This IPVanish Review was written by Troy from TROYPOINT after using the VPN service regularly for over seven years.
IPVanish VPN is a well-known virtual private network (VPN) provider globally.
This impartial VPN review delves into IPVanish’s features, speeds, price, settings, pros, cons, and more.
IPVanish is self-proclaimed as the “fastest top tier VPN in the world,” boasting over 2,000 VPN servers in 75 locations worldwide.
This VPN service has also been featured in respected publications like the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, IGN, DigitalTrends, TechRadar, among others.
In this review, I will be utilizing two popular devices commonly used with IPVanish VPN – a Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Windows PC.
You can access our setup guide for Fire TV Stick/Fire TV and Android TV devices through the link provided below.
IPVanish VPN Tutorial for Firestick & Android TV
IPVanish did not have access to this review before its publication.
IPVanish Review
This IPVanish VPN review will explore all its popular features and aspects it may lack.
You can discover further details by visiting the IPVanish Website through the link provided below.
IPVanish Website
IPVanish VPN Highlights
- Zero log policy
- 256-bit encryption
- Unlimited devices with one account
- Over 2,000 VPN servers in 75 countries worldwide
- Over 40,000 encrypted IP addresses available
- Blazing fast download speeds across the globe
- Compatible VPN apps for Firestick/Fire TV, Android TV, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and more
- VPN protocols include Wireguard®, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP, SSTP, and PPTP
- SOCKS5 Proxy Server
- Compatible with Real-Debrid
- Enhanced security on public Wi-Fi networks
- Available Kill Switch feature
- Split Tunneling capability
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
- Accepts PayPal and all major credit/debit cards
Blazing Fast Speeds
Speed is a critical factor when assessing VPN providers, and IPVanish excels in this aspect compared to others.
With 2,000+ servers worldwide, IPVanish ensures customers experience quick connections.
In 2021, IPVanish introduced its WireGuard® VPN Protocol known for providing rapid connections.
Regarding speeds, IPVanish mentions on their website:
“Enjoy all the benefits of a VPN without sacrificing your speed in the process. Our VPN service has been engineered to provide the fastest connections possible, and now it’s faster than ever with the WireGuard® VPN protocol.”
When discussing VPN speeds, it’s essential to consider numerous factors such as internet speed plans, network setup, server locations, and more.
Hide Your IP Address
Utilizing IPVanish VPN will prevent your Internet service provider (ISP), hackers, app/addon developers, website operators, and others from monitoring your online activities.
A VPN will encrypt your connection to the Internet and create an anonymous connection through a masked IP address. This will hide your identity and activity.
Whenever you click the Connect button within your IPVanish VPN application, your IP address will be masked. This ensures you can’t be identified online.
Strict Zero-Log Policy
IPVanish VPN has a strict zero-log policy. This means they do not keep track of any traffic logs.
If they were ever requested to provide your internet history, it doesn’t exist. This is one of the reasons why IPVanish is considered the Best VPN for Streaming among the cord-cutting community.
Unlimited Devices
IPVanish VPN supports unlimited devices simultaneously with one account. This ensures all your internet-connected devices are protected without needing multiple VPN subscriptions.
This feature is particularly beneficial due to the numerous Internet-connected devices used daily. It sets IPVanish apart as one of the few VPN providers offering this. Compared to others who typically limit accounts to 5-10 devices.
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Secure Internet Connection
IPVanish VPN utilizes AES 256-bit encryption, the industry standard for data encryption recommended by the NSA.
AES 256-bit encryption is a common feature among top VPN providers. Diving deeper into encryption and VPN security, we’ll explore the different VPN protocols used by IPVanish.
WireGuard® Protocol
The WireGuard® Protocol is the latest VPN protocol offered by IPVanish. It claims to be the fastest protocol available in the market, designed for superior speed and security.
As an open-source project, the WireGuard® protocol is continuously evolving to provide maximum security. It is already recognized as one of the most reliable VPN solutions in the industry.
OpenVPN Protocol
The OpenVPN protocol, available on any port, is one of the most favored open-source protocols in the industry.
OpenVPN typically offers faster speeds than other protocols.
This uses both User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) Port to mask your VPN connection as HTTPS traffic, and to get away with blocking.
IPSec
IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a protocol that encrypts IP packets for tunneling and transport.
IPsec protects all application traffic over an IP network. This is available for most mobile devices.
Unlike OpenVPN and other connection types, IPSec does not define an authentication function of itself, it simply provides a framework for secure transport.
IKEv2 Protocol
The Internet Key Exchange v2 (IKEv2) protocol is also paired with IPSec for authentication and encryption.
While IKEv2 is only available in newer mobile devices, it is considered a more secure extension because devices can switch between a Wi-Fi and cellular network without disrupting the VPN connection.
L2TP Protocol
Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol (L2TP) is a protocol that is best suited for mobile devices that are not compatible with the OpenVPN protocol.
While L2TP fixes the vulnerabilities in PPTP, it may result in slower speeds than OpenVPN. Also, L2TP can be more challenging to configure on a router because it uses multiple ports.
Unblocking Geo-Restrictions
Another reason to use a VPN on your devices is to have the option of accessing sites or streams that are only available to people in certain geographical regions.
This is often referred to as “unblocking” websites, which is very popular among users of streaming services and sports fans who are often geo-restricted in certain locations.
Bypassing geo-restrictions is significant for those wanting to stream popular sports games and PPV events.
One of the most popular streaming services to unblock is Netflix, but unfortunately, IPVanish does not work with that.
VPN Servers Worldwide
As mentioned previously when we discussed speeds, IPVanish VPN will give you the option of connecting through 2,000 + servers located in 75+ countries worldwide.
It’s crucial to have thousands of servers to connect to for various reasons.
Firstly, you will typically experience faster speeds connecting to a server closer to your location.
Secondly, having multiple servers also allows you to get around geo-blocking often imposed by streaming services.
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SOCKS5 Proxy
IPVanish is one of the few VPN providers that offer the SOCKS5 proxy with their service.
Internet service providers are cracking down on those who use Torrent Websites to download streams and other files available on the Internet.
A recent example of this involved the popular YTS Torrent Site Handing Over User Data to Authorities.
Therefore, it’s essential to use a secure VPN with SOCKS5 proxy for such situations.
IPVanish VPN includes both a SOCKS5 Proxy Server and a kill switch option necessary for torrenting.
Kill Switch
IPVanish VPN offers a kill switch that disconnects your Internet if the VPN connection drops, a standard feature for most VPN services.
Your Internet will stay blocked until the VPN tunnel is reestablished on your device.
However, this feature doesn’t function on devices like Firestick or certain Android TV models.
For protection on those devices, VPNSafetyDot is recommended.
IPVanish VPN & Streaming Services
IPVanish VPN faces streaming service blockages like all other VPN services.
In tests, IPVanish didn’t work with popular services like Netflix, Peacock TV, or Amazon Prime Video.
Remember, IPVanish’s split tunneling feature allows you to bypass VPN for services that don’t function properly.
All VPNs encounter these issues as streaming platforms frequently find ways to block VPN services.
Split Tunneling
Sometimes, certain apps won’t work with VPNs enabled, like Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock TV in specific regions.
Split tunneling allows bypassing VPN for specific apps on your device.
With this, there’s no need to disconnect from your VPN when using such apps.
Buffer-Free Streaming
For seamless streaming with a VPN, a fast connection is crucial to avoid buffering.
Given TROYPOINT’s focus on streaming, a VPN causing constant buffering is never advocated.
IPVanish, a highly rated VPN, shouldn’t have buffering issues unless using slow Internet, unreliable apps, or cheap streaming devices.
No Data Leaks
IPVanish VPN utilizes built-in DNS leak protection, a feature not common among many VPN providers.
By default, this keeps your traffic and location details secure within the network.
The Domain Name System (DNS) facilitates quick internet browsing by translating domain names into human-readable formats.
When connected to IPVanish VPN, your device uses DNS servers exclusively provided by IPVanish, securing your data and keeping it private.
With this setup, you can trust that your information is safe from leaks and third-party monitoring.
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Privacy on the Go
It’s vital to emphasize that VPNs should
Also can be used when connecting to a public Wi-Fi Hotspot when away from home. If you ever travel and connect to public Wi-Fi hot-spots, always connect to the access point through a VPN service. You can use the same IPVanish account on your other devices, which is a great benefit. IPVanish provides applications through both Google Play and Apple App Store, so you can use your VPN account when away from home as well. IPVanish VPN is compatible with the most popular internet-connected devices and software used today. This includes Amazon Firestick/Fire TV, Android TV devices, Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android phones/tablets, routers, Chromebooks, and Linux operating systems. Not all VPNs are compatible with these devices, and due to IPVanish’s large ecosystem of supported operating systems, you can use your account on your different devices. Since the Amazon Firestick and Android TV devices are the most popular devices used with VPNs, it’s important to use a VPN provider that works well on these devices. This is where IPVanish shines, as it provides the best VPN application for Fire TV/Android TV devices after testing against several others. The interface is extremely user-friendly, doesn’t crash, and provides easy access to settings for customization options.
See our quick IPVanish VPN setup video below that shows Troy installing and using IPVanish on the Amazon Firestick.
