IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous connections and a competitive annual price. In 2026, it has meaningfully improved its privacy credentials with a second independent no-logs audit. But it is based in the United States, under Five Eyes jurisdiction, and has a history that privacy-focused users should understand before signing up.
The History You Need to Know
In 2016, IPVanish provided user logs to the FBI in a criminal investigation, despite claiming a no-logs policy at the time. The company has since changed ownership (it is now owned by Mudhook Media Inc.) and underwent independent audits in 2022 and 2025 that confirmed no-log operations.
This history matters. IPVanish has done the work to rebuild its credibility, but the 2016 incident is documented fact. If you are choosing a VPN specifically because you need proof of non-cooperation with law enforcement, the track record here is not as clean as Mullvad, ProtonVPN, or NordVPN.
Speed: Fast and Consistent
IPVanish scores 4/5 for speed. WireGuard performance is strong on nearby servers. The company operates 3,200+ servers in 90+ countries and 130+ locations, which gives decent coverage globally. Speed performance is suitable for streaming, gaming, and large downloads.
Performance drops on distant servers are more noticeable than with ExpressVPN or NordVPN, but within acceptable range for most use cases.
Security and Encryption
IPVanish scores 5/5 on encryption. The service uses AES-256 as default, supports ChaCha20, and includes RSA-2048 handshake. It supports OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), WireGuard, IKEv2, L2TP, and IPSec, making it one of the most protocol-flexible VPNs available.
Leak protection scores 5/5: IP, DNS, WebRTC, and data leak protection are all present, with no documented user data leaks under the current ownership. RAM server transition is in progress (not fully complete), scoring 3/5 on that metric.
No-Logs Policy: Twice Audited
After the 2016 incident, IPVanish partnered with Schellman Compliance for independent audits. The second audit completed in 2025 returned clean results. The no-logs policy now scores 5/5 in our database, reflecting the strengthened audit record.
Quarterly transparency reports have also been introduced, which adds ongoing accountability beyond point-in-time audits.
Jurisdiction: United States (Five Eyes)
IPVanish is headquartered in the United States, which is a Five Eyes intelligence-sharing country. Jurisdiction scores 2/5. US law allows authorities to compel data disclosure and gag recipients from notifying users.
Given the 2016 incident happened under US jurisdiction, and given that the current infrastructure is also US-based, this remains the most significant concern with IPVanish for privacy-sensitive users.
Ownership
IPVanish is owned by Mudhook Media Inc. (formerly Highwinds Network Group), a US-based company. Ownership transparency scores 5/5 because the information is publicly documented, even though the US location itself is less ideal than Panama or Switzerland.
Streaming: Better Than Before, Not Best-in-Class
IPVanish has improved streaming performance in 2026. Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, ITVX, and Sky Go work reliably. The streaming score is 2/5 in our database, reflecting variable performance on some services and the absence of dedicated streaming servers. When a server does not unlock a service, you need to try another manually.
If streaming is your primary use case, NordVPN and ExpressVPN are more consistent.
Features
- Protocols: OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, L2TP, IPSec
- Kill switch: yes
- Split tunneling: yes
- Double Hop: yes (routes through two servers)
- Obfuscated servers: yes
- Ad blocker: no, scores 0/5
- Unlimited simultaneous devices: yes, scores 5/5
- SOCKS5 proxy: yes
The unlimited device policy is one of IPVanish’s strongest practical advantages, alongside Surfshark and PIA. No other major VPN matches this among privacy-focused options.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Per month (annual) | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $12.99 | $3.33 | $39.99 |
| Advanced | $12.99 | $4.99 | $59.88 |
At $39.99 per year, IPVanish is one of the more affordable premium options. Monthly pricing is the same $12.99 as NordVPN and ExpressVPN. There is no free trial, but a 30-day money-back guarantee applies.
How IPVanish Compares
| Criteria | IPVanish | NordVPN | Surfshark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| No-logs | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Jurisdiction | USA (2/5) | Panama (5/5) | Netherlands (4/5) |
| Devices | Unlimited | 10 | Unlimited |
| Price (annual) | $39.99 | $59.88 | $38.28 |
| Streaming | 2/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
IPVanish and Surfshark are close on price for annual plans. Surfshark wins on jurisdiction, streaming, and speed. IPVanish wins if you specifically need protocol flexibility (L2TP, IPSec) or prefer a US-based company.
Who Should Use IPVanish
IPVanish is a reasonable choice for users who want unlimited devices at a low annual price, need specific protocol support, or are primarily using the VPN for Kodi/streaming devices (it has strong dedicated support for Fire Stick and Android TV). It is not the right pick for users who prioritize jurisdiction or privacy credentials above performance.
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Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
Our verdict: IPVanish has done real work to rebuild its reputation after the 2016 FBI log handover. The twice-audited no-logs policy and unlimited devices make it a practical option for many users. The US jurisdiction and history mean it cannot compete with ProtonVPN or NordVPN for users with genuine privacy requirements. For streaming, torrenting, and device-heavy households where jurisdiction is not a top concern, it is a fair choice at $39.99/year. IPVanish scores 3.5/5 overall.
FAQ
Did IPVanish give logs to the FBI? Yes, in 2016. At the time, IPVanish was under different ownership. The company has since changed hands, been independently audited twice (2022 and 2025), and has not had a documented log handover since. The history is real but the current operation appears to match its no-logs claims.
How many devices can I use with IPVanish? Unlimited. All plans allow an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.
Does IPVanish work in China? No. IPVanish does not work reliably in China and does not market itself for that use case.
Is IPVanish good for Fire Stick? Yes, IPVanish has specific Fire Stick optimization and is one of the more popular VPN choices for Kodi and Fire TV users.
Where IPVanish makes sense anyway
A fair close for a mixed review: the product has a real niche. Households needing unlimited devices with US-jurisdiction indifference, buyers who weight the Schellman audit and the post-2016 ownership reset, and users whose needs are privacy-on-public-Wi-Fi rather than catalog-hopping all get honest value at the discounted rates. The streaming-first majority should read the 2/5 column and shop upward; the table’s whole purpose is matching the buyer to the niche, and IPVanish’s niche, while narrow, is genuinely occupied.
(Review reflects the current product and audit state; the 2016 history stays in every edition because trust files don’t get to forget, and the recovery since stays too because they do get to grow.)
The closing sentence the review earns: average is not an insult in a market this crowded; it’s a precise description, and buyers who match the niche above get exactly what they paid for.
Keep reading: Best VPN in 2026: Our Full Ranking After Testing 48 Providers and How We Test and Score VPNs at VPN Picker.