Published on: September 18, 2024 Updated 2 times since publishing
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : It has servers in 105 countries, which almost doubles IPVanish’s network, offers more extra features like a password manager and IP shuffle tool, provides a router app, and works in restrictive countries. ExpressVPN maintains the fastest speeds in the industry and is the best VPN for virtually any online activity, including streaming and gaming. All of its plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time users.
IPVanish is a great VPN, but it falls short in some areas. While it’s secure, fast, and offers good torrenting and streaming support, the VPN’s server network is on the smaller side, it’s missing some advanced security features, such as RAM-only servers and full leak protection, some extra features are limited to just a couple of different apps, and it doesn’t work in restrictive countries.
With these limitations in mind, I tested and compared IPVanish with other top VPNs. ExpressVPN is my first choice — it has a much larger server network (with servers in 105 countries), comes with many useful extra features, is superior for streaming, as it works with 100+ streaming apps, and works in censorship-heavy countries like China. Editor's Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best IPVanish Alternatives
Editor's Note: Intego ONE, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Alternative to IPVanish
Basic 12-Months plan: $3.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
ExpressVPN is the best IPVanish alternative. It has a larger server network in 105 countries, which is nearly double that of IPVanish’s 112 countries — ExpressVPN offers more servers than IPVanish in countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
ExpressVPN works with 100+ streaming sites, including Disney+ — IPVanish can’t access this popular app. Plus, I like how ExpressVPN offers a smart DNS feature tool (which IPVanish lacks) that lets you use the VPN on devices that don’t natively support VPNs, including gaming consoles and certain smart TVs.
ExpressVPN has its own router app, too, which is easy to install — it took me just 5 minutes to set it up on my router. IPVanish supports manual configuration on a lot of routers, but setting it up is more time-consuming.
ExpressVPN has excellent obfuscation to bypass censorship in restrictive countries like China. The feature is automatically enabled on all servers and with any protocol. While IPVanish has a good obfuscation tool, it doesn’t work in countries that ban or restrict VPNs, and it’s only available via the OpenVPN protocol. However, you can use it on networks, like at school or work, that block certain apps and websites like social media apps and AI tools.
I also like ExpressVPN’s ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker, Threat Manager, which is available on dekstop and mobile apps — IPVanish’s Threat Protection is only available on Android and Fire TVs. Plus, I find it much more convenient that you get full leak protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks on all devices with ExpressVPN. With IPVanish, you have to manually enable WebRTC protection in your browser and you only get DNS protection on Windows.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is the best alternative to IPVanish. It has a larger server network, works with more streaming apps, and comes with its own router app. Unlike IPVanish, ExpressVPN works in restrictive countries, its ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker is available on more apps, and it has full built-in leak protection. Plus, it doesn’t double its prices after the deal ends.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Better Server Network in the US
6-month plan: $7.50 / month
1-month plan: $11.95 / month
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a great IPVanish alternative if you need a US IP address. PIA has servers in each US state, giving you plenty of server options to find the fastest server nearby. The VPN also has a larger server network than IPVanish, with servers in 50 countries, including more options in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
I like how customizable PIA’s apps are. For instance, you can easily change 20+ settings and features, including switching from 256-bit AES encryption to 128-bit AES encryption to get slightly faster speeds on unstable networks. This is useful when connected to any kind of public network that’s overwhelmed, like at the airport.
PIA comes with the best VPN ad blocker on the market called PIA MACE, which blocked all ads and malicious sites in my tests — it’s included on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android (via the .apk app). Plus, PIA also comes with full built-in leak protection on all apps.
This VPN is an excellent pick for streaming, as it easily accesses 30+ streaming services, including Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, and includes a smart DNS feature. In terms of torrenting, you get port forwarding and SOCKS5 proxy servers, which both boost downloading speeds (IPVanish only has SOCKS5 proxy servers).
PIA is great to use in restrictive countries like China. It provides obfuscation through the Shadowsocks, which is an encrypted open-source proxy. You can pick from Shadowsocks servers in 5+ countries, such as the US, the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, and Japan. Another option is to use TC port 443 with OpenVPN, which is typically not blocked by censor-heavy nations.
Bottom Line:
Private Internet Access has a much better server network than IPVanish, especially in the US. Its apps are more customizable, and it comes with the best ad blocker on the market. PIA is great for streaming and torrenting and works in restrictive countries.
Read the full Private Internet Access review
Editor's Note: Private Internet Access and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — Better Choice for Streaming
6-month plan: $6.99 / month
1-month plan: $12.99 / month
CyberGhost VPN is a great IPVanish alternative for streaming. It comes with dedicated servers for streaming that are optimized to work with platforms like Disney, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Max. CyberGhost regularly checks and updates these server locations to make sure they can always access the site they’re intended to.
CyberGhost’s server network in 100 countries is almost twice the size of that of IPVanish, which gives you a lot more server locations to choose from to find nearby servers for better speeds. It allows torrenting in 85+ countries, which is more than IPVanish. In addition, there are dedicated gaming servers in 4 countries (the US, UK, Germany, and France) that provide low and stable ping.
CyberGhost has NoSpy servers, too, which are great for people who need extra privacy like journalists and political activists. These servers are located in the VPN’s headquarters, so only the in-house staff has access to them. The VPN also comes with built-in leak protection against DNS traffic on all apps.
I’m a huge fan of CyberGhost’s Smart Rules feature, too, which lets you automate your connection for convenience. In addition to being able to auto-connect on launch like IPVanish, you can set it to auto-connect to any server of your choice, have it open any app on your desktop when it connects to a specific server, and connect to a certain server when you launch a specific app.
Bottom Line:
CyberGhost VPN is better than IPVanish for streaming, with dedicated servers that are regularly checked to ensure compatibility, and there’s a smart DNS feature. It’s also better for those looking for extra privacy thanks to its NoSpy servers that only its staff can access.
Read the full CyberGhost VPN review
Editor's Note: CyberGhost and this site are in the same ownership group.
4. NordVPN — Great Alternative for Gaming
Plus 24-month plan: $3.59 / month
Complete 24-month plan: $3.99 / month
Prime 24-month plan: $6.99 / month
NordVPN is a better choice for gaming than IPVanish. Its unique Meshnet allows you to create a virtual Local Area Network (LAN) with up to 60 devices for securely gaming with your friends. It also lets you use your devices as servers — this is helpful if you’re in a cafe with an unreliable network and want to connect to your home PC’s secure connection.
I really like Threat Protection Pro, which is NordVPN’s ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker. In addition to that, this feature scans downloads for malware on desktop and alerts you about vulnerabilities in apps on Windows. Plus, unlike IPVanish’s ad blocker, Threat Protection Pro doesn’t require you to connect to the VPN for it to work.
NordVPN offers Double VPN servers, too, which you don’t get with IPVanish. These servers route your traffic through 2 servers instead of 1, which adds an extra layer of encryption to your traffic, and are a great option if you’re dealing with highly sensitive information or are worried about being tracked, especially as a journalist or an activist.
The VPN has servers in 149 countries and has better coverage in Asia, South America, and Africa than IPVanish. It works with many streaming sites like Disney+, and it allows torrenting on servers in 110+ countries. That said, ExpressVPN allows torrenting on all servers.
Bottom Line:
NordVPN is a great IPVanish alternative for gaming thanks to its Meshnet feature that lets you create LAN networks for safely gaming with your friends. Plus, it has better extra features for protecting your privacy like Threat Protection Pro, which works even without the VPN on, and Double VPN servers that route your data via 2 servers. NordVPN also has a bigger server network and allows torrenting on more server locations.
5. Surfshark — Better VPN for Beginners + Great Privacy
One 24-month plan: $2.49 / month
One+ 24-month plan: $4.19 / month
Surfshark is a great IPVanish alternative for beginners thanks to its many 1-click connection options. Any server location you mark as favorite is put at the top of the server list, so you don’t have to scroll down and there’s an option to connect to the fastest server or the nearest country. Plus, it’s great that you can configure the Quick Connect feature to automatically connect to a specific server across 100 countries.
I like that the VPN comes with some unique privacy features, including IP Rotator, which changes your VPN IP address frequently without disconnecting, making it harder for websites and trackers to monitor you. The Alternative ID feature also lets you create a fake identity with a new email address, which helps avoid data tracking and protects against identity theft and spam.
Surfshark is a great choice for streaming and torrenting. It works with Disney+ and 50+ other streaming sites, and it allows torrenting on half its servers. Still, ExpressVPN comes out on top for streaming, as it works with 100+ streaming sites.
Bottom Line:
Surfshark is an intuitive VPN and offers many 1-click connections. I like its unique privacy-friendly features like IP Rotator and Alternative ID and how it works with many streaming sites.
Read the full Surfshark review
Quick Comparison Table
Editor's Note: Intego ONE, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
When choosing the best IPVanish alternatives, I used our comprehensive testing methodology. I made my picks based on a large server network, extra features, affordable plans, and more. Here are the criteria that helped me pick and rank these VPNs:
- I made sure the VPNs had a large server network. All the VPNs on this list have servers in more countries compared to IPVanish. This gives you plenty of server options to find the fastest server nearby when you travel to these locations or need a specific IP address.
- I looked for excellent streaming and torrenting support. The VPNs on my list reliably work with multiple streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ (IPVanish doesn’t access this site). Plus, they allow P2P traffic on most of their servers, which gives you more options for torrenting since IPVanish’s server network is a lot smaller.
- I checked for extra features. Each VPN I recommend offers more extra features than IPVanish. They offer a smart DNS feature for using the VPN on devices that don’t have native VPN support and come with an ad blocker available on more devices than IPVanish’s ad blocker.
- I considered strong security features. I only recommend VPNs that come with industry-standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption, an audited no-logs policy, and a kill switch that automatically disconnects you from the internet if the VPN connection drops.
- I ensured the VPNs offered a good value. The VPNs that I recommend come with affordable plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans (IPVanish doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee on the monthly plan).
Is IPVanish Still a Top VPN in 2026?
Yes, IPVanish is still one of the best VPNs on the market in 2026. It’s an intuitive VPN that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, making it ideal for large families or users with many devices. Plus, its fast speeds allow for smooth streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
IPVanish also provides decent streaming support, as it works well with popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. Moreover, it allows torrenting on all servers and offers SOCKS5 proxy servers for faster downloading speeds.
The VPN isn’t bare-bones in terms of extras, either. It offers split-tunneling that allows you to choose which apps use or don’t use the VPN and which IP addresses bypass the VPN. There’s also an ad blocker, Threat Protection, which blocks ads, trackers, and shady sites on Android and Fire TV devices. Plus, IPVanish supports Tor over VPN on all servers for extra protection — even if your IP leaks, only the VPN’s IP is visible to other Tor users.
IPVanish also comes with a free subscription to the VIPRE antivirus if you purchase any of its long-term plans. This tool provides malware scanning, real-time protection, web protection, email protection, and a firewall, along with privacy features like login credential removal and a dark web scanner.
Why Look for an Alternative to IPVanish?
IPVanish is a top VPN on the current market, but it’s not the best. Here are some areas where it falls short, which might lead you to consider other options:
- Small server network. IPVanish has servers in only 112 countries, which is fewer than other top VPNs. Plus, it lacks a strong presence in regions like Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Limited extra features. While IPVanish offers split-tunneling, an ad blocker, and antivirus protection, this is quite basic compared to other top VPNs, which provide many more advanced extra features.
- Doesn’t work in restrictive countries. Even though IPVanish has obfuscation, it doesn’t work in countries that impose online censorship like China and Iran.
- Price increases after the deal ends. The prices for the 1-year and 2-year plans double after the first year, which can be a downside for long-term users.
Even with its limitations, IPVanish remains one of my preferred VPNs due to its user-friendly apps and impressive speeds. However, if you need a VPN with a broader server network, additional features, functionality in restrictive regions, and more stable pricing, there are great IPVanish alternatives that might better suit your needs.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Norton Secure VPN. This VPN is easy to use and pretty good for streaming, but it has a very small server network and isn’t great for torrenting.
- Astrill VPN. Astrill VPN has great streaming support and works in restrictive countries. However, it’s more expensive than IPVanish and the VPNs I recommend.
- Mullvad VPN. Mullvad VPN has strong security, but it has an even smaller server network than IPVanish. Plus, it lacks good streaming support — it doesn’t work with Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Hulu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best IPVanish alternative?
ExpressVPN is the best IPVanish alternative, as it has a larger server network, including servers in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Plus, it provides more extra features like a smart DNS tool and has its own router app. The VPN also works in restrictive countries and doesn’t double the plan prices after the first year like IPVanish.
Is Surfshark better than IPVanish?
Yes, Surfshark is a better option than IPVanish, especially if you’re a beginner. It offers more convenience thanks to its many 1-click options and has unique features like IP Rotator and Alternative ID. Plus, Surfshark has a larger server network, and its apps are more intuitive to use. The VPN also has more affordable plans that offer better value and don’t double in price after 1 year.
Which IPVanish alternative works in restrictive countries?
ExpressVPN is the best option if you need a VPN that works in restrictive counties. It offers obfuscation on all servers and protocols and has really good speeds — even with obfuscation on. Plus, it’s got excellent streaming support (works with 100+ streaming sites) and allows torrenting on all servers. In addition, Private Internet Access works in restrictive countries via its Shadowsocks proxy and the option to use TCP port 443.
Which IPVanish alternative has a better refund policy?
All VPNs on this list have solid refund policies, including IPVanish. The one minor disadvantage of IPVanish is that it only offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its long-term plans — the VPNs I recommend also cover their monthly plans with a money-back guarantee.
Editor's Note: Intego ONE, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company.
