NordVPN vs. IPVanish: Which VPN Is Better in 2024?

Tim Mocan
Updated on: December 4, 2024 Senior Writer

NordVPN and IPVanish are among the top VPNs on the market — they come with really good security and privacy features, are good for torrenting and gaming, and have intuitive apps for all major platforms.

Both providers have essential VPN security features, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy — plus each VPN’s no-logs policy has been independently audited and confirmed.

In addition, NordVPN and IPVanish also have:

• Perfect forward secrecy.
• DNS and IPv6 leak protection.
• Obfuscation.
• Split-tunneling.
• Tor (The Onion Router) support.
• SOCKS5 support.

That said, there are some noticeable differences that make NordVPN the better choice. It comes with many extras, such as an ad blocker and malware protection, dedicated IP addresses (at a small additional cost), and a smart DNS. NordVPN also provides access to 6,371 servers in 111 countries, has really fast speeds, and works with all top streaming sites, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Max. On the other hand, IPVanish lacks many additional features that NordVPN includes, offers 2,400+ servers in 105 countries, has noticeable slowdowns on nearby and distant servers, and doesn’t work with Disney+. That being said, one of my favorite things about IPVanish is that it allows unlimited connections (NordVPN only allows 10 connections).

I used many metrics to compare NordVPN with IPVanish, including security, additional features, privacy, servers, speeds, streaming support, P2P support, gaming, bypassing censorship, ease of use, plans and pricing, and customer support. Overall, I think NordVPN is much better than IPVanish, but I still recommend checking out the entire article to determine which VPN would be the best fit for your budget and your online habits in 2024.

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NordVPN vs. IPVanish — Quick Overview

Security — Either VPN Provides Great Security

Your data is safe whether you use NordVPN or IPVanish. They both come with industry-standard VPN security features, including:

• 256-bit AES encryption. Makes all your traffic unreadable, so that nobody can spy on it. This is the same encryption level that banks and militaries use.
• No-logs policy. Prevents the VPN provider from collecting your traffic, including your IP address, the websites you browse, and the files you download.
• Kill switch. Shuts down all internet access if it detects that your VPN connection has dropped, which prevents traffic leaks.

I like how NordVPN also has an app-based kill switch in addition to its regular kill switch. This shuts down selected apps if the VPN disconnects. I tested it with 4 P2P apps, and it always disconnected me from the app when I disconnected from the NordVPN server.

NordVPN has full leak protection, while IPVanish only provides DNS leak protection — so you need to manually disable WebRTC in your browser to prevent WebRTC leaks and disable IPv6 leak traffic. That said, I ran leak tests while connected to servers in 10+ countries for each provider, and I never experienced any leaks.

Also, only NordVPN comes with RAM-only servers, which is an advanced security feature that only writes data to the RAM, and not the hard drive. This way, every server reset wipes all data.

But, both providers have perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session — this prevents cybercriminals from compromising past or future encryption keys, and using them to access your VPN traffic history.

Also, each VPN provides access to secure and fast protocols like IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN. IPVanish also uses WireGuard, which is a very popular, secure and fast protocol, and NordVPN has its own proprietary protocol NordLynx, which is built around WireGuard and super fast.

Finally, NordVPN also lets you secure your VPN account with two-factor authentication — this requires you to verify each login attempt with a security key or a time-sensitive code that’s generated by an app, preventing unauthorized access to your account.

Extra Features — NordVPN Wins This Round

IPVanish has decent extras, but it just can’t compete with NordVPN, which is one of the most feature-rich apps on the market.

Both VPNs provide access to split-tunneling, which lets you pick which apps or websites use the VPN connection, and which apps or sites use your local network. IPVanish lets you split-tunnel both apps and sites on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS, while NordVPN has it on Android and Windows only. However, I like how it includes inverse split-tunneling, which means you can choose which apps you don’t want to route through the VPN (and let the rest of the traffic get encrypted).

And both NordVPN and IPVanish have obfuscation, which hides VPN traffic from your internet service providers to provide better privacy. However, neither VPN is able to bypass internet restrictions in countries like China.

NordVPN and IPVanish include an ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker. NordVPN’s is called Threat Protection Pro, and IPVanish’s is Threat Protection. But only NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro protects you from malware-infected downloads, and you don’t need to be connected to a VPN server for it to be active. It also detects vulnerable apps on Windows and alerts you if you need to update it.

Both providers allow Tor traffic on all of their servers, which means you can first secure your data with NordVPN or IPVanish before you access the dark web. That said, I like how NordVPN also has Onion Over VPN servers, which provide more convenience by automatically routing your traffic through the Tor network — I was able to browse dark web sites in my Chrome browser (it works in other browsers, too), and I didn’t need to download and use the Tor browser.

They also each have Double VPN servers, which send your data through 2 VPN servers instead of 1 VPN server — this provides better security, as you get an extra layer of encryption. But NordVPN only has Double VPN servers in 5+ countries, while IPVanish allows you to choose both the entry and exit points from any of its server locations.

Only NordVPN comes with a smart DNS, which is a tool that lets you use a VPN on devices that don’t work with VPN apps — like certain smart TV models or gaming consoles. In my tests, I used a VPN on my Xbox without any problems.

And both VPNs provide access to SOCKS5 proxies, which are servers that change your IP address but don’t encrypt your traffic. Since there’s no encryption, these servers provide significantly faster speeds compared to VPN servers.

NordVPN also provides access to the following features, which IPVanish doesn’t have:

• Dark Web Monitor. This feature scans the web and sends you alerts if it detects that your NordVPN account login credentials have been leaked.
• Tapjacking protection. This Android-only feature sends you alerts if it detects that malicious apps have added screen overlays, which attempt to trick you into performing actions that might compromise your data.
• Meshnet. Allows you to connect up to 60 devices over encrypted VPN connections. You can use this feature to host secure virtual LAN parties, or to get better security while remotely sharing files between devices.
• Dedicated IP addresses. For a small additional cost, NordVPN can assign you a dedicated IP address, which is only used by you. These IP addresses are useful for avoiding reCAPTCHAs and accessing bank websites, which normally block shared VPN IP addresses.

Privacy — Both Providers Have Great Privacy Features

I think you get great privacy with both NordVPN and IPVanish, as they both have a strict no-logs policy that doesn’t collect your IP address or record what you do while connected to the VPN.

Also, it’s great that both providers’ no-logs policies have undergone independent security audits to prove they are true — NordVPN’s no-logs policy has been audited in 2018, 2020, and 2022, and IPVanish’s no-logs policy passed an audit in 2022. What’s more, NordVPN’s no-logs policy has also been proven true in 2018, when one of the data centers that housed its servers suffered a data breach, but no user data was compromised.

In addition, NordVPN also underwent other security audits — its iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS apps were audited in 2019 and no major security issues were found, and its NordLynx protocol also passed an independent security audit.

NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, which is a privacy-friendly country with no mandatory data retention laws and it’s outside the jurisdiction of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances (a group of countries that share surveillance data).

On the other hand, IPVanish is located in the US, which is a part of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliances — even so, if authorities ask the provider to hand over any user data, it wouldn’t have anything to share.

However, only NordVPN accepts cryptocurrency payments, which provide better privacy than regular payment options.

Servers — NordVPN’s Server Network Is Better

Both providers have good server networks, but NordVPN’s server network is better — it has 6,371 servers in 111 countries, while IPVanish has 2,400+ servers in 105 countries. With more servers, you’re less likely to connect to servers that are overcrowded, which can cause slowdowns.

Each provider also allows P2P traffic on its servers — NordVPN comes with 4,500+ P2P servers in 45+ countries, while IPVanish allows torrenting on all of its servers in 105 countries.

And both NordVPN and IPVanish support obfuscation on their servers. NordVPN provides access to 100+ obfuscated servers in 15+ countries, while IPVanish supports obfuscation across all of its servers.

In addition, the two VPNs also support streaming and Tor traffic across all servers — but NordVPN also has Onion Over VPN in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Also, the VPNs provide access to double VPN servers which provide better security. This is a great feature for users who are uber-conscious about privacy. NordVPN has them in 5+ countries, while IPVanish lets you choose both the entry and exit points from any of its server locations, offering more flexibility and control over your connection.

And finally, NordVPN also has dedicated IP address servers — they’re available for a small cost, and you can get a dedicated IP address from 10+ countries, including the US, the UK, and Japan.

Speeds — NordVPN Has Faster Speeds

I had significantly faster speeds for all online activities with NordVPN. This is not very surprising, as NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market.

NordVPN, and had fast speeds on nearby and distant servers in my speed tests. On nearby servers, sites loaded instantly, HD and 4K videos loaded instantly and didn’t buffer, and it only took 12–13 minutes to torrent a 20 GB file. On distant servers, I experienced slowdowns but they were very minor — sites loaded in 2–3 seconds, HD videos in 1–2 seconds, 4K videos in 4–5 seconds (and there was only minor buffering at the start), and the same 20 GB torrent took 19–22 minutes to download.

I had great speeds with IPVanish on nearby servers. Sites and HD videos loaded instantly and I didn’t experience any buffering, 4K videos loaded in 2–3 seconds at most, and a 20 GB file took 15 minutes to download. On distant servers, there were some slowdowns — websites and HD videos loaded in 3–4 seconds, 4K videos loaded in 5 seconds and there was noticeable buffering when skipping through them, and the same 20 GB file took 20 minutes to torrent.

Streaming — NordVPN Has Much Better Streaming Support

I think NordVPN is a better VPN for streaming than IPVanish — NordVPN works with 10+ streaming services, while IPVanish couldn’t provide me with an exact number.

Both VPNs work with Netflix, but NordVPN has support for more libraries (10+ total).

NordVPN and IPVanish work with top streaming services, like BBC iPlayer, Max, and Amazon Prime. However, only NordVPN can access Disney+.

Finally, NordVPN also comes with a smart DNS, which lets you use a VPN on devices that don’t work with VPN apps. On top of that, it also has SmartPlay across all of its servers, which mixes VPN and smart DNS technology to provide you with even stronger encryption.

Torrenting — Both VPNs Are Good Options

I think both NordVPN and IPVanish are really good VPNs for P2P traffic. NordVPN allows torrenting on 6,371 servers in 45+ countries, while IPVanish supports P2P traffic on all of its servers (2,400+ servers in 105 countries).

What’s more, both providers work with popular P2P clients, such as qBittorrent, Vuze, and Deluge. I ran tests on those P2P apps while connected to both VPNs, and I never experienced any issues.

Also, I like how both VPNs come with SOCKS5 support — SOCKS5 proxy servers change your IP address but don’t encrypt your traffic, so you get very fast P2P speeds. NordVPN has 5+ SOCKS5 proxy servers in the US, the Netherlands, and Sweden, and IPVanish has SOCKS5 proxy servers in 9 countries, including the US, the UK, and Singapore.

In addition, both provide strong security and privacy for torrenting. They both come with a kill switch and a no-logs policy that has been independently audited and confirmed. On top of that, both VPNs have an ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker to stop you from connecting to shady torrenting websites and block annoying ads on P2P sites. However, only NordVPN protects you from malware-infected torrents.

Finally, I also ran several leak tests before I started torrenting with each provider — fortunately, I never suffered any leaks. Plus, I ran torrent IP leak tests as well to make sure P2P apps can’t reveal my real IP address while connected to each VPN. Again, the results always displayed each provider’s IP address, and not my real IP address.

Gaming — Either VPN Is Good for Gaming

I used NordVPN and IPVanish while playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive — NordVPN was faster, but IPVanish’s speeds were also decent. Both VPNs provided me with good ping on local servers. On distant servers, I experienced higher ping with IPVanish, while NordVPN maintained lower, more stable ping. Also, I had lag with both VPNs, but it was more noticeable with IPVanish (on the plus side, I only experienced it 30% of the time).

It’s also great that they protect you from Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, but only IPVanish has anti-DDoS protection on all of its servers — this way, if someone tries to DDoS you while you’re connected to IPVanish, they wouldn’t be able to do it. Unfortunately, they might be able to disconnect you from NordVPN’s servers.

Also, you can manually configure both VPNs on your router — this way, you can use them to game on devices that don’t natively support VPN apps, such as Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

However, only IPVanish comes with cloud gaming support, which means you can use this VPN to access platforms that stream video games to portable devices, such as smartphones and laptops. With NordVPN, there’s no guarantee that it will work with cloud gaming services.

Bypassing Censorship — Neither Provider Is a Good Option

	Obfuscation	Works in China	Works in Russia	Works in Iran	Works in Indonesia	Works in Saudi Arabia
NordVPN	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
IPVanish	✅	❌	Maybe	❌	✅	❌

While both providers come with obfuscation, neither are good in restrictive countries. NordVPN doesn’t work in restrictive regions, while IPVanish works in Indonesia, it may work in Russia, and it doesn’t work in places like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

Instead, I recommend getting ExpressVPN because it consistently works in restrictive countries without any issues — it’s the best VPN for getting around government censorship in 2024.

Apps & Ease of Use — Both VPNs Are User-Friendly

I’m very impressed with each VPN’s cross-platform support. They have apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Android TV, Fire TV, and Chromebook — however, only NordVPN has a Linux app, and only IPVanish has a dedicated app for Apple Vision Pro. In addition, both providers support manual router setups.

Both NordVPN and IPVanish have good mobile apps — they have quick-connect features that automatically connect you to the fastest server, are easy to navigate, and provide helpful explanations for all settings and features.

And both VPNs have good desktop apps — they even let you connect to servers via a digital map, which I sometimes found quicker than scrolling through the server menu. And each provider’s desktop apps work well, as I didn’t experience any bugs or crashes while testing them,

Finally, you can manually configure each VPN’s service on your router. Both NordVPN and IPVanish provide helpful tutorials that make the setup process easier.

Plans & Pricing — Both VPNs Are Affordable

While NordVPN provides better value, IPVanish is more affordable — in addition, it’s also one of the few VPNs that supports unlimited connections, which means you can use it on as many devices as you want. NordVPN, on the other hand, only allows 10 connections, which is on the lower end of the industry average of 5–10 connections.

NordVPN has a 1-month, a 1-year, and a 2-year plan for several tier-based subscriptions. The Standard subscription, which starts at $2.99 / month, provides access to all VPN features, and is the one I recommend. The Plus subscription adds a password manager (NordPass), and the Complete subscription adds a cloud encryption platform, which is called NordLocker.

IPVanish has a 1-month, a 1-year, and a 2-year plan and 2 subscription tiers: IPVanish Essential and IPVanish Advanced. IPVanish Essential has all the VPN tools and its longest plan provides the best savings at $2.19 / month. IPVanish Advanced includes a secure browser plus a subscription to Livedrive, which comes with cloud storage and backup.

Both VPNs accept multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Google Pay. But NordVPN also accepts cryptocurrency payments.

Finally, both providers come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, but IPVanish’s refund only covers its long-term plans (there’s no refund for the shortest plan).

Customer Support — Both VPNs Provide Great Customer Support

NordVPN and IPVansh offer multiple customer support platforms. They each provide access to great support libraries that are full of helpful frequently asked questions (FAQs), tutorials, and troubleshooting guides. Even better, both providers have many support articles that include screenshots and even video guides.

Each VPN I recommend offers great 24/7 live chat support, with friendly representatives capable of answering all inquiries.

I also tested each VPN’s email support, and had good results — it usually took less than a day to hear back from each VPN’s email support team, and the replies I received were always informative.

IPVanish is also one of the only VPNs on the market that has phone support. Its phone support is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (UTC -6) in the US, the UK, Australia, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil.

 Overall Winner: NordVPN

NordVPN is really secure and good for privacy, has 6,371 servers in 111 countries, and works with all top streaming sites, such as Netflix and Disney+. It also provides great P2P support, has fast speeds on all servers, and comes with tons of useful extras, such as an ad blocker, malware protection, and a smart DNS.

IPVanish allows unlimited connections, has strong security and privacy features, and is good for torrenting. It also comes with 2,400+ servers in 105 countries, user-friendly apps for most devices, provides good gaming support, and is pretty affordable.

While both VPNs are good, I ultimately think that NordVPN provides much better value — it has way more extra features than IPVanish, provides access to more servers, has much faster speeds, and works with more streaming platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is NordVPN better than IPVanish?

According to my tests, yes. NordVPN outperforms IPVanish overall because it provides access to more additional features, has a much better server network, provides significantly faster speeds, and works with a lot more streaming sites. That said, both VPNs provide good value when it comes to security, privacy, torrenting, gaming, ease of use, plans and pricing, and customer support.

Which is better for torrenting — NordVPN or IPVanish?

Either VPN is a great pick for torrenting — NordVPN has 6,371 P2P servers in 45+ countries, and IPVanish allows torrenting on 2,400+ servers in 105 countries. In addition, both VPNs work with popular P2P clients, provide strong security and privacy while torrenting, and come with SOCKS5 proxy support, which changes your IP address but doesn’t use encryption, so you get much faster P2P speeds.

Do NordVPN and IPVanish work with Netflix?

Yes, but I think NordVPN is much better for Netflix than IPVanish. NordVPN can access 10+ Netflix libraries, including in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, and Japan.

NordVPN and IPVanish can access BBC iPlayer, Max, and Amazon Prime, but only NordVPN works with Disney+.

Which is faster — NordVPN or IPVanish?

I had significantly faster speeds with NordVPN than I did with IPVanish. In my speed tests, NordVPN maintained really fast speeds for browsing, streaming, and torrenting on nearby servers, and fast speeds for all online activities on distant servers (I only experienced very minor slowdowns). While IPVanish provided me with decent speeds, I still experienced pretty noticeable slowdowns on distant servers.

Are NordVPN and IPVanish both safe to use?

Yes, both VPNs provide strong security. Each VPN comes with industry-standard VPN security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy that has also been audited and verified, and a kill switch to prevent traffic leaks. In addition, both providers have secure VPN protocols and perfect forward secrecy, which is an advanced feature that changes the encryption key for each VPN session.

NordVPN also provides access to more security features — it has full leak protection (IPVanish doesn’t have WebRTC and IPv6 leak protection), RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data), and the ability to secure your VPN account with two-factor authentication. Also, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro protects you from malware-infected downloads.

Read more about the best VPNs in 2024