NordVPN vs IPVanish 2024

James Everard

Senior Writer

So, you like adjustable apps with scalable maps? Then it’s finally here — the VPN comparison page you’ve been waiting for. Both of these user-friendly services have a range of plans to suit various needs. But which is the one for you?

NordVPN and IPVanish are good candidates for home and business use. They’re fast, reliable, and keep no logs. However, one boasts specialty servers and some unique features — but is it worth the extra cash?

After comparing the two, though, NordVPN gets my recommendation. It works with more streaming platforms, has (mostly) faster speeds, and has a far larger server network. You can even try NordVPN for yourself for free with its money-back guarantee. If you’re not happy, you’ve got 30 days to claim a refund.

Short on Time? Here Are My Key Findings

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Our Score: 9.9

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Streaming — NordVPN is Better for Boxset Binges

NordVPN’s integrated SmartPlay technology allows it to work with major streaming sites (like Netflix and Hulu) more consistently than IPVanish. It maintains higher speeds and more stable connections. This is essential for Ultra HD streaming without interruptions, which IPVanish sometimes falls short of.

BBC iPlayer worked with all of NordVPN's UK locations

IPVanish competes closely but its servers aren’t optimized as well for streaming. It fails to work with some niche platforms like RTL+ in Germany and RTE in Ireland, but worse than that, it doesn’t work with some streaming giants like iPlayer and Prime Video.

IPVanish offered reliable streams from the platforms it worked with

Furthermore, NordVPN offers support for smart TVs and Fire devices, which IPVanish does not. These are pretty basic requirements of a premium VPN on today’s market.

Please note that I consulted with my international colleagues for testing each of these platforms within their legally licensed regions. For instance, US platforms were tested by my US-based teammate.

Winner

NordVPN provides superior service by offering smart DNS technology (SmartPlay), which enhances your ability to stream on various devices with ease. It also works with several popular platforms that IPVanish just isn’t reliable with.

Server Network — NordVPN Has Nearly 3 Times as Many Servers

NordVPN and IPVanish both offer wide-ranging server networks, but NordVPN leads with a much higher server count. While you have access to more regions with IPVanish, NordVPN offers greater server capacity, resulting in better performance due to less congestion.

Both services implement obfuscation technology to help you bypass network restrictions, yet NordVPN's obfuscation is specifically designed to work over restrictive networks such as college, work, or public WiFi networks. Obfuscation can severely reduce speeds with many VPNs, but both were pretty quick in my tests (although NordVPN was 2 to 3 Mbps faster than IPVanish).

In the realm of specialized servers, NordVPN stands out by offering specific options like Double VPN and Onion over VPN, which enhances your security and anonymity. The latter allows you to browse dark web Onion sites on a regular browser to avoid the notorious slowdowns caused by using the specialist Tor browser.

Winner

NordVPN is the better choice for server networks due to its larger number of servers, which helps reduce congestion, while its specialty servers provide added functionality. Additionally, its effective obfuscation technology ensures more consistent performance.

Speed — NordVPN Sprints Ahead With NordLynx

NordVPN and IPVanish both provide solid speeds, but in my tests, NordVPN was consistently faster. When testing remote servers, NordVPN’s speeds remain fast globally. IPVanish shows a noticeable drop with distant servers, with a speed loss of 67% from Sao Paulo, Brazil, compared with 31% with NordVPN.

NordVPN had consistently faster download speeds across all distances

Upload speed tests were less definitive between the 2, with IPVanish coming ahead in Germany, France, and across the US. So, if you upload a lot of videos to YouTube and other sites, IPVanish will serve you well. Both VPNs offer advanced protocols that enhance speed, but NordVPN's NordLynx generally outperforms IPVanish's WireGuard, particularly in high-demand situations.

IPVanish's overall speeds aren't bad compared with most VPNs

Winner

NordVPN excels in maintaining higher speed and overall performance, proving advantageous for streaming, file sharing, and global server access. It consistently provides fast and stable connections, which makes it preferable if speed is a primary concern.

Gaming — NordVPN’s Console Compatibility Wins

Ping is vital for gaming since it measures the time it takes for the on-screen action to respond to your actions. NordVPN and IPVanish are pretty close in ping rates across all the distances I tested, which meant they both offer smooth and responsive gameplay. However, the fact that NordVPN is compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch means it gets an easy win.

Both VPNs offer reliable speeds and low latency for smooth online retro gaming

Winner

With reliable speeds across all apps and compatibility with the 3 major gaming consoles, it’s another mission complete for NordVPN.

Torrenting — NordVPN’s P2P Servers Offer Fast Downloads

If you set up popular torrent clients like BitTorrent, uTorrent, or qBittorrent, you'll notice NordVPN connects seamlessly due to its automatic P2P-optimized servers. IPVanish requires manual server selection, which might slow you down.

Both services offer SOCKS5 proxy integration for speed with a security trade-off (no encryption), but IPVanish makes setup slightly easier. However, NordVPN leads with specific servers optimized for fast and reliable P2P, which is something that IPVanish doesn't offer (but its servers are torrent-friendly).

My tests show that NordVPN and IPVanish both offer strong protection against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks, a critical aspect to maintain your anonymity. I found that NordVPN downloaded the same 835 MB file around 2 minutes faster than IPVanish, which would soon accumulate if you do a lot of file sharing.

Note that while torrenting is legal almost everywhere, downloading copyrighted materials isn't. The team and I don't condone copyright infringement, and we advise you to always check if the file you want to get is copyright-free to avoid any troubles.

Winner

NordVPN is the better choice for torrenting due to its vast server network optimized for P2P and more consistent download speeds.

Security — NordVPN Has the Credentials

Both NordVPN and IPVanish offer AES-256 encryption, but you might prefer NordVPN for its more secure take on WireGuard, called NordLynx. Also note that NordVPN uses RAM-based servers to ensure all data is wiped on reboot, which IPVanish does not. Luckily, both VPNs passed my leak tests with flying colors, so you know your IP and personal data are shielded.

This feature is highly customizable and can block any combination of threats and annoyances

NordVPN also stands out with its highly customizable Threat Protection feature, which actively blocks ads, trackers, and malware, offering a cleaner and safer browsing experience. IPVanish offers no blocker to guard against online threats.

That said, IPVanish does provide a few nice customization options. For instance, you can set it up to connect automatically whenever you launch specified apps or use certain networks. Like NordVPN, it also has split tunneling on most of its apps, while NordVPN lacks this for macOS. However, its ad blocker wasn't as good as NordVPN's.

You might want to install a standalone ad and tracker blocker if you choose IPVanish

Winner

NordVPN leads in security. It supports your need for strong encryption with its exclusive NordLynx protocol, which doesn’t store your real IP like WireGuard. Plus, its Threat Protection blocker gives you a more secure and private online experience.

Privacy — NordVPN Has the Paperwork to Prove Its Dedication

NordVPN's strict no-logs policy is backed by 4 independent audits, emphasizing strong privacy measures. If verifying a VPN's privacy through external audits matters to you, NordVPN appears more reliable due to the frequency and detail of its evaluations, which IPVanish doesn’t quite match.

Considering jurisdiction, NordVPN operates under Panama's privacy-friendly laws, avoiding invasive data retention regulations. Plus, NordVPN takes crypto payments, enhancing transaction privacy. Conversely, the IPVanish HQ is in the US and subject to Five Eyes surveillance, potentially affecting your data confidentiality.

There was also a case involving child pornography when IPVanish handed over user data to authorities. While the perpetrator deserved what came to them, it was still a privacy concern, as it conflicted with IPVanish’s no-logs claims. That said, it was under different ownership at the time, and since then, IPVanish has undergone a third-party audit to confirm its no-logs promise.

Winner

NordVPN leads the way with more extensive no-logs audits, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, and support for anonymous payments.

Works in China — Neither Work, So It’s a Draw

It takes a lot of maintenance and resources for VPNs to work in China, and most services don’t have the resources or the customer demand. That’s the case with both NordVPN and IPVanish. Although they both offer obfuscation, unfortunately, it’s not enough for them to work in this country.

Note that non-government-approved VPNs are illegal in China. There haven't been publicly recorded cases of a tourist getting fined for using one there, but you should still proceed with caution. The team and I don't condone using a VPN illegally.

Winner - draw

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Nothing to see here. There are a few reliable options available if you’re looking for a VPN for China.

Installation & Ease of Use — NordVPN Is Slightly Better

NordVPN and IPVanish both support multiple platforms effectively. However, NordVPN tends to offer a more uniform experience across devices. IPVanish, while comprehensive, often requires additional steps, particularly for manual configurations on Linux. NordVPN also provides far more extensive router support.

On desktop apps, NordVPN streamlines server switching and access to settings, making it more intuitive regardless of your OS. IPVanish is a lot more dynamic than it was, thanks to its latest redesign, but it’s still not quite as slick as NordVPN’s apps.

Winner

NordVPN is the better choice for installation and ease of use due to its simpler installation process and more user-friendly interface across different devices and OSs.

Reliability & Support — IPVanish Offers a Solid Service

These VPNs have good 24/7 live chat features, but you have to go through chatbots before being connected. In both cases, you can skip this annoying step by typing “speak to real agent.” Both websites offer good, if unspectacular, support. Neither has video tutorials, but the info is relevant and up-to-date, which is more than can be said for some services.

But the round goes to IPVanish, thanks to its reliability. I’ve never had any major bugs or crashes, and I haven’t had to reinstall the app like I have with NordVPN on a couple of occasions. A cynic might suggest that there’s less to go wrong with IPVanish since it doesn’t have a range of specialty servers and other quirky features.

Winner

Both VPNs offer good support via their websites, but IPVanish takes the round with its solid and reliable apps. Phone support is also a rare commodity in the VPN market.

Tips on Choosing Between NordVPN and IPVanish

• Smooth streaming — Both VPNs support Ultra HD streaming on various devices, but NordVPN works with a few more platforms.
• Fast speeds — Speedy connections are necessary for data-heavy activities like streaming, torrenting, and gaming, not to mention everyday browsing. Both VPNs offer solid speeds.
• Server networks — Plenty of servers mean less crowding and more reliable nearby connections. NordVPN’s network is much larger, but IPVanish is also solid.
• Robust security features — Both VPNs are highly dependable, but NordVPN has RAM-only servers that wipe all data on reboot, plus specialty P2P, Double VPN, and Onion Over VPN servers.
• Respectable privacy practices — These providers make no-logs promises, but NordVPN has more independent audits and is based in privacy-friendly Panama.
• Easy to use — Choose a VPN that suits your level of technical preference. Both these services are easy to install and use.
• Trustworthy money-back guarantee — We’ve tested the guarantees of both these VPNs numerous times over many years, and you can rely on them both.

NordVPN vs. IPVanish — Reddit Opinions

NordVPN and IPVanish both have plenty of admirers on Reddit. NordVPN spends a lot of money on advertising and sponsors many vloggers and influencers, so it gets more publicity in general, but both VPNs have their fans. IPVanish gets praise for reliability and security, while NordVPN’s fans love it for streaming and torrenting.

Reddit users praise IPVanish and NordVPN for their reliable speed and security