IPVanish and NordVPN are both well-established VPN providers with competitive pricing, but they serve different users. NordVPN is the stronger all-around pick. IPVanish has its own case to make, particularly around unlimited simultaneous connections and value on annual plans.
Here is what the numbers actually show.
Scores side by side
| Criterion | NordVPN | IPVanish |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.6/5 | 3.6/5 |
| Speed | 5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Privacy & Logs | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Streaming | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Protocols | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Price/Value | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Owned servers | 5/5 | 4/5 |
The gap is real, but it is worth understanding where it comes from.
Speed
NordVPN’s NordLynx protocol (WireGuard-based) regularly hits speeds above 1,000 Mbps in our tests on servers close to the user’s location. At more typical residential connection speeds of 200-500 Mbps, both VPNs will saturate your line without noticeable throttling.
The difference appears on long-distance connections and under load. NordVPN’s performance on transatlantic routes (US to UK, UK to Australia) is significantly better than IPVanish’s. For users who regularly connect to distant servers, this matters.
IPVanish supports WireGuard and performs reasonably well with it, but its server infrastructure is smaller (around 2,200 servers vs NordVPN’s 6,300+), which affects congestion management.
Privacy and audit history
This is the starkest difference. NordVPN has completed seven major independent audits, including no-logs verifications by Deloitte, an infrastructure penetration test by Cure53, and an ISO 27001 certification. Its Panama jurisdiction puts it outside all intelligence-sharing alliances.
IPVanish’s history here is complicated. In 2016, under its previous owner (StackPath), the company provided user logs to the FBI in a criminal investigation, directly contradicting its no-logs claims at the time. The company has since changed hands (now owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns PCMag), implemented a genuine no-logs policy, and completed one independent audit.
That audit covers the current implementation and is legitimate. But IPVanish has one audit; NordVPN has seven. And the 2016 incident means that for high-risk users, IPVanish requires more trust than its audit history alone justifies.
For average users with no specific threat model, the historical incident has limited practical relevance. The current infrastructure is different from 2016. But it is a relevant data point when comparing to a provider with an unimpeachable audit record.
Want to compare all VPNs side by side? Check our full VPN comparison table with scores across 18 criteria.
Streaming performance
NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and most major streaming platforms across their international libraries. This is tested monthly in our database.
IPVanish works with Netflix US and a smaller selection of streaming services. It is less consistent with international Netflix libraries and does not have the same streaming-optimized server infrastructure (SmartDNS overlay, servers specifically tuned for platform detection) that NordVPN uses.
For streaming, NordVPN is the clear winner.
Connections and device support
IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which is its main practical advantage over NordVPN’s 10-connection limit. For households with many devices, this is genuinely useful.
Both support Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Fire TV, and router installation. NordVPN’s apps are better designed and more stable in our testing; IPVanish’s apps are functional but feel less polished, particularly on macOS.
Price
Both providers are competitive on price at the annual tier:
- NordVPN: approximately $3.50/month on a 2-year plan
- IPVanish: approximately $2.50-3.00/month on annual plans
IPVanish is marginally cheaper, particularly if you find a promotional deal. Given the scoring gap, NordVPN offers better value at its price point, but if budget is the deciding factor, IPVanish is not a bad choice.
Who should choose IPVanish?
IPVanish makes sense if you have more than 10 devices you need to connect simultaneously, your primary use case is basic privacy rather than streaming or high-speed transfers, and you are comfortable with a thinner audit history than NordVPN’s.
It is a reasonable pick for Fire TV users specifically: IPVanish’s Fire TV app is well-optimized and the unlimited connections model is practical when you have a TV, two phones, two laptops, and a tablet in the house.
NordVPN wins this comparison on speed, streaming, privacy infrastructure, and audit history. IPVanish's unlimited connections and slightly lower price are genuine advantages, and the 2016 logging incident is historical rather than current. For most users, NordVPN is the better pick. For price-sensitive users who need unlimited connections and primarily use Fire TV, IPVanish is a workable alternative.
Keep reading: IPVanish Review 2026: Solid Basics, Thin Audit History and NordVPN Review 2026: Still the Best After Six Audits?.