
    Review by our expert
    Author Image Doris Muthuri
    Doris Muthuri

    Senior Writer

    Our Score: 7.5/10

    Update: Recently, ibVPN merged with StrongVPN. We did indepth testing on StrongVPN, and you can find all the details in our review. ibVPN is a relatively small VPN, with a network of 180+ servers in 50+ countries. The name stands for "invisible browsing" VPN, and true to its name, ibVPN has a strong focus on security and privacy. This provider claims to be a great VPN for many different purposes, ...

    Read all
    Latest positive user review
    A
    Anonymously
    10.0/10
    Very stable, full option, the top if you look for a good privacy protection option!

    I am using ibVPN for about 5 years, and I never had an issue. It perfectly works with many protocols a... llowing me to use the VPN at home (with my DD-WRT router) and in many public places, like airports, even when some port usage is restricted --> Just switching the protocol! The 24h free trial is perfect for checking if the service fits your needs. I highly recommended it!More

    Latest negative user review
    D
    Daltonic
    6.0/10
    Some great features but a lot of drops

    I'm a customer since almost 2 years, paying 2.41$ / month. Choose them for the price, no-log policy a... nd because they support upnp/port forwarding (no NAT firewall + dynamic IP on 4 servers in the Netherlands). I always had a big problem with their server: connection drops.. If I use too much bandwidth, I loose the connection and the VPN client is not able to reconnect to the server by itself (I need to reconnect it manually). Same thing happens always with torrent clients and Socks proxy: tried with different clients but after some days or a week (if I'm lucky) their servers kick me out, and a restart of the torrent client is not enough. No!! I need to change manually the server to re-start to torrenting! No problem if we are slow, for that price I'm more than happy.. but all these disconnections are very, very boring. I will stay with them till I will not find something suitable for my needs, but there's too much work from my side to stay with them forever.More

    Read the full review

    Pricing

    Starting price $2/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 30 Days
    Number of devices per license 10 devices
    Starting price $4.95/month
    Money Back Guarantee (Days) 15 Days
    Number of devices per license 25 devices

    Best VPN by Category

    Best VPN Overall

    Both PrivateVPN and ibVPN are strong contenders if you are looking for a VPN. Both services are highly secure, come with a wide range of features, from kill switches to DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and can unlock geoblocks at decent prices. However, PrivateVPN offers consistently higher speeds.

    Best VPN for Torrents

    PrivateVPN allows torrenting on all its servers without restrictions and delivers steady speed connections. On the other hand, ibVPN offers dedicated servers specifically for P2P and torrenting, but there are occasional connection drops.

    Best VPN for Windows

    If you’re looking for a smooth, easy-to-use VPN app for Windows that gives you excellent security online and access to lots of fast servers, then you will love PrivateVPN’s dedicated client for Windows. Meanwhile, ibVPN also offers a user-friendly, all-inclusive app for PC users with many customizable tunneling protocols as well as its ibDNS feature.

    Best VPN for Android

    With 6 simultaneous connections, Stealth VPN, and a selection of tunneling protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, and PPTP, PrivateVPN keeps you secure over unprotected public networks. It’s also reliable for streaming your favorite music and movies. Android users will also get excellent wi-fi protection with ibVPN as well as easy access to geoblocked content.

    Best VPN for Mac

    Using PrivateVPN on Mac couldn’t be easier, thanks to its clean app design and easy installation. The app is also packed with multi-protocol support (IKEv2, IPsec, L2TP, OpenVPN, and PPTP) and a list of fast servers for torrenting and streaming. With a highly secure and user-friendly app for Mac users, ibVPN also provides great features, including a built-in NAT firewall as well as IKEv2, IPsec, and OpenVPN protocols.

    Best VPN for iOS

    With its VPN On-Demand feature, users can easily use the ibVPN app on iPhones and iPads. In addition, ibVPN lets you choose between OpenVPN, IKEv2, and IPsec to secure your internet connection across 40+ locations worldwide. On the flip side, PrivateVPN sports a simple dedicated iOS app with IPv6 leak protection and Stealth VPN that can bypass tough geoblocks, and it lets you share your VPN connection with your friends and family.

    Best VPN for USA

    PrivateVPN can seamlessly overcome US geo-restrictions at high speeds. Whether it’s Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, you won’t face issues catching your favorite shows or movies anytime, from anywhere. Similarly, ibVPN offers a complementary SmartDNS service to unblock American TV.

    The Bottom Line

    See Plans & Pricing

    PrivateVPN and ibVPN both are excellent choices for users on a budget, thanks to their affordable packages, strong security, multi-protocol options, no-logging policies, and cross-platform support. However, PrivateVPN wins this round owing to its availability in more countries than ibVPN, support for sharing your VPN connection with friends and family on its iOS client, and allowance for 6 simultaneous device connections. PrivateVPN’s superior speed seals the deal. Nevertheless, ibVPN still offers a great VPN service for those looking for a variety of cheap subscription options.

    Time to decide which one is best for you

    Go with PrivateVPN
    Go with ibVPN
    Or click here to check best VPNs, rated by {{review_count}} users

    FAQ

    Is PrivateVPN better than ibVPN?

    Yes, PrivateVPN is better overall than ibVPN. It has 200 servers in 63 countries, fast speeds, and impressive security features.

    Best of all, you can take advantage of its latest discount and get it for only $2 a month.

    What should I keep in mind when choosing between PrivateVPN and ibVPN?

    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 PrivateVPN may be perfect for you due to its performance during the tests .

    Is PrivateVPN faster than ibVPN?

    Yes, PrivateVPN is faster than ibVPN. 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 PrivateVPN or ibVPN offer any deals?

    Both PrivateVPN and ibVPN 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

    Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.